--- title: "Down and Out in Beverly Hills" year: 1986 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/down-and-out-in-beverly-hills" fi1m_id: "down-and-out-in-beverly-hills" imdb_id: "tt0090966" tmdb_id: 9941 wikidata_id: "Q218290" fi1m_score: 65 critics_score: 57 critics_reviews: 5 published: "2026-10-04T19:50:30.078080+00:00" updated: "2026-10-04T19:50:30.560136+00:00" region: "US" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986) Directed by Paul Mazursky · 1h 43m · MPA R · Comedy ## Identity Down and Out in Beverly Hills - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/down-and-out-in-beverly-hills - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** down-and-out-in-beverly-hills - **IMDb ID:** tt0090966 - **TMDB ID:** 9941 - **Wikidata ID:** Q218290 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090966/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/9941, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q218290 **Fi1m score: 65** · Critics 57 (early) from 5 reviews *In a sentence:* Beverly Hills has plenty of money and rather more Nick Nolte than it knows what to do with > Paul Mazursky’s comedy gets good laughs from Beverly Hills snobbery, with Nick Nolte and Richard Dreyfuss giving it warmth. The story is thin, though, and the bustle too often smothers the sharper observations. ## Synopsis In Beverly Hills, Jerry Baskin (Nick Nolte) tries to drown himself and comes into contact with a wealthy family. Dave Whiteman (Richard Dreyfuss) and Barbara Whiteman (Bette Midler) find themselves dealing with a stranger whose difficulties fall outside their familiar concerns. Jerry needs help, while the Whitemans have money and a household of their own to contend with. Their encounter brings a man in immediate distress up against people accustomed to a different set of worries, with questions of charity, status and social manners complicating the business of helping him. ## Review Paul Mazursky’s *Down and Out in Beverly Hills* is a likeable but thinly plotted comedy. The encounter between a desperate man and a wealthy family produces enough funny behaviour to keep us interested, but the film is reluctant to make its comfortable characters too uncomfortable. It enjoys their absurdity and rather likes their company. That affection is appealing, though it limits how much the jokes about snobbery can hurt. Nick Nolte gives Jerry Baskin enough weight to stop him becoming merely a device for embarrassing rich people. His comic presence does not cancel the desperation in the premise: this is a man who tries to drown himself. We were unexpectedly touched by his late-night scenes with Richard Dreyfuss, because the two actors let their characters seem capable of listening to each other. Those quieter passages give us time to care about the people involved. Richard Dreyfuss makes Dave Whiteman’s concern feel mixed up with the strain of being respectable, a useful source of comedy. Bette Midler brings force to Barbara Whiteman, but there is so much comic activity that her performance can feel crowded. Richard Halsey’s editing keeps the business moving, sometimes beyond the point where a joke needs help. A little more time for an awkward reaction would have done more than another burst of activity. Donald McAlpine’s cinematography makes Beverly Hills look inviting, which suits a film so willing to enjoy the place it teases. Pato Guzman’s production design gives the wealthy setting enough presence to hold our attention even when the story wanders. The problem is that looking at affluence becomes one of the film’s easier pleasures. Paul Mazursky seems content to let us enjoy these surroundings, too. Andy Summers’s music helps the comedy along, although the film seldom needs further encouragement to be lively. The screenplay by Paul Mazursky and Leon Capetanos supplies plenty of comic situations. Connecting them into a convincing story proves more difficult. Some scenes make a pointed observation about snobbery, then the bustle resumes before it can register. At 103 minutes, the film is not long, but its stretches of frantic activity can make it feel overextended. A comedy about a rich family’s encounter with an outsider need not turn into a lecture about inequality. It does need to decide how seriously it takes the outsider’s difficulties, particularly with an opening as desperate as this one. Here the desire to keep things agreeable makes Jerry Baskin’s place in the comedy feel uncertain. The actors supply sympathy, but the writing does not always know what to do with it. There are enough good performances and funny moments here for an evening when a loose comedy will do. We would choose it for Nick Nolte and Richard Dreyfuss, with modest expectations of the social criticism surrounding them. Anyone hoping the Whitemans will be subjected to a thorough examination should choose something less fond of their company. *Fi1m score 65, published 4 October 2026.* ## Straight answers **Is Down and Out in Beverly Hills worth watching?** *Down and Out in Beverly Hills* is worth considering for Nick Nolte and Richard Dreyfuss’s warmth and comic rapport; we score it 65 out of 100. We find enough laughs for an undemanding evening, but the thin story and frantic activity make it a weaker choice for anyone seeking sharp social criticism. **How long is Down and Out in Beverly Hills, and what is it rated?** *Down and Out in Beverly Hills* runs 1h 43m and is rated R by the MPA in the US. It is a comedy film. **Where can I watch Down and Out in Beverly Hills in the US?** *Down and Out in Beverly Hills* is available to rent from Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV from $3.