Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
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A bored housewife becomes entangled in a web of mistaken identity after following a series of mysterious personal ads in a newspaper.
The story
Roberta Glass, an unfulfilled housewife from New Jersey, becomes obsessed with a series of personal ads in a New York City tabloid, specifically one seeking a woman named Susan Thomas. Meanwhile, the itinerant Susan arrives in New York City after a tryst with a mobster, carrying a stolen pair of Egyptian earrings. When Roberta attempts to find the lovers mentioned in the ads, she encounters a series of coincidences involving a distinctive tuxedo jacket. After a series of accidents, Roberta suffers from amnesia and is mistaken for Susan by several people, leading her into a chaotic journey through the city's underground scene.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Roberta Glass, a housewife from New Jersey, is captivated by personal ads in a New York tabloid, particularly one seeking 'Susan.' Meanwhile, Susan Thomas, a bohemian drifter, arrives in NYC after a tryst with mobster Bruce Meeker, stealing his Egyptian earrings. Roberta follows the ads to Battery Park, where she sees Jim Dandy reunite with Susan. Later, Roberta buys a vintage jacket Susan discarded and finds her locker key. Roberta posts her own ad to meet Susan. A man named Nolan, seeking the earrings, mistakes Roberta for Susan because she wears the jacket. After a moped accident, Roberta suffers amnesia and is taken in by Dez, who believes she is Susan. Roberta eventually regains her memory but is arrested as a prostitute. Meanwhile, Susan discovers Roberta's existence through a diary and tries to meet her. The two women finally meet at a magic club where Roberta confronts Nolan. After Roberta knocks out Nolan and the earrings are returned, she and Susan are celebrated as heroes in the newspaper, while Roberta ends her marriage to her husband Gary.
- First release year
- 1985
- Runtime (minutes)
- 104
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Susan Seidelman
- Writers
- Leora Barish · writer; Craig Bolotin · uncredited rewrite
- Cast and characters
- Rosanna Arquette · Roberta Glass; Aidan Quinn · Jim Dandy; Madonna · Susan Thomas; Robert Joy · Bruce Meeker; John Turturro; Giancarlo Esposito; Laurie Metcalf; Steven Wright
- Genres
- comedy-drama; independent; romantic comedy; romantic drama; mystery
- Themes
- identity; feminism; yuppie culture; fashion
- Tone and mood
- comedy; drama; screwball
- Premise and plot tags
- mistaken identity; amnesia; bohemian; yuppie
- Source material / true-story basis
- Céline et Julie vont en bateau (1974)
- Reception
- The film was a commercial success and received predominantly positive reviews, with both Arquette's and Madonna's acting being critically acclaimed. It was noted for its impact on 1980s fashion and was eventually considered a cult classic and a significant feminist film.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 71 · scale: 100 · review count: 16
- Production trivia
- The Statue of Liberty can be seen in the movie when it was still covered in scaffolding during its two-year renovation.; The movie's costumery was influenced in part by Madonna's own early style.; The film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 2023.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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