Corrina, Corrina (1994)

When Manny Singer's wife dies, his young daughter Molly becomes mute and withdrawn. To help cope with looking after Molly, he hires sassy housekeeper Corrina Washington, who coaxes Molly ... See full summary »

Director:

Jessie Nelson

Writer:

Jessie Nelson

Stars:

Noreen Hennessey, Tina Majorino, Ray Liotta

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Noreen Hennessey	...	High Heels (as Noreen Hennessy)
Lucy Webb	...	Shirl
Erica Yohn	...	Grandma Eva
Tina Majorino	...	Molly Singer
Ray Liotta	...	Manny Singer
Don Ameche	...	Grandpa Harry
Larry Miller	...	Sid
Joan Cusack	...	Jonesy
June C. Ellis	...	Miss O'Herlihy
Mimi Lieber	...	Rita Lang
Karen Leigh Hopkins	...	Liala Sheffield
Lin Shaye	...	Repeat Nanny
Pearl Huang	...	Mrs. Wang
Marcus Toji	...	Tommy Wang
Louis Mustillo	...	Joe Allechinetti

Storyline

When Manny Singer's wife dies, his young daughter Molly becomes mute and withdrawn. To help cope with looking after Molly, he hires sassy housekeeper Corrina Washington, who coaxes Molly out of her shell and shows father and daughter a whole new way of life. Manny and Corrina's friendship delights Molly and enrages the other townspeople.

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Plot Keywords:

friendship | housekeeper | spit in the face | generation gap | loss of wife | 

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Taglines:

They needed a family. What they got was magic.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic material

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 August 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Corina, Corina

Filming Locations:

Alverno High School - 200 North Michillinda Avenue, Sierra Madre, California, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$20,160,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

New Line Cinema

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The song Molly starts playing continuously on the piano before stopping after the first seven notes is "Good King Wenceslas".

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Goofs

In the dinner scene where Corrina and Manny have a little chat, Corrina's cigarette switches from one hand to the other several times.

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Quotes

Corrina Washington: What? Now look. This is nice, huh?
Jevina: Oh no. Now that's cute.
Corrina Washington: You can't fit in that.
Jevina: I can still fit in somethin' like that.
Corrina Washington: You cannot. Have you seen what's behind you recently? Let me turn to the maternity page.

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Connections

Features The Shari Lewis Show (1960)

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Soundtracks

"OVER THE RAINBOW"
Performed by Jevetta Steele

User Reviews

Writer/director Jessie Nelson finds a fine balance between the dramatic and comedic beats to make a remarkable motion picture...

Corrina, Corrina

Manny Singer (Ray Liotta) is a struggling songwriter for a company that makes television commercials, who also has a loving wife and a daughter, Molly (Tina Majorino). When his wife dies, Manny's whole life falls apart, his daughter stops speaking, and he develops a creative block on his jingle-writing skills that threatens to get him fired. To solve one of these problems, he starts looking for a nanny for Molly, reluctantly settling on Corrina Washington (Whoopi Goldberg), a woman who has recently moved into town to stay with her sister, and who also happens to be black. Though far from the most efficient housekeeper in the town, Corrina clicks instantly with Molly, who eventually starts to speak again. Manny also takes a shine to Corrina, and a friendship soon forms between the two widows, but they can't seem to agree on what is best for Molly.

As easy as it may be to classify 'Corrina, Corrina' as a fifties-set drama, I'm inclined to resist this temptation, for two main reasons. Firstly, aside from the underlying comments about race, the fifties setting is used only as a backdrop, with the focus on a very heartfelt dramedy, which leads me to my second point. 'Corrina, Corrina' is certainly moving, and there are times when you may feel the need to reach for a box of tissues. But it's also quite hilarious as well, and writer/director Jessie Nelson finds a fine balance between the dramatic and comedic beats to make a remarkable motion picture. Liotta, Goldberg and Majorino give wonderful performances, and these really do feel like real characters. A real winner.

~ 8/10 ~