7.3/10
12,273
64 user 30 critic

Reversal of Fortune (1990)

Wealthy Sunny von Bülow lies brain-dead, husband Claus guilty of attempted murder; but he says he's innocent and hires Alan Dershowitz for his appeal.

Director:

Writers:

(book) (as Alan Dershowitz), (screenplay)
Won 1 Oscar. Another 12 wins & 16 nominations. See more awards »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Maria
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Jack Gilpin ...
Peter MacIntosh
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Ellen
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Mano Singh ...
Raj
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Nancy
Keith Reddin ...
Dobbs
Alan Pottinger ...
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Storyline

Alan Dershowitz a brilliant professor of law is hired by wealthy socialite Claus von Bulow to attempt to overturn his two convictions for attempted murder of his extremely wealthy wife. Based on a true story the film concentrates not on the trial like other legal thrillers, but on the preparatory work that Dershowitz and his students put in as they attempt to disprove the prosecution's case and achieve the Reversal of Fortune of the title. Written by Mark Thompson <[email protected]>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

The Case of Claus Von Bulow. An American Saga of Money and Mystery.


Certificate:

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Parents Guide:

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Details

Country:

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Language:

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Release Date:

9 November 1990 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

El misterio Von Bulow  »

Filming Locations:

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Box Office

Gross USA:

$15,445,131
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The two brothers that Alan Dershowitz is trying to save from death row are in fact based on the 1980 case of the Tison brothers in Arizona. The brothers assisted their father in escaping from prison, shortly after which he murdered four people. The two brothers were charged with murder but Dershowitz got this commuted to life in prison. The brothers were white but are black in the film. See more »

Goofs

When the intern wants to quit the project and heads for the door, the shot is flopped. Her books and purse change arms between shots. See more »

Quotes

[seating Claus and Alan]
Maitre D': Professor Dershowitz, Dr. von Bulow.
[he leaves]
Claus von Bülow: When I was married to Sunny, we never got this table. Now, two injections of insulin and I'm a doctor.
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Connections

Referenced in Ellen: Reversal of Misfortune (1997) See more »

Soundtracks

SEA GULL
Courtesy of Lyrichord Discs Inc.
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User Reviews

How Good Is This Film?..."You Have No Idea!"
15 May 2002 | by See all my reviews

Ever since the film premiered in 1990 Jeremy Iron's portrayal of the Aristocratic Claus Von Bulow has been etched in my memory. Iron's has without question created one of the most brilliantly layered historical characterizations to ever grace the screen.He gets to the heart of the haughty Von Bulow and brings us as close to liking the man as anyone ever could.His performance rightly won Him an Oscar for Best Actor. Just as engaging is Ron Silver's driven and hyper Alan Dershowitz. his performance of the great trail lawyer is facinatingly accurate. Having seen Dershowitz speak and meeting him afterwards it is very clear that Silver was able to capture even the smallest details of the man's movements,vocal inflections and dynamic rhetoric(Dersowitz himself claimed Silver used a tad too many hand gestures however!)

The supporting cast is equally strong. Glenn Close narrates the film as the comatose Sunny Von Bulow and appears in flashback during the events that lead to her coma. She captures Sunny's selfishness as well as her vulnerability. The great Uta Hagan appears as Sunny's maid and protector and give a performance worthy of her reputation.

Barbet Schroeder slickly directs the film,not as a linier plot but as a series of flashbacks,moments and current incidents. This is one of the few films that I cannot find a single flaw in.For direction,plot,characterization,writing..and Jeremy Iron's wonderful performance this film is an absolute 10!


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