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service. **How violent or frightening is Down and Out in Beverly Hills, and is it suitable for children?** *Down and Out in Beverly Hills* carries a UK 15 certificate and is not suitable for children under 15. Despite being a comedy, it opens with a man attempting to drown himself, a distressing premise that warrants particular caution for anyone sensitive to suicide-related material. The certificate also signals material intended for older teenagers and adults. **How does Down and Out in Beverly Hills compare to Boudu Saved from Drowning?** *Down and Out in Beverly Hills* is warmer and more forgiving of its wealthy characters than [*Boudu Saved from Drowning*](https://film.one/film/boudu-saved-from-drowning), which we recommend more strongly for its unruly comedy and sharper treatment of middle-class smugness. Choose the Beverly Hills film for Nolte and Dreyfuss’s sympathetic rapport; choose *Boudu Saved from Drowning* for Michel Simon’s stubborn presence and a less accommodating view of charity. **What should I watch after Down and Out in Beverly Hills?** After *Down and Out in Beverly Hills*, try [*Boudu Saved from Drowning*](https://film.one/film/boudu-saved-from-drowning) (1932, Fi1m 82): A less accommodating encounter between bourgeois charity and an inconvenient guest. Then [*My Man Godfrey*](https://film.one/film/my-man-godfrey) (1936, Fi1m 82): A wealthy family’s new butler exposes how little its members understand; and [*Being There*](https://film.one/film/being-there) (1979, Fi1m 84): For another outsider whose hosts hear exactly what they want to hear. ### Reviews we read (5) - **Variety**, Variety Staff (75/100, inferred): The review finds the film thoroughly enjoyable, despite its underdeveloped story. It praises the comic moments and its affectionate caricature of Beverly Hills’ nouveau riche. [Read](https://variety.com/1985/film/reviews/down-and-out-in-beverly-hills-1117790531/) - **Time Out**, SJo (64/100, inferred): The page identifies this as a review, but the review text is unavailable, so its verdict cannot be established. The available description highlights a would-be drowning man’s encounter with a wealthy Beverly Hills family. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/down-and-out-in-beverly-hills) - **Radio Times**, Sue Heal (3/5): The review finds the film worth watching, though too frantic and inferior to the French original. It praises Nick Nolte’s comic performance, funny set pieces and occasional sharp observations about snobbery. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-e8fvnk/down-and-out-in-beverly-hills/) - **Los Angeles Times**, SHEILA BENSON (55/100, inferred): Benson finds the film funny and perceptive but ultimately unsatisfying, chiefly because its ending undermines the character at its center. She praises the performances of Nick Nolte and Richard Dreyfuss, especially their late-night scenes together. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-01-31-ca-2882-story.html) - **The New York Times** (30/100, inferred): The headline signals a negative verdict, suggesting the film has little bite. The page content is unavailable, so no specific praise or complaint can be confirmed. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/1986/02/16/movies/film-view-plenty-of-bark-but-not-much-bit-in-beverly-hills.html) ## Details - **Director:** Paul Mazursky - **Director:** Paul Mazursky - **Screenplay:** Paul Mazursky, Leon Capetanos - **Cinematography:** Donald McAlpine - **Editor:** Richard Halsey - **Music:** Andy Summers - **Production design:** Pato Guzman - **Costume design:** Albert Wolsky - **Producer:** Paul Mazursky - **Cast:** Nick Nolte as Jerry Baskin; Bette Midler as Barbara Whiteman; Richard Dreyfuss as Dave Whiteman; Little Richard as Orvis Goodnight; Tracy Nelson as Jenny Whiteman; Elizabeth Peña as Carmen; Evan Richards as Max Whiteman; Donald F. Muhich as Dr. Von Zimmer - **Runtime:** 1h 43m - **Certificate (MPA):** R - **Release (the US):** 31 January 1986 - **Genres:** Comedy - **Also in:** [Golden Globe Best Musical or Comedy winners](https://film.one/collections/golden-globe-comedy.md) (Nominee, 1986) - **Budget:** $14 million - **Box office:** $62 million ## Where to watch in the US - Amazon Prime Video: rent $3.99, hd - Apple TV: rent $4.99, hd - Amazon Prime Video: buy $17.99, hd - Apple TV: buy $17.99, hd *Checked 2026-10-04.* Also available in: AT, AU, CA, CH, DE, EE, FR, GB, IE, LT, NZ, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## If you liked this - *Boudu Saved from Drowning* (1932), Fi1m 82: A less accommodating encounter between bourgeois charity and an inconvenient guest. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/boudu-saved-from-drowning.md) - *My Man Godfrey* (1936), Fi1m 82: A wealthy family’s new butler exposes how little its members understand. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/my-man-godfrey.md) - *Being There* (1979), Fi1m 84: For another outsider whose hosts hear exactly what they want to hear. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/being-there.md) - *The Servant* (1963), Fi1m 89: Household hierarchies turn nastier here, with far less room for reassurance. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-servant.md) - *Parasite* (2019), Fi1m 91: Another wealthy home, with class resentments the comedy cannot keep contained. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/parasite.md) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/down-and-out-in-beverly-hills