The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)

Director:

Curtis Hanson

Writer (WGA):

Amanda Silver (written by)

Release Date:

10 January 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The Bartels couldn't believe how fortunate they were to find Peyton. But they didn't find her, she chose them.

Plot:

After her humiliated husband kills himself, an embittered pregnant widow loses her child, and embarks on a mission of vengeance against a woman and her family.

Plot Keywords:

Nanny | Baby | Miscarriage | Revenge | Suicide

Awards:

5 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Annabella Sciorra	...	Claire Bartel
Rebecca De Mornay	...	Mrs. Mott / Peyton Flanders
Matt McCoy	...	Michael Bartel
Julianne Moore	...	Marlene Craven
Ernie Hudson	...	Solomon
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
Mary Anne Owen	...	Maria, Dr. Mott's Nurse
Therese Tinling	...	Receptionist (as Therese Xavier Tinling)
Todd Jamieson	...	Surgeon
Laura Ferri	...	Emergency Room Nurse
Dee Dee Van Zyl	...	Emergency Room Nurse
Cristine McMurdo-Wallis	...	Peyton's Nurse
Sara Jennifer Sharp	...	Peyton's Nurse
Susan Chin	...	Newscaster
Kimberly Hill	...	Newscaster
Jane Jones	...	Woman in Park
Ericka Matson	...	Child in Schoolyard
Robert James	...	Child in Schoolyard
Aimee Kanemori	...	Child in Schoolyard
Elane Micklesen	...	Child in Schoolyard
Brian T. Finney	...	Stan, Botanical Gardens Worker
Stephen West	...	Federal Express Clerk
David Scully	...	Gilbert, Male Lab Worker
Julie Clemmons	...	Female Lab Worker
Joseph Franklin	...	Joe, Man at the Cleaners
Tom Francis	...	Marlene's Assistant
Jeff Conkel	...	Paramedic
Patrick Ryals	...	Al, Policeman
Charles Lucia	...	Bruce Silverman, Realtor (as Chip Lucia)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rachel Glenn	...	Emma's Friend (uncredited)
Valerie Masterson	...	Recorded Singer (uncredited)

Directed by
Curtis Hanson

Writing credits (WGA)
Amanda Silver		(written by)

Produced by
Robert W. Cort	....	executive producer
Ted Field	....	executive producer
Ira Halberstadt	....	co-producer
Rick Jaffa	....	executive producer
David Madden	....	producer

Original Music by
Graeme Revell

Cinematography by
Robert Elswit

Film Editing by
John F. Link

Casting by
Junie Lowry-Johnson

Production Design by
Edward Pisoni

Art Direction by
Mark Zuelzke

Set Decoration by
Sandy Reynolds-Wasco		(as Sandy Reynolds Wasco)

Costume Design by
Jennifer von Mayrhauser

Makeup Department
Kathleen M. Hagan	....	assistant hair stylist (as Kathleen Hagan)
Annie Maniscalco	....	makeup artist (as Annie F. Maniscalco)
Nina Paskowitz	....	key hair stylist
Michael Tomasino	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Mark A. Baker	....	assistant unit production manager
Ira Halberstadt	....	unit production manager
Daniel J. Heffner	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ellen Marie Blum	....	dga trainee
Michael Daves	....	first assistant director
Ray Greenfield	....	first assistant director
Brenda Kalosh	....	second assistant director
John Moio	....	second unit director

Art Department
Steven E. Eyrse	....	head painter
Steven E. Eyrse	....	scenic artist
Randal R. Groves	....	construction foreman
Kim Larsen-Santini	....	assistant property master (as Kim Larsen)
Melissa Matthies	....	lead person
Michael McCombe	....	greensman
Jon P. Mooers	....	carpenter
Jon P. Mooers	....	stand-by painter
Drew Pinniger	....	swing
David Saltzman	....	on-set dresser (as Dave Saltzman)
Blanche Sindelar	....	property master
Catherine Tambini	....	assistant art director
Alun Vick	....	construction coordinator
Bob Warner	....	painter
Gilbert Wong	....	set designer

