Outrageous Fortune

Outrageous Fortune is a 1987 American film written by Leslie Dixon, directed by Arthur Hiller, and stars Shelley Long and Bette Midler. The title is taken from Shakespeare's Hamlet ("... the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, ...").

The film was a box-office smash, and Midler received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, and won an American Comedy Award for Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role).

Plot
Refined actress Lauren Ames (Shelley Long) finally has a chance to study with the great theatre professor Stanislav Korzenowski (Robert Prosky). Sandy Brozinsky (Bette Midler), a brash, loud actress, decides through happenstance to also study with Korzenowski. Lauren and Sandy take an instant dislike to each other when they first meet in Korzenowski's class, but unknown to each other, both women begin dating the same man, Michael Sanders (Peter Coyote).

When Michael "dies" in a gas explosion at a local store, Lauren and Sandy figure out that Michael may have faked his death, and they form an uneven alliance to follow leads across the country to find him and force him to choose between them. During their quest, Lauren and Sandy are chased by CIA agents, as well as Russian assassins who are also after Michael.

When Lauren and Sandy finally find Michael, he tries to kill both of them and they are forced to run until they are captured by the federal agents. Lauren and Sandy learn that Michael is a double agent for the CIA who has now gone rogue, also working for the KGB, and that he has stolen a toxin that could destroy huge areas of nature with just a few drops. The CIA wants to find Michael to force him to give back the toxin bio-weapon, while the Russian assassins are men cheated by the double agent who work for Korzenowski, the ladies theatre professor.

The chase leads to rural Arizona when Lauren is taken hostage by Michael and his rogue associates who force a trade with the CIA for the toxin, and with Korzenowski with the stolen cash he intended to give to Michael. When the trade goes awry, Lauren gets away with both the money and the toxin, with Michael in hot pursuit. Cornered on a series of mountain tops, Lauren uses her former ballet skills to evade him, culminating in a grand Jeté, as pursuing Michael slips and is killed on the rocks far below whilst the money is lost to Native Americans. The women form a lasting friendship, and go on to perform Hamlet together, with Lauren in the title role.

Cast

 * Shelley Long as Lauren Ames
 * Bette Midler as Sandy Brozinsky
 * Peter Coyote as Michael Sanders
 * Robert Prosky as Stanislav Korzenowski
 * George Carlin as Frank Madras
 * John Schuck as Agent Atkins
 * Anthony Heald as Weldon
 * Chris McDonald as George

Both Shelley Long and Bette Midler were promised top billing when they signed to do the film; however, neither was willing to give up top billing to the other. To compromise, Long received top billing in advertising west of the Mississippi River, and Midler received the honor in the east. This top billing agreement extended through the original LaserDisc release of the title, with discs shipped to retailers in the west featuring Shelly Long and retailers on the east received discs featuring Bette Midler. For the DVD release in March 2000, Long received top billing in all artwork and in the credits of the film.

Reception
The movie received mixed reviews from critics. It currently holds a 50% rating on review aggragator Rotten Tomatoes based on 20 reviews, indicating a luke-warm response. For her performance, Midler received a Golden Globe nomination.

Box Office
Outrageous Fortune was a box-office smash, debuting at No.2, and bringing in $65,864,741 worldwide.