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SF General, 1001 Potrero Ave. |
In spite of the
fact that Hillary Whitney (Barbara Hershey) is rich, she's taken to a public
hospital, San Francisco General, after collapsing at her home in Atherton
- thirty miles south of here. San Francisco audiences always get a chuckle
when young Hillary (Marcie Leeds) explains that she says she's from San
Francisco because Atherton is just outside the City. Beaches
is one of the great tear jerkers of all time. As such, it is extremely
manipulative. Hershey and Bette Midler are friends to the end. Widely known
as the Bette Midler ego movie (aren't they all?) the star delivers a tour
de force. She even upstages Hillary's death scene which appears to have
been filmed without Hershey altogether! The 1988 comedy/drama with Midler
songs including the radio hit "Wind Beneath my Wings" was directed by Gary
Marshall from the novel by Iris Rainer Dart and screenplay by Mary Agnes
Donoghue. Mayim Bialik, who went on to TV stardom as "Blossom," has charm
to spare as the younger version of Midler's character, C.C. Bloom.
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