Beaches

Plot synopsis:
The story of two friends from different backgrounds, whose friendship spans more than 35 years through childhood, love, and tragedy: Cecilia Carol "C.C." Bloom (Bette Midler), a New York actress and singer, and Hillary Whitney (Barbara Hershey), a San Francisco heiress and lawyer. The film begins with middle-aged C.C. receiving a note during a rehearsal for her upcoming Los Angeles concert. She leaves the rehearsal in a panic and tries frantically to travel to her friend's side. Unable to get a flight to San Francisco because of fog, she rents a car and drives overnight, reflecting on her life with Hillary.
It is 1958; a rich little girl Hillary (Marcie Leeds) meets child performer C.C. (Mayim Bialik) under the boardwalk on the beach in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Hillary is lost and C.C. is hiding from her overbearing stage mother (Lainie Kazan). They become fast friends, growing up and bonding through letters of support to each other. A grown-up Hillary goes on to become a human rights lawyer, while C.C.'s singing career is not exactly taking off. They write to each other regularly and give updates on their lives. Hillary shows up at the New York City dive bar where C.C. is performing, their first meeting since Atlantic City. She moves in with C.C. and gets a job with the ACLU. C.C. is now performing singing telegrams, leading to a job offer from John (John Heard), the artistic director of the Falcon Players, after she sings his birthday telegram.
A love triangle ensues as Hillary and John are instantly attracted to one another, leaving C.C. in the cold and feeling resentment toward her best friend. Matters are made worse when Hillary and John sleep together on the opening-night of C.C.'s first lead in an off-Broadway production. When Hillary returns home to care for her ailing father, the two friends resolve their issues about John, as John does not have romantic feelings for C.C. After her father passes away, Hillary spends time at her family beach house with lawyer Michael Essex (James Read), eventually marrying him. C.C. and John spend a lot of time together, start dating and eventually marry. Hillary and Michael travel to New York to see C.C. perform on Broadway, where she has become a star. When C.C. finds out that Hillary has stopped working as a lawyer, she accuses Hillary of giving up on her dreams. Hillary responds that C.C. has become no more than a "pretentious, social climber" who is obsessed with her career. After the argument, Hillary ignores C.C.'s letters, throwing herself into being a dutiful, but unchallenged, wife.
John tells C.C. that her self-centeredness and obsession with her career has him feeling left behind and he asks for a divorce. Despite the separation, John tells her, 'I love you, I'll always love you. I just want to let go of us before us gets bad.' Upset at the thought of her marriage failing, C.C. turns to her mother, who lives in Miami Beach. Her mother tells her that she has given up a lot for her daughter, and C.C. starts to understand when her mother tells her the effect that her selfishness has had on those closest to her. Meanwhile, Hillary returns home from a trip earlier than expected to find her husband having breakfast with another woman, both wearing pajamas. When Hillary learns that C.C. is performing in San Francisco, she makes contact for the first time in years. They learn of each other's divorces, then discover that they have been secretly jealous of each other for years: Hillary is upset that she has none of the talent or charisma that C.C. is noted for, while C.C. admits she has always been envious of Hillary's beauty and intelligence. The two then realize that their feud could have been avoided by honest communication.
Hillary tells C.C. that she is pregnant and that she has already decided to keep the baby and raise the child as a single parent, a decision that wins her much admiration from the feisty and independent C.C., who promises she will stay and help her out. C.C. even starts talking of settling down and having a family of her own, having become engaged to Hillary's obstetrician. However, when C.C.'s agent calls with the perfect comeback gig for her, C.C. quickly abandons her fiancé and any notions of the domestic life and races back to New York City, discovering that the comeback gig is at her ex-husband John's theater, bringing her full circle to where she began her theatrical career. Hillary eventually gives birth to a daughter, whom she names Victoria Cecilia (Grace Johnston). When Victoria is a young girl, Hillary finds herself easily exhausted and breathless, a state she attributes to her busy schedule as a mother and a lawyer. When she collapses while at court she is diagnosed with viral cardiomyopathy, requiring a heart transplant if she is to live. Having a rare tissue type, she realizes she will most likely die before a heart is found.
