who was michael douglas' lawyer in fatal attraction

by Edwina Goldner 6 min read

Dan Gallagher

Is Michael Douglas married in Fatal Attraction?

A married lawyer (Michael Douglas) has an adulterous one-night stand with a woman (Glenn Close) who, refusing to believe the relationship is over, embarks on a psychotic rampage to keep him in her life. Watch Fatal Attraction | Prime Video Skip to main content .us Prime Video

What happened to Michael Douglas?

For decades, Michael Douglas has been box office gold, starring in blockbusters such as Wall Street, Fatal Attraction, and Basic Instinct, to name just a few. But in 2010 the actor made headlines for a different reason when he revealed that he'd been diagnosed with throat cancer at the age of 65.

What was the name of the movie where Michael Douglas was harassed?

In 1994 Douglas and Demi Moore starred in the hit movie Disclosure focusing on the topic of sexual harassment with Douglas playing a man harassed by his new female boss.

Who is the director of the movie Fatal Attraction?

Fatal Attraction is a 1987 American psychological erotic thriller film directed by Adrian Lyne and written by James Dearden.

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Who turned down Fatal Attraction?

Despite Glenn Close receiving an Oscar nomination, Richardson says she has never regretted her decision to turn down a role in hit 1980s film Fatal Attraction - because she thought the movie was 'hideous'.

How old was Glenn Close when she made Fatal Attraction?

40Alex states her age as 36, but Glenn Close was 40 during filming.

Who played Martha in Fatal Attraction?

Lois SmithFatal Attraction (1987) - Lois Smith as Martha - IMDb.

Is Fatal Attraction misogynistic?

Unable to handle a mature, nuanced look at how messy affairs can be, audiences asked for cheap simplistic sex-drenched thriller and cheesy “morality tale” with some good old-fashioned misogyny thrown in for good measure. So, the film had to be rewritten.

Where does the term bunny boiler come from?

Etymology. From a scene in the 1987 film Fatal Attraction where a scorned woman (played by Glenn Close), seeking revenge on her ex-lover (played by Michael Douglas), places his family's beloved pet rabbit in a pot of boiling water when he is away from the house.

Are Glenn Close and Meryl Streep friends?

I ask if she's still good friends with Meryl Streep. “I have never been close friends with Meryl. We have huge respect for each other, but I have only done one thing with her, The House Of The Spirits.”

Who was the lady that played in Fatal Attraction?

Glenn CloseAccolades and honorsAwardCategoryNominee(s)Academy AwardsBest ActressGlenn CloseBest Supporting ActressAnne ArcherBest Screenplay – Based on Material from Another MediumJames DeardenBest Film EditingMichael Kahn and Peter E. Berger25 more rows

Who played the wronged wife in the film Fatal Attraction?

Anne ArcherTest audiences did not care for the original ending, so against Close's wishes, a new one was shot – Alex comes to the Gallagher house with a knife and tries to kill Dan's wife Beth (Anne Archer), but Dan intervenes, apparently drowning her in the bathtub.

How old is Ellen Latzen?

41 years (July 26, 1980)Ellen Hamilton Latzen / Age

Is Fatal Attraction feminist?

Fatal Attraction was made at a time when there appeared to be an anti-feminist backlash – the Reagan era returned to the conservative and that meant rejection of the social changes achieved by the woman's movement in the previous two decades.

How old is Ann Archer?

74 years (August 24, 1947)Anne Archer / Age

What was the alternate ending to Fatal Attraction?

Original ending had Alex committing suicide while dressed in white, and Dan being arrested for her murder. Dan's wife, while looking for the phone number of her husband's lawyer, finds a cassette tape recorded by Alex in which she states her intention to commit suicide.

What is Fatal Attraction about?

Dan Gallagher (Michael Douglas) is a happily married lawyer. Then he meets editor Alex Forrest (Glen Close). The two begin an affair while Dan’s wife (Anne Archer) and daughter are out of town. But when Dan tries to end things, Alex lurches from desperation to deadly violence.

Moral choices and consequences

Viewed as a take on Madam Butterfly, the film isn’t a misogynistic attack on Alex Forrest, but a tragedy.

Fatal Attraction and Madam Butterfly

Madam Butterfly is Dan’s favourite opera, and is tied to his childhood memories of his father. Alex also loves the soundtrack, and plays it during dinner one evening.

Clothes, codes and colours

It’s possible to look innocent whilst having a flawed character. It’s also possible to have flaws and still not be entirely evil.

Foreshadowing in Fatal Attraction

The scene involving Ellen’s pet rabbit has overtaken the film’s reputation. This is a shame, because it masks other more subtle techniques that appear throughout.

Fatherhood

Early in his affair, Dan reveals that Madam Butterfly is his favourite opera. His father took him to see it as a 5-year-old, the only time Dan recalls him being nice.

