Leona Helmsley: The Queen of Mean (TV 1990)

Director:

Richard Michaels

Writers:

Dennis Turner (teleplay), Ransdell Pierson (book)

Stars:

Suzanne Pleshette, Lloyd Bridges, Joe Regalbuto

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Suzanne Pleshette	...	Leona Helmsley
Lloyd Bridges	...	Harry Helmsley
Joe Regalbuto	...	Paul Summerton
Raymond Singer	...	Jay Panzirer
Bruce Weitz	...	Joseph Lubin
Marcia Diamond	...	Leona's Mother
Patricia Collins	...	Sandra
Gale Garnett	...	May
Lori Hallier	...	Sarah
Ken James
Victoria Snow	...	Marilyn Norrito
Eric Donkin	...	Stanley
Maurice Godin	...	Mark
Marvin Goldhar	...	Leona's Attorney
Ransdell Pierson	...	Ransdell

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

husband wife relationship | slip the undergarment | rhyme in title | fraud | hotel | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 September 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Queen of Mean

Filming Locations:

Royal York Hotel, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fries Entertainment, Goldman/Taylor Entertainment Co. Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Leona Helmsley: You're tie is too wide.
Paul Summerton: And in the right light, your earrings could signal the entire 7th Fleet.

User Reviews

"The only Palace in the world where the Queen stands guard!"

Randsell Pearson's fact-based book provides the basis for this gossipy, though well-cast television-movie chronicling the stormiest business years in the life of wealthy New York City hotelier Harry Helmsley and his eventual wife Leona, who took a particular delight in running roughshod over "the little people". There's no attempt made to delve into Leona's complicated psyche (why did she seemingly hate everyone who stood in an 'inferior' position to her power...and why did she apparently terminate friendships with those trusted few who only wanted her to see the truth of her actions?). Still, if the film is just a well-dressed tattler (and a thin one at 94 minutes), it isn't campy and is served well by Suzanne Pleshette's strong performance as "The Queen of Mean". Matching her are Lloyd Bridges as Harry (who occasionally got fed up with his wife's possessiveness), Joe Regalbuto as confidante Paul Summerton, and Raymond Singer as Leona's son Jay (who actually tried to bilk his stepfather's subsidiary without being noticed). The movie doesn't pretend to be art--and the final summation was probably already dated by the time the picture aired--but it certainly keeps its audience entertained.