Reversal of Fortune is a 1990 American drama film adapted from the 1985 book Reversal of Fortune: Inside the von Bülow Case, written by law professor Alan Dershowitz. It recounts the true story of the unexplained coma of socialite Sunny von Bülow, the subsequent attempted murder trial, and the eventual acquittal of her husband, Claus von Bülow, who had Dershowitz as his defense attorney.[1] The film was directed by Barbet Schroeder and stars Jeremy Irons as Claus, Glenn Close as Sunny, and Ron Silver as Dershowitz. Screenwriter Nick Kazan originally envisioned Austrian actor Klaus Maria Brandauer in the role of Claus von Bülow, but was thrilled with Irons' performance. Irons earned the 1990 Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in the film.
Reversal of Fortune | |
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Directed by | Barbet Schroeder |
Screenplay by | Nicholas Kazan |
Based on | Reversal of Fortune: Inside the von Bülow Case by Alan Dershowitz |
Produced by |
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Starring | |
Cinematography | Luciano Tovoli |
Edited by | Lee Percy |
Music by | Mark Isham |
Production companies |
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Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
Release dates |
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Running time | 111 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Box office | $15.4 million |
The story is narrated by Sunny von Bülow, who is in a coma after falling into diabetic shock after a Christmas party. Her husband, the dissolute European aristocrat Claus von Bülow, is charged with attempting to murder the hypoglycemic Sunny by giving her an overdose of insulin. Claus's strained relationship with his wife and his cold and haughty personal demeanor led most people to conclude that he is guilty. In need of an innovative defense, Claus turns to law professor Alan Dershowitz. Dershowitz is initially convinced of Claus's guilt, but takes the case because von Bülow agrees to fund Dershowitz's defense of two poor black boys accused of capital murder. Employing his law students as workers, Dershowitz proceeds to defend Claus, wrestling with his client's unnerving personal style and questions of von Bülow's guilt or innocence.
The film was shot in numerous estates in Rhode Island and New Jersey, and the Knole house in Old Westbury. At least one courtroom scene was shot at the Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department in Brooklyn, New York.
The film received mostly positive reviews and holds a 92% approval rating at Rotten Tomatoes, with an average score of 7.9/10 from 51 reviews. The site's consensus states: "Featuring exceptional performances and a cunning script, Reversal of Fortune doubles as a tantalizing mystery and ruthless satire of the rich."[2]
Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
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20/20 Awards | Best Actor | Jeremy Irons | Won |
Best Actress | Glenn Close | Nominated | |
Best Adapted Screenplay | Nicholas Kazan | Nominated | |
Academy Awards[3] | Best Director | Barbet Schroeder | Nominated |
Best Actor | Jeremy Irons | Won | |
Best Screenplay – Based on Material from Another Medium | Nicholas Kazan | Nominated | |
Artios Awards[4] | Outstanding Achievement in Feature Film Casting – Drama | Howard Feuer | Nominated |
Boston Society of Film Critics Awards[5] | Best Actor | Jeremy Irons | Won |
Best Screenplay | Nicholas Kazan | Won | |
Chicago Film Critics Association Awards[6] | Best Actor | Jeremy Irons | Won |
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards | Best Film | Nominated | |
David di Donatello Awards[7] | Best Foreign Actor | Jeremy Irons | Won |
Golden Globe Awards[8] | Best Motion Picture – Drama | Nominated | |
Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama | Jeremy Irons | Won | |
Best Director – Motion Picture | Barbet Schroeder | Nominated | |
Best Screenplay – Motion Picture | Nicholas Kazan | Nominated | |
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Awards[9] | Best Actor | Jeremy Irons | Won |
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards[10] | Best Actor | Won | |
Best Screenplay | Nicholas Kazan | Won | |
Nastro d'Argento | Best Cinematography | Luciano Tovoli | Nominated |
National Board of Review Awards[11] | Top Ten Films | 5th Place | |
National Society of Film Critics Awards[12] | Best Film | 3rd Place | |
Best Actor | Jeremy Irons | Won | |
New York Film Critics Circle Awards[13] | Best Film | Runner-up | |
Best Director | Barbet Schroeder | Nominated | |
Best Actor | Jeremy Irons | Runner-up | |
PEN Center USA West Literary Awards | Best Screenplay | Nicholas Kazan | Won |
Political Film Society Awards | Exposé | Nominated | |
Writers Guild of America Awards[14] | Best Screenplay – Based on Material from Another Medium | Nicholas Kazan | Nominated |
In 2015, the 25th anniversary of Entertainment Weekly named Reversal of Fortune on its list of the 25 best films of the past 25 years.[15]
The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists:
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Films directed by Barbet Schroeder | |
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