The Prince of Tides (1991)

73% of critics liked it
(30 reviews)
69% of users liked it
(8,699 ratings)

Barbra Streisand directed and stars in this love story about two people of dissimilar backgrounds who form a connection based on their unhappy experiences. Adapted from the novel by Pat Conroy, the story concerns Tom Wingo (Nick Nolte), a rudderless, unemployed football coach. Stuck in a loveless… More Barbra Streisand directed and stars in this love story about two people of dissimilar backgrounds who form a connection based on their unhappy experiences. Adapted from the novel by Pat Conroy, the story concerns Tom Wingo (Nick Nolte), a rudderless, unemployed football coach. Stuck in a loveless marriage with a wife (Blythe Danner) who feels nothing for him, and unable to move forward with his life, he is suddenly jarred out of his lethargy when he travels to New York because his twin sister (Melinda Dillon) has just tried to kill herself. In New York, he meets her psychiatrist, Susan Lowenstein (Barbra Streisand), who is married to a snobbish husband (Jeroen Krabbe). Susan and Tom become attracted to each other out of their loneliness. As his relationship with Susan blossoms, Tom learns to deal with his mother Lila (Kate Nelligan), who is the sole emotional center of his life. In the past, Lila was married to an abusive alcoholic. When she left her first husband, she married a rich man whose abuse was mental rather than physical. Tom hates Lila, but he can't free himself of his attachment to her. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 6 min.
Directed By: Barbra Streisand
Genres: Drama, Romance

In Theaters: Dec 25, 1991 Wide
On DVD: Nov 6, 2001
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
The results may seem overripe and dated in spots, but she coaxes a fine performance out of Nolte, and the other actors (herself included) acquit themselves honorably.
Variety Staff, Variety
A deeply moving exploration of the tangled emotions of a dysfunctional Southern family, this lovingly crafted (though unevenly scripted) film of Pat Conroy's novel centers on Nick Nolte's performance of a lifetime.
Janet Maslin, New York Times
The Prince of Tides marks Ms. Streisand's triumphantly good job of locating that story's salient elements and making them come alive on the screen.
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Streisand hyperbolizes everything, from James Newton Howard's whackingly obtrusive score to Nick Nolte's overripe narration.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
An assured and very serious love story that allows neither humor nor romance to get in the way of its deeper and darker subject.
Rita Kempley, Washington Post
When her good sense doesn't yield to hubris, Streisand shows the polish of a veteran director in handling this complicated form.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Directed with loving care by Barbra Streisand, this adaptation of the best-seller also boasts a serious flaw: Streisand herself.
Barry McIlheney, Empire Magazine
Graced with fine performances and commendably biting off more than it can ever hope to chew, The Prince Of Tides is a rare slice of romantic moviemaking for all those grown-ups feeling ignored since Kramer Vs. Kramer last rattled their value systems.
, Film4
Self-indulgent, soap opera nonsense.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
As director, Streisand shows compassion for Pat Controy's Southern Gothic novel, and the film works better as a study of troubled childhood and male menopause than as romance between psychiatrist (poorly played by Streisand) and Nick Nolte as her patient
, Time Out
They do make 'em like it any more.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Pretty good romantic soap...except for Streisand's talons.
Dan Lybarger, Nitrate Online
Nolte's terrific performance isn't enough to save this sappy, painfully phony piece of psychobabble.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
The musical score of the film is somewhat overbearing, but most other production values, such as editing, script-writing and direction are above average.

Read all 14 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Cassie H

Very good movie. Another Barbra Streisand classic!
Jason S

This is a character driven movie with some really messed up characters. The movie is a little slow for my tastes and I really didn't go for the pairing of the two main people. There is a flashback scene that is pretty violent and racy that made me a little uncomfortable but… More
This is a character driven movie with some really messed up characters. The movie is a little slow for my tastes and I really didn't go for the pairing of the two main people. There is a flashback scene that is pretty violent and racy that made me a little uncomfortable but it's important to the state of mind that the main character finds himself in so it's not something that you can leave out.
Red L

Tom (Nick Nolte) moves from Atlanta to New York to help his twin sister (Savannah). Savannah's psychiatrist, Lowenstein (Barbra Streisand.) asks Tom to be his sister's memory. There is good reason that Tom and Savannah cannot remember their childhood. Nick Nolte's… More
Tom (Nick Nolte) moves from Atlanta to New York to help his twin sister (Savannah). Savannah's psychiatrist, Lowenstein (Barbra Streisand.) asks Tom to be his sister's memory. There is good reason that Tom and Savannah cannot remember their childhood. Nick Nolte's acting and Barbra Steisand's directing are pretty good in this film.
Lafe F