In the meantime C.C. has become a big star, having won a Tony award and completed her latest hit album. When she learns of Hilary's illness she agrees to accompany Hillary and Victoria to the beach house for the summer. Hillary becomes depressed due to her debilitated state and inadvertently takes her frustration out on C.C. who she sees having fun with and connecting with Victoria. Hillary eventually begins to accept her prognosis bravely, appreciating her time with Victoria and C.C. Hillary and Victoria return to San Francisco, while C.C. heads to Los Angeles for her concert. While Victoria is packing to travel to the concert, Hillary collapses, leading to the note C.C. receives at the start of the movie which prompted her overnight drive to San Francisco. C.C. takes Hillary and Victoria to the beach house. The two friends watch the sun setting over the beach, transitioning directly to a scene of C.C. and Victoria at a cemetery (all with C.C. singing "Wind Beneath My Wings" in the background). After the funeral, C.C. tells Victoria that her mother wanted her to live with her. C.C. admits that she is very selfish and has no idea what kind of a mother she will make, but also tells her: "there's nothing in the world that I want more than to be with you". She then takes Victoria into her arms and the two console each other in their grief. C.C. goes forward with her concert, and after the show, she leaves hand-in-hand with Victoria, and begins telling stories of when she first met her mother. C.C.'s and Victoria's voices fade as we hear the younger C.C. and Hillary from 1958: "Be sure to keep in touch, C.C., OK?" "Well sure, we're friends aren't we?" The film ends with a young C.C. and Hillary taking pictures together, in a photo booth, on the day they first met.

Tags: melodrama, sentimental, flashback

Review:
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..
from the hilarious 'Otto Titsling' song (which had me in creases!) to the powerful and emotional ending to the film, in which 'Wind Beneath My Wings' is immortalised.This is a film that has touched everyone I know that has seen it, and is a timeless classic that really illustrates the true meaning of friendship.A true 'Chick Flick'......
Beaches definitely goes into the latter category Actually I didn't get to see it until a few years ago, maybe because I'm a guy and this kind of movies aren't what guys usually rent but as one grows up, so does the appreciations for sensitive movies like Beaches.The book is even better and I wish they had made the movie even longer with more stories from the novel.I recommend Beaches to both women and men, if you think you couldn't cry from a movie - watch this and see if you're wrong - I was....
And for one, I am tired of the syrupy ending that was popularized by 1970's excellent "Love Story".But despite that, Marshall has directed a very good movie here.
That may sound corny, but it's true and many of my favorite films are that kind of film: "10" (Blake Edwards, 1979), "The Man Who Loved Women" (Edwards, 1983), "Skin Deep" (Edwards, 1989), "The Apartment" (Billy Wilder, 1960), "The Fortune Cookie" (Wilder, 1966), "Harry and Tonto" (Paul Mazursky, 1974) and "An Unmarried Woman" (Mazursky, 1978) to name a few.The performances are first rate, especially Bette Midler, whom I'm only used to in comedies.
The cast in the movie, including Bette Midler, Barbara Hershey and Mayim Bialik, who plays the younger version of Bette Midlers character all give wonderful performances here as usual.Beaches is simply a classic amazing movie.
I love it for many reasons, one being I'm a fan of Bette Midler and Mayim Bialik, who are both absolutely brilliant, the music in the movie is amazing and I absolutely love, "Wind Beneath My Wings".
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).
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.
a very moving movie, about a friendship with barbara hershey and bette midler..
After watching it, the people around me were shocked and said, "I like American movies now!"Two unlikely friends meet by chance in childhood and keep up their friendship over the years through ups and downs, crises and victories, and reversing economic positions more than once.
However, in this film Bette Midler, (CC Bloom),"That Old Feeling",'97 plays a very self-centered person who will stop at nothing to get what she wants and if it is a career on the stage, just forget about love or a husband and children.
Midler sings outstanding songs we all know by heart and it is a very entertaining film, but very very SAD!.
Although I'm Only 14yrs Old This Movie Is My Favourite...I Don't Know Why But Since I First Watched I Was 7yrs Old...And It Still Remains My Personal Favourite...Especially...The Part When They Are At The Summer House The Last Time And She Dies Facing The Sunset...And Then Wind Beneath My Wings Starts Playing And Then U See C.C And Victoria At The Funeral...I Start Crying..Thats My Favourite..Part.....Even The Soundtrack..The Music In It Is Very Good...!!!...I'm Even Trying To Find The Special Edition Of This Movie But I Cant Find It Anywhere...I Only Found The Original Version....:(:(....Beaches The Best Movie Ever.....
