If These Walls Could Talk (1996) (TV)

Directors:

Cher
Nancy Savoca

Writers (WGA):

Pamela Wallace (story) (segment "1952") &
Earl W. Wallace (story) (segment "1952") ...
(more)

Release Date:

13 October 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

There's one question only a woman can answer

Plot:

The movie examines the abortion issue through three stories set in different eras - 50s, 70s and 90s.

Plot Keywords:

Abortion | Pregnancy | Student | Nurse | Archive Footage

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 2 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Demi Moore	...	Claire Donnelly (segment "1952")
Shirley Knight	...	Mary Donnelly (segment "1952")
Catherine Keener	...	Becky Donnelly (segment "1952")
Jason London	...	Kevin Donnelly (segment "1952")
CCH Pounder	...	Nurse Jenny Ford (segment "1952")
Kevin Cooney	...	Dr. Kramer (segment "1952")
Robin Gammell	...	Jim Donnelly (segment "1952")
Phyllis Lyons	...	Audrey (segment "1952")
Aaron Lustig	...	Tom (segment "1952")
Dena Burton	...	Young Nurse (segment "1952")
Marie DeCicco	...	Nurse Annie Ross (segment "1952")
Lorna Scott	...	Louise (segment "1952")
Mary Portser	...	Margaret (segment "1952")
Annie Weldon	...	Nurse (segment "1952")
Vaughn Armstrong	...	Painter (segment "1952")
Jack Kehler	...	Cab Driver (segment "1952")
Tim DeKay	...	Becky's Husband (segment "1952")
Bob Shuttleworth	...	Hospital Visitor (segment "1952") (as Bob Shuttlesworth)
Sissy Spacek	...	Barbara Barrows (segment "1974")
Xander Berkeley	...	John Barrows (segment "1974")
Hedy Burress	...	Linda Barrows (segment "1974")
Janna Michaels	...	Sally Barrows (segment "1974")
Ian Bohen	...	Scott Barrows (segment "1974")
Zack Eginton	...	Ryan Barrows (segment "1974")
Joanna Gleason	...	Julia (segment "1974")
Harris Yulin	...	Professor Speras (segment "1974")
Jordana Spiro	...	Alison (segment "1974")
Michael David Carter	...	Student (segment "1974")
Tyffany Kyler	...	Student (segment "1974") (as Tiffany Kyler)
Cher	...	Dr. Beth Thompson (segment "1996")
Anne Heche	...	Christine Cullen (segment "1996")
Jada Pinkett Smith	...	Patti (segment "1996") (as Jada Pinkett)
Eileen Brennan	...	Tessie (segment "1996")
Lindsay Crouse	...	Frances White (segment "1996")
Craig T. Nelson	...	Jim Harris (segment "1996")
Diana Scarwid	...	Marcia Schulman (segment "1996")
Lorraine Toussaint	...	Shameeka Webb (segment "1996")
Rita Wilson	...	Leslie (segment "1996")
Georganne LaPiere	...	Clinic Director (segment "1996") (as Georganne La Piere)
Sally Murphy	...	Doreen (segment "1996")
Rusty Schwimmer	...	Prayer Group (segment "1996")
Christine Avila	...	Prayer Group (segment "1996")
Chris Ellis	...	Crowd Leader (segment "1996")
Matthew Lillard	...	Young Couple (segment "1996")
Susie Spear Purcell	...	Young Couple (segment "1996") (as Susie Spear)
Brendan Ford	...	Corey (segment "1996")
Rob Camilletti	...	Photographer (segment "1996")
Sarah Koskoff	...	Female Testimonial (segment "1996")
Robert Wisdom	...	Policeman (segment "1996")
Judith Drake	...	Angry Woman (segment "1996")
Geoffrey Nauffts	...	Angry Man (segment "1996")
Ben Marley	...	Man in Crowd (segment "1996")
Carmen Thomas	...	Nurse (segment "1996")
Aaron James Cash	...	David (segment "1996") (as Aaron Cash)
Hilda Stark	...	Second Hand Rose Clerk (segment "1996") (as Hilda Manos)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lisa Marie Boiko	...	Receptionist (uncredited)
Michele Fischer	...	Angry Girl (segment "1996") (uncredited)
Marlene Sosebee	...	Officer Myers (uncredited)

Directed by
Cher		(segment "1996")
Nancy Savoca		(segments "1952" and "1974")

