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Hef's hand-prepared introductions set the stage for weekly Movie Nights at Playboy Mansion West
There will be no movie tomorrow night because it’s our annual Midsummer Night’s Dream party. The theme: the Arabian Night. Come dressed in sleepwear, lingerie or less.
On Sunday: Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford in “COWBOYS & ALIENS.”
Next Friday: Alan Ladd, Veronica Lake, Robert Preston and Laird Cregar in the film noir classic “THIS GUN FOR HIRE.”
And on Saturday–a week from tomorrow: Victor Mature and Brian Donleavy, with Coleen Gray and Richard Widmark in another crime noir classic “KISS OF DEATH.”
Tonight: Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan in the romantic comedy “WHEN HARRY MET SALLY.”
Directed by Rob Reiner. From a screenplay by Nora Ephron.
Rob Reiner is the son of comedian Carl Reiner. He played the hippie son in the popular TV series “ALL IN THE FAMILY” in the 70s.
The film was inspired by Reiner’s return to single life after a divorce.
An interview Ephron conducted with Reiner provided the basis for “Harry.”
“Sally” was based on Ephron and some of her friends.
Albert Brooks turned down the role that was awarded to Billy Crystal, who was then 40.
Molly Ringwald turned down the role that went to Meg Ryan, who was 27 when they made the film.
When Crystal came onboard, he supplied his own contributions to the screenplay, making “Harry” funnier.
Ephron supplied the film’s structure, with much of the dialogue based on the real-life friendship between Reiner and Crystal.
It was Meg Ryan’s idea to fake the orgasm in the restaurant.
The table in the New York deli where this was filmed now displays a plaque reading: “Congratulations, you’re sitting where Harry met Sally.”
The woman who says, “I’ll have what she’s having,” is the mother of Rob Reiner.
It was Crystal who suggested the line.
His character is based on Rob Reiner, who has a cameo in the film and a voice-over.
The film’s working titles included “BLUE MOON,” “WORDS OF LOVE,” “HARRY, THIS IS SALLY,” “BOY MEETS GIRL,” “JUST FRIENDS,” “PLAYING MELANCHOLY BABY,” “IT HAD TO BE YOU” and “HOW THEY MET.”
Dick Bann suggests: “11 YEARS OF EMOTIONAL FOREPLAY.”
The film was shot on a $16 million budget, from August 29 through November 15, 1988.
At the Astoria Studios in New York and locations including Coney Island, Greenwich Village, the East Village, Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands, the University of Chicago and Lake Shore Drive.
The film was released to theaters on July 2, 1989, with an ‘R’ rating.
Ad lines included: “Can men and women be friends, or does sex get in the way?”
And “Can two friends sleep together and still love each other in the morning?”
Rolling Stone’s review announced: “…A ravishing, romantic lark brimming over with style, intelligence and flashing wit. A winner that leaves a smile on your face all the way home.”
The film grossed $92.8 million in North America. Nora Ephron’s screenplay was nominated for an Oscar and received a British Academy Award.
AFI ranked the film 23rd on AFI’s list of 100 top comedies.
So now–from 1989–
“WHEN HARRY MET SALLY.”