Sound Department
Gregg Barbanell	....	foley artist
Anna Behlmer	....	sound re-recording mixer
Martin J. Bram	....	dialogue editor
Peter Brancaccio	....	assistant sound editor
Betty Burkhart	....	first assistant sound editor
Dane A. Davis	....	supervising sound editor
Kurt Nicholas Forshager	....	foley editor (as Nicholas Forshager)
Tommy Goodwin	....	adr mixer
Tommy Goodwin	....	foley mixer
Tom Hammond	....	foley editor
Kini Kay	....	sound effects editor
Paul Kieran	....	assistant sound editor
Robert L. King II	....	boom operator
Kimberly Ellen Lowe	....	dialogue editor (as Kimberly Lowe Voigt)
Maciek Malish	....	dialogue editor
Chuck Michael	....	foley editor
Nash Michael	....	foley editor
James Pilcher	....	production sound mixer
Richard Portman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Richard Portman	....	sound re-recordist
Joan Rowe	....	foley artist
Todd Toon	....	sound effects editor
Randy Vandegrift	....	adr supervisor
Dan Wallin	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lisa K. Wolf	....	assistant sound editor
Robert Marts	....	second sound mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Ray Brown	....	special effects technician
Bob Riggs	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Carol Fenelon	....	visual consultant

Stunts
Daniel W. Barringer	....	stunts (as Dan Barringer)
David Boushey	....	stunts (as David L. Boushey)
Jamie S. Bunch	....	stunts (as Jamie Bunch-Elliott)
Scott Duthie	....	stunt driver
Martin Klebba	....	stunt double: Emma
Barbara Anne Klein	....	stunts
John Moio	....	stunt coordinator (as John A. Moio)
Lynn Salvatori	....	stunts
Cris Thomas-Palomino	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Mark L. Anderson	....	additional second assistant camera
Larry J. Aube	....	key grip (as Larry Aube)
Robert Beaumont	....	dolly grip (as Robert M. Beaumont)
Kenny S. Christiansen	....	best boy electric (as Kenny Christiansen)
Mark Shane Davis	....	key grip
Kevin 'Rambo' Fitzgerald	....	best boy grip
Wes Houle	....	electrician
Ian Jennings	....	grip
Colleen Kingdon	....	electrician
Steve Lang	....	grip (as Stephen Lang)
Matthew May	....	electrician (as Matt May)
Matthew Neal McVay	....	still photographer (as Matthew McVay)
Don Mosley	....	lighting technician (as Donald Ray Mosley)
Marty Oppenheimer	....	additional camera operator
Michael G. Riba	....	first assistant camera (as Michael Riba)
Stefan Tarzan	....	second assistant camera
Scott Watkins	....	grip
John Zumpano	....	gaffer

Casting Department
Amy Caton-Ford	....	extras casting
Susan Dixon	....	casting: Seattle
Deedra Ricketts	....	extras casting associate
Ron Surma	....	casting associate
Heidi Walker	....	casting: Seattle

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Wendy M. Craig	....	costumer
Kathy Kiatta	....	costume supervisor (as Kathleen Kiatta)
Heidi Shulman	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Jessica Ellen Brown	....	apprentice editor
Bob Kaiser	....	color timer (as Robert Kaiser)
Theresa Repola Mohammed	....	negative cutter
Donald B. Schaeffer	....	second assistant editor
Mark Stevens	....	first assistant editor
David Block	....	colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Dick Bernstein	....	music editor
Tom Boyd	....	musician: oboe soloist
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor
Wendi Jill Raderman	....	assistant music editor
Graeme Revell	....	additional orchestrator
Dennis S. Sands	....	score mixer (as Dennis Sands)
Tim Simonec	....	conductor
Tim Simonec	....	music supervisor
Tim Simonec	....	orchestrator
James Thatcher	....	musician: french horn
Dan Wallin	....	score mixer
William S. Gilbert	....	librettist: songs from "The Pirates of Penzance" and "H.M.S. Pinafore" (uncredited)
Tim Simonec	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Robert T. Chestnut	....	transportation coordinator (as Robert T. Chesnut)
A. Welch Lambeth	....	transportation coordinator
Mike Sassen	....	driver
Rick Wiley	....	driver: camera car

