When Harry Met Sally…

Movie Details:

Cast & Characters:

• Billy Crystal as Harry Burns
• Meg Ryan as Sally Albright
• Carrie Fisher as Marie
• Bruno Kirby as Jess
• Steven Ford as Joe
• Lisa Jane Persky as Alice
• Michelle Nicastro as Amanda Reese
• Kevin Rooney as Ira Stone
• Harley Kozak as Helen Hillson
• Estelle Reiner as Female Customer

Storyline:

Harry and Sally meet when she gives him a ride to New York after they both graduate from the University of Chicago. The film jumps through their lives as they both search for love, but fail, bumping into each other time and time again. Finally a close friendship blooms between them, and they both like having a friend of the opposite sex. But then they are confronted with the problem: “Can a man and a woman be friends, without sex getting in the way?”

About Movie:

When Harry Met Sally… is an American romantic comedy-drama directed by Rob Reiner and written by Nora Ephron. The film stars Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher, and Bruno Kirby.

The concept for the movie emerged after Reiner’s divorce from Penny Marshall. In 1984, Reiner, producer Andrew Scheinman, and Ephron met at the Russian Tea Room in New York City to brainstorm ideas. The character of Harry was based on Reiner, inspired by an interview Ephron conducted with him, while Sally was modeled after Ephron and some of her friends. Billy Crystal joined the project and contributed to the screenplay, helping shape the witty dialogue, much of which was based on the real-life friendship between Reiner and Crystal.

The film’s title evolved over time. Ephron originally suggested How They Met, but after cycling through several options, Reiner even initiated a contest during filming, offering a case of champagne to whoever came up with the best title.

The soundtrack features jazz standards performed by Harry Connick Jr., with arrangements by Marc Shaiman. Connick’s work earned him a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Male Vocal Performance.

Released by Columbia Pictures, When Harry Met Sally… initially opened in select cities to build word-of-mouth interest before expanding nationwide. The film grossed $92.8 million in North America and was met with widespread critical acclaim. Ephron’s screenplay earned a British Academy Film Award, as well as Oscar and Writers Guild of America nominations. The movie is ranked 23rd on AFI’s 100 Years… 100 Laughs list of top American comedy films and 60th on Bravo’s 100 Funniest Movies list.

In 2004, it was adapted for the stage, with Luke Perry and Alyson Hannigan in the lead roles. In 2022, When Harry Met Sally… was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for its cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance.

Budget & Box Office Collection: