White Palace

R

Released Oct 19, 1990

1 hr. 43 min.

Romance

List

50%

28 Reviews

Tomatometer

62%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Max Baron (James Spader) is a Jewish advertising executive in his 20s who's still getting over the death of his wife. Nora Baker (Susan Sarandon) is a 40-something diner waitress who enjoys the wilder side of life. Mismatched or not, their attraction is instant and smoldering. With time, however, their class and age differences become an obstacle in their relationship, especially since Max can't keep Nora a secret from his Jewish friends and upper-crust associates forever.

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Sandra B

Spader completely dominated this movie and he was sizzling!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/07/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Directed by Luis Mandoki and written by Ted Tally and Alvin Sargent — and based on the book by Glenn Savan — White Palace does something extraordinary for an American movie. It presents an older women as a sexual being every bit the equal of her younger male lover. Max Baron (James Spader) is a St. Louis advertising executive who has given up on life after the death of his wife. On the way to his friend Neil's (Jason Alexander) bachelor party, he grabs a sack of burgers from White Castle* — err, White Palace — a burger diner. He learns that the order is six burgers short and leaves the party to argue with the waitress who rang him up, Donna (Susan Sarandon). Later, they randomly meet in a bar and nearly argue until they mutually reveal why their lives are where they are: he's lost his wife and she's lost her son. And then improbably, they end up going home together. He wakes up to her going down on him, then they make love. It won't be the last time. And unlike so many Hollywood films, he repays her kindness with his own favors. There was even more of the ad agency in the film, including a problem client played by Gena Gershon. All of these scenes were cut, which also meant that most of Kathy Bates' role was also left out of the movie. There's also a sex scene removed from the film and the first one in the movie was cut down so the movie didn't get an NC-17 rating. Additionally, the original ending was the same as the book where Max proposes to Nora in a restaurant bathroom and the ending is inconclusive. That ending didn't test well so a new one was shot. You can see the actor's hairstyles change in the scene and that's your signal for which footage is from the reshoot. *The original title for the film was The White Castle, and the novel even makes reference to a specific White Castle at the intersection of S. Grand Blvd. and Gravois Ave. in south St. Louis. The restaurant chain refused permission to use its trademarked name in either the novel or the film. They also refused permission to allow any of its restaurants for filming locations. The diner used in the movie is now known as the White Knight; the filmmakers wouldn't let them call it the White Palace after the movie, which is weird when they went through all those legal naming issues themselves.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

One of the greatest, and most overlooked, love stories on film. Sarandon and Spader are simply brilliant.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

How much does age really matter between two people? Does the passion still burn? Or is life asking us to wake up and look at the situation? James Spader, Susan Sarandon, Jason Alexander, Maria Pitillo, Kim Meyers, and Kathy Bates Sarandon and Spader star in a romance along the lines of The Graduate based on the book by Glenn Savvan Max is in his 20s and Nora is in her 40s; he's a Jewish executive advertiser who got dumped by his previous wife and she's an employee at a burger restaurant who prefers more the wild side of things, she may be older but she is more bold than he realizes But how long can this last? Age and time can be cruel and both of them contend with class differences Max also hasn't told his buddies about her yet so it puts more of strain on things There's steamyness, laughs, even some heartfelt scenes that make this very watchable And I suppose anyone caught in this dilemma can connect with these two people constantly being pulled by life's difficulties; each of us carry our own baggage, not sure how to open our hearts or our lives, or have trouble admitting what's embarrassing It's true though people discover things, they don't change overnight, and they can still be who they want to be with someone new who doesn't resemble someone from their past. Spader and Sarandon make this movie sexy, sleek, identifiable, and real in many respects. It's also a big lesson in judgments and values, and a glimpse at emotional circumstances when it comes to age.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

steve d

Nothing interesting and no reason to care

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

ingin menonton karena belum pernah menonton

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

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Luis Mandoki

Director

Susan Sarandon

Nora Baker

James Spader

Max Baron

Jason Alexander

Neil

Kathy Bates

Rosemary

Eileen Brennan

Judy

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Sheila Benson

Los Angeles Times

"White Palace" is more than a start for director Mandoki, who was sturdily launched with "Gaby"; it's a continued indication of a sure and powerful sensitivity.

Jun 22, 2020

Full Review

Tom Tunney

Empire Magazine

Part love story, part comedy of manners, White Palace is a thoroughly entertaining - if quite obviously far fetched - yarn.

Rated: 4/5

Jun 22, 2020

Full Review

Gene Siskel

Chicago Tribune

The film manages to avoid the more interesting problem area of what will happen to the couple once they decide to settle down and live openly together. Both principals, however, are good in their limited roles.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jun 18, 2020

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

It is unforgivable that, in the end, the script should also want to self destruct. [Full review in Spanish]

Nov 1, 2022

Full Review

Dennis King

Tulsa World

In the end, "White Palace" builds itself into a fairy tale romance that's easy to like and just as easy to forget.

Jun 22, 2020

Full Review

Kathi Maio

Sojourner

White Palace stands up as an enjoyable film, despite it's many failings, because of the sensitive and sensuous direction of Luis Madoki... and fine performances.

Sep 11, 2019

Full Review

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Synopsis

Max Baron (James Spader) is a Jewish advertising executive in his 20s who's still getting over the death of his wife. Nora Baker (Susan Sarandon) is a 40-something diner waitress who enjoys the wilder side of life. Mismatched or not, their attraction is instant and smoldering. With time, however, their class and age differences become an obstacle in their relationship, especially since Max can't keep Nora a secret from his Jewish friends and upper-crust associates forever.

Director: Luis Mandoki
Screenwriter: Ted Tally, Alvin Sargent
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Romance
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 19, 1990, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 30, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $16.9M
Sound Mix: Surround