Made in Heaven (1987 film)
Made in Heaven is a 1987 fantasy-comedy film directed by Alan Rudolph, script from Bruce A. Evans and Raynold Gideon, and produced by Lorimar Productions. The film stars Timothy Hutton and Kelly McGillis and has cameos by Tom Petty, Ric Ocasek, Ellen Barkin and Neil Young. An additional character known only as "Emmett" in the film was played by Debra Winger (Hutton's then wife), who acted as a chain-smoking male angel.
| Made in Heaven | |
|---|---|
 Original movie poster | |
| Directed by | Alan Rudolph |
| Produced by | David Blocker Bruce A. Evans Raynold Gideon |
| Written by | Bruce A. Evans Raynold Gideon |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Mark Isham |
| Cinematography | Jan Kiesser |
| Edited by | Tom Walls |
| Distributed by | Lorimar Productions |
Release date |
|
Running time | 102 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $13 million[1] |
| Box office | $4,573,000 |
The original music score was composed by Mark Isham. The film was marketed with the tagline "How in Heaven did they meet? How on Earth will they find each other?"
Made in Heaven concerns two souls who cross paths in Heaven and then attempt to reconnect once they are reborn on Earth.
In 1988, the film was released on VHS format as well as digital stereo LaserDisc format. In 2009, the film made its DVD debut as part of the Warner Archive Collection.
Plot summary
In a small Pennsylvania town in 1957, Mike Shea (Hutton) dreams of escaping small town life and moving to California with his girlfriend Brenda Carlucci. But Brenda leaves him with his motor running and Mike takes off alone. Along the way, he rescues a woman and her children from a river but perishes himself. He finds himself in Heaven, where his Aunt Lisa greets him, and explains the rules and regulations. Once in the ethereal realm, Mike falls in love with a heavenly guide named Annie Packert (McGillis).
Their love is abruptly interrupted because Annie has not yet earned her wings on Earth; she must leave on a tour of duty and put in time inhabiting a human body. Mike is beside himself with despair, but the heavenly powers, in the form of Emmett Humbird, chain-smoking and sporting an orange crew-cut, offer him a deal. Mike can return to Earth, with the stipulation neither he nor Annie will remember each other. He then has 30 years in which they must find each other again.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Timothy Hutton | Mike Shea/Elmo Barnett |
| Kelly McGillis | Annie Packert/Ally Chandler |
| Maureen Stapleton | Aunt Lisa |
| Ann Wedgeworth | Annette Shea |
| James Gammon | Steve Shea |
| Mare Winningham | Brenda Carlucci |
| Don Murray | Ben Chandler |
| Timothy Daly | Tom Donnelly |
| David Rasche | Donald Summer |
| Amanda Plummer | Wiley Foxx |
| Marj Dusay | Mrs. Packert |
| Tom Petty | Stanky (uncredited) |
| Ellen Barkin | Lucille (uncredited) |
| Debra Winger | Emmett Humbird |
| Ric Ocasek | Mechanic (uncredited) |
| Neil Young | Truck Driver (uncredited) |
Soundtrack
Made in Heaven: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was released through Elektra Records on LP and cassette, but not on CD.
- Martha Davis (of The Motels) - "We Never Danced" (Neil Young) (also available on The Motels' compilation album Anthologyland (2001))
- R.E.M. - "Romance" (Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Michael Stipe) (also available on the compilation album Eponymous (1988))
- Ric Ocasek - "I Still Want You" (Ric Ocasek)
- Luther Vandross - "There's Only You" (Luther Vandross) (an early demo version is available on the compilation album Love, Luther (2007))
- The Nylons - "Up the Ladder to the Roof" (Frank Wilson, Vincent DiMirco) (from the album One Size Fits All (1982))
- Buffalo Springfield - "Mr. Soul" (Neil Young) (from the album Buffalo Springfield Again (1967))
- Buffalo Springfield - "I Am a Child" (Neil Young) (from the album Last Time Around (1968))
- Mark Isham - "Same Time, Another Place"
- Mark Isham - "Beyond the Frames"
- Mark Isham - "Instead of Floating"
Pre-recorded songs from the film that were not on the soundtrack album:
- Sly and the Family Stone - "If You Want Me to Stay" (Sly Stone)
- Buffalo Springfield - "For What It's Worth" (Stephen Stills)
- Alberta Hunter - "Long May We Love" (Grace Freed, Roc Hillman)
- Hank Williams - "Why Should We Try Anymore" (Hank Williams)
- Ernest Tubb and Red Foley - "Goodnight, Irene" (Lead Belly)
References
- "AFI|Catalog". catalog.afi.com. Retrieved Jul 24, 2019.