Beaches Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
The Friendship You'll Always Remember... In The Film You'll Never Forget
Some Friendships Last Forever
Friends come and go but there's always one you're stuck with for life.
When the New York child performer CC Bloom and San Fransisco rich kid Hillary meet in a holiday resort in Atlantic City, it marks the start of a lifetime friendship between them. The two keep in touch through letters for a number of years until Hillary, now a successful lawyer moves to New York to stay with struggling singer CC. The movie shows the various stages of their friendship and their romances including their love for the same man.
| Mayim Bialik | Cecilia 'CC' Carol Bloom |
| Marcie Leeds | Hillary Whitney Essex |
| John Heard | John Pierce |
| Spalding Gray | Dr. Richard Milstein |
| Lainie Kazan | Leona Bloom |
| James Read | Michael Essex |
| Grace Johnston | Victoria Cecilia Essex |
| Carol Williard | Aunt Vesta |
| Allan Kent | Mr. Melman |
| Phil Leeds | Sammy Pinkers |
| Lynda Goodfriend | Mrs. Myandowski |
| Nikki Plant | Iris Myandowski |
| Michael French | Head Waiter |
| Garry Marshall |
6.20 out of 10 (6940 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Excellent Film
posted on 14 May 2009In my personal opinion Beaches is one of the best movies made. It makes you laugh and cry in one scene and want to sing and dance in another. It reminds you of your childhood friends wondering where they may be now, and why you parted company to begin with, while making you want to hold fast to the friendships you have now and not let go because life is just to short.The acting is wonderful, you feel everything that the characters themselves are going through. For instance when Hilary is in the hospital not able to take deep breaths; you feel yourself doing it for her. Another example is at the funeral- Victoria is just sitting there shaking her head - you know she's feeling "it can't be my mom in the casket".The overall writing and directing is fantastic, the musical numbers are funny, and joyful as well as some being sad. Again you feel what they are feeling. Overall, awesome movie! Bette and Barbara hit this one out of the park!
THE FIRST MOVIE TO EVER MAKE ME CRY
posted on 08 Apr 2009This movie is such a phenomenal one. Bette Midler and Nicole Hersey do great jobs portraying C.C. Bloom and Hillary Whitney. This movie was the first movie to ever make me cry. It is such an intense story of friendship and love and heartbreak. It shows that two people can be friends for over thirty years. Through all of their trials and tribulations that they had over that time span they stayed together right to the end. Unfortunately, to one of their ends. The music in this movie is also spectacular. Bette Midler does a wonderful job on this compilation of her songs. My favorite, like many others, was "Wind Beneath My Wings". This movie really affected me and I know it has because I may have seen it over 20 times but I still cry at the ending and I also start to get teary eyed whenever I hear "Wind Beneath My Wings". If you haven't seen this movie, you should go to the video store, rent it, go home, and curl up with your loved one or share it with a friend. This movie will definitely give you a different aspect on you friendships with different people. It has for me.
a real heart tugger in a friendship movie
posted on 21 Mar 2009I had recently lost a girlfriend and now believe that relationships should be treasured. I felt that through the ups and downs of their relationship, C.C. and Hilary were true to each other and shared life, hope and laughter. I believe true relationships stand the test of time, and this movie proves it.
Melodrama mixed with comedy
posted on 22 Feb 2009Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey star as long time friends who sacrifice their personal lives for their careers, but remain loyal to each other through the years.Midler shows off her singing and dancing talents as CC Bloom, and it is a role that's perfect for her. Hershey plays the elegantly beautiful and Waspy Hillary Whitney to the hilt. The chemistry between them is terrific, but at time the story lags and becomes predictable. John Heard and James Read as CC and Hillary's husbands turn in good performances as well, but they take a back seat to the women.The film is entertaining, and the friendship as it unwinds is both interesting and engaging to watch. But overall, the movie is so-so.
