Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)

Desperately Seeking Susan is a 1985 American comedy-drama film directed by Susan Seidelman and starring Rosanna Arquette, Aidan Quinn and ...

Desperately Seeking Susan is a 1985 American comedy-drama film directed by Susan Seidelman and starring Rosanna Arquette, Aidan Quinn and Madonna. Set in New York City, the plot involves the interaction between two women – a bored housewife and a bohemian drifter – linked by various messages in the personals section of a newspaper. {full_page}

The film was Madonna's first major screen role and also provided early roles for a number of other well-known performers, such as John Turturro, Giancarlo Esposito, Laurie Metcalf and Steven Wright. The screenplay was written by Leora Barish, and is said to have been given an uncredited rewrite by Craig Bolotin. Desperately Seeking Susan was a commercial success and ended as the 31st highest grossing film of the year grossing $27.3 million in the United States. The film received predominantly positive reviews, and both Arquette and Madonna's acting were critically acclaimed.

Desperately Seeking Susan is noted for its impact on 1980s fashion, especially among the young female audience at that time. The movie's costumery was influenced in part by Madonna's own early style. The film was also noted as a representation of yuppie culture and feminism. Some critics labeled Desperately Seeking Susan as one of the best US films of the year, including Vincent Canby from The New York Times, and eventually, of the decade by publications such as NME and Rolling Stone. Many others have labeled it a cult classic of the 1980s.

In 2023, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

Roberta Glass, an unfulfilled housewife from Fort Lee, New Jersey, is fascinated by the messages between lovers Susan Thomas and Jim Dandy in the personals section of a New York City tabloid. She's particularly drawn to a section from Jim with the headline "Desperately Seeking Susan," which seeks a rendezvous in Battery Park. Meanwhile, in an Atlantic City hotel, the itinerant Susan reads the section after a tryst with mobster Bruce Meeker. She steals a pair of ornate Egyptian earrings from his coat before departing. The sinister Wayne Nolan notices Susan's embellished tuxedo jacket as she leaves. Arriving in New York City, Susan dons one of the earrings and stashes the other in her suitcase in a Port Authority locker. She asks to stay with her friend Crystal, a magician's assistant at the Magic Club, and learns that Meeker was killed at the hotel.

Hoping to spot the lovers, Roberta goes to Battery Park and sees Jim reunite with Susan before leaving with his band for Buffalo. Later, Roberta follows Susan to a vintage store and watches her trade in her jacket before losing sight of her. Roberta buys the jacket and finds Susan's locker key in its pocket. She posts another "Desperately Seeking Susan" column to meet with Susan and return the key. Meanwhile, Jim becomes concerned about the column and Susan's connection to Meeker's death. He asks his best friend Dez to check on her.

Waiting for Susan at Battery Park and wearing her jacket, Roberta is accosted by Nolan, who mistakes her for Susan because she's blonde and wearing the distinctive jacket. Susan spots Roberta, but can't reach her as police chase her for not paying her taxicab fare. Dez arrives on a moped and rescues Roberta, who falls and hits her head, causing her to lose her memory and her bag. Dez believes she is Susan and finds the locker key, taking her to the Port Authority to collect Susan's suitcase. There, Roberta finds the other earring, and Dez offers her to stay at his apartment for one night.

Believing that she must be Susan, Roberta retraces Susan's steps with Nolan in pursuit. She eventually arrives at the Magic Club, narrowly missing Susan who has been released from jail and discovered that her suitcase is gone. Roberta is then hired as Crystal's replacement. After Roberta's disastrous first performance, Nolan attacks her, demanding the earrings. He manages to escape as the police arrive. Roberta hits her head again, but this time, she regains her memory. Unfortunately, she's mistaken for a prostitute and arrested.

Meanwhile, Gary, Roberta's husband who is revealed to be in the midst of a casual affair, searches for her. He finds his way to the vintage store and is put in touch with Susan. She believes that Roberta and Dez are connected to Meeker's death and want to frame her. Susan arranges to meet Gary at a dance club and accompanies him home where they get high. Roberta calls from jail, but hangs up when Susan and Gary answer. After calling Dez to bail her out, they discover that his apartment has been ransacked by Nolan. Roberta and Dez end up sleeping together.

At Gary's house, Susan sees a television report about Meeker and Nolan stealing the earrings, which once belonged to Nefertiti. She realizes the truth from Roberta's diary and posts a column to meet her at the Magic Club. Dez attacks an intruder in his apartment who turns out to be Jim. He confesses to his relationship with "Susan" as Roberta slips away. She reads the column, as do Jim and Dez. They arrive at the Magic Club along with Gary, his sister Leslie, and Nolan. During her act, Roberta recognizes Nolan, who escapes backstage. Dez leaves as Roberta tries to explain the events of her disappearance to Gary, finally voicing her unhappiness and ending their marriage. Nolan threatens Susan at gunpoint, but is knocked out by Roberta. There, Roberta and Susan finally meet each other for the first time.

Later, Roberta finds Dez in a projection booth at the movie theater where he works. She introduces herself once again, and they kiss as Jim and Susan reunite in the theater below. In the closing frames, Roberta and Susan are celebrated as heroes in the newspaper and credited with returning the stolen earrings.

CAST

Rosanna Arquette as Roberta Glass

Madonna as Susan Thomas

Aidan Quinn as Dez

Robert Joy as Jim Dandy, Susan's boyfriend

Mark Blum as Gary Glass, Roberta's husband

Laurie Metcalf as Leslie Glass, Roberta's sister-in-law

Will Patton as Wayne Nolan

Anna Levine as Crystal

Peter Maloney as Ian, a magician

Steven Wright as Larry Stillman D.D.S.

John Turturro as Ray, the master of ceremonies at the Magic Club

Anne Carlisle as Victoria

José Angel Santana (as Jose Santana) as Boutique Owner

Richard Portnow as Party Guest

Giancarlo Esposito as Street Vendor

Richard Hell as Bruce Meeker

Harsh Nayyar as Egyptian Diplomat

Orion chairman Mike Medavoy initially campaigned for Barbara Streisand to play the title role.The filmmakers initially wanted Diane Keaton and Goldie Hawn to play Roberta and Susan, but the director decided to cast newcomers Arquette and Madonna instead and the studio wanted the movie to have younger actors in order to appeal to younger filmgoers. Bruce Willis was up for the role of Dez and Melanie Griffith was up for the role of Susan. Madonna obtained the role over Ellen Barkin and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Suzanne Vega also auditioned for the role.

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