The movie “Beaches” (1988, rated PG-13) begins at the boardwalk on the beach at Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1958, and ends many years later at a beach house in California. It is the story of two friends with very different personalities and career goals, and how that friendship endures despite distance, a love triangle, jealousies, broken marriages and illness.
Starring roles
Bette Midler stars as the brassy C.C. Bloom (Cecelia Carol Bloom) and shines in the role as a singer/actress who finally reaches diva status as a performer by the end of the movie. The girl playing the part of the 11-year old C.C. was Mayim Bialik who went on to play the lead role as Blossom Russo in the early-1990s NBC sitcom Blossom. Mayim was an amazing look alike for Bette Midler!
Barbara Hershey costars as the classy Hillary Whitney. The friendship which begins at age 11 between C.C. and Hillary is maintained through an exchange of letters, and the story plot fast forwards from age 11 to the time when they have reached adulthood. The two girls have never met in those intervening years.
While C.C. is following her pathway in the entertainment business, Hillary, who comes from a very wealthy family, becomes a civil rights attorney. When the story picks up, Hillary leaves California and her career to live in New York as a way to free herself from the expectations that her father has placed upon her. She moves in with C.C., and the friendship deepens.
A love triangle begins
Everything does not go smoothly, of course. A love interest enters the picture when artistic director John Pierce (played by John Heard) meets Hillary, and the ultimate outcome is a love triangle that changes the dynamics of the friendship between the two young women.
Subplots develop, Hillary marries an attorney in California, and C.C. marries the director, John Pierce. These marriages do not go smoothly, either.
The friendship is tested, but the friends reunite
Hillary, now divorced, becomes a mother, and C.C. is the supporting friend who stays with her in California throughout the pregnancy and childbirth.
The story takes a dramatic turn after that, with Hillary being diagnosed with viral cardiomyopathy and C.C. taking on the role of supporting friend during Hillary’s advancing illness. This is the part of the story where you will want to have a box of tissues handy!
The music
Bette Midler performs quite a variety of songs in this movie. The best known one is “Wind Beneath My Wings” which, according to wikipedia.com, went on to win Grammys for record of the year and song of the year in 1990.
I would give this movie a strong 4 out of 5, but then again I enjoy a good tear jerker once in awhile, and the friendship factor went over big with me.
For additional articles by this writer, click here.
Other movie reviews by R.C. Johnson:
The Indian in the Cupboard
O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Witness
The Gods Must Be Crazy
Flywheel, Facing the Giants and Fireproof
Sources:
amazon.com, information on the DVD, Beaches
wikipedia.org, website, Beaches
wikipedia.org, website, Bette Midler
wikipedia.org, website, Barbara Hershey
wikipedia.org, website, John Heard
wikipedia.org, website, Mayam Bialik
