Postcards from the Edge (1990)

Director:

Mike Nichols

Writers (WGA):

Carrie Fisher (book)
Carrie Fisher (screenplay)

Release Date:

12 September 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Having a wonderful time, wish I were here.

Plot:

Substance-addicted Hollywood actress Suzanne Vale is on the skids. After a spell at a detox centre her...

Plot Keywords:

Hollywood | Actress | Overdose | Stomach Pumped | Vomit

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Meryl Streep	...	Suzanne Vale
Shirley MacLaine	...	Doris Mann
Dennis Quaid	...	Jack Faulkner
Gene Hackman	...	Lowell Kolchek
Richard Dreyfuss	...	Doctor Frankenthal
Rob Reiner	...	Joe Pierce
Mary Wickes	...	Grandma
Conrad Bain	...	Grandpa
Annette Bening	...	Evelyn Ames
Simon Callow	...	Simon Asquith
Gary Morton	...	Marty Wiener
CCH Pounder	...	Julie Marsden (as C.C.H. Pounder)
Sidney Armus	...	Sid Roth
Robin Bartlett	...	Aretha
Barbara Garrick	...	Carol
Anthony Heald	...	George Lazan
Dana Ivey	...	Wardrobe Mistress
Oliver Platt	...	Neil Bleene
Michael Ontkean	...	Robert Munch
Pepe Serna	...	Raoul
Mark Lowenthal	...	Bart
Michael Byers	...	Allen
JD Souther	...	Ted (as J.D. Souther)
George Wallace	...	Carl
Peter Onorati	...	Cameraman
J. Roy Helland	...	Make-up Man (as Roy Helland)
Douglas Roberts	...	Soundman
Michael Haley	...	Assistant Director (as R.M. Haley)
Kathleen Gray	...	Cindy
Gloria Crayton	...	Maid at Party
Gary Matanky	...	Sound Editor
Marcelo Tubert	...	Sound Editor
John Verea	...	Young Intern
René Assa	...	Passport Official
Natalija Nogulich	...	Friend at Airport (as Natalia Nogulich)
Susan Forristal	...	Friend at Airport
Evelina Fernández	...	Airline Employee (as Evelina Fernandez)
Neil A. Machlis	...	Rob Sonnenfeld (as Neil Machlis)
Gary Jones	...	Fan at Party
Jane Galloway	...	Nurse
Steven Brill	...	Assistant Director
Jason Tomlins	...	Officer
Shelley Kirk	...	First Lady
Jessica Z. Diamond	...	Script Supervisor
Scott Frankel	...	Pianist at Party
Sheridan Leatherbury	...	Stand-In
Ken Gutstein	...	Director of Photography
James Deeth	...	Helicopter Pilot
Robert Marshall	...	Helicopter Pilot
Jim Cuddy	...	Blue Rodeo Band
Greg Keelor	...	Blue Rodeo Band
Bazil Donovan	...	Blue Rodeo Band
Mark French	...	Blue Rodeo Band
Bob Wiseman	...	Blue Rodeo Band (as Bob Weiseman)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Carrie Jachnuk	...	Fan at Party (uncredited)
Beau Lotterman	...	Soundman (uncredited)
Raymond Storti	...	Stagehand (uncredited)

Directed by
Mike Nichols

Writing credits (WGA)
Carrie Fisher		(book)
Carrie Fisher		(screenplay)

Produced by
John Calley	....	producer
Robert Greenhut	....	executive producer
Neil A. Machlis	....	executive producer (as Neil Machlis)
Susan MacNair	....	associate producer (as Sue McNair)
Mike Nichols	....	producer

Original Music by
Carly Simon

Cinematography by
Michael Ballhaus		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Sam O'Steen

Casting by
Ellen Lewis
Juliet Taylor

Production Design by
Patrizia von Brandenstein		(as Patrizia Von Brandenstein)

Art Direction by
Kandy Stern

Set Decoration by
Chris Butler		(as Chris A. Butler)

Costume Design by
Ann Roth

Makeup Department
Lynda Gurasich	....	hair stylist
J. Roy Helland	....	hair stylist
J. Roy Helland	....	makeup artist
Cheri Minns	....	makeup artist
Greg Cannom	....	special makeup artist: Shirley Maclaine (uncredited)

Production Management
Neil A. Machlis	....	unit production manager (as Neil Machlis)
Chantal Feghali	....	post-production supervisor (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael Haley	....	first assistant director
Nathalie Vadim	....	second assistant director

