IMDb > Postcards from the Edge (1990)
Postcards from the Edge
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Postcards from the Edge (1990) More at IMDbPro »

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Postcards from the Edge -- US Home Video Trailer from RCA Selectavision

Overview

User Rating:
6.5/10   7,981 votes »
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Director:
Writers (WGA):
Carrie Fisher (book)
Carrie Fisher (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for Postcards from the Edge on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
12 September 1990 (USA) See more »
Genre:
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... See more » | Add synopsis »
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 10 nominations See more »
User Reviews:
Mike who? See more (43 total) »

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

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)
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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)
 
Crew verified as complete


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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Runtime:
101 min | Canada:95 min (edited version)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix:

Did You Know?

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.See more »
Goofs:
Continuity: Shirley's head-scarf changes from loose to firmly fastened between shots at the hospital.See more »
Quotes:
Julie Marsden:And you don't remember taking *any* drugs?
Suzanne Vale:Oh well... sure... some!
See more »
Soundtrack:
I Love to Be UnhappySee more »

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
30 out of 43 people found the following review useful.
Mike who?, 4 September 2004
Author: Ronin Costa from Pittsburgh, PA

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.

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