So I suggest you grab your best friend and a box of Kleenexes, for this film is a very successful one in make you cry, and laugh.When the irrepressible C.C. Bloom (Bette Midler) and the shy and proper Hillary Whitney (Barbara Hershey) first meet under the boardwalk at the beach, all the 11-year-olds have in common is the need for a best friend.
I think I like the movie so much because I have a best friend like that and I know that no matter what I can always turn to that person in a time of need and that person knows that she can always turn to me.
Barbra Hershey and Bette Midler have great chemistry together and make me truly believe that they have been friends forever.
The cast truly shines and Bette Midler's voice just adds to making the movie that much better.
I think that no matter how old I get I will always find my way back to watching this movie when I am thinking of my best friend and when I am in a time of need.
Anyone who has seen this movie will see that how much these two women have put into their characters to make us feel and see that real lifelong friends go through good and bad times but no matter what happens they are always there for each other.
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..
Bette Midler is great as CC Bloom and sings a great soundtrack including the now classic hit "Wind Beneath My Wings."  I really liked this movie and have purchased it both on VHS and DVD and often share it with friends.
Iris Ranier Dart's novel was obviously written with Bette Midler in mind (there's even a mention of a movie called "Jilted" which is the Midler character, Cee Cee Bloom's version of Midler's own fiasco, "Jinxed.")  So, she's wonderful in the role, and Mayim Bialik is perfect as the 11 year old Cee Cee.
The movie replaces this scene with more of Hershey being cold and Midler being angry.Midler gives some terrific musical numbers, but they don't work within the structure of the movie (its understandable that they couldn't realistically flashback to her being a 19 year old in summer stock, but "The Factory" and "Otto Titzling," respectively fascinating and funny, belong in another film.)I understand when books are changed a bit in order to fit into a two-hour-movie.
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.
I love to look at Barbara Hershey and listen to Bette Midler in top form, particularly when she sings, but this picture is embarrassingly bad.
I wanted to see a male version of this with the Spalding Gray doctor character just to have a movie titled "Sons of Beaches," but the only things in this waste of celluloid are the performance of Mayim Bialik as a young Bette Midler and the song "Wind Beneath my Wings." So save yourself some pain and get the song, and if you absolutely must rent this movie on some video format, fast forward only to the Bialik scene and see a better Garry Marshall film (which means pretty much all the others he did) like the underrated "Flamingo Kid." I rented this thing once because Oprah went on and on about it gushing like a teenage girl, and had to stop the video several times because it was just too damned painful to see without constant bathroom breaks.A far better "Chick Flick" is "Fried Green Tomatoes." At least the writing didn't embarrass the talent within it.And I want my two bucks back for the waste of rental....and that's a wrap!.
Bette 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.
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.
Masterful performances by Bette Midler, who thoroughly deserved the Grammy for her song "Wind Beneath my Wings", and Barbara Hershey.
It is a rollercoaster ride of emotions.It is hugely entertaining,humerous and heart-wrenching at the end.The music is a plus for Bette Midler fans and the brilliantly sung 'Wind Beneath my Wings' is the perfect accompanyment for this film..
I love Bette Midler and think she is perfect in this movie.
I first watched Beaches with my childhood best friend - she said it was her favourite film, and it swiftly became mine.
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.
We see their lives as they grow up and apart from each other, only to see that the true friendship has never gone from their lives, no matter how burdensome their relationship has become.Barbara Hershey is wonderful as the friend from the right side of the tracks, and Mayim Bialik is eerily yet perfectly cast as a young Midler.
There's one particular line right near the end and, if I'm not already crying by then, I'm gone!!Any friends will see parallels to some aspect of their own friendships in this film - it's straight from the heart.And the soundtrack....buy it now!!.
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".
Very fine performances by Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey.This movie is a cute little story, that I love watching.
I 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.
This movie is definitely one of the best I've ever seen.It's a beautiful story about true friendship that lasts forever.The music is so beautiful !
I specially like the song: "The wind beneath my wings", magistrally performed by Bette Middler.If you haven't seen this movie, don't wait any longer.
Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey are alright, but they're mismatched, and the child actresses that play their characters at the beginning of the film are a lot better.
Still struggling to make in on the stage, obviously Broadway-bound Bette Midler (as Cecilia Carol "CC" Bloom) welcomes beautiful attorney Barbara Hershey (as Hillary "Hill" Whitney) as her New York City roommate...Trying to separate herself from her father's millions, Ms. Hershey wants to help poor people with her lawyer skills.
