BackgroundThe witty and likeable, lightweight, old-fashioned romantic comedy,When Harry Met Sally...(1989) was intended to answer the sexual politics question:"Can two friends sleep together and still love each other in the morning?"The engaging, episodic film keenly observes romance, relationships between males and females, friendship and sex.In the hallway at the top of the stairs are well-wishers - Miss Baker, Marcus, Maria, and others.A sinister-looking, cadaverous agent (a plaster bandage on his cheek covers a large boil) from the lottery company approaches and bows formally in front of Trina - she appears frightened and agitated.The fact hat Hepburn was basically an unknown actress heightened the story""s plot.She soon blossomed into a true star - both within the film and afterwards.She proceeded to garner four more career Oscar nominations (all for Best Actress) forSabrina (1954), The Nun""s Story (1959), Breakfast at Tiffany""s (1961)andWait Until Dark (1967).Phyllis: Just my name.Neff: As for instance?Phyllis: Phyllis.Neff: Phyllis, huh.I think I like that.Phyllis: But you""re not sure.Neff: I""d have to drive it around the block a couple of times.Phyllis: (Standing up.) Mr.Neff, why don""t you drop by tomorrow evening around 8:30? He""ll be in then.Neff: Who?Phyllis: My husband.You were anxious to talk tohim, weren""t you?Neff: Yeah, I was.But I""m sort of getting over the idea, if you know what I mean.Phyllis: There""s a speed limit in this state, Mr.Neff, 45 miles an hour.Neff: How fast was I going, Officer?Phyllis: I""d say around 90.Neff: Suppose you get down off your motorcycle and give me a ticket.Phyllis: Suppose I let you off with a warning this time.Neff: Suppose it doesn""t take.Phyllis: Suppose I have to whack you over the knuckles.Neff: Suppose I bust out crying and put my head on your shoulder.Phyllis: Suppose you try putting it on my husband""s shoulder.Neff: That tears it...(He takes his hat and briefcase after his advances are coldly rebuffed.) 8:30 tomorrow evening, then.Phyllis: That""s what I suggested.Neff: You""ll be here too?Phyllis: I guess so.I usually am.Neff: Same chair, same perfume, same anklet?Phyllis: I wonder if I know what you mean.Neff: (Opening the entrance door.) I wonder if you wonder.After his first encounter with her, there is a clear mutual sexual attraction between them.In hindsight, Walter mostly remembers the pure physical magnetism he felt for her lethal "honeysuckle" perfume smell (purchased by Phyllis in Ensenada - across the border, she later tells him) - even though he realizes she had a strangely calculating look:It was a hot afternoon, and I can still remember he smell of honeysuckle all along that street.However, in the early 1980s, a revisionist crime drama with a May-December romance at its heart couldn""t compete with he age ofDirty Harry (1971)andDeath Wish (1974)vigilante films,The Godfather film saga, and the blockbuster era ofJaws (1975)and heStar Wars Trilogy (1977-1983).