Switch (film)
Encyclopedia
Switch is a 1991
comedy film
written and directed by Blake Edwards
. A promiscuous man (Perry King
) is murdered by his lovers and reincarnated
as a beautiful woman (Ellen Barkin
).
was described as a 'delightfully wicked Satan' by Film Review
.
This film was indirectly referenced numerous times throughout the long-running series Mystery Science Theater 3000
. In the original television spots for the film, Jimmy Smits' name was announced in an unusual way: "Ellen Barkin. Switch. Jimmy Smits. Starts Friday." The writers of MST3K found it amusing that Smits' name was announced after the title and not announced as "also starring Jimmy Smits" or "with Jimmy Smits", only as "Jimmy Smits". Smits became a running gag
on the series: in various episodes, a character of the show would say "Jimmy Smits" whenever the word "switch" was uttered or sometimes for seemingly no reason at all.
In the 2001 book Spreading Misandry, authors Paul Nathanson
and Katherine K. Young
highlight the film as what they see as an example of misandry
in American popular culture
. They write that the film implies that "Vice is inherent in the male body, but virtue is inherent in the female body". They also condemn the light, comic treatment of Steve's premeditated murder at the films beginning.
, who shares composer credits with Don Grady
, but Mancini's score was canned and replaced by a pop song soundtrack. Both the unused Mancini score and the pop song soundtrack were produced on CD in 1991, as a result of which two motion picture soundtrack albums exist for this film.
Henry Mancini score
Pop soundtrack
1991 in film
The year 1991 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*April 28 - Bonnie Raitt marries actor Michael O'Keefe in New York* Terminator 2: Judgment Day, became one of the landmarks for science fiction action films with its groundbreaking visual effects from Industrial Light & Magic.*November...
comedy film
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
written and directed by Blake Edwards
Blake Edwards
Blake Edwards was an American film director, screenwriter and producer.Edwards' career began in the 1940s as an actor, but he soon turned to writing radio scripts at Columbia Pictures...
. A promiscuous man (Perry King
Perry King
Perry Firestone King is an American television and film actor. King played the role of Cody Allen on the detective series Riptide from 1983 to 1986.-Early life:...
) is murdered by his lovers and reincarnated
Reincarnation
Reincarnation best describes the concept where the soul or spirit, after the death of the body, is believed to return to live in a new human body, or, in some traditions, either as a human being, animal or plant...
as a beautiful woman (Ellen Barkin
Ellen Barkin
Ellen Barkin is an American film, television and theatre actress.-Early life:She was born Ellen Rona Barkin in Bronx, a borough of New York City, New York, the daughter of Evelyn , a hospital administrator who worked at Jamaica Hospital, and Sol Barkin, a chemical salesman...
).
Legacy
Although not a success at the box office, Ellen Barkin was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role while Bruce PayneBruce Payne
Bruce Martyn Payne is an award winning English character actor and producer and was a member of the 1980's Brit Pack. Although he is best known for his villainous roles, Bruce Payne has played characters across the spectrum...
was described as a 'delightfully wicked Satan' by Film Review
Film Review (magazine)
Film Review magazine first appeared in 1950, initially for a 3-issue trial run. At the time it was titled "ABC Film Review" due to being tied in with ABC cinemas. At the time it was just 20 pages and cost 3 Old Pence. It was published by Associated British in association with Pathé and produced...
.
This film was indirectly referenced numerous times throughout the long-running series Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc., that ran from 1988 to 1999....
. In the original television spots for the film, Jimmy Smits' name was announced in an unusual way: "Ellen Barkin. Switch. Jimmy Smits. Starts Friday." The writers of MST3K found it amusing that Smits' name was announced after the title and not announced as "also starring Jimmy Smits" or "with Jimmy Smits", only as "Jimmy Smits". Smits became a running gag
Running gag
A running gag, or running joke, is a literary device that takes the form of an amusing joke or a comical reference and appears repeatedly throughout a work of literature or other form of storytelling....
on the series: in various episodes, a character of the show would say "Jimmy Smits" whenever the word "switch" was uttered or sometimes for seemingly no reason at all.