What happened to Michael Douglas?

In 1980, Douglas was involved in a serious skiing accident which sidelined his acting career for three years. On September 17, 1992, the same year Basic Instinct came out, he began a 30-day treatment for alcoholism and drug addiction at Sierra Tucson Center.

What type of roles did Douglas play?

According to film historian and critic David Thomson, Douglas was capable of playing characters who were "weak, culpable, morally indolent, compromised, and greedy for illicit sensation without losing that basic probity or potential for ethical character that we require of a hero".

What was Michael Douglas' first TV show?

His first TV breakthrough role came with a 1969 CBS Playhouse special, The Experiment —and it was the only time he was billed as "M.K. Douglas". On November 24, 1969, Douglas formed his first independent film production company, Bigstick Productions, Limited. Michael Douglas started his film career in the late 1960s and early 1970s, appearing in little known films such as Hail, Hero!, Adam at 6 A.M., and Summertree. His performance in Hail, Hero! earned him a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Male Newcomer.

What was the movie that Demi Moore and Douglas played in?

In March 1994, Douglas announced that he had formed a new film production company, Douglas/Reuther Productions, in partnership with Steven Reuther. In 1994 Douglas and Demi Moore starred in the hit movie Disclosure focusing on the topic of sexual harassment with Douglas playing a man harassed by his new female boss.

How many awards has Kirk Douglas won?

He has received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, five Golden Globe Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, the Cecil B. DeMille Award, and the AFI Life Achievement Award. The elder son of Kirk Douglas and Diana Dill, Douglas received his Bachelor of Arts in Drama from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

When did Michael Douglas appear in Don't Say a Word?

2001–present. Douglas in June 2004. Douglas starred in Don't Say a Word (2001), filmed shortly before his marriage to Zeta-Jones. In 2003, he starred in It Runs in the Family, which featured three generations of his family (his parents, Kirk and Diana, as well as his own son, Cameron ).

Who played Liberace in Behind the Candelabra?

Howard Reig, the previous announcer, had retired two years earlier. Douglas collaborated with Steven Soderbergh again on the 2013 film Behind the Candelabra, playing Liberace, opposite Matt Damon, centered on the pianist's life.

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From the manufacturer

Stylish and sexy, Fatal Attraction took audiences to terrifying new heights with its thrilling story of a casual encounter gone terribly awry. This box-office smash was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.

Who is Dan Gallagher?

If you’ve never seen it, Fatal Attraction is about Dan Gallagher (Douglas), a successful New York lawyer with a loving, supportive family who randomly decides to have an affair the instant the opportunity arises.

What did Dan reject in Madame Butterfly?

Like the serviceman in Madame Butterfly, Dan rejects the family he could have had with Alex in favor of his life with Beth and Ellen. That’s clearly the direction in which the movie was heading, and in terms of Alex’s character, this is the only way it was ever going to end. (Interestingly, the version of Fatal Attraction ...

Is Alex from Fatal Attraction a real person?

Sharon Stone ’s portrayal of Catherine Tramell in Basic Instinct became similarly iconic, but Catherine is a film noir caricature of a femme fatale, whereas Alex is a real human being. That is, until the film’s ending. If you’ve never seen it, Fatal Attraction is about Dan Gallagher (Douglas), a successful New York lawyer with a loving, ...

Was Alex pregnant in Madame Butterfly?

Given Alex’s pregnancy claims juxtaposed with the story of Madame Butterfly and the context of the original ending, the evidence seems irrefutable. She absolutely was pregnant , and killing her unborn child along with herself and then framing Dan for the crime was the ultimate expression of revenge for his rejection.

What movies did Michael Douglas play?

Actor Michael Douglas is best-known for his roles in films such as “Wall Street,” “Basic Instinct, ” “Romancing the Stone” and “Fatal Attraction , which was released 25 years ago today.

What is Michael Douglas known for?

Actor Michael Douglas is best-known for his roles in films such as “Wall Street,” “Basic Instinct,” “Romancing the Stone” and “Fatal Attraction, which was released 25 years ago today. He’s won two Academy Awards, including a best actor nod for “Wall Street,” and three Golden Globes; and has produced 18 films, including “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” which won five Oscars, including best picture. But according to author Marc Eliot, who has written a new biography of Douglas, he grew up troubled by his parents’ divorce and his father Kirk’s stardom — and these factors played a role in Michael’s reported battles with alcohol and drugs. Douglas’ 30-day stint in rehab made headlines in 1992. Here is an excerpt from the book, “Michael Douglas: A Biography.”

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What Is Fatal Attraction About?

