The Bonfire of the Vanities, directed by Brian De Palma and adapted from Tom Wolfe‘s hugely popular novel, is a dark social satire that aims its sharp critique at the greed, ambition, and class divisions of 1980s New York City. It is a cautionary tale about how swiftly a life of privilege can unravel when confronted by the city’s unforgiving machinery of law, media, and politics.
The plot centers on Sherman McCoy (Tom Hanks), a highly successful and intensely self-satisfied “Master of the Universe” – a Wall Street bond trader living a life of obscene luxury on Park Avenue.
Sherman’s privileged existence is shattered one night when, while driving with his alluring mistress, Maria Ruskin (Melanie Griffith), they take a wrong turn into the labyrinthine, hostile streets of the Bronx.
A resulting, chaotic encounter leads to a young man being severely injured, and the couple flees the scene, hoping to bury the incident entirely.
However, the event is seized upon by two crucial figures. Peter Fallow (Bruce Willis), a drunken, cynical, and desperate journalist, realizes the story of the rich white man and the injured Black youth is his ticket back to journalistic relevance.
Simultaneously, the event is weaponized by the political system, becoming a cause célèbre driven by a calculating District Attorney.
The subsequent legal and media frenzy – a true “bonfire” – turns Sherman into a scapegoat overnight, exposing the deep fractures of race and class in the city.
The film’s ensemble cast expertly fills this tumultuous world.
Kim Cattrall plays Sherman’s wife, Judy, whose marriage crumbles under the pressure.
Morgan Freeman delivers a grounding performance as Judge Leonard White, one of the few voices of reason amidst the hysteria.
John Hancock appears as Reverend Bacon, and Kevin Dunn plays Tom Killian, a central figure in the legal drama.
Alan King, Donald Moffat, Clifton James, Kirsten Dunst, Richard Libertini, F. Murray Abraham, George Plimpton, Rita Wilson and Saul Rubinek round out the cast.
Geraldo Rivera has an uncredited cameo appearance in the film.
Tom Hanks and Bruce Willis in The Bonfire of the Vanities (Photo/Warner Bros.)
Reception for The Bonfire of the Vanities
The Bonfire of the Vanities grossed $4.2 million on its opening weekend, finishing eighth at the box office over the long Christmas weekend.
The film grossed $15.7 million in its theatrical run.
Roger Ebert gave the film two and a half stars in his review.
Gene Siskel said in his Chicago Tribune review: “Audiences have hooted the film’s revisionist ending, which concludes with a sermon. I didn’t hoot because I was too sad. I gave up on the movie well before the ending.”
The controversies surrounding the film were detailed in a 1991 book called The Devil’s Candy: The Bonfire of the Vanities Goes to Hollywood by Julie Salamon.
Legacy
The Bonfire of the Vanities has a complex legacy; while not universally praised upon release, it remains a fascinating, if sometimes heavy-handed, cultural artifact that captures the excessive, judgmental, and politically charged atmosphere of the late 20th century.
The film is a sweeping melodrama that shows how easily a man can lose everything once he becomes the prey of the media circus.
