1990 | Directed by Mike Nichols |
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Substance-addicted Hollywood actress Suzanne Vale is on the skids. After a spell at a detox
centre her film company insists as a condition of continuing to employ her that she live with
her mother Doris Mann, herself once a star and now a champion drinker. Such a set-up is bad
news for Suzanne who has struggled for years to get out of her mother's shadow, and who finds
her mother still treats her like a child. Based on Carrie Fisher's novel. |
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| ADDITIONAL CAST & CHARACTERS |
Meryl Streep
Shirley MacLaine
Dennis Quaid
Gene Hackman
Annette Bening |
... Suzanne Vale
... Doris Mann
... Jack Faulkner
... Lowell
... Evelyn Ames |
View complete gallery
Meryl Streep, Entertainment Weekly, March 2000
"That was cool! Isn't that your fantasy? To be up in front of a couple of electric guitars in
a rock'n roll band? That was mine! I was Bonnie Raitt for a day. It was the last day of shooting
and they were having a party, and there was real food and real beer out there, and I knew if I
did it, I could go to the party. It was the first movie I did in Hollywood. The only time I'd
been out there was for award ceremonies. I'd get nauseous every time we'd come over the mountains
and see Los Angeles - I'd think 'Ohhhh, my God, I've gotta get my dress on..."
Meryl Streep, Good Housekeeping, January 2003
"It's such a shock to see that movie! When I was making it, I thought, I'm so fat, I'm too old
to do this... I mean, look at all these great women who were in that film. Shirley MacLaine
looks incredible and Annette Bening had this great, sexy part. But now I watch it and think,
Geez, what were you whining about?"
Carrie Fisher, The Hollywood Reporter, June 2004
"She's the best version of me I've ever seen; I wish she could do it all the time. I had to
explain to her what drugs are like because she hadn't really done that. (But) I do that very
well; I have a lot of practice. I didn't know that it was going to turn out to be helping Meryl
as research; that's probably what I did it for -- as research for Meryl. I had to teach her to
be a truant, like a bad girl. I had to teach Meryl bad behavior -- and anybody who wants that
kind of training, that's my specialty. She understood the notion of it very well. It's
ridiculous what she can do, and I think she thinks it's ridiculous, too. She's not just this
goddess, or I couldn't hang around with her. That'd be awful, if she was this queen of acting
and accents. I don't think she gets too far into character that she can't crawl out easily."
The story line is based on Carrie Fisher's own life and battle with fame, family and addiction.
When the doctor played by Richard Dreyfuss asks Meryl Streep's character out to a movie, she replies, "Sure, we could go see 'Valley of the Dolls.'" Valley of the Dolls (1967) marked one of Dreyfuss's first film appearances.
The framed poster in Doris' house of Doris and a young Suzanne on the cover of LIFE magazine is a real cover shot of Shirley MacLaine and her daughter, Sachiko.
Meryl Streep did her own singing.
The band accompanying Meryl Streep at the end of the film is Blue Rodeo, one of the most popular and respected rock groups in Canada, who were virtually unknown in the US at the time of the film's release. After hearing their music being played in a limo, by the driver, Streep wanted them to contribute to the soundtrack.
Jerry Orbach filmed scenes as Suzanne's father, based loosely on writer Carrie Fisher's real-life father, Eddie Fisher. His scenes were later cut.
Gene Hackman based his performance on real-life director Richard Donner.
John Cusack filmed scenes as one of Suzanne's friends in rehab who belonged to the Manson Family. His scenes were later cut.
Debbie Reynolds reportedly wanted to play the role of Doris Mann, loosely based on herself. However, director Mike Nichols personally requested Shirley MacLaine.
In a scene from early in the movie, Lowell is dressing down Suzanne for her drug-use on set, and the film crew are clearly seen near-by. One of the crew is wearing a crew shirt from "Evil Angels". This is the actual Australian title of the movie A Cry in the Dark (1988), starring Meryl Streep.
Additional Information at the Internet Movie Database
Full cast & credits, trivia and business information
| AWARDS / NOMINATIONS FOR MERYL STREEP |
1991 (
Winner) American Comedy Award - Best Actress
1991 (Nomination) Academy Award - Best Actress
1991 (Nomination) Golden Globe Award - Best Actress
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Features: Director's Commentary
Video: Widescreen, Color
Languages: English (Dolby)
BUY DVD AT AMAZON.COM |
DVD Release: May 01, 2001
Region Code: 1
Distributor: Sony Pictures
ASIN: B000059XTI
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