Mask (1985)

Director:

Peter Bogdanovich

Writer:

Anna Hamilton Phelan (written by)

Release Date:

8 March 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

They told 16-year-old Rocky Dennis he could never be like everyone else. So he was determined to be better.

Plot:

A boy with a massive facial skull deformity and biker gang mother attempts to live as normal a life as possible under the circumstances.

Plot Keywords:

Biker Gang | Biker | Deformity | Prejudice | Sport Card

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 1 win & 6 nominations

Cast

Cher	...	Florence 'Rusty' Dennis
Sam Elliott	...	Gar
Eric Stoltz	...	Roy L.'Rocky' Dennis
Estelle Getty	...	Evelyn
Richard Dysart	...	Abe
Laura Dern	...	Diana Adams
Micole Mercurio	...	Babe
Harry Carey Jr.	...	Red
Dennis Burkley	...	Dozer
Lawrence Monoson	...	Ben
Ben Piazza	...	Mr. Simms
L. Craig King	...	Eric
Alexandra Powers	...	Lisa
Kelly Jo Minter	...	Lorrie (as Kelly Minter)
Joe Unger	...	1st Boyfriend

Also Known As:

Peter Bogdanovich's Mask (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

120 min | USA:127 min (director's cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | West Germany:12 (f) | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-10 | France:U | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Australia:M | Netherlands:AL

Filming Locations:

Azusa, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Eric Stoltz spent so much time under heavy makeup that when he arrived for the post production party he had to present I.D. to security to prove that he was Eric Stoltz. Also, when he got there he had to introduce himself to some of the cast and crew because many of them didn't know what he really looked like.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: When Rocky looks in the carnival mirror it alters his deformed face to appear almost normal. They send for his mother (Cher) to look at him. The same mirror that altered Rocky's face to appear normal should have deformed his mother's face. But when you see them looking in the mirror, Cher's face is looking perfect.

Quotes:

[after an unpleasant visit with the grandparents, Rusty is about to take a lot of drugs]
Gar: [gets a beer from fridge] If you get wasted off that crap, I'm not gonna stay here and babysit.
Rusty Dennis: [scoffles] You must be confusing me for some who gives a $hit.
Gar: Must be.
Rusty Dennis: [looks at drugs in hand and sighs sadly] You know, this just isn't going to work. You're telling me to do things and I'm just gonna end up hating you again.
Gar: Oh come on. You and your old man have been going through this $hit for the longest time I can remember. Got to again, didn't he? Got you ready for another one of those 2-hour screamers. Gets you to the place where I'm gonna put you through the God Damn wall.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Gilmore Girls: The Prodigal Daughter Returns (#6.9)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Dear Lady Twist

A very good movie

This movie is unique. Everybody must see it. It is very sentimental, but it is not exasperated. Great Cher, great Eric Stoltz, great Sam Elliot. This movie makes you laugh, makes you cry, makes you think about the lucky aspects of life and the unlucky ones. One of the most striking aspects is that good feelings are found in an environment that most people think is bad: a young ex-drug addict mother, a group of motorcyclists. I will not tell you what is Mask, I just tell you he is a normal guy except for a difference: find it by your own, you will be satisfied. Surely a good movie.