Beaches Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Two girls meet, become best friends, compete for the same man, fight, make up, and then one of them dies; basically, it’s a soap opera with better music.

🍿 Beaches: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Childhood Meeting in Atlantic City

The story begins in Atlantic City, where 11-year-old C.C. Bloom, a budding performer, meets Hillary Whitney Essex, a privileged girl from San Francisco. Despite their different backgrounds, they form an instant connection, marking the start of a lifelong friendship. They exchange addresses, promising to stay in touch through letters. Their correspondence becomes a vital part of their lives, sharing their dreams, fears, and experiences as they navigate adolescence and young adulthood. These early letters set the foundation for their enduring bond, hinting at the challenges and triumphs that lie ahead.

Moving to New York and Early Careers

Years later, Hillary, seeking independence from her structured life, moves to New York City to live with C.C., who is struggling to make it as a singer and actress. They share a small apartment and support each other’s ambitions. C.C. finds work as a performer, and Hillary pursues her career. Their friendship is tested when they both fall for the same man, John, a theater director. This creates tension and jealousy between them, leading to their first major falling out. However, their bond ultimately proves stronger than their romantic interests.

Marriage, Success, and Growing Apart

Hillary eventually marries Michael and moves to San Francisco, while C.C. achieves success on Broadway and later as a recording artist. Despite their different paths, they remain connected, though distance and differing lifestyles create a strain on their friendship. They experience a significant falling out after a disagreement at a department store, and their communication ceases for a time. Their reconciliation comes after Hillary discovers her husband’s infidelity and seeks solace with C.C. Hillary finds out that she’s pregnant and C.C. decides to become a singer in a nightclub.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• CC Bloom (Bette Midler): A driven and ambitious New York child performer who becomes a successful singer and entertainer, maintaining a close but complex friendship with Hillary.
• Hillary Whitney Essex (Barbara Hershey): A privileged San Francisco debutante who becomes a lawyer and shares a lifelong, turbulent friendship with CC, facing personal challenges and ultimately a terminal illness.
• John Pierce (John Heard): A stage director who becomes romantically involved with both CC and Hillary, creating tension in their friendship.
• Michael Essex (James Read): Hillary’s husband, representing a more conventional and stable life path compared to CC’s.
• Victoria Essex (Grace Johnston): Hillary’s daughter, who becomes close to CC after Hillary’s death, symbolizing the continuation of their friendship’s legacy.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• CC Bloom: “You’re not dead yet: so stop living as if you are!” – CC encourages Hillary to embrace life and not give in to despair.
• Hillary Whitney Essex: “We are friends. Aren’t we?” – A recurring line from their childhood, emphasizing the bond between them, even in adulthood.
• CC Bloom: “What will I do without a best friend?” – CC expresses her fear and grief as Hillary’s health deteriorates.
• CC Bloom: “I’ve got to have you. I don’t know what I’m gonna do without you.” – CC reveals the depth of her love and dependence on Hillary during a moment of vulnerability.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $20,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $57,041,866
• Worldwide Gross: $57,041,866

💥 Beaches Reviews

Personal Review

I remember watching Beaches for the first time with my mom and crying buckets. It’s one of those movies that sticks with you because it portrays friendship in such a raw and honest way. Bette Midler’s performance is iconic, especially ‘Wind Beneath My Wings.’ When Hillary dies, and CC is left to care for Victoria…that always gets me. This movie reminds me of the importance of cherishing friendships and the impact they have on our lives. I watch it every few years and cry every single time. No matter how many times I watch the ending scene with the song, it ALWAYS makes me tear up.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey”
  • “Viewers who enjoy tear-jerking dramas”
  • “Those interested in stories about female friendship”
  • “People who appreciate movies with strong soundtracks”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Death of a main character”
  • “Terminal illness”
  • “Some mature themes related to relationships”
  • “Occasional strong language”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “Beaches is a sentimental journey that explores the complexities of female friendship. While predictable at times, Midler and Hershey deliver heartfelt performances that resonate with audiences.
• The New York Times: “Garry Marshall’s Beaches is a tear-jerker that relies heavily on emotional manipulation. However, the genuine chemistry between Midler and Hershey makes the film a worthwhile watch for those who enjoy stories of enduring friendship.
• RogerEbert.com: “While undeniably popular, ‘Beaches’ sacrifices depth for sentimentality. Midler is fantastic as usual, but the plot’s reliance on familiar tropes undermines the overall impact.

Audience Reactions

The ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’ scene is absolutely heart-wrenching and unforgettable.: Viewers consistently praise the strong performances of Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey, as well as the film’s emotional depth.

The movie perfectly captures the ups and downs of lifelong friendships.: Audiences appreciate the film’s exploration of complex emotions and its ability to resonate with personal experiences.

Overall Consensus: Beaches is a beloved tear-jerker that explores the enduring power of female friendship, driven by strong performances and memorable music.

Awards

1. Golden Screen (Golden Screen)- 1990

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film is based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Iris Rainer Dart.”
• “Bette Midler’s performance of ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’ became a massive hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.”
• “Mayim Bialik, who played the young C.C. Bloom, later became a neuroscientist and starred in ‘The Big Bang Theory’.”

🖥️ How to Watch Beaches?

Beaches is currently available for purchase or rental on platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu. Check your local listings for cable on-demand availability. Unfortunately, at this time, it is not included with any streaming subscriptions.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Beaches, you might like these similar films:

• Steel Magnolias (1989): Explores the strong bonds of female friendship amidst life’s joys and tragedies, set in a close-knit community.
• Terms of Endearment (1983): Focuses on the complex relationship between a mother and daughter, dealing with love, loss, and the complexities of family bonds.
• Now and Then (1995): Four childhood friends reunite as adults, reminiscing about their shared experiences and the pivotal summer that shaped their lives.
• The Way We Were (1973): A classic romance drama that spans years and explores themes of love, loss, and enduring connections amidst differing life paths.

🛒 Beaches Related Products

• Beaches (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack): Relive the emotional journey of the film with the iconic soundtrack, featuring Bette Midler’s unforgettable performances. A must-have for fans of the movie.
• Bette Midler – Beaches Movie Poster: High-quality print of the original movie poster, perfect for decorating your home theater or adding to your Bette Midler collection. A classic piece of movie memorabilia.
• Beaches (Blu-ray): Experience the heartwarming story of Beaches like never before with the Blu-ray edition. Enjoy stunning visuals and crisp audio as you relive the emotional journey of CC and Hillary.
• Bette Midler: The Divine Miss M (CD): A Bette Midler CD that encapsulates the same essence and emotional depth as Beaches. Explore more of Midler’s catalog.

🎧 Soundtrack

Beaches features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Wind Beneath My Wings” – performed by Bette Midler
• “Under the Boardwalk” – performed by Bette Midler
• “I Think It’s Going to Rain Today” – performed by Bette Midler

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Beaches • Wind Beneath My Wings • Bette Midler

Seriously, who *doesn’t* tear up listening to ‘Wind Beneath My Wings’? This is Bette Midler at her best, singing the soundtrack to a lifetime of friendship in ‘Beaches’. Grab some tissues!

✨ Rate