American Dreamer (1984)
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20% of critics liked it
(5 reviews) -
60% of users liked it
(3,291 ratings)
In this farcical look at a female detective/mystery story writer, Cathy Palmer (JoBeth Williams) is an ordinary housewife living in Ohio with a condescending husband who is far from ideal. When Cathy wins a writing contest and has the chance to go to Paris and meet the author of the romance novels… More In this farcical look at a female detective/mystery story writer, Cathy Palmer (JoBeth Williams) is an ordinary housewife living in Ohio with a condescending husband who is far from ideal. When Cathy wins a writing contest and has the chance to go to Paris and meet the author of the romance novels she loves, her husband tries to prevent the trip. In the end, Cathy's interests prevail, though her husband still refuses to go with her. After arriving in Paris, Cathy is knocked down by a car and wakes up in the hospital with all memory of her past life erased. In its place, she believes she is Rebecca Ryan, the heroine in the romance novels she has read. Carrying her unconscious role to the hilt, she dresses in elegant clothes and meets the comically rattled Alan McMann (Tom Conti) who becomes her partner, of sorts. Little does she know that Alan is not Rebecca's secretary, but the actual ghost writer of the Ryan novels. Cathy begins to suspect that villains are lurking everywhere, and her intuition in that regard is unerring -- she has doubts about the klutzy leader of the French opposition party (Giancarlo Giannini), and it turns out her doubts are well-founded. As the plot thickens, it becomes apparent that sooner or later Cathy-cum-Rebecca will have to realize the truth about her identity, but in the meantime, much skullduggery awaits. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Directed By
- Rick Rosenthal
- Written By
- Jim Kouf, David Greenwalt
- Genres
- Action & Adventure, Romance, Mystery & Suspense, Comedy
PG,
- In Theaters
- Oct 26, 1984 Wide
- Studio
- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Tim Robey, Daily Telegraph
Doesn't hold many surprises.
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Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
Resoundingly generic "Romancing the Stone" copycat.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Featured Audience Ratings
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Cast
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JoBeth Williams
as Cathy Palmer
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Tom Conti
as Alan McMann
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Giancarlo Giannini
as Victor Marchand
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Coral Browne
as Margaret McMann
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James Staley
as Kevin Palmer
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Huckleberry Fox
as Karl Palmer
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Christopher Daniel Barnes
as Kevin Palmer Jr.
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Leon Zitrone
as Russian Ambassador
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Jean Rougerie
as Don Carlos
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Pierre Santini
as Inspector
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Brian Eatwell
as Malcolm
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Albert Augier
as Customs Inspector
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Franck-Olivier Bonnet
as Man With Matchbook
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Janine Darcey
as Lady on Train
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Christian de Tilière
as Train Passenger
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Ginette Garcin
as Nurse
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Anna Gaylor
as Woman at Bookstore
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Gilberte Geniat
as Embassy Guest
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Fernand Guiot
as Limo Driver
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Alan Haufrect
as Golf Buddy
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Jeffrey Kramer
as Gold Buddy
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Jacques Maury
as Crillon Manager
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Hubert Noël
as Doctor At Nightclub
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Pierre Olaf
as Priest
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Nancy Stephens
as Jacqueline
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André Valardy
as Dimitri
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Annick Alane
as Givenchy Saleswoman
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Serge Berry
as Givenchy Manager
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Alain Flick
as Train Passenger
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Pierre Gérard
as Thief on Bike
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Murray Gronwall
as Gendarme
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Eugeniusz Priwieziencew
as Russian Diplomat
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Katia Tchenko
as Embassy Guest
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Michel Bardinet
as Rafael Lesueur
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Robin Coleman
as Golf Buddy
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Vic Heutschy
as American Tourist
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Alain Janey
as Embassy Guest
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Jean-Claude Montalban
as Bellman
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Francois Viaur
as Crillon Night Doorman
