A bored New Jersey suburban housewife's fascination with a free-spirited woman she has read about in the personal columns leads to her being mistaken for the woman herself and into a chaotic adventure of amnesia and self-discovery.

Roberta Glass

Susan

Dez

Gary Glass

Jim

Leslie Glass

Crystal

Wayne Nolan

Larry Stillman D.D.S.

Ray

Street Vendor

Bruce Meeker

Taxi Driver

Band Singer

Man With Newspapers

Cigarette Girl

Neighbor Saxophonist

Ian

Victoria

Sgt. Taskal
I always thought this was one of Madonna's best film performance yet.
***Screwball drama in Manhattan with Rosanna Arquette and Madonna*** Roberta (Rosanna Arquette), a bored housewife in the New York City area, becomes obsessed with a wild child named Susan (Madonna) through the personal ads and inadvertently takes on her persona when she visits Manhattan. Unfortunately a hooligan is after Susan for priceless Egyptian earrings (Will Patton). Mark Blum plays Roberta’s jerk husband and Aidan Quinn a new friend in the city. “Desperately Seeking Susan” (1985) is a quirky drama revolving around mistaken identity in an unlikely story. It’s entertaining enough and also works as a window into mid-80’s New York City. How much a viewer will appreciate it depends on how smitten (or not smitten) they are with Arquette. She’s winsome, for sure, but I can take her or leave her. Madonna is more alluring in the lesser role, but I’m not big on her either; still, there are a couple scenes that nicely spotlight her attractiveness. The film runs 1 hour and 43 minutes and was shot in Manhattan; Manhasset, Long Island; and Atlantic City. GRADE: B-
March 29, 1985

Roberta Glass

Susan

Dez

Gary Glass

Jim

Leslie Glass

Crystal

Wayne Nolan

Larry Stillman D.D.S.

Ray

Street Vendor

Bruce Meeker

Taxi Driver

Band Singer

Man With Newspapers

Cigarette Girl

Neighbor Saxophonist

Ian

Victoria

Sgt. Taskal
I always thought this was one of Madonna's best film performance yet.
***Screwball drama in Manhattan with Rosanna Arquette and Madonna*** Roberta (Rosanna Arquette), a bored housewife in the New York City area, becomes obsessed with a wild child named Susan (Madonna) through the personal ads and inadvertently takes on her persona when she visits Manhattan. Unfortunately a hooligan is after Susan for priceless Egyptian earrings (Will Patton). Mark Blum plays Roberta’s jerk husband and Aidan Quinn a new friend in the city. “Desperately Seeking Susan” (1985) is a quirky drama revolving around mistaken identity in an unlikely story. It’s entertaining enough and also works as a window into mid-80’s New York City. How much a viewer will appreciate it depends on how smitten (or not smitten) they are with Arquette. She’s winsome, for sure, but I can take her or leave her. Madonna is more alluring in the lesser role, but I’m not big on her either; still, there are a couple scenes that nicely spotlight her attractiveness. The film runs 1 hour and 43 minutes and was shot in Manhattan; Manhasset, Long Island; and Atlantic City. GRADE: B-

