The Prince of Tides

R

Released Dec 25, 1991

2 hr. 12 min.

Romance

List

68%

34 Reviews

Tomatometer

71%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

A New York psychiatrist treating an emotionally scarred woman finds it helpful to discuss her South Carolina family's troubled history with the woman's twin brother. He and the psychiatrist find themselves drawn together by their equally turbulent pasts, and they form an alliance which ultimately leads to romance.

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Critics Consensus

Although the central romance arguably suffocates the heart of the drama, a moving performance by Nick Nolte and Barbra Streisand's deft direction give The Prince of Tides a soulful edge.

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Leaburn O

A solidly made US drama. All the usual techniques are in there from soppy music, love interests, family drama, a man whose life is transformed during the course of the film. Paint by numbers stuff and I'll have forgotten it all by next week. Reminded me of 'On Golden Pond', in that I don't remember anything about that film except there was some water in it. Watched on DVD as couldn't find anywhere else. Another of those Best Picture nominations that time has pretty much forgotten and that's understandable once you watch the competently made but unremarkable picture.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/22/24

Full Review

J M

Even though I give this a movie a strong recommendation, I can't think of another film that makes me so angry! The first half or three-quarters of this adaptation of Pat Conroy's novel is fantastic - and often times close to extraordinary. I am fascinated with the practice of psychiatry and was captivated by the moments in this movie where Nolte becomes the memory of his twin sister (the wonderful Melinda Dillon) who has blocked out much of her painful past. I also loved the scenes in which Nolte shares the screen with Kate Nelligan as his mother and Blythe Danner as his wife. Both actresses are superb! As is Nolte, even if the Southern accent gets a little bit much at times. But then the romance starts with Streisand, and what started as a powerful dramatic motion picture turns into a treacly Harlequin romance with moments that could have been stolen from a feminine hygiene commercial. It's almost painful to watch at times and so disappointing when compared with what has transpired before this. The plot which has drawn us in up to this point becomes an afterthought. Once Streisand's husband makes his first appearance, it's all downhill from there. A subplot involving Nolte teaching Streisand's son (played by her real-life son Jason Gould) to play football could easily have been excised. Streisand is good as the psychiatrist, and I do appreciate her scenes with Nolte in the office piecing together the puzzle of his complicated childhood. A climactic memory involving a horrific event that has never been discussed before is particularly unsettling. And a special shout out to James Newton Howard's score, which is one of my all-time favorites. This could have been one of my all-time favorites if it hadn't lost its way. - Jeff Marshall, Movie Blogger (Facebook)

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/18/24

Full Review

Audience Member

A must-watch with guts to back up it's darker story beats and possibly a career-best Nick Nolte to back it up. Affliction's up there too. 9/10

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Kinda awesome. Kinda mushy. Streisand directs and stars in a movie where she helps mend Nolte, who comes from a tragically broken home in the south.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

Nemanja P

One of the best romantic movies if not the best. Nick Nolte and Barbara Streisand are phenomenal and the story is sweet, compelling and interesting.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/03/21

Full Review

Audience Member

Love this film. It still makes me cry in all the right parts.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/14/21

Full Review

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Barbra Streisand

Director

Nick Nolte

Tom Wingo

Barbra Streisand

Susan Lowenstein

Blythe Danner

Sally Wingo

Kate Nelligan

Lila Wingo Newbury

Jeroen Krabbé

Herbert Woodruff

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The Prince of Tides: Official Clip - Football Coaching

3:40

The Prince of Tides: Official Clip - A Few Simple Questions

2:06

The Prince of Tides: Official Clip - Therapist vs. Patient

2:46

The Prince of Tides: Official Clip - I Like Adultery

1:34

The Prince of Tides: Official Clip - Killing the Convicts

2:33

The Prince of Tides: Official Clip - Dropping the Violin

2:56

The Prince of Tides: Official Clip - Just Let It Go

2:05

The Prince of Tides: Official Clip - Hitting on His Therapist

2:12

The Prince of Tides: Official Clip - Cheating Wife

2:47

The Prince of Tides: Official Clip - Dog Food Dinner

2:17

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Barry McIlheney

Empire Magazine

Graced with fine performances and commendably biting off more than it can ever hope to chew, The Prince Of Tides is a rare slice of romantic moviemaking for all those grown-ups feeling ignored since Kramer Vs. Kramer last rattled their value systems.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 3, 2012

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

The results may seem overripe and dated in spots, but she coaxes a fine performance out of Nolte, and the other actors (herself included) acquit themselves honorably.

Feb 3, 2012

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

A deeply moving exploration of the tangled emotions of a dysfunctional Southern family, this lovingly crafted (though unevenly scripted) film of Pat Conroy's novel centers on Nick Nolte's performance of a lifetime.

Oct 18, 2008

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Despite its pitfalls, Barbara Streisand has enormous talent. But unconditionally adoring her film requires adoring her even more than she already does. And that is immeasurably impossible [Full review in Spanish]

Jan 5, 2023

Full Review

David Harris

Spectrum Culture

The Prince of Tides remains important as the wellspring of a woman director/star who held her ground against the boys club of the Hollywood system and ultimately came out on top.

Nov 24, 2020

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Barbra Streisand critics like to harp on her narcissism, but there's no questioning her overwhelming generosity on this project. The movie completely belongs to Nick Nolte, who delivers a career-best performance.

Rated: 3.5/4

Apr 5, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

A New York psychiatrist treating an emotionally scarred woman finds it helpful to discuss her South Carolina family's troubled history with the woman's twin brother. He and the psychiatrist find themselves drawn together by their equally turbulent pasts, and they form an alliance which ultimately leads to romance.

Director: Barbra Streisand
Executive Producer: Cis Corman, James T. Roe III
Screenwriter: Pat Conroy, Becky Johnston
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Production Co: Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating: R
Genre: Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 25, 1991, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 13, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $72.0M
Sound Mix: Surround

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