Men Don't Leave (1989)
- Starring:
- Jessica Lange, Chris O'Donnell, (more)
- Director(s):
- Paul Brickman
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG13
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Theatrical Release Information | See Details About All Versions
Weighed down by her late husband's debts, widow Beth Macauley (Jessica Lange) is compelled to sell her home and move to a less costly locale. She relocates in Baltimore with her resentful sons Chris (Chris O'Donnell) and Matt (Charlie Korsmo) and takes a job at a ramshackle gourmet food store managed by Lisa Coleman (Kathy Bates). Men Don't Leave offers in Beth an extremely vulnerable, easily discouraged person who can't seem to get a grip on her reduced circumstances. Even so, she and her sons eventually pull themselves together, despite many side trips with Wrong Lovers and False Friends. Some of the film's best moments involve Joan Cusack, playing a mixed-up nurse with whom Chris falls in love. Representing the comeback of director Paul Brickman after a seven-year gap, Men Don't Leave is a slightly more upbeat American version of the French film La Vie Continue. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Complete Cast:
- Jessica Lange - Beth Macauley
- Arliss Howard - Charles Simon
- Joan Cusack - Jody
- Corey Carrier - Winston Buckley
- Belita Moreno - Mrs. Buckley
- Lora Zane - Nina Simon
- Annabel Armour - Susan
- Ernesto D. Borges, Jr. - Officer
- William de Acutis - Mark
- Tom Irwin - Gary
- Jane Morris - Laura
- Stesha Merle - Girl Student
- Ann McDonough - Female Customer
- Eddie Korosa - Polka Band Leader
- Jesse James - Blues Artist
- Rick Rubin - Craig
- Ricardo de Angelis - Tailor
- Alan J. Wendl - Typewriter
- Tom Towles - Evan Taylor
- Constance Shulman - Carly
- Mary Seibel - Real Estate Agent
- Stacey Guastaferro - Julia
- Kevin Corrigan - Mike
- Antonio M. Calderon - Joey
- Chris O'Donnell - Chris Macauley
- Kathy Bates - Lisa Coleman
- Charlie Korsmo - Matt Macauley
- Jim Haynie - Mr. Buckley
- Shannon Moffett - Dale Buckley
- Theresa Wozniak - Female Polka Dancer
- Gerry Becker - Uncle Hugh
- Wanda Christine - School Teacher
- Zaid Farid - Store Clerk
- Dick Sasso - Lottery Winner
- Brad Michael - Adult Film Star
- Chuck McLennan - Lottery Announcer
- Tom Mason - John Macauley
- Rosemary Knower - Nurse
- Robert D. North - Moving Man
- Peter Miller - Chris' friend
- Richard Wharton - Nick
- Sandra V. Watters - Bureaucrat
- Tanl - Adult Film Star
- Seka - Adult Film Star
- Mark Hardwick - Ian
- Deanna Dunagan - Fay
- Richard Burton Brown - Sam Burrows
- David Cale - Fred
- Director(s):
- Paul Brickman
- Writer(s):
- Paul Brickman, Barbara Benedek
- Producer(s):
- Paul Brickman, Jon Avnet
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG13(Questionable for Children, Profanity, Adult Situations)
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions



