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The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
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The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992) More at IMDbPro »

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The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992) -- US Theatrical Trailer from Hollywood

Overview

User Rating:
6.3/10   11,596 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 2% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Curtis Hanson
Writer (WGA):
Amanda Silver (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Hand That Rocks the Cradle on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
10 January 1992 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | Horror | Thriller more
Tagline:
The Bartels couldn't believe how fortunate they were to find Peyton. But they didn't find her, she chose them. more
Plot:
Peyton Flanders seemed to be the perfect nanny, but secretly she was out to wreck the lives of the family she was supposed to be helping... more | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
5 wins & 5 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Halle Berry To Star In The Surrogate
 (From EmpireOnline. 1 June 2009, 12:54 AM, PDT)

Cinema release inspirations including Drag Me to Hell
 (From BoxWish. 29 May 2009, 2:48 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
A Film That Rocks the Audience more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Annabella Sciorra ... Claire Bartel

Rebecca De Mornay ... Mrs. Mott / Peyton Flanders

Matt McCoy ... Michael Bartel

Ernie Hudson ... Solomon

Julianne Moore ... Marlene Craven

Madeline Zima ... Emma Bartel
John de Lancie ... Dr. Victor Mott
Kevin Skousen ... Marty Craven
Mitchell Laurance ... Lawyer
Justin Zaremby ... Roth, the Schoolyard Bully
Eric Melander ... Joey 'Joe' Bartel
Jennifer Melander ... Joey 'Joe' Bartel
Ashley Melander ... Joey 'Joe' Bartel
Cliff Lenz ... Seattle Today Host
Penny LeGate ... Seattle Today Host
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for terror, violence, a scene of sexual molestation, and for language.
Runtime:
110 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Filming Locations:
Issaquah, Washington, USA more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Sir Arthur Sullivan is cited on more occasions throughout the movie. Already mentioned: Peyton humming music of the "Pirates of Penzance" and the music at the title credits is based on the "Pirates of Penzance". But also, Michael and Emma are singing Sullivan's "HMS Pinafore" in the bathroom at the beginning of the movie; the clock radio in the basement plays more music of the "Pirates of Penzance"; in the house, a poster of Sullivan's "HMS Pinafore" can be seen on the wall. more
Goofs:
Continuity: The blood on Peyton's face after Claire punches her the first time disappears when she gets up off the floor. more
Quotes:
Peyton: My husband was my only family. He's the only one who really understood me... He took care of me. He was murdered.
Claire: Murdered?
Peyton: They never caught who did it. But I firmly believe, what goes around comes around.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "The Nanny: Smoke Gets in Your Lies (#1.1)" (1993) more
Soundtrack:
SEATTLE TODAY THEME more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
19 out of 25 people found the following comment useful:-
A Film That Rocks the Audience, 10 October 2002
Author: Poseidon-3 from Cincinnati, OH

Long before the acclaim of "L.A. Confidential", director Curtis Hansen offered up this trim, effectively manipulative and suspenseful film. Sciorra is a pregnant woman whose doctor (magnificently slimy de Lancie) molests her during an office visit. The ramifications of her subsequent charges bring about the entrance of De Mornay into her life. De Mornay poses as a nanny and almost immediately wreaks havoc on Sciorra's household, taking charge of it and manipulating the family, all while smiling pleasantly. The story is almost completely implausible and the credibility of the script is stretched further and further as it goes along. However, it matters not because of the sure-handed, inventive direction and the dedicated performance of De Mornay. Taking a cue from Hitchcock, much of the dirty business occurs in daylight among stark white walls and bright outdoor settings. De Mornay insinuates herself into the household and into the minds of the viewer with an unsettling and fascinating malevolence. No one is safe as she meticulously works her dread. Aside from her plots against Sciorra, her shocking behavior includes calling a mentally challenged man a 'retard' and saying the 'F' word to a grade school child. This decidedly un-PC approach is at compelling odds with Sciorra and her yuppie husband who both represent everything annoying and stereotypical about their type and status ('talking' to their kids, 'processing' everything psychologically, et al) They are well off and think they're 'on to' life, yet he's a dim bulb and she overreacts to everything possible. This makes a certain faction of the audience delight in seeing them tormented. Cutting a swath through all the bull is the stunning, fire-breathing, no-nonsense Moore as Sciorra's friend. This is one of the greatest supporting turns of the '90's. She owns every scene she's in, yet ultimately can't beat De Mornay, thus creating a terrific onscreen rivalry right from the start. Moore has never looked this wonderful again, nor essayed this brittle a role, but at least it exists as a monument to her talents at playing a ball-breaking bitch goddess. The excitement leading up to her confrontation with De Mornay is palpable (thanks in part to some great editing.) The male cast is weak. McCoy is often just plain bad and Hudson is embarrassing as a 'slow' handyman. Sciorra does well in a part that does her no favors. The film was a massive (surprise) hit, but she wasn't able to ride it to anything much afterwards. At least De Mornay was briefly lifted to a higher position in the film industry. Moore has fared the best. Zima (in her film debut!) is exceptionally cute as the daughter and does a great job. She later won a role on "The Nanny". The film inspired a raft of imitators featuring killer-sitters, killer-temps, etc... but none found the wide audience that this enjoyed. It's a credit to De Mornay (and Hanson) that despite being petite and feminine, she comes across as chilling and dangerously strong and violent.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
More films like this? ercartledge
Solomon- Great Protrayal or most offensive character of all time? frankasu03
Things I Learned from 'The Hand That Rocks the Cradle' Cello1949-2
THIS MOVIE IS A COMEDY... kwidder
One howler of a goof no one has pick up on! Moss-37
How did Claire make the connection? lilmissd
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