WHEN HARRY MET SALLY... tracks a star-crossed pair as they repeatedly drift apart and meet again over a span of 13 years and gradually fall madly, deeply, passionately into... more
This review already contains more than 120 words. As a Ciao member you could earn up to £5 with this review.
comedy genre, made a superstar of Meg Ryan, and in two minutes of heavy breathing gave cinema one of its most memorable scenes. Set over 12 years in New York, young pr...
comedy genre, made a superstar of Meg Ryan, and in two minutes of heavy breathing gave cinema one of its most memorable scenes. Set over 12 years in New York, young pr...
When Harry Met Sally
One of the classiest comedies of the 1980s, Rob Reiner's When Harry Met Sally (1989)
... more
stars Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan as good friends who struggle to keep their relationship from becoming romantic. Rather than take the easy route of licensing classic performances of the Great American Songbook, director Reiner enlisted a young, then-obscure Harry Connick Jr. to offer his own readings of these 1930s and 1940s staples. Though Connick plays it fairly straight, he injects his interpretations with stylistic flair and formidable technical facility ("Stompin' At The Savoy"). The big-band charts of Marc Shaiman fuel tracks such as "It Had To Be You" and "I Could Write A Book," while Connick switches to a more poignant mode in takes of "Autumn In New York" and "Where Or When." In other moments his joyful vocals counterpoint the young couple's witty battle by presenting love as something simple and uncomplicated ("Our Love Is Here To Stay"). Though Crystal and Ryan allow true love to wear them down at the end, Connick makes sure the listener stays one step ahead of them along the way. An inspired performance of exemplary material. --Kevin Mulhall
comedy genre, made a superstar of Meg Ryan, and in two minutes of heavy breathing gave cinema one of its most memorable scenes. Set over 12 years in New York, young professionals Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Ryan) go from meeting to becoming friends to, well--this is a romantic comedy. Benefiting from an observant and witty script by Nora Ephron, it also offers insight into the differences between men and women. More importantly it's very funny, though the most hilarious scene is also the least believable: Sally is really too conventional to do that in a crowded restaurant. Knowingly modern, the picture's snappy one liners, neurotic honesty and straight-to-camera interludes are in the tradition of Woody Allen's New York Jewish humour, a prime example being Annie Hall (1976), while the inspired use of standards not only made a star of Harry Connick Jnr. but started a trend developed in Everyone Says I Love You (1996) and Love's Labour's Lost (2000). Perfectly played, with excellent support from Carrie Fisher, When Harry Met Sally is the archetypal modern romantic comedy. On the DVD: There's an excellent 33-minute documentary made in 2000 which interviews all the key players talking candidly not so much about how the film was made but why, and revealing just how much of it is actually based upon director Rob Reiner and star Billy Crystal's own experiences and personalities (the story about Reiner acting out the fake orgasm scene for Meg Ryan is priceless). There are seven short deleted scenes (easy to see why they didn't make the final cut) and a commentary track by Reiner, which contains a lot of space and does little more than repeat the information in the documentary. The anamorphically enhanced 1.77: 1 picture though a touch grainy in dark scenes is generally rich and detailed with excellent colour. Audio is stereo, and only blossoms when there is a song on the soundtrack. There are 14 subtitle options including English for Hard of Hearing.--Gary S Dalkin
comedy genre, made a superstar of Meg Ryan, and in two minutes of heavy breathing gave cinema one of its most memorable scenes. Set over 12 years in New York, young professionals Harry (Billy Crystal) and Sally (Ryan) go from meeting to becoming friends to, well--this is a romantic comedy. Benefiting from an observant and witty script by Nora Ephron, it also offers insight into the differences between men and women. More importantly it's very funny, though the most hilarious scene is also the least believable: Sally is really too conventional to do that in a crowded restaurant. Knowingly modern, the picture's snappy one liners, neurotic honesty and straight-to-camera interludes are in the tradition of Woody Allen's New York Jewish humour, a prime example being Annie Hall (1976), while the inspired use of standards not only made a star of Harry Connick Jnr. but started a trend developed in Everyone Says I Love You (1996) and Love's Labour's Lost (2000). Perfectly played, with excellent support from Carrie Fisher, When Harry Met Sally is the archetypal modern romantic comedy. On the DVD: There's an excellent 33-minute documentary made in 2000 which interviews all the key players talking candidly not so much about how the film was made but why, and revealing just how much of it is actually based upon director Rob Reiner and star Billy Crystal's own experiences and personalities (the story about Reiner acting out the fake orgasm scene for Meg Ryan is priceless). There are seven short deleted scenes (easy to see why they didn't make the final cut) and a commentary track by Reiner, which contains a lot of space and does little more than repeat the information in the documentary. The anamorphically enhanced 1.77: 1 picture though a touch grainy in dark scenes is generally rich and detailed with excellent colour. Audio is stereo, and only blossoms when there is a song on the soundtrack. There are 14 subtitle options including English for Hard of Hearing.--Gary S Dalkin
