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| Michael Biehn and Lauren Bacall |
Sally Ross (Lauren Bacall) is a former movie star turned theater actress who is just about to star in her first Broadway musical. She is still regretting her divorce from her ex-husband, Jake (James Garner), whom she still loves, and is shielded from annoying people and fans by her loyal secretary Emma (Maureen Stapleton). Her biggest problem, however, quickly becomes Douglas Breen (Michael Biehn), a deluded, mentally-disturbed fan boy who hopes to turn the middle-aged actress into his lover. Maybe if she had the chance to actually see him before he began slicing up her acquaintances with a straight-razor, but after that ...? Douglas takes violent exception to anyone who comes between him and his aging movie star crush, including Emma, Sally's dates, and other unfortunates.
The Fan is somewhere between a psychological thriller and a slasher film, and apparently Bacall was not pleased that the original script became more violent in the style of the time. Basically playing herself, she's fine in the movie, and James Garner blandly saunters through without raising a sweat. Stapleton, Hector Elizondo and a few others are a bit more memorable, and Biehn, in his first major role, walks off with the movie. (This did him little good at the time as The Fan was a box office bomb.) Pino Donaggio's score helps a little in creating some excitement, but while the film's plot holds your attention, the direction lacks real style and energy. The song "Hearts and Diamonds," sung by Sally on opening night, won a Razzie award but it may have had more to do with Bacall's horrible croaking of the tune than with the song itself. 
Old unmarried couple: Bacall; Garner
Hi Bill, was hoping you would get around to covering this one; it's one of my favorite oddities. Biehn is great here, and the scenes of putting together a Broadway musical starring Bacall are a hoot. Hamlisch and Tim Rice wrote "Hearts, Not Diamonds" for it...Also love Elizondo and Stapleton in particular. Not a great movie, just a lot of fun and a personal favorite.
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Chris, others have told me that they really like the movie as well, and it definitely is entertaining. Biehn is terrific in it, but he is a really intense and talented actor.
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