Other crew
Peter Allen	....	location manager
Richard Arnold	....	production assistant
Michael D. Baker	....	set medic
Attila Barcha	....	architectural advisor
Dana Belcastro	....	production associate
Candy Bennici	....	script supervisor
Adam Berman	....	production assistant
Carolyn Blair	....	assistant: Mr. Madden
Edwin Cook	....	adr voice
Linda O. Cook	....	adr voice
Tim Dornberg	....	adr voice
Jane Galbraith	....	unit publicist
Sam George	....	production assistant
Richard Bryce Goodman	....	consultant: asthma
T.J. Healy II	....	location scout
Rahi Hudson	....	production assistant
Marabina Jaimes	....	adr voice
Kerri Kroll	....	production secretary
Johannah Lyons	....	production coordinator
Julie Mann	....	assistant: Mr. Hanson
Charles Martin	....	assistant: Rebecca Demornay
Lynn M. McCracken	....	production assistant (as Lynn McCracken)
Marcia McHattie	....	studio teacher (as Marcia J. McHattie)
Meg McHutchison	....	location manager
Gracie Moore	....	adr voice
Tina Panella-Hart	....	adr voice
David Povall	....	adr voice
Stacy Robison	....	first assistant accountant (as Stacy L. Robison)
Bert Rosario	....	adr voice
Rey-Phillip Santos	....	production assistant
Robin A. Schreer	....	production associate
Kenneth P. Steinberg	....	consultant: asthma
Sheila A. Warner	....	production coordinator (as Sheila Warner)
Andi Allison Wooten	....	production accountant
Julie Wroblewski	....	assistant: Mr. Hanson

Production Companies

• Hollywood Pictures (presents)
• Interscope Communications
• Nomura Babcock & Brown (in association with)
• Rock'n Cradle Productions

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures Distribution (1992) (USA) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (1992) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (1992) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Hollywood Pictures (1992) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Finland (1992) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1992) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1992) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1992) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Abril Vídeo (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1994) (USA) (TV)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (????) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2006) (UK) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2003) (Japan) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2004) (Japan) (DVD)
• Fuji Television Network (2000) (Japan) (TV)
• Gativideo (199?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Hollywood Pictures Home Video (1995) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Hollywood Pictures Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Hollywood Pictures Home Video (199?) (USA) (VHS)
• Movie Plus (2008) (Japan) (TV)
• Oy Europa Vision AB (1992) (Finland) (VHS)
• Pioneer LDC (1993) (Japan) (VHS)
• Pioneer LDC (1999) (Japan) (DVD)
• Pony Canyon (1993) (Japan) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (Finland) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Buena Vista Opticals  titles and opticals
• Danetracks  sound editing
• Harborview Medical Center, Seattle  asthma consultants
• Hill Wynne Troop & Meisinger  legal services
• Hollywood Records  soundtrack album available on
• Ocean Way Studios  score recording
• Offbeat Systems  scoring synchronization
• On Location Creations  catering
• Saxon/Ross Film Design  titles
• Sony Studios  score recording
• Todd-AO/Glen Glenn Studios  re-recording

Also Known As:

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

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Netherlands:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Peru:14 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

2502 37th Ave W, Seattle, Washington, USA

Company:

Hollywood Pictures

Trivia:

After Claire discovers who Peyton really is, her husband calls the police. He reports the address as "808 Yakima". This is the actual street address of the house in which most of the movie was filmed.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Emma carries Joe into the closet to escape Peyton, it is clearly a doll she is holding and not a real baby.

Quotes:

Marlene 'Marl' Craven:Cancel my morning.
Marlene's Assistant:But you have a showing! What do I tell them?
Marlene 'Marl' Craven:You have a Harvard education, make something up!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Nanny: The Nanny-In-Law (#1.9)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

MY GALLANT CREW GOOD MORNING

sometimes, you gotta be gross to be scary

Much like "Rear Window", this movie brings up a serious question: Whom can you trust? It all begins one day in Seattle, when Claire Bartel (Annabella Sciorra) goes to her gynecologist. She gets the feeling that he's merely fondling her. After she reports this, several other women say the same thing, prompting the gynecologist to commit suicide. Soon afterward, his widow (Rebecca DeMornay) goes into labor. But the baby dies. Now she has only one thing on her mind: revenge.

That's where the movie gets really creepy. Assuming the name Peyton Flanders, she goes to work as a nanny for the Bartels. In the process, she not begins to act as a mother for the new baby, but she gets into everyone's confidence. And if anyone distrusts her...well, let's just say that she's way ahead of them.

If "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle" makes you suspicious of your friends, then it's probably doing it's job. Director Curtis Hanson brings the same kind of intensity that he brought to "LA Confidential" and "8 Mile". You may never feel the same after watching this movie.