Reversal of Fortune is a 1990 American drama film directed by Barbet Schroeder that was adapted from the 1985 book Reversal of Fortune: Inside the von Bülow Case, written by law professor Alan Dershowitz. It recounts the true story of the unexplained coma of socialite Sunny von Bülow, the subsequent attempted murder trial, and the eventual acquittal of her husband, Claus von Bülow, who had Dershowitz as his defense attorney. The film stars Jeremy Irons as Claus, Glenn Close as Sunny, and Ron Silver as Dershowitz. Screenwriter Nick Kazan originally envisioned Austrian actor Klaus Maria Brandauer in the role of Claus von Bülow but was thrilled with Irons' performance. Irons earned the 1991 Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in the film.

Plot

Sunny von Bülow, a millionaire heiress and socialite, lies in a hospital bed in a persistent vegetative state, after falling into a coma from diabetic shock on December 21, 1980. A year previous, she fell into a coma on December 26, 1979, but was revived. Her husband Claus von Bülow is charged with attempted murder by injecting the hypoglycemic Sunny with an overdose of insulin. During the trial, it is discovered Claus was having an affair with actress Alexandra Isles, and stood to gain financially if Sunny had died. He is found guilty on two counts of attempted murder.

Awards