A powerful character story. It's fun seeing Barbara Streisand as a psychiatrist in a serious romantic drama. Nick Nolte plays a traumatized adult whom she helps. A well made film.
Leigh R

It was okay...
Lanning :

I only saw this for the first time recently. I guess I held off because of Barbra Streisand. She's very good, as is Nolte. And Blythe Danner! Another movie you won't want to see if you're already feeling down. However, redemption is right around the corner.
Alec B

Performance wise, both Nolte and Striesand are great, but once the great secret that destroyed this family is revealed the film strays into senseless and dull melodrama.
Daisy M

<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i32.tinypic.com/27yrew0.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a> The Prince of Tides was an amazing movie, filled with emotion and… More
<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i32.tinypic.com/27yrew0.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a> The Prince of Tides was an amazing movie, filled with emotion and humor. Nick Nolte was the heart of the film. A broken man, hiding his past and unable to accept the dysfunction of his past life. He traveled to New York to try to help his sister, who wanted to commit suicide. He got help from his sister psychiatrist played by Barbra Streisand. He opened up to her and revealed the secrets within his heart. The emotions that Nick was able to put on screen was amazing to see. He is a damn good actor and this role was not an easy role to play. Barbra Streisand was fantastic as the psychiatrist who had her own secrets.Prince of Tides had everything I want in a movie, simply delicious to watch.
Audrey L

Arrggghh...Hollywood turned this masterpiece of Pat Conroy's into a love story. It is so much more than that,but as far as literature adaptations go, it's not too bad. Conroy also had The Great Santini and The Lords of Discipline adapted to film-these were done quite well.… More
Arrggghh...Hollywood turned this masterpiece of Pat Conroy's into a love story. It is so much more than that,but as far as literature adaptations go, it's not too bad. Conroy also had The Great Santini and The Lords of Discipline adapted to film-these were done quite well. Anyway...this FILM is intense,compelling and poignant. It is a story told well on the screen with a stellar performance by Nick Nolte.He takes a very complicated and conflicted character and does Conroy's book justice. It is a story of familial secrets,repression and shame,as well as redemption healing and the journey toward accepting one's own truth. I highly recommend the film and watched it again tonight for the 3rd or 4th time. I also highly recommend the book by one of my favorite authors.

Read all 9 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Nick Nolte as Tom Wingo

            Barbra Streisand as Dr. Susan Lowenstein

            Blythe Danner as Sallie Wingo

            Kate Nelligan as Lila Wingo Newbury

            Jeroen Krabbé as Herbert Woodruff

            Melinda Dillon as Savannah Wingo

            George Carlin as Eddie Detreville

            Jason Gould as Bernard Woodruff

            Brad Sullivan as Henry Wingo

            Maggie Collier as Lucy Wingo

            Lindsay Wray as Jennifer Wingo

            Bradlyn Whitaker as Chandler Wingo

            Justen Woods as Tom Wingo-Age 6

            Bobby Fain as Tom Wingo-Age 10

            Trey Yearwood as Tom Wingo-Age 13

            Nancy Moore Atchison as Savannah Wingo--Age 10

            Grayson Fricke as Luke Wingo--Age 9

            Chris Stacy as Luke Wingo-Age 16

            John Arceri as Vendor

            Yvonne Brisendine as Christine Kingsley

            Marilyn Carter as Anna Richardson

            Milton Clark Jr. as Doctor

            Bonnie Cook as Nurse #1

            Francis Dumaurier as Waiter

            Rebecca Fleming as Megan Daniels

            Bob Hannah as Reese Newbury

            Warren Kremin as Fisherman

            Lee Lively as Ed Rosenberg

            Norman Max Maxwell as 1st Rapist

            Frederick Neumann as Madison Kingsley

            R.D. Oprea as 2nd Rapist

            Ann Pierce as Riva Rosenberg

            Sandy Rowe as Monique

            Alan Sader as Spencer Richardson

            Nick Searcy as Man at Party

            Dottie Soracco as Nurse #2

            Kirk Whalum as Saxophonist
See full cast

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