Foreign Affairs (1993)

A divorced, no nonsense college professor (Joanne Woodward) travels to England to do some research. Her seatmate on her flight is a talkative Oklahoman (Brian Dennehy) that gets on her nerves. When the flight arrives in London, she is glad to be rid of him. Alas, it won't be that last she sees of him. Based on the Pulitzer prize winning novel by Alison Lurie and directed by Jim O'Brien (THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN). A bittersweet romance anchored by two good performances but enough changes from the book that turn it into a sentimental tearjerker. The film is saddled with a subplot involving Woodward's young colleague's (Eric Stoltz) affair with an older TV actress (Stephanie Beacham) that seems superfluous. Unmemorable but for the two lead performances. With Ian Richardson, Robert Hands and Alex Kingston.