Mask (1985)

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

Director:

Peter Bogdanovich

Writer:

Anna Hamilton Phelan

Stars:

Cher, Sam Elliott, Eric Stoltz

Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Rusty Dennis is the mother of Rocky, a seriously deformed but extremely intelligent and emotionally warm teenager. Rusty is a no-nonsense mother whose wild lifestyle is often at odds with her tenderness and protectiveness towards Rocky. She is determined that Rocky be given the same chances and happiness that everyone else takes for granted.

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Plot Keywords:

biker gang | biker | deformity | california | dignity | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 March 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Peter Bogdanovich's Mask

Filming Locations:

Azusa, California, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$42,400,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min 127 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Peter Bogdanovich, on Sunday, 14 March 2004, in a talk at the Cleveland Public Library (Ohio), he has secured the rights for the Bruce Springsteen songs and the print will be re-released with the music chosen the first time around. There was a possible snag when the studio told Bogdanovich that the negative of the film had been lost - they only had positive prints - but the negative hadn't really been lost - Bogdanovich had removed it from the studio some years prior. This has been released on DVD as the Director's Cut version.

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Goofs

When Laura Dern is leaving the camp (right before her parents arrive) you can clearly hear one of the children that she hugs refer to her as Laura instead of Diana, her character name.

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Quotes

Rusty Dennis: [her final line, after finding that Rocky has passed away in his sleep] ... Now you can go anywhere you want, baby.

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Connections

Referenced in Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex, Drugs and Rock 'N' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood (2003)

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Soundtracks

"Do It Again"
Written by Walter Becker / Donald Fagen
Performed by Steely Dan

User Reviews

Cher in a wonderful performance

Eric Stoltz plays Rocky Dennis, a teen afflicted with a horribly disfiguring disease. He lives with his mom, Rusty (Cher), a sometime junkie who pals around with a gang of bikers.

Between coping with his mom's antics, dealing with the prejudice he encounters and the debilitating migraines he suffers from, Rocky still manages to win over his teachers and classmates, becoming an inspiration to them.

While the story initially seems to be about Rocky, it's also about Rusty. She wants everyone to see her as the tough biker chick who can handle anyone and anything that comes her way, including Rocky's disease and the strangers who stare. This is her mask. She's really scared to death for Rocky and turns to the alcohol and drugs to help her cope.

A great film based on a true story, Mask will convince you that sometimes the most unlikely people become heroes.