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Are men okay? Several films from 1993 answered that question with a resounding no. One of the highest grossing movies of its year, Adrian Lyne’s Indecent Proposal was misunderstood as a gimmick, and its insight into toxic masculinity and male sexual insecurity got lost in a media frenzy, much of it sparked by feminists. What had changed since Lyne’s Fatal Attraction, in Hollywood and in the culture? We’ll also talk about Proposal star Demi Moore as the controversial “diva” of the moment.
Demi Moore in Indecent Proposal, 1993
Adrian Lyne and Demi Moore on the set of Indecent Proposal
SHOW NOTES:
Sources:
Leading Lady: Sherry Lansing and the Making of a Hollywood Groundbreaker by Stephen Galloway
“On Lyne” by Adrian Lyne, Details Magazine, November 1990
“Hollywood Cinefile” Screen International, February 14, 1992
“Proposal Rejected” Variety, March 9, 1992
“Hollywood Cinefile” Screen International, March 20, 1992
“In the Works” Premiere April 1992
“Redford Signs Proposal” by Marc Berman, April 20, 1992
“Demi’s Body Language” by Jennant Conant. Vanity Fair, August 1992
“More, More, More” by Stephen Rebello Movieline, January 1993
“In Bed with the Zeitguy” by Johanna Schneller, GQ, April 1993
Adrian Lyne interview by Martha Frankl, Movieline April 1993
“A Laughably Implausible ‘Proposal’ by Kenneth Turan, LA Times, April 7, 1993
“Paramount Gives Indecent Proposal All the Trappings of a Holiday Release” by Thomas R. King WSJ, April 7, 1993
Indecent Proposal Review, Roger Ebert, April 07, 1993
Indecent Proposal Review by Rita Kempley, Washington Post, April 7, 1993
“Women: Swap 'Em Or Sell 'Em” by Caryn James, NY Times, April 11, 1993
“Here’s a Critic-Proof ‘Proposal’” by Jeffrey Wells, LA Times, April 13, 1993
“Indecent Proposal” by Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly, April 16, 1993
“Negotiations and Navigations” by Steve Erickson LA Weekly, April 16, 1993
“A flurry of…” by Patrick Goldstein, LA Times, April 18, 1993
“THE SEXES; This Proposal Is for Status Quo” by Elizabeth Kaye, NYTimes, April 18, 1993
“Short Takes: Indecent Proposal Review” TIME, April. 19, 1993
“How Much Is That Demi in the Window” by Jerry Adler, Newsweek, April 19, 1993
“Paramount Gives Indecent Proposal All the Trappings of a Holiday Release” by Thomas R. King, Wall Street Journal, 1993
“Director Strangelove” by Micahael Angeli, Playboy May, 1993
“The Last Pinup” by Michael Angeli, Esquire, May 11, 1993
“The US Interview: Demi Moore” by Trip Gabriel, US Magazine, May 1993
“Double Jeopardy: Movie Doubles Want More Credit And Compensation For Their Work” by Monte Williams, New York Daily News, August 29, 1993
“Demi's State Of Grace by Leslie Bennetts” Vanity Fair, December 1993
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Demi Moore and Robert Redford in Indecent Proposal, 1993
Woody Harrelson and Demi Moore in Indecent Proposal, 1993
Music:
The music used in this episode, with the exception of the intro, was sourced from royalty-free music libraries and licensed music collections. The intro includes a clip from the film Casablanca.
Excerpts from the following songs were used throughout the episode:
TJ Collie - Lemon Jelly
Divider - Chris Zabriskie
Boston Landing - Skittle
Nine Count - Reflections
Neon Drip - RadioPink
JoDon - Orange Cat
Pastel de Nata - Orange Cat
Mill Wyrm - Potions
Chai Belltini - Vermouth
Four Cluster - Fornax
Vik Fenceta Lan - The Fence
Credits:
This episode was written, narrated, and produced by Karina Longworth.
Featuring Rian Johnson as the voice of Adrian Lyne.
Our editor this season is Evan Viola.
Research and production assistant: Lindsey D. Schoenholtz.
Social media assistant: Brendan Whalen.
Logo design: Teddy Blanks.