Young performers Grace Johnston (as Victoria), Mayim Bialik (as little CC), and Marcie Leeds (as little Hill) benefit beautifully from Garry Marshall's direction.****** Beaches (12/21/88) Garry Marshall ~ Bette Midler, Barbara Hershey, John Heard, Grace Johnston.
Tho both of them are from vastly different backgrounds they strike up a friendship that will literally last a lifetime.Directed by Gary Marshall, Beaches is adapted by Mary Agnes Donoghue from Iris Rainer Dart's novel, and stars Bette Midler & Barbara Hershey as the two female protagonists taking on the trials and tribulations of life and friendship.
This is a decent enough exploration of the lifelong friendship between two very different women, CC (Bette Midler) and Hillary (Barbara Hershey.) Meeting as children on a beach in Atlantic City, CC and Hillary are about as different as they can possibly be, but they establish a bond which for many years is basically a pen-pal relationship until they reconnect.
Bette Midler gives a great performance, there are a couple of very brilliant and fun singing numbers, and at times it is actually touching.
The reason i wanted to see this movie is because i heard the amazing and powerful song by Bette - Wind Beneath My Wings and the video to it had scenes from the film from it.
Im my opinion, this is one of the greatest films ever made, it makes you think about that one best friend that you had when you were little, and wonder, if you still don't talk to them, what life would be like.
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.
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..
Bette Midler plays a Divine Miss M type character, grating, scattered, nervous, self-absorbed, incessantly chattering.The music is for the most part disappointing except for the astounding Wind Beneath My Wings which overpowers the end of the film.
It is a movie that celebrates friendship, not just at the end, but all through the film.The child actors who play the young version of the adults not only looked like the adults, but they had their mannerisms.
I love Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey.
I had to buy the soundtrack because I love it so much.The bond that these two women share in this movie is unbelievable and it shows you how being a great friend really matters and makes a difference.
The whole movie is about two women and their life long friendship (That's original) Bette Midler couldn't be more annoying.
CC and Hilery both get married CC gets her big break and Hilery is a housewife CC and Hilery become filthy rich but their is a big bad surprise which will fiscally pull them apart, but emotionally bring them closer together.They met on a beach when they were both very young, brassy C.C. Bloom (Bette Midler) and classy Hilery (Barbara Hershey).Through good times and bad times, through broken marriages and budding careers, they still had each other.
Beaches is one of those films that you enjoy watching possibly talk about, if you are very emotional you might even weep, however it does not stand out as one of the great movies as it is a bit tacky.It follows the trials of a lifelong friendship between two girls on holiday and later two women, with their ups and downs.A nice story not badly portrayed with a cheesy soundtrack, I think the best part was the idea that with life's ups and downs you can get through anything if you have a true friend.No matter what!!!.
Bette Midler's early film acting years were not especially good as I can't find anything worth recommending in such films as "Down And Out In Beverly Hills", "Ruthless People" and "Outrageous Fortune." "Beaches" is the worst one of all.
The real treasure was Mayim Bialik, who would later star in "Blossom," and did a terrific Bette impersonation, complete with excellent singing (at least, I think it was her).The plot was kind of hard to follow in parts, but basically ended up being like a lesbian version of "Love Story," without any actual lesbianism.
The scene near the end when Wendy is dying, and her and CC are sitting next to each other at the beach, and then Bette Midler's song, Wind beneath my wings, begins to play, was just fantastic.
Starring Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey, this movie is about two women who first meet on the beach in Atlantic City when they were kids; one is from a rich family and the other is into show business.
This is a truly unforgettable movie to watch and will make you realize for sure that you should always have friends to stick with you through thick and thin, good times and bad.
Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey really convinced me that their friendship was real, and believe me that is no easy thing to do!!
bette midler is a personal favorite of mine and its just amazing to see how she puts her heart into this movie.
i would highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of chick flicks, bette midler, or mushy movies in general, this one brings tears and love to every eye.
My mom told me about this film ages ago and I seen it on TV twice before and let me tell yeah that this movie was so so sad to watch I literally cried every time I watch and hear that song Wind Beneath My Wings(yeah that is hands down the saddest songs of ALL time for me as it moves me and i always cry at it).The movie tells the tale of two best friends who meet up in Atlantic Beach and knew each other since they were kids.