JUST ANOTHER GAL FROM CASPER: WHAT I’M WATCHING RIGHT NOW EDITION…
I first saw “Murphy’s Romance” with my mom about a thousand years ago (or around 1986, shortly after it was released). It was one of those movies that kind of slipped under the radar — I’m not even sure I’d seen a trailer. But mom and I both really dug James Garner (for entirely different reasons, I’m sure), Sally Field was always a solid performer, and we were probably both just sitting around with nothing better to do than go to a movie…
Sally Field is Emma Moriarty, a young-ish single mom who moves herself and her son Jake (a very young, very adorable Cory Haim in one of his earliest roles) to a dilapidated “ranch” in Eunice, Arizona. They’re broke, but they’re both hard workers, and begin fixing the place up so she can eke out a living training horses.
James Garner is Murphy Jones, an older widower in a small town where the women outnumber the men 10 to 1. He owns the local drug store and soon befriends Emma and Jake. All’s going pretty smoothly…until her deadbeat ex, Bobby Jack (Brian Kerwin) shows up.
Bobby Jack’s a charmer, and he says he’s a changed man. However, he’s not much for work of any sort, let alone ranch work. But Emma lets him stay, knowing how much it means to Jake to have his father around. Murphy — who’s now boarding a horse at the ranch — is also around, for supper, a game of cards, going to a movie — whatever. There are definitely a few “pissing contests” between Murph and Bobby Jack…
Murphy’s a tolerant man, until the moment during a party when a drunk Bobby Jack confronts him about the nature of his relationship with Emma (this is the one scene that contains a bit of strong language)…
So, who will Emma choose? The handsome, charming, young Bobby Jack? Or the laid-back, reliable, mature Murphy? (She’s never been able to pry Murphy’s age outta him — even on his birthday…
Emma: (asking how many candles to place on his cake) Ok, what is it? How old are you, Murphy?
Murphy: Just set the damn thing on fire!
“Murphy’s Romance” may sound like a “chick flick,” but I don’t see it that way — not just, anyway. Men and women alike can enjoy this movie. You can watch it with your parents, your grandparents, your kids — there’s no sex, no violence, and minimal swearing (the “f” word only appears once.) Yes, the music is pretty cringe-y – Carole King (Yes, that Carole King) created a typical ’80s score with electric keyboards, shrill saxophone and tacky drum tracks. But dated music aside, it’s absolutely worth a watch. James Garner was nominated for an Academy Award. All of the main actors have good chemistry. And I still enjoy this movie very much.
Search “Murphy’s Romance” streaming options, or order the DVD from places like Downtown’s Sonic Rainbow, Amazon or eBay.
