Personal Best

1982

Personal Best

Critics Consensus

Mariel Hemingway has a career-making star turn in this highly physical drama about two Olympic athletes who find each other during competitive training.

70%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 30

53%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 1,259
User image

Watch it now

Personal Best Photos

View All Photos (2)

Movie Info

In 1982, there was a brief cycle of homosexual-relationship films, none of which were successful enough to form the basis of a trend. Producer/director/writer Robert Towne's Personal Best is one of the finest. It stars Mariel Hemingway and Patrice Donnelly as athletes participating in the 1980 Olympics. Growing ever closer during the training process, Chris (Hemingway) and Tory (Donnelly) fall in love. Up to this point, Chris has been "straight," thus has trouble sustaining the relationship with older Tory. Their relationship is counterbalanced with the attitudes held by their male coach, Terry (Scott Glenn). While the homosexual element of the film is secondary to the endless shots of athletes in training, the critics latched on to the film's romantic angle, which may have sabotaged its chances for box-office success (the world was a different place in 1982). Personal Best was the directorial debut for Robert Towne, who was not to direct another film until 1987's Tequila Sunrise.
  • Rating:
    R
  • Genre:
    Drama
  • Directed By:
    Robert Towne
  • Written By:
    Robert Towne
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    Geffen Pictures

Cast

Mariel Hemingway
as Chris Cahill
Scott Glenn
as Terry Tingloff
Patrice Donnelly
as Tory Skinner
Kenny Moore
as Denny Stites
Jim Moody
as Roscoe Travis
Kari Gosswiller
as Penny Brill
Jodi Anderson
as Nadia `Pooch' Anderson
Maren Seidler
as Tanya
Martha Watson
as Sheila
Emily Dole
as Maureen
Pam Spencer
as Jan
Deby LaPlante
as Trish
Mitzi McMillin
as Laura
Jan Glotzer
as Karen
Jan Van Reenen
as Yelovitch
Allan Feuerbach
as Zenk
Jane Frederick
as Fern Wadkins
Cindy Gilbert
as Charlene Benveniste
Apollonia van Ravenstein
as Yelovitch
Marlene Harmon
as Pam Burnside
Linda Waltman
as Debbie Floyd
Cindy Banks
as Kim Stone
Milan Tiff
as Willie Lee
Earl Bell
as Randy Van Zile
Larry Pennell
as Rick Cahill
Luana Anders
as Rita Cahill
George De La Pena
as Raoul
Robert Patten
as Colin Sales
Margaret Ellison
as Nellie Bowdeen
Charlie Jones
as TV Announcer
Frank Shorter
as TV Announcer
Jim Tracy
as Duane
Janet Hake
as Waitress
Sharon Brazell
as Hostess
Charles DeBus
as Coach
Gregory Clayton
as Trainer
David Edington
as Waiter
Robert Horn
as Water Polo Coach
Christopher Vargas
as Water Polo Player
Wendell Ray
as PA Announcer
Richard Martini
as Meet Manager
Len Dawson
as Announcer
Clim Jackson
as Men's Team Member
John Smith
as Men's Team Member
Anna Biller
as Women's Team Member
Susan Brownell
as Women's Team Member
Desiree Gauthier
as Women's Team Member
Sharon Hatfield
as Women's Team Member
Linda Hightower
as Women's Team Member
Joan Russell
as Women's Team Member
Themis Zambrzycki
as Women's Team Member
Leroy R. Perry Jr.
as Chiropractor
View All

Critic Reviews for Personal Best

All Critics (30) | Top Critics (10) | Fresh (21) | Rotten (9)

View All Critic Reviews (30)

Audience Reviews for Personal Best

There are no featured audience reviews for Personal Best at this time.

See All Audience Reviews

Personal Best Quotes

There are no approved quotes yet for this movie.

News & Features