In the 2001 book Spreading Misandry, authors Paul Nathanson
Paul Nathanson
Paul Nathanson is a Canadian religious studies academic. He has a BA in art history ; an MLS ; a BTh ; an MA in religious studies ; and a PhD...
and Katherine K. Young
Katherine K. Young
Katherine K. Young is a Canadian religious studies academic. She was awarded her M.A. from the University of Chicago and her Ph.D. from McGill University, for research on the history of religions, specializing in Hinduism. After completing her doctorate Young remained at McGill as a faculty member...
highlight the film as what they see as an example of misandry
Misandry
Misandry is the hatred or dislike of men or boys.Misandry comes from Greek misos and anēr, andros . Misandry is the antonym of philandry, the fondness towards men, love, or admiration of them...
in American popular culture
Popular culture
Popular culture is the totality of ideas, perspectives, attitudes, memes, images and other phenomena that are deemed preferred per an informal consensus within the mainstream of a given culture, especially Western culture of the early to mid 20th century and the emerging global mainstream of the...
. They write that the film implies that "Vice is inherent in the male body, but virtue is inherent in the female body". They also condemn the light, comic treatment of Steve's premeditated murder at the films beginning.
Music
This motion picture was supposed to have a soundtrack composed and arranged by Henry ManciniHenry Mancini
Henry Mancini was an American composer, conductor and arranger, best remembered for his film and television scores. He won a record number of Grammy Awards , plus a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously in 1995...
, who shares composer credits with Don Grady
Don Grady
Donald Michael Agrati , better known as Don Grady, is an American composer, musician and actor. He is remembered both as one of Mickey Mouse's original Mouseketeers, and as Robbie Douglas, from My Three Sons. His sister was also an actress, billed as Lani O'Grady...
, but Mancini's score was canned and replaced by a pop song soundtrack. Both the unused Mancini score and the pop song soundtrack were produced on CD in 1991, as a result of which two motion picture soundtrack albums exist for this film.
Henry Mancini score
- Main Title - Theme from "Switch" - 2:10
- Something for Pizzi - 4:00
- Amanda and the Devil - 2:25
- Seduction - 3:17
- Dukes - 3:00
- It's All There (Song from "Switch" Instrumental) - 3:22
- They Marry - 3:34
- Fashion Show - 1:42
- End Title - Theme from "Switch" - 4:30
Pop soundtrack
- Lyle LovettLyle LovettLyle Pearce Lovett is an American singer-songwriter and actor. Active since 1980, he has recorded thirteen albums and released 21 singles to date, including his highest entry, the number 10 chart hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, "Cowboy Man"...
- "You Can't Resist It" - 3:05 - Ronnie MilsapRonnie MilsapRonnie Lee Milsap is an American country music singer and pianist. He was one of country’s most popular and influential performers of the 1970s and 1980s...
- "Old Habits Are Hard to Break" - 5:32 - Bruce Hornsby and the Range - "Barren Ground" - 4:53
- Paul Young/ClannadClannadClannad are an Irish musical group, from Gaoth Dobhair, County Donegal. Their music has been variously described as bordering on folk and folk rock, Irish, Celtic and New Age, often incorporating elements of an even broader spectrum of smooth jazz and Gregorian chant...
- "Both Sides, Now" - 5:10 - Nathalie ArchangelNathalie Archangel (album)Nathalie Archangel's self-titled debut album was released in 1987 on CBS Records. It contained the 2 singles, Mr. Perfect For Me and I Can't Reach You. The album was produced by David Kahne and the album's bass guitar tracks were performed by future American Idol judge, Randy Jackson. -Track...
- "So Quiet, So Still" - 4:10 - Pretty Boy FloydPretty Boy Floyd (American band)Pretty Boy Floyd is a glam metal band from Hollywood, California formed in 1987. They are most famous for their 1989 debut album Leather Boyz With Electric Toyz and the two singles from it; "Rock and Roll" and "I Wanna Be With You"...
- "Slam Dunk" - 2:55 - Joe ElyJoe ElyJoe Ely is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist whose music touches on honky-tonk, Texas Country, Tex-Mex and rock and roll....
- "Are You Listenin' Lucky?" - 3:34 - Indecent ObsessionIndecent ObsessionIndecent Obsession was an Australian pop band. They formed in 1987 in Brisbane.Australian music guru Molly Meldrum signed the band to his record label Melodian. The band tasted success with the single "Say Goodbye" hitting the Australian Top 10 in August 1989...
- "Dream After Dream" - 4:06 - The JetsThe Jets (band)The Jets are a family band from Minneapolis, Minnesota, composed of brothers and sisters who specialize in pop, R&B, and dance music, particularly Latin freestyle.The group officially formed in 1985, with the original lineup fizzling out by 1990...
- "Sendin' Out a Message" - 4:03 - Jody WatleyJody WatleyJody Vanessa Watley is an American, singer, songwriter, record producer, and founder of Avitone Records whose music crosses genres from Pop, R&B, Jazz, Dance and Electronic Soul....
- "It's All There" - 2:38