stars Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan as good friends who struggle to keep their relationship from becoming romantic. Rather than take the easy route of licensing classic performances of the Great American Songbook, director Reiner enlisted a young, then-obscure Harry Connick Jr. to offer his own readings of these 1930s and 1940s staples. Though Connick plays it fairly straight, he injects his interpretations with stylistic flair and formidable technical facility ("Stompin' At The Savoy"). The big-band charts of Marc Shaiman fuel tracks such as "It Had To Be You" and "I Could Write A Book," while Connick switches to a more poignant mode in takes of "Autumn In New York" and "Where Or When." In other moments his joyful vocals counterpoint the young couple's witty battle by presenting love as something simple and uncomplicated ("Our Love Is Here To Stay"). Though Crystal and Ryan allow true love to wear them down at the end, Connick makes sure the listener stays one step ahead of them along the way. An inspired performance of exemplary material. --Kevin Mulhall
stars Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan as good friends who struggle to keep their relationship from becoming romantic. Rather than take the easy route of licensing classic performances of the Great American Songbook, director Reiner enlisted a young, then-obscure Harry Connick Jr. to offer his own readings of these 1930s and 1940s staples. Though Connick plays it fairly straight, he injects his interpretations with stylistic flair and formidable technical facility ("Stompin' At The Savoy"). The big-band charts of Marc Shaiman fuel tracks such as "It Had To Be You" and "I Could Write A Book," while Connick switches to a more poignant mode in takes of "Autumn In New York" and "Where Or When." In other moments his joyful vocals counterpoint the young couple's witty battle by presenting love as something simple and uncomplicated ("Our Love Is Here To Stay"). Though Crystal and Ryan allow true love to wear them down at the end, Connick makes sure the listener stays one step ahead of them along the way. An inspired performance of exemplary material. --Kevin Mulhall
****************************************************************
TITLE: When Harry Met Sally...
RATING: *****
CAST: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Bruno Kirby, Carrie Fisher, Lisa Jane Persky, Steven Ford, Michelle Nicastro, Gretchen Palmer, Harley Jane Kozak, Tracey Reiner, Kyle Heffner, Estelle Reiner. DIRECTOR: Rob Reiner
SCREENWRITER: Nora Ephron
STUDIO: Metro Goldwyn Mayer / Castle Rock Entertainment
RUNNING TIME: 95 minutes
RATED: R (US) & ... ...The iconic moment of WHEN HARRY MET SALLY..., on the other hand, was a hundred degrees different. Even more so, this cinematic centerpiece revealed a startling revelation about women that few men knew, and it was one of hundreds of brilliant touches added by screenwriter Nora Ephron, who was nominated for an Oscar. Regardless, the Academy thought that DRIVING MISS DAISY was the film of the year though, arguably, I think most audiences preferred what ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: One of the best romantic comedies ever made, Crystal, Ryan, everything's near-perfect. Disadvantages: Affects you differently depending on your experience s (not necessarily a con!)
When Harry Met Sally is one of the best romantic comedies ever made - and not just in my opinion! So what makes it so good?
Apart from containing defining performances by both Billy Crystal (Harry) and Meg Ryan (Sally), excellent supporting roles for Carrie Fisher and Bruno Kirby, assured direction, superb dialogue, the fake orgasm scene that will forever be part of cinema history, a great soundtrack (thankfully not all by Harry Connick, Jr - my ... ...a couple of songs early in the movie), good cinematography, an good balance of hilarious and sensitive moments, good pacing, and… erm… okay, exactly what else do you want from a romantic comedy? (Some people are sooooooo demanding!) The film stars out with a young Harry being given a lift to New York by Sally, and an ensuring conversation on the hours-long journey about whether men and women could ever be just friends. Harry concludes in his uniquely ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: Meg Ryan and everything else Disadvantages: Well, not enough zombies but that's just being picky.