Art Department
C.J. Maguire	....	property master
James F. Orendorff	....	construction coordinator
Mark Boucher	....	props (uncredited)
Charles William Breen	....	set designer (uncredited)
David B. Brenner	....	foreman (uncredited)
Dan Dorfer	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Joseph G. Pacelli Jr.	....	set designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Stan Bochner	....	supervising sound editor
Gene S. Cantamessa	....	production sound mixer
Steve Cantamessa	....	boom operator
Lee Dichter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michael Jacobi	....	adr editor
Ellis Burman	....	sound re-recording mixer (restored version) (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Alan E. Lorimer	....	special effects coordinator (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Bill Hansard	....	process projection

Camera and Electrical Department
Florian Ballhaus	....	first assistant camera
David M. Dunlap	....	camera operator
David James	....	still photographer
Tom May	....	key grip (as Thomas May)
James R. Tynes	....	chief lighting technician
Adam Glick	....	set lighting technician (uncredited)
Randy Nolen	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)
Lowell Peterson	....	camera operator: "b" camera (uncredited)
Bradford Ralston	....	video assist operator (uncredited)
John 'Fest' Sandau	....	assistant chief lighting technician (uncredited)
Jeff Zucker	....	rigging gaffer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gary Jones	....	assistant costume designer
Eddie Marks	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Kris Cole	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Blue Rodeo	....	musician
Frank Filipetti	....	music producer
Jack Lee	....	musical coach: Ms. MacLaine
Suzana Peric	....	music editor
Paul Samwell-Smith	....	music producer
David Sharpe	....	vocal effects (as David Sharpe's Totally Looped Group)
Howard Shore	....	music supervisor: musical numbers
Brian Eddolls	....	music preparation (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Joel Marrow	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Diane Bandolas	....	production accountant
Ilean Helland	....	assistant: Mr. Nichols
Michele Imperato	....	production coordinator
Ken Lavet	....	location manager (as Kenneth D. Lavet)
Helen Robin	....	assistant: Mr. Greenhut
Marshall Schlom	....	script supervisor (as Marshall I. Schlom)
Doug Taylor	....	publicist
Susan J. Bonno-Buckner	....	assistant accountant (uncredited)
Carlos Garcia	....	caterer (uncredited)
Laura Petticord	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1990) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (1990) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film (1991) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (1991) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia Pictures of Canada (1990) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (1991) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (1991) (Argentina) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (2000) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2000) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-edited)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2001) (Canada) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2012) (Australia) (DVD)

Other Companies

• L.A. Casting Express  extras casting
• Movie Movers  star trailers
• Sunset Caterers  catering

Also Known As:

Runtime:

101 min | Canada:95 min (edited version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:12 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R | Singapore:PG | Canada:A | Iceland:L | Canada:14A (Ontario - 2006) | Portugal:M/12 | Peru:14

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

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.

Goofs:

Continuity: Shirley's head-scarf changes from loose to firmly fastened between shots at the hospital.

Quotes:

Julie Marsden:And you don't remember taking *any* drugs?
Suzanne Vale:Oh well... sure... some!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures: When the Going Gets Tough Bill & Ted Are History (#1.10)" (1990)

Soundtrack:

I Love to Be Unhappy

Mike who?

Postcards From The Edge is one of my all-time favorites. It's a truly addictive movie that's always funny and touching no matter how many times I see it. Some of the criticism I've read have always seemed just a tad off base, particularly the ones that say that Streep never seems to get a handle on her character--she just acts kind of comically frazzled. Well I think that's the point, isn't it? Streep as Fisher doesn't know what she wants or who she is, and while trying to discover these things, she must battle her drug dependence, rebuild her career against all odds and hope, in addition to trying to reconcile her relationship with her outlandishly domineering mother, who just happens to be a legendary star with issues of her own. In this scenario, "frazzled" would seem to be the way to go.

In any case, those who have commented positively on the movie have mostly mentioned the great performances (as well as Carrie Fisher's wonderful screenplay), and rightly so since this is one the most smartly acted (and well-written) movies you will ever see. But it seems strange that the outstanding direction of Mike Nichols is rarely mentioned. I remember one Oscar ceremony when a producer whose movie had just won Best Picture, and, indeed, swept all the major awards--except Best Director--said "apparently the Academy thinks that the actors directed themselves." It would seem that many of the viewers of Postcards From The Edge think the same thing. In my opinion, Nichols doesn't get enough credit for the seamless way this movie moves or for the crispness of the comic timing. At every turn, he brings out the best in his actors, most especially in the dynamic scenes involving Streep and McLaine. I also love the way he shows, through shifting background effects, how movie illusions are created, which he further uses to illustrate how we often hide our true motivations. (The great example of this is in the scene on the lot with Streep and Dennis Quaid where he was trying to convince her he has always been sincere in his feelings for her--and maybe they should even marry. Then suddenly the background, a house and white picket fence cardboard front, is moved away by a production crew.)

This is a wonderfully entertaining movie, brilliantly acted and written and, yes, superbly directed.