Reversal of Fortune

Reversal of Fortune Information

Reversal of Fortune is a 1990 film adapted from the 1985 book Reversal of Fortune: Inside the von Bülow Case, written by law professor Alan Dershowitz. It recounts the true story of the unexplained coma of socialite Sunny von Bülow, the subsequent attempted murder trial, and the eventual acquittal of her husband, Claus von Bülow, who had Dershowitz acting as his defense. The film stars Jeremy Irons as Claus, Glenn Close as Sunny, and Ron Silver as Dershowitz.

Plot

The story is narrated by Sunny von Bülow who is in a coma after falling into diabetic shock after a Christmas party. Her husband, the dissolute European aristocrat Claus von Bülow is charged with attempting to murder her by giving the hypoglycemic Sunny an overdose of insulin. Claus' strained relationship with his wife and his cold and haughty personal demeanor lead most people to conclude that he is guilty. In need of an innovative defense, Claus turns to law professor Alan Dershowitz. Dershowitz is initially convinced of Claus' guilt, but takes the case because von Bülow agrees to fund Dershowitz' defense of two poor black teenagers accused of capital murder. Employing his law students as workers, Dershowitz proceeds to defend Claus, wrestling with his client's unnerving personal style and questions of von Bülow's guilt or innocence.

Cast

Glenn Close as Sunny von Bülow
Jeremy Irons as Claus von Bülow
Ron Silver as Alan Dershowitz
Annabella Sciorra as Sarah
Fisher Stevens as David Marriott
Jack Gilpin as Peter MacIntosh
Christine Baranski as Andrea Reynolds
Stephen Mailer as Elon Dershowitz
Christine Dunford as Ellen
Felicity Huffman as Minnie
Mano Singh as Raj
Johann Carlo as Nancy
Keith Reddin as Dobbs
Alan Pottinger as Chuck
Mitchell Whitfield as Curly
Tom Wright as Jack
Gordon Joseph Weiss as Tom Berman
Michael Lord as Ed
Lisa Gay Hamilton as Mary
Bill Camp as Bill
Jad Mager as Prince Alexander von Auersperg, Stepson
Sarah Fearon as Princess Ala von Auersperg, Stepdaughter
Kristi Hundt as Older Cosima von Bülow
Kara Emerson as Young Cosima von Bülow

Awards and honors

Irons was awarded the Academy Award for Best Actor, Schroeder was nominated for Best Director, and Kazan was nominated for the Best Adapted Screenplay award. Irons was also awarded the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor " Motion Picture Drama.

American Film Institute recognition:

AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes and Villains:
- Claus von Bülow " Nominated Villain

Location

The film was shot in numerous estates in Rhode Island and the Knole house in Old Westbury.

Reception

The film received mostly positive reviews and holds a 94% approval rating at Rotten Tomatoes, with an average score of 7.8 out of 10 from 33 reviews.