Product Details

• Actors: Steve Martin, Gabriel Byrne, Laura Linney, Catherine O'Hara, Alana Austin
• Directors: Gillies MacKinnon
• Writers: Steve Martin, George Eliot
• Producers: Steve Martin, Karen Snow, Ric Kidney
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Buena Vista Home Ent
• VHS Release Date: November 25, 1997
• Run Time: 106 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6303383289
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #236,645 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

A Simple Twist of Fate, Steve Martin's second adaptation of a classic (after his Roxanne-ization of Cyrano de Bergerac), is a melancholy, dramatic comedy about a recluse coming out of his shell. Suggested by George Eliot's Silas Marner, this isn't a cutesy picture akin to Father of the Bride. It's much more heartfelt, gentle, and satisfying, as long as you accept its traditional and predictable conclusions. Scorned by life, Michael McCann (Martin) lives in an auburn-tinted town and goes on with his colorless life. That is, until an abandoned child is left on his doorstep, and he adopts her. A custody battle ensues years later with far too many cheap, unconvincing courtroom dramatics in which money is the root of all evil, but the tone and wholesomeness of the story are special. Gabriel Byrne pulls off a nearly unplayable role as the town's aristocrat with fine underplayed support by Catherine O'Hara and youngster Alana Austin. The wonderful score is by Cliff Eidelman. --Doug Thomas

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple Twist of Fate- Possibly Steve Martin's Best Movie Yet, January 22, 2003

By 

Jody Noller "jnoller" (Putnam, Connecticut USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Simple Twist of Fate (DVD)

Steve Martin is primarily known for comedy, but in this heartwarming and heart-wrenching film he shows great ability
in a serious role. Martin stars as a man who is recently divorced after his wife had an affair and got pregnant. 5 years later as a carpenter, he has all of his gold coins stolen by a local politician's drug/alcohol crazed brother. But the local politican (Gabriel Byrne) has skeletons in his closet too..as he is hiding the illegitimate birth of a girl child to a heroin addicted woman. The woman dies outside Martin's home in the midst of a snowstorm, and the little girl wanders inside Martin's home and scares the heck out of him..in his own words "She came to replace my money" Maureen O'Hara costars.
A fantastic film which got very little credit. My daughter loved it! You will too!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is an adorable film all should see., March 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Simple Twist of Fate [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I rented this movie and liked it so much that I bought my own copy. Steve Martin did a good job of taking this movie and making it modern from George Elliot's book Silas Marner. All the characters played their role well and it has great music and scenery. Everyone should at least see this movie once in their life if not more!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Modern version of George Eliot's story 'Silas Marner', October 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Simple Twist of Fate [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I really enjoyed viewing this movie when I rented it a few years ago. 'A Simple Twist of Fate' is based on Mary Ann Evans' (1819-80; Pen-name George Eliot) story 'Silas Marner'(if anyone is interested in reading Silas Marner on-line, go to this web address, inside the {} brackets: {http://www.mastertexts.com/Eliot_George/Silas_Marner/Index.htm}

Steve Martin is a sad & lonely bachelor school teacher who's life feels empty and irrelevant; Then a sweet little baby girl walks into his life. The short of it is that she has recently become an orphan; So Steve Martin adopts her. Raising this precious little girl brings much love, joy, and happiness into their lives. It is a story about the transformative and healing power of love.

I was dismayed to find that this movie is not currently available to purchase