Plot & Details
Director Lawrence Kasdan and Frank Galati adapted their screenplay for The Accidental Tourist from Anne Tyler's novel. William Hurt plays Macon Leary, a well-known "travel advisor" headquartered in Baltimore. The tragic death of Leary's son causes him to withdraw from the world, which in turn prompts his wife (Kathleen Turner) to walk out on him. Recuperating from a broken leg, Leary moves in with his sister (Amy Wright) and brothers (Ed Begley Jr., David Ogden Stiers)-staid middle-aged intellectuals all. Discipline problems with his dead son's dog lead Leary to hire flaky professional dogwalker/trainer Muriel Pritchett (Geena Davis, who won an Oscar for her performance). The only non-uptight person within shouting distance, Muriel begins to melt Leary's self-protective shell. Once his wife realizes that she has some competition, she makes moves to get him back. But he has by now become accustomed to Muriel's unfettered lifestyle.
- MPAA Rating: PG
- Genre(s): Drama,Romance
- Run Time: 121min.
- Theatrical Release Date: 12/23/1988
- DVD Release Date: 01/20/2004
- Distributor(s): Warner Bros.
- Director(s): Lawrence Kasdan
- Starring: William Hurt , Kathleen Turner , Geena Davis , Amy Wright , Bill Pullman
- Themes: Haunted By the Past,Opposites Attract,Death of a Child,Breakups and Divorces,Starting Over
- Tone: Humorous,Literate,Talky,Wintry,Melancholy,Understated,Quirky
- Keywords: death-in-family,dog,ex-wife,family-dynamics,grief,relationship,second-chance,self-discovery
- Country of Origin: USA (12-23-1988)
- Language: English
Awards
Academy Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Cast & Crew | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | Best Supporting Actress | Geena Davis | Won |
| 1988 | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | Best Adapted Screenplay | Frank Galati | Nominated |
| 1988 | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | Best Score | John Williams | Nominated |
| 1988 | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | Best Picture | Michael Grillo | Nominated |
| 1988 | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | Best Picture | Charles Okun | Nominated |
| 1988 | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | Best Adapted Screenplay | Lawrence Kasdan | Nominated |
| 1988 | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | Best Picture | Lawrence Kasdan | Nominated |
Golden Globes
| Year | Award | Category | Cast & Crew | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Hollywood Foreign Press Association | Best Picture - Drama | Nominated | |
| 1988 | Hollywood Foreign Press Association | Best Original Score | John Williams | Nominated |
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