Weepier than "Madame X" and "Imitation of Life" on a double bill.
posted on 13 Feb 2009I still can't hear "Wind beneath my wings" without a tear coming to my eye.Last year when this was played in my favourite restaurant my eyes filled and to explain this to my six year old I had to give a quick synopsis - I was sobbing before I got to the end!The first time I saw the movie I was so broken-hearted at the end that my husband thought he was going to have to call a doctor to sedate me. Thank god we were watching it on video! My best friend thoroughly embarrassed herself at the cinema on a date and couldn't bear to go out with the guy again!!I don't care how crass or badly acted the men of this world think this film is - any film which arouses this much emotion is more than worth it.
Beaches (1988)
posted on 27 Nov 2008This movie is about a friendship between two girls that lasts several decades. Hillary comes from a privileged family, and eventually becomes an attorney. CC comes from the Bronx, can't stay in a relationship, and pursues show business. The two can't be anymore different, but their friendship works.This movie is so good. It isn't sappy or boring, and in the end, everyone in the theater was crying. I highly recommend it.
No amount of beer can make this movie better.
posted on 09 Nov 2008Beaches is one of those easily placed movies into the category of chic flick. It's a great date movie because no girl can resist tears throughout. WOMEN LOVE THIS MOVIE. And because they love it so much it's not wise to bash it in front of them. I'll probably receive tons of angry e-mails for my description of this movie. As noted before Women LOVE THIS MOVIE. If youre a guy it the torturous equal of Ned Beatty's southern surprise in Deliverence. It's so bad you'd rather have your older brother beat you with a hot wheels race track. Preparing to watch it is like driving to the proctologists's office. The whole movie is about two women and their life long friendship (That's original) Bette Midler couldn't be more annoying. There is a way to survive this though. Take four valium, chug one huge bottle of NyQuil original green death flavor, close your eyes and imagine watching The Dirty Dozen. Hopefully you'll sleep long enough to miss Beaches, Steel Magnolias, and the worst of the worst The Joy Luck Club.
What a sad'un
posted on 04 Sep 2008This is one of the tear jerking films i have ever seen. I first saw it about 10 years ago, and ever since then, every time i have watched it i cried a little.The great soundtrack makes the movie even more dramatic and it will stay in my heart as one of my favourite films of all time.
The most touching movie ever
posted on 23 Aug 2008Jesus, I don't know, how often I watched this movie 'til now, and I will see it a dozen more times, and every time I watch it I can't stop from crying. This sensual relationship, it's more than a friendship, between C.C. Bloom and Hilary is photographed so perfect, without any schmaltz. Bette Midler is just perfect for this role, because she can show nearly everything she can: comedy, singing and drama and I adore her every single second. Also Barbara Hershey as "the woman in the shadow" is so touching. This movie shows, what friendship really means. You can have fights, you can get married and get divorced, but true friendship lasts forever.
Exceptional movie!
posted on 13 Apr 2008A truly amazing film!!! It is worth pointing out that I cry at a lot of films, but Beaches really knows how to pull the hearts strings in all the right ways! From side splitting laughter to bawling your eyes out, this film has it all. Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey really convinced me that their friendship was real, and believe me that is no easy thing to do!! The highlight of the film for me is the ending, with the two best friends at each others sides, even in the face of death. Bette Midler does a truly remarkable job as an actress but her singing is even better. 'Wind Beneath My Wings' is the perfect song for a perfect movie, yet is so under-rated. The lyrics are so suited to the film, Bette's vocals really make the hairs on your neck stand on end and even watching the song video reduces me to tears now! Beaches is not your usual tear-jerking chick flick, it is so much more and will leave you with the message of the true meaning of friendship . . . forever.
"What will I do without a best friend?" - Cecelia Carol Bloom
posted on 16 Feb 2008"Beaches" is a movie about two people who have family, acquaintances, spouses, careers, etc. but they only had each other when they really needed a friend. That's what makes the ending so hard to take. I think we all can relate to that one or two special people (if you're lucky) in our lives who never actually "go away" even if they don't physically live close to you anymore. Months or even years can go by, but you always pick up where you left off, with ease, when you see or speak to them. You may annoy each other at times, but you will always love each other. They're always with you because you've shared so much. Some of us may never find our romantic long-lasting "soul mate", but this movie makes the excellent point of showing that if you find a true friend in life you are truly blessed.
