Sam Baldwin (Tom Hanks) is a good father and a successful architect. But he's also a lonely widower. One night his precocious 8-year-old son Jonah calls a late-night radio talk show seeking a cure for his father's despondency. When Sam hesitantly takes the phone and discloses the story of his magic-filled marriage, he proves to be a deeply feeling and gentle man. His plight profoundly moves the program's sympathetic female listeners, and thousands of women write in offering to help him `recover' from his mournful insomnia. Recently betrothed Annie Reed (Meg Ryan) is one of the many listeners touched by Sam's story. To complicate matters, she's afraid her upcoming marriage promises stability and security but no excitement. Although Annie's supposed to be driving to her future in-laws' house for the holidays, she knows that she's already fallen in love with Sam and is on the road to destiny. Academy Award Nominations: Best (Original) Screenplay, Best Song ("A Wink and a Smile").

After hearing a man confess his love for his dearly departed wife on a call-in radio show, a woman falls deeply, inexplicably in love with him. Deciding he is her destiny, she treks across country on a wildly romantic impulse to meet him - but will reality be nice, for once?

Academy Award-nominated writer Nora Ephron ("When Harry Met Sally," "Silkwood") has scripted several screenplays. She first became involved with "Sleepless In Seattle" as one of the writers. But as soon as producer Gary Foster saw her directorial debut film "This Is My Life," he asked Ephron to consider directing "Sleepless" as well.

The film was shot in 12 weeks. About nine of those weeks were spent filming in Seattle. Additional filming locations include Chicago, Baltimore, and New York. One of the production designer's tasks was to reconstruct the Empire State Building's observation deck in a hanger at the Sands Point Naval Base. A huge photograph of the Big Apple's skyline was placed around the stage. The crew accomodated the filming equipment by building the deck-stage larger than the actual observation deck.

Actress Meg Ryan, made her feature film debut as Candice Bergen's daughter in "Rich and Famous." In 1986 she played in the film "Top Gun." Her additional film roles included: "Promise Land," "DOA," "Innerspace," "The Presidio" and "The Doors."

Consummate comedian Tom Hanks, who got his start in the television sitcom "Bousom Buddies," went on to star in "Splash," Volunteers," "The Money Pit" and "Nothing In Common." In 1988, he received acclaim for his work in "Punchline" and "Big." Hanks was recently featured in the motion picture "A League of Their Own," about an all-women's baseball team.

"Sleepless In Seattle" is the first picture Ryan and Hanks have made together since they appeared in "Joe Versus the Volcano," (1990).

Producer-director-actor Rob Reiner appears as Jay, a contractor who works with Hanks' Sam Baldwin. Reiner left his role as Michael Stivic of "All in the Family" and became one of Hollywood's most successful directors. "Misery" and "A Few Good Men," are just a couple of the films he's directed.

Child actor Ross Malinger's, screen credits include "Good Advice," "Eve of Destruction," "Kindergarden Cop," and "Late For Dinner."

Nicholas Meyers was the music editor and music supervisor, Jeffrey Popllack was the music consultant, and Walter Bernard and Milton Glaser did the titles design.

A clip from the film "An Affair to Remember" (1957) directed by Leo McCarey, is used in the film.

Other songs used in the film: "A Kiss to Build a Dream On" "The Wee Small Hours of the Morning" "Make Someone Happy" "When I Fall in Love."

Rated BBFC PG by the British Board of Film Classification.

Copyright 1993 TriStar Pictures, Inc.

Available to buy in the UK.

DVD Features:

Region 1
Keep Case
Widescreen - 1.85
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 - English
Additional Release Material:
Trailers
Associate Producer
Music Video: Celin Dion and Clive Griffin - "When I Fall In Love"
Featurette: LOST IN THE MOVIES
Audio Commentary: Nora Ephron - Director/Screenwriter, Delia Ephron -
Text/Photo Galleries:
Talent Files

Tom Hanks: Oscar-winning actor/director/producer
Meg Ryan: American Actress, SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE (1993)
Ross Malinger: Child Actor
Rosie O'Donnell: Actress/Comedian/Talk Show Host
Bill Pullman: American actor
David Hyde Pierce: American actor, FRASIER
Rob Reiner: American Director/Actor
Rita Wilson: Supporting actress and producer
Gaby Hoffmann: American actor, UNCLE BUCK/VOLCANO

Nora Ephron: American Director/Screenwriter

Nora Ephron: American Director/Screenwriter
David S. Ward: Screenwriter/Director
Jeff Arch: Co-Screenwriter, SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE

"...The hippest, frankest and funniest date movie around..."
"...[The film] delivers ample warmth and some explosively funny moments....There are some extremely amusing explorations of dating mores..."
"...Charming SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE manages to be dateless - as in timeless - as it pays homage to date movies of yore..." -- 3 out of 4 stars
"...A feather-light romantic comedy....[Hanks and Ryan] are terrifically attractive..."
"...The actors are well-suited to this material....Meg Ryan, who is one of the most likable actresses around and has a certain ineffable Doris Day innocence, is able to convince us of the magical quality of her sudden love..."