Stanley & Iris

Stanley & Iris (1990) is a romantic drama film directed by Martin Ritt and starring Jane Fonda and Robert De Niro. The screenplay by Harriet Frank, Jr. and Irving Ravetch is loosely based on the novel Union Street by Pat Barker.

The original music score is composed by John Williams and the cinematography is by Donald McAlpine. The film was marketed with the tagline "Some people need love spelled out for them." It was the final film that Ritt directed, and he died months after the film's release.

Plot summary

Iris King works in a baking factory in Connecticut. Still getting over the recent death of her husband, she lives from paycheck to paycheck as she raises her two children, Kelly and Richard. Also staying with her are her unemployed sister Sharon and Sharon's abusive husband Joe. Iris lives in a high crime area. With money already tight for the family, Kelly discovers she is pregnant which makes matters worse.

One of the few bright spots in her life is her blossoming friendship with Stanley Cox, a nice guy whom she first meets when he comes to her aid after her purse is stolen by a thug. Stanley works in the bakery's staff cafeteria, but as their friendship develops, Iris starts noticing some peculiarities about him. He becomes frustrated when asked to sign his name, and cannot pick out an item correctly from a shelf. He also cannot drive, rides a bicycle and still lives with his elderly father.