An auctioneer's daughter and a rich buyer's emissary fall for each other while trying to keep a rare wine out of the hands of evil doers.An auctioneer's daughter and a rich buyer's emissary fall for each other while trying to keep a rare wine out of the hands of evil doers.An auctioneer's daughter and a rich buyer's emissary fall for each other while trying to keep a rare wine out of the hands of evil doers.
- Richard Harwood
- (as Timothy Bentinck)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
Tim Daly turned in an engaging performance as the mostly bemused Oliver Plexico. Penelope Ann Miller, later seen to devastating effect in The Shadow, turns in a light but powerful performance as the determined Margaret Harwood. Together, they battle enraged farmers, violent scientists, and each other before true love wins out--and the ending is as charming, quirky, and brow-raising as the rest of the film.
Truly, a wonderfully intimate little film about the perils of the wine business--and falling in love.
The story, of an 'ugly duckling' daughter of a wine-selling family (Miller), journeying to Scotland to appraise an estate's wine cellar, and discovering a near-priceless Napoleonic vintage, might have, by itself, made a fair film...but tossing in subplots involving a suave villain (the legendary Louis Jordan, echoing his performance in "Octopussy") searching for a 'Fountain of Youth' formula while hiding in the castle, and a Scottish thug who steals the bottle (leading to an illogical helicopter/car/rowboat chase) manages to 'dumb down' the plot beyond redemption. Adding a final unsurprising twist...that Miller's companion through her 'adventures' (Daly) is actually rich (one wonders how he keeps his money, as blithely unconcerned and free-spending as he is)...simply cements the film as nothing more than a time-passer.
There are a few 'pluses' that keep the film from being a total waste; Scotland is, as always, gloriously beautiful; Jordan's head 'henchman' (the wonderful Nick Brimble) is a hoot, particularly when trying to pass himself off as a Scot police inspector; and Hummie Mann's score, influenced by traditional themes, is lovely, when the dumb dialog doesn't interrupt it!
How sad, so bad!
As it was back in 1993 I happened to be working in a video store in which we were only permitted to watch PG films in-store for obvious reasons. This happened to be a new release which I put on one day. Generally I would have put it one and forgot about about it, like so many other films. However I was initially actually attracted to it by its soundtrack, then the fact it was filmed in Britain, made me more interested as at the time I preferred to watch British films, usually for their added realism.
Soon I was hooked to the film, although the acting looked a bit corny, I thought it was deliberate, and the dialogue was actually quite funny in its downbeat style. The story made the film a bit like a road movie with both lead characters initially almost irritated by each other. But the adventure they go on as they hunt for the elusive bottle of rare wine.
By the end of it I was in love with Penelope Ann Miller and almost whooping at Tim Daly. In fact I liked it so much over the course of 18 months I watched it around 25 times! I wouldn't claim its to everyone's taste, however if you want to watch an enjoyable film for a quiet night in, watch Year Of The Comet, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
Tim Daly is effortlessly charming and Miss Miller is properly wholesome, as the role demands. Nice one-liners and recurring jokes, a frothy but well-paced plot, and some excellent performances by character actors in supporting roles (I especially love the Scottish mother) make it easy to watch and enjoy.
Well, unless you want explosions and political subtext.
Did you know
- TriviaThis was Louis Jourdan's final film before his death on February 14, 2015 at the age of 93.
- GoofsWhen Margaret Harwood goes to the MacPherson Castle and encounters Philippe in the shots showing Margaret's face, you can see a hair stuck up on her head. When Philippe's face is shown you can see Margaret's hair is back in place.
- Quotes
Oliver Plexico: Pssssst! Maggie!
Margaret Harwood: [Maggie looks out the window, leans out a little, then looks down and sees Oliver on the remaining block of the broken wall planter below] What are you doing?
Oliver Plexico: [smiles tiredly] I've come to rescue you!
Margaret Harwood: [looks behind her, then back to Oliver] Don't rescue me, it's a trap!
Oliver Plexico: Sweet, sweet Maggie! I know it's a Goddamned trap! The point is, I've somewhat bungled things. So... you're gonna have to save me.
Margaret Harwood: [stands upright, crossing arms] Are you safe on that thing?
Oliver Plexico: Define safe.
Margaret Harwood: [Turns around hastily, pulls the sheets off the bed, ties them into a long rope and ties it around herself hastily, prepared to lower it down to Oliver] Allright! I'll save your life! That's only fair, you saved mine! But then I'm calling it quits!
Oliver Plexico: Why?
Margaret Harwood: Because you have no respect for my feelings!
Oliver Plexico: I have respect for your feelings...
Margaret Harwood: Bull Shit!
Oliver Plexico: I get the feeling you don't believe me?
Margaret Harwood: Stop being charming!
Oliver Plexico: I haven't got much choice right now, I got a 50 foot drop below me, and a crazy lady 10 feet above!
Margaret Harwood: After we... After we did... After we were done with...
Oliver Plexico: After sex?
Margaret Harwood: Yes! Right! Correct! You could have got the number yourself, you didn't have to
[chokes back tears]
Margaret Harwood: throw your wife at me!
Oliver Plexico: I don't have a wife.
Margaret Harwood: I saw the wedding photo!
Oliver Plexico: That's my sister!
[Oliver starts to get aggravated]
Margaret Harwood: Don't make it worse!
Oliver Plexico: [yelling] Now you listen to me, Margaret! When I first met you, you were this... beautiful, crazy... ragamuffin. And I said to myself, hey! A beautiful, crazy... ragamuffin! I didn't have to fly down to get the bottle, I volunteered! Now why do you think I did that?
Margaret Harwood: Why should I believe any of this?
Margaret Harwood: [sighs, frustrated and looks around, motioning with his hand] A guy fresh from the chiropractor scales a 50 foot wall to save your life? This is not mass entertainment Maggie! It's gotta be... Love!
- SoundtracksALOT OF LIVIN' TO DO
By Lee Adams and Charles Strouse- Strada Music
All rights of Strada Music
Administered by The Songwriters Guild of America
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Year of the Comet
- Filming locations
- Kyleakin, Skye, Highland, Scotland, UK(ferry chase scene)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $18,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $2,791,515
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $1,350,939
- Apr 26, 1992
- Gross worldwide
- $2,791,515
- Runtime
- 1h 31m(91 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1