...Another scene of note is when Harry is bragging to Jess about the last women he slept with, making her meow like a cat. The incredulous look on Kirby's face is priceless - he is obviously wondering what it takes to make a woman meow and his response his great - 'You made a woman meow?'. I certainly wouldn't mind knowing that information.
Reiner is really at the top of his game with the direction. New York City looks magical, particularly during ... ...their seemingly unrelated love stories of how they got together is a lovely, welcome touch. He never feels the need to pull a cheap gag instead allowing the viewer to empathize with the main characters as they develop throughout the story. Full credit for a job well done.
The soundtrack is brilliantly-relevant with the soft, velvet crooning of Harry Connick Jnr providing the bulk of the songs and music - a great mood-setter.
As an observation on ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: witty, well acted, feelgood Disadvantages: none for me
When Harry Met Sally was THE comedy of 1989. Everyone was talking about it. Starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal – both of whom were HUGE at the time - it asked the question, ‘Can two friends sleep together and still remain friends in the morning'? Directed by Rob Reiner and scripted by Nora Ephron, the film starts with a real-life old couple talking about their romance. Then it jumps back to a time when Crystal (Harry) and Ryan (Sally) ... ...on and both are glad when the trip is over.
Move forward five years and they meet again, on a plane. They’re still chalk and cheese, but this time their dynamic is different. They talk about their relationships and leave the plane as friends.
Move forward several years again. Harry and Sally are both newly single. They start to spend time together. Just friends at first, but Harry keeps on pushing until eventually they get it on. Next morning ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: great romantic flick Disadvantages: none
...which everyone must know is when Sally fakes an orgasm in a busy café to prove to Harry that women do indeed fake it sometimes! (I’ll have whatever she ordered!)
The two of them then run in to each other at various points over the next ten years. The two of them have since split from their earlier partners and keep bumping in to eachother. At first this is a pain for Sally who is not interested in him in the slightest. However, one day Sally’s ... ...she doesn’t need a partner, when deep down she craves love just as much as the next girl! Billy Crystal is great as the persistent Harry, a cheeky but loveable chap. This film is ten times better than sleepless in Seattle and is definitely Meg Ryan’s finest role.This film is also 100% viewable just cos your wishing for them to bloody well hurry up and realise that they are in love!
It was actually released in the late 1980’s but ...
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Actor(s): Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher, Bruno Kirby, Lisa Jane Persky, Rob Reiner
Director(s): Rob Reiner
Genre: Comedy
Classification: 15 years and over
Production Year: 1989
Running Time: 1 hour 31 minutes
Video Category: Feature Film
Plot: Harry and Sally are friends, but only out of the bedroom. Their last eleven years of friendship have been purely platonic. Now they've fallen in love with each other. But can they remain true friends if they start having sex?
Release details
DVD Region: Region 2 (Europe)
Studio(s): MGM ENTERTAINMENT; CINRAM LOGISTICS
Release date: 23/07/2001
No of Discs: 1
Catalogue No: 16024 DVD
Barcode: 5050070006476
Screenwriter: Nora Ephron
Director of Photography: Barry Sonnenfeld
Producer: Nora Ephron, Barry Sonnenfeld
DVD Description
WHEN HARRY MET SALLY... tracks a star-crossed pair as they repeatedly drift apart and meet again over a span of 13 years and gradually fall madly, deeply, passionately into friendship, a friendship ever teetering on the edge of love. Harry meets Sally when they share a car ride to New York City upon graduation from the University of Chicago. A few minutes into the trip, the conversation between womanising, neurotic Harry (Billy Crystal) and driven, equally neurotic Sally (Meg Ryan) becomes heatedly contentious. The question arises: Can a man and a woman be just friends
Special Features: Original Theatrical Trailer, The Making Of When Harry Met Sally, Audio Commentary By Rob Reiner, Harry Connick Music Video It Had To Be You, Deleted Scenes
Similar products and search queries by other users
When Screen, When Harry Screen, When Met Screen, When Sally Screen, When Wide Screen, When Harry Met Screen, When Harry Sally Screen, When Harry Wide Screen, When Met Sally Screen, When Met Wide Screen, When Sally Wide Screen, When Harry Met Sally Screen, When Harry Met Wide Screen, When Harry Sally Wide Screen, When Met Sally Wide Screen
Are you the manufacturer / provider of When Harry Met Sally (Wide Screen)? Click
![When Harry Met Sally [1989]](http://picnic.ciao.com/uk/65512146.jpg)
