Always (released in theaters on December 22, 1989), directed by Steven Spielberg, serves as a deeply personal, romantic fantasy that reimagines the 1943 classic A Guy Named Joe. Moving the action from the battlefields of World War II to the smoke-choked forests of the American West, Spielberg creates a visually stunning tribute to the courage of aerial firefighters. It is a film that balances the adrenaline of low-altitude flight with a tender, supernatural exploration of the grieving process.
Pete Sandidge (Richard Dreyfuss) is a legendary pilot whose specialty is “slop-bucket” firefighting—dropping retardant on forest fires with reckless abandon.
His daring maneuvers are a constant source of anxiety for his girlfriend, Dorinda Durston (Holly Hunter), a pilot and flight dispatcher who loves him deeply but fears his luck will eventually run out.
Their boisterous, cigar-chomping friend Al Yackey (John Goodman) serves as the glue holding their makeshift family together at the remote airfield.
During a particularly dangerous mission, Pete sacrifices his life to save Al from a mid-air disaster.
He awakens in a burnt-out forest, where he meets an ethereal figure named Hap (Audrey Hepburn in her final film appearance). Hap explains that Pete has a new mission: to act as an invisible inspiration for those he left behind.
Pete returns to Earth as a ghost, unable to be seen or heard, tasked with mentoring a clumsy but talented young pilot named Ted Baker (Brad Johnson).
The conflict becomes heart-wrenching when Ted falls in love with the mourning Dorinda.
Pete must struggle with his own jealousy and the pain of seeing his “replacement” while learning that true love means helping the person you care about move on without you.
Accompanied by a cast that includes Keith David, Marg Helgenberger, and Dale Dye, the film builds to a climactic rescue mission where Pete must guide both Ted and Dorinda through a wall of fire to safety.
Audrey Hepburn and Richard Dreyfuss in Always (Photo/Universal Pictures)
Reception for Always
Always grossed $3.7 million on its opening weekend, finishing fifth behind National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Tango & Cash, The War of the Roses, and Back to the Future Part II.
The film grossed $43.9 million in its theatrical run.
Roger Ebert gave Always two out of four stars in his review.
Legacy
Always is defined by its role as a bridge between Spielberg’s blockbusters and his more intimate, adult-oriented dramas.
It is most famously remembered as the final screen appearance of the legendary Audrey Hepburn, whose serene presence as Hap provided a graceful swan song to one of cinema’s greatest careers.
The film’s practical aerial sequences, filmed with real vintage planes over massive forest fires, remain some of the most impressive and dangerous-looking footage in the director’s filmography.
While it was a departure from the aliens and adventurers of his earlier work, Always has maintained a loyal following for its unapologetic sentimentality and its exploration of the “spirit” of the American West.
The film is celebrated as a beautifully photographed, emotionally resonant story about the difficulty of saying goodbye, standing as a reminder that the people we love never truly leave us as long as they continue to inspire our actions.
