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 & 9 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
J.D. Souther	...	Ted
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
Natalia Nogulich	...	Friend at Airport
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 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)

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:

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

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Lana Turner was reportedly very offended after seeing this film, specifically objecting to a line which compared her mothering skills to that of Joan Crawford.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: Lowell tells Suzanne that none of the airport scene can be saved because it was shot without any cutaways. However, the scene is obviously edited as the characters jump about 3 feet farther from the camera as they walk from past a pole between the ticket counter and the passport control desk.

Quotes:

Doris:I have some news.
Suzanne:What? You had a dream I lost some weight? Endorsed a line of clothing?
Doris:Don't be fresh, dear.

Movie Connections:

References A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Soundtrack:

I Love to Be Unhappy

One of the best American screenplay of the last 50 years.

This is easily one of the best American films of the 90s and certainly one of the best screenplays of the last 50 years.

Carrie Fisher writes dialogue like nobody else in show business and she outdoes herself with this semi-biopic about her life growing up in the biz with her actress Mom, Debbie Reynolds.

The film is loosely based on the novel of the same title by Fisher, and I say "loosely", because Nichols asked Fisher to re-write several parts to make them more "film-friendly". The book is more about drug addiction and the character of the mother (played brilliantly by Shirley MacLaine) is barely involved.

The film focuses (smartly) on the relationship between mother and daughter and Maclaine and Streep have a field day and create some of the most memorable mother-daughter scenes in American cinema history, thanks to the able direction of Mike Nichols. Dennis Quaid is also wonderful as the narcissistic drug addicted man that plays with Streep's character's emotions.

This is one of my all time favorite films, it's the only film on my top 10 list made in the last 25 years, and will be remembered for generations to come as the gem that it is. The screenplay is so amazing that about 80% of the dialogue is totally quotable and can be repeated ad nauseum to the delight of its fans (and annoyance of their relatives and significant others).

Wonderful cameos from everyone from Mary Wickes, Rob Reiner, Gene Hackman, Annette Benning, Oliver Platt and more...if you can get your hands on the DVD with Carrie Fisher commentary, it's just as hilarious as the film itself. The woman is a genius and it's a crime she wasn't nominated (or won) an Oscar for Best Screenplay for this film.