Taglines: Not based on a true story.
Delirious movie storyline. Jack is the head writer for a successful soap opera, and he’s sweet on the show’s star, lovely Laura. It’s easy for everyone but Jack to see that she’s playing him for a sap. But a conk on the head brings Jack some new insights – and some new powers. He finds himself in Ashford Falls, site of his fictional soap opera — and everything he writes comes true! It’s a fantastic opportunity to get Rachel, Laura’s character, to fall in love with him. But life isn’t easy even in the fictional world, and even when you’re the author!
Delirious is a 1991 fantasy comedy film starring JJohn Candy, Mariel Hemingway, Emma Samms, Raymond Burr, Dylan Baker, Charles Rocket, David Rasche, Andrea Thompson, Zach Grenier, Renée Taylor, and Mark Boone Junior. The film used Prince’s 1982 song as its title theme. The film was a critical and commercial failure.
About the Story
Jack Gable is the lead writer and producer of the soap opera Beyond Our Dreams. Consumed by his work, he harbors an unspoken attraction to Laura Claybourne, the selfish actress playing the lead character, Rachel Hedison.
Jack crosses paths with Louise, who is there to audition for the part of Janet DuBois, a character Jack did not want introduced. Jack then has a contentious meeting with his co-producers, the Sherwoods. The Sherwoods reveal that they are displeased with several elements of Jack’s outline for the upcoming season and wish to kill off Rachel, due to Laura’s outrageous contract demands. Feigning compromise, the Sherwoods immediately hire Arnie Federman, a rival of Jack’s, to make the changes they desire. At the same time, Jack has suggested a new character, Jack Gates, a ruthless tycoon. The Sherwoods make no promise of writing Gates into the show, despite Jack’s interest.
Planning a trip to Vermont for the weekend, Jack is contacted by Laura. She has just broken up with her boyfriend Dennis, the actor who plays Dr. Paul Kirkwood on the show, and wishes to accompany Jack. As Jack loads their luggage into the trunk, Dennis suddenly calls out to Rachel. Jack looks up to see them kissing just as the trunk lid hits him in the head. Upon awakening, he leaves for Vermont alone. Not far out of New York, he crashes his car.
Upon waking, Jack finds himself in Ashford Falls Community Hospital, one of the settings of his show. Thinking himself the victim of a prank by the actors, he goes to the window to confirm his suspicions, only to see a real town. Incredulous, he manages to convince Dr. Kirkwood of his good health and checks out of the hospital. He is immediately intercepted by Janet DuBois.
She believes him to be Jack Gates, who is seeking to buy a miracle weight-loss formula developed by her late father. Jack rebuffs her, denies he is Gates and says that he is only a writer. As she leaves in frustration, she angrily tells him to “write his way out”. On a whim, Jack gets out his typewriter and writes a scene of the local mechanic calling to say that his damaged car is fixed. Immediately after, the mechanic calls and confirms the repairs are finished. Jack realizes that he can control events by writing them.
Jack seizes his new found power to pursue Rachel, saving her from the death arranged for her by Federman. Despite his writing skills, she ignores him. His efforts are redeemed by the attentions of Janet. He assists her in her efforts to avoid the machinations of the Hedisons, including patriarch Carter and his sons, Blake and Ty. The Hedisons own a large pharmaceutical company, and wish to acquire her formula at any cost. The Federman version of Jack Gates appears, but Jack sends him on a business trip to Cleveland.
Delirious (1991)
Directed by: Tom Mankiewicz
Starring: John Candy, Mariel Hemingway, Emma Samms, Raymond Burr, Dylan Baker, Charles Rocket, David Rasche, Andrea Thompson, Zach Grenier, Renée Taylor, Mark Boone Junior
Screenplay by: Lawrence J. Cohen, Fred Freeman
Production Design by: Angelo P. Graham
Cinematography by: Robert M. Stevens
Film Editing by: William D. Gordean, Tina Hirsch
Costume Design by: Molly Maginnis
Set Decoration by: Cloudia Rebar
Art Direction by: James J. Murakami
Music by: Cliff Eidelman
Distributed by: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release Date: August 9, 1991
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