Awesome Movie
posted on 03 Dec 2007I first saw this movie when I was just a tyke, my mom had taped it off of the television when it played as a special. I've quoted from it and memorized lines, music, dances, everything ever since. Now that I'm older and can understand the movies "story" and meaning, its even better! The fact that a kid like I was can appreciate it for its comedy and music, then learn to appreciate the moral of the movie later in life, is just the best! :) I now own the movie on DVD (which I'm so glad I found it) and have shared it with the unfortunate souls that haven't seen it yet! Like my best friend of 11 years. We very much can relate to many of the situations in the movie, and we both agree we hope our story ends with the bond but maybe happier. (of course). If we had to assign roles, I would be Hillary Whitney and my bf would be "CC"...all the way, almost to a "T". LOVE LOVE LOVE this movie!
God, I hate this movie!
posted on 25 Sep 2007Where do we start? With the overacting, the scenery-chewing? Okay, let's talk about the maudlin script first. In attempting to make us sad, we are fed forced scenes designed to make us care about these unlikable characters. One is brash, annoying, rude, selfish and mean. The other is hypocritical, deceitful, boring, and not as pretty as some think. At the end I didn't care for either of these women. Their regrets were too little, too late, and not believable. The music? Saccharine sweet-- ugh. I LOVE Bette Midler, but in a movie where she must play sympathetic and dramatic at some point, she comes across as if she's in a comedy. Is it fair to mention Barbara Hershey's lips? Uh, yes, she made a choice (a bad one) and has to live with it. Poor her. My guess is my girlfriend loves this film. I'll ask her. But if this film were a bit more over-the-top, it would rank up there with 'Mommie Dearest' and 'Showgirls' for unintentional comedy. I could go on, but it would be all bad...
I expected to want to rip my eyeballs out
posted on 25 Apr 2007I like everything about Bette Midler except her singing, musical arrangements, personality and appearance. I would never have willingly have seen a movie which included the song which assails my senses every single solitary time I take a hapless turn into a bar with a karaoke machine, Wind Beneath My Wings, a horrid, sappy, single-octave pile of dung that anyone can sing, but no one could possibly make enjoyable.Naturally, my fiancee's movie collection includes this movie, which I understand is obligatory in hominids lacking a Y chromosome. She started watching it before I could complain (wise move on her part).I'm quite surprised to be writing that it is better than the six out of ten it's garnered here. For a chick flick, it's really not that bad. Usually chick flicks are extremely tidy and formulaic-- if someone is going to take someone else's mate, for example, the person who is being jilted ALWAYS deserves what's coming to them... there are never ragged moral edges in a true chick flick, and the denouement of the movie can be counted on to have all possible loose ends tied up in the sappiest and tritest way imaginable.Not so this one. I started liking the movie after the first several times I tried to predict the next turn and was surprised that it didn't take the cheap out. The characters were intelligent, and the dialog was cringe-free.
Bette Midler's stardom would have been a hysterically funny insult to the intelligence if it weren't for the fact that Bette Midler is in fact a successful vocalist. It WAS funny, however, that the kid who played her as a little girl was a better singer at 10 than Bette Midler ever has been.Needless to say the fiancee was bawling by the end. I wasn't, but I wasn't nauseated either. Chances are even if you're a chick flick hater you can survive this one if you like drama in general.
The best girls night in film ever!
posted on 28 Jan 2007If you are planning a night in or are just in the mood to have a cry for the sake of it this is the best film to watch. Not only does it make you consider your own mortality but it makes you appreciate your nearest and dearest all the more.The film tugs at the heart strings and will have you singing its wonderful songs for days after.Rent the video now. Even better buy it as you WILL want to see it again.