  • Dan Gallagher (Michael Douglas) is a happily married lawyer. Then he meets editor Alex Forrest (Glen Close). The two begin an affair while Dan’s wife (Anne Archer) and daughter are out of town. But when Dan tries to end things, Alex lurches from desperation to deadly violence. Fatal Attraction is well acted, tightly scripted, and balances dramatic ...
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Moral Choices and Consequences

  • Dan Gallagher must choose one of two paths. There’s the family bliss and a quiet home in the countryside that he already has. Then there’s the crowded, cut-throat city, and the temptations of the flesh, i.e., Alex Forrest. Dan doesn’t hesitate about jumping into an affair but comes to regret it. He discovers that all actions have consequences, and he must now live with his. The film and …
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Fatal Attraction and Madam Butterfly

  • Madam Butterfly is Dan’s favourite opera, and is tied to his childhood memories of his father. Alex also loves the soundtrack, and plays it during dinner one evening. But the opera connection goes further. Fatal Attraction borrows its plot, and revisits key themes, such as honour and loyalty.
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Clothes, Codes and Colours

  • The moral questions at the heart of the film are big, complex topics. It’s easy to give them black-and-white answers, but real choices always have more shades of meaning. This is something the film touches on in its repeated use of black and white imagery. 1. The film opens (and ends) with the characters wearing white – and in a bathroom. The symbolism suggests an interest in appe…
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What We Learn from The ‘Bunny Boiling’ Scene

  • The film’s biggest impact in 1987 was its commentary on ‘the woman scorned’. Its warning wasn’t so much that married men should stay faithful, but rather that they might choose the wrong woman. Such was the strength of this message that it gave rise to its own language: the phrase “bunny boiler” – a supposedly deranged woman. The film is also interesting for showing the extr…
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Foreshadowing in Fatal Attraction

  • The scene involving Ellen’s pet rabbit has overtaken the film’s reputation. This is a shame, because it masks other more subtle techniques that appear throughout. The bunny’s fate, for instance, is foreshadowed early in the film. When Dan and Alex start their affair in the kitchen, the camera cuts to a kettle boiling over. This represents their passion, but also nods to the pot boilin…
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Fatherhood

  • Early in his affair, Dan reveals that Madam Butterfly is his favourite opera. His father took him to see it as a 5-year-old, the only time Dan recalls him being nice. It’s sad that Dan works so hard to not appear to be like his father – and yet isn’t so different. While Dan showers Ellen with love, he also puts his own needs ahead of hers. He chooses to have an affair, even though it could destr…
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Overview

Michael Kirk Douglas (born September 25, 1944) is an American actor and producer. He has received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards, five Golden Globe Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, the Cecil B. DeMille Award, and the AFI Life Achievement Award.
The elder son of Kirk Douglas and Diana Dill, Douglas received his

Early life and education

Douglas was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, the first child of actors Kirk Douglas (1916–2020) and Diana Dill (1923–2015). His parents met at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
His father was Jewish, and was born Issur Danielovitch. Michael's paternal grandparents were emigrants from Chavusy (now in Belarus, then part of the Russian Empire). His mother was from D…

Career

His first TV breakthrough role came with a 1969 CBS Playhouse special, The Experiment—and it was the only time he was billed as "M.K. Douglas". On November 24, 1969, Douglas formed his first independent film production company, Bigstick Productions, Limited. Michael Douglas started his film career in the late 1960s and early 1970s, appearing in little known films such as Hail, …

Personal life

After the filming of Summertree in 1971, Douglas began dating actress Brenda Vaccaro, a relationship that lasted nearly six years.
In March 1977, Douglas married Diandra Luker, the daughter of an Austrian diplomat. At the time, Douglas was 32 and Luker was 19. They had one son, Cameron, born in 1978. In 1995, Diandra filed for divorce and was awarded $4…

In the media

In 1980, Douglas was involved in a serious skiing accident which sidelined his acting career for three years. On September 17, 1992, the same year Basic Instinct came out, he began a 30-day treatment for alcoholism and drug addiction at Sierra Tucson Center.
In 1992, Douglas founded the short-lived Atlantic Records distributed label Thir…

Activism

Douglas and Zeta-Jones hosted the annual Nobel Peace Prize concert in Oslo, Norway, on December 11, 2003. They acted as co-masters of ceremony in the concert celebrating the award given to Iranian human rights activist Shirin Ebadi. In 2006, Douglas was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

See also

• List of actors with Academy Award nominations
• List of actors with Hollywood Walk of Fame motion picture stars

Further reading

• Dougan, Andy (2003). Michael Douglas: Out of the Shadows. the Unauthorised Biography. Robson. ISBN 978-1-86105-694-8.
• Douglas, Diana (1999). In the Wings: A Memoir. Barricade Books. ISBN 978-1-56980-151-2.
• Eliot, Marc (2012). Michael Douglas: A Biography. Crown Archetype. ISBN 978-0-307-95236-3.