Like a Photo Album
posted on 10 Jan 2007This movie is like a Photo Album of my relationship with my very close friend Jessica Uppal. We have known each other our whole lives and though we've had our ups and downs I will always love her. We've cried together and laughed together just like these characters. I can remember us as little girls watching this movie and knowing we were going to grow up and be like C.C. (me) and Hilary (Jessica). Coincedently, Jessica went off to Law school and I wanted to be a singer/writer, so it was really a case of art imitating life.So I hope you all will cherish those few people in your life who really stand the test of time and Don't ever let them slip away. NO MATTER WHAT. Lovers come and go, but one thing I know is when I take my last breath I want to hold Jessica's hand and tell her "See you Soon"
Wonderful touching movie
posted on 14 Dec 2006This is a beautiful movie about two close friends who are like sisters to each other. Bette Midler, the Divine Miss M, has never been better! How she did not win Best Actress for this performance will always be a mystery to me. One of the things I most enjoyed about this movie was not only Bette's wonderful performance, but also the interplay between her character and the other main character, played by Barbara Hershey. Their scenes together contain some of the best dialog I have ever seen on the big screen.Another unexpected bonus was seeing one of the first performances by another favorite of mine, Tracy Reiner (I am pretty sure she is the daughter of Rob Reiner, who is a well-known director). She has gone on to star in such classic films as The New Women, Riding in Cars With Boys, and The Princess Diaries.All in all, this is a touching, sweet, wonderful movie - if you watch it, it will live in your heart forever.
a beautiful film, emotional yet never mushy
posted on 17 Nov 2006I first watched Beaches with my childhood best friend - she said it was her favourite film, and it swiftly became mine. The characters were a hotch potch combo of each of us, i could never say definately i was one and she was the other, because we each had traits of both. We'd been friends forever but even as we watched this we were driving each other crazy. we soon drifted apart. one of us went on to be seriously ill, the other to develop an amazing singing voice (guess which one!) At the time watching the film always made me really sad (must have know inside how it would turn out) but now it makes me smile slightly, in the way an old musical, or a cartoon i watched when i was a baby does. theres something comforting about watching human relationships, seeing what people mean to each other, and how their lives interact. its soothing. I suspect everybody can identify with this film. It shows how two people from very different worlds can mean the world to each other - and even when they cant stand each other, you know they still care a lot. The storyline sounds sentimental and cliched, but it isnt, beaches is never over-emotional or excessively tear-jerking. Its realistic and perfect to curl upto on a rainy day. And its the perfect tribute to those friendships where you know each other so well you drive each other crazy. Wind Beneath my Wings btw, is one of the most beautiful songs ever written. and if this review sounds stuffy its becoz its 2am and im tired, lol just watch it.
Entertaining and sentimental all at the same time
posted on 22 Jul 2009Among the movies that get to us emotionally, "Beaches" is on the top of my list. Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey convey the story and portray their roles to perfection. Midler also shines with her musical talent much of the time, especially with the theme song "Wind Beneath My Wings." All things considered, the movie is great.Midler is Ceceila Carol "C.C." Bloom, a New York aspiring entertainer with attitude and a drive to be successful in show business no matter what it takes (which she does). Hershey is Hillary Whitney, a rich kid from San Francisco with little experience beyond her posh and privileged upbringing. She and C.C. meet by chance on a beach in Atlantic City when they are 11 years old. They instantly become friends, and keep in touch with each other over 25 to 30 years through thick and thin (i.e. distance, career challenges, marriage and divorce, fights, jealousy, competition for the same man, etc). Fate and choice bring them together when they need each other most. Ultimately, their bond will be tested in a way they never imagined. How they deal with this challenge is what will determine their destiny as friends.Midler and Hershey round out the film with believable character development. They have their moments (C.C. can get on your nerves with her ego, and Hillary has her ways), but they prove that friendship weathers the most difficult of circumstances. The small supporting cast is nice as well, including Lainie Kazan as Leona Bloom (C.C.'s mother), John Heard as John Pierce, C.C.'s theater director husband, James Reed as Michael Essex, Hillary's husband, Spalding Gray as Dr. Richard Milstein who Midler takes interest in while living with Hillary in San Francisco, Mayim Bialik and Marcie Leeds as young C.C. and Hillary, and Grace Johnston as Victoria, Hillary's daughter in the latter half of the film. The "Wind Beneath My Wings" montage toward the end will make more than a few emotional. I highly recommend "Beaches" because it will make you truly appreciate and strive for the meaning of friendship and those most important to you!