Writing credits (WGA)
Pamela Wallace		(story) (segment "1952") &
Earl W. Wallace		(story) (segment "1952") and
Nancy Savoca		(story) (segment "1952")
Nancy Savoca		(teleplay) (segment "1952")
Susan Nanus		(written by) (segment "1974") and
Nancy Savoca		(written by) (segment "1974")
I. Marlene King		(story) (segment "1996")
I. Marlene King		(teleplay) (segment "1996") and
Nancy Savoca		(teleplay) (segment "1996")

Produced by
Martin Ganz	....	co-producer
Laura Greenlee	....	line producer
Doris Kirch	....	co-producer
J.J. Klein	....	associate producer
Demi Moore	....	executive producer
Suzanne Todd	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Cliff Eidelman

Cinematography by
Bobby Bukowski		(segment "1974")
Ellen Kuras		(segment "1952")
John Stanier		(segment "1996")

Film Editing by
Beth Jochem Besterveld
Peter Honess		(segment "1996")
Elena Maganini		(segments "1952" and "1974")

Casting by
Mindy Marin

Production Design by
Hilda Stark		(as Hilda Stark Manos)

Art Direction by
Andrew Max Cahn

Set Decoration by
Linda Spheeris

Costume Design by
Jacqueline G. Arthur		(as Jacqueline Arthur)

Makeup Department
Enzo Angileri	....	hair stylist: Ms. Moore
Clare M. Corsick	....	key hair stylist
John M. Elliott Jr.	....	makeup artist: Cher (as John Elliot)
Joanne Gair	....	makeup artist: Ms. Moore
Bob Harper	....	hair stylist: Ms. Spacek
Sally J. Harper	....	makeup artist: Ms. Spacek
Voni Hinkle	....	hair stylist: Cher
Cammy R. Langer	....	hair stylist
Renate Leuschner	....	wig consultant
Anthony Miner	....	hair stylist
Serena Radaelli	....	hair stylist: Cher
Carme Tenuta	....	makeup artist
Patty York	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Beth DePatie	....	production supervisor
Laura Greenlee	....	unit production manager
Richard Mirisch	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Betsy Magruder	....	first assistant director (1952 and 1974)
Carla McCloskey	....	first assistant director (1996)

Art Department
Andrew Allen-King	....	assistant property master
Rudy Arriga	....	greensman
Danielle Berman	....	art department coordinator
Louisa Bonnie	....	set designer
Colleen Broderick	....	set dressing assistant
Elijah Bryant	....	swing
George Capetanos	....	on-set dresser
Michael W. Chase	....	propmaker
Cary Conway	....	paint foreman
D.M. Costanza	....	set dressing assistant
Earl Raymond Forkrud	....	construction foreman
Ildefonso Goris	....	greensman
Kevin Hahn	....	swing
Kym Kartiganer	....	property assistant
Marc Meisels	....	lead man
Sebastian Milito	....	construction coordinator
Mike Peritz	....	swing
Lynda Reiss	....	property master
Brett V. Shirley	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Bill Brown	....	sound effects editor
Louis Creveling	....	dialogue editor
Jeff Enden	....	boom operator (segment "1996")
Mary Erstad	....	foley mixer
Sean Fahimian	....	assistant sound editor
Jason George	....	assistant sound editor
Danielle Ghent	....	adr supervisor
Patrick Giraudi	....	sound re-recording mixer
Phil Hadaway	....	adr editor
George Haddad	....	sound effects editor
Steve Heinke	....	foley mixer
Frederick Howard	....	post-production sound supervisor
Frederick Howard	....	sound effects editor
Jaya Jayaraja	....	cable person (as J.R. Ramalingham)
Thomas Jones	....	dialogue editor
Ossama Khuluki	....	foley artist
Laura Laird	....	foley editor
Paul Longstaffe	....	dialogue editor
David Mann	....	foley editor
Derek Marcil	....	adr mixer
Diane Marshall	....	foley artist
Vince Nicastro	....	foley artist
Jason Schmid	....	sound re-recording mixer
Joshua E. Schneider	....	foley editor (as Joshua Schneider)
Steve Scoville	....	dialogue editor
Susan Shin	....	dialogue editor
Roger V. Stevenson	....	boom operator (segments "1952" and "1974")
Lucy Sustar	....	foley editor
Kelly Vandever	....	assistant sound editor
Mark Weingarten	....	sound mixer
James A. Williams	....	sound effects editor

Special Effects by
Charles Belardinelli	....	special effects (as Charlie Belardinelli)
John C. Carlucci	....	special effects (as John Carlucci)
Lou Carlucci	....	special effects
James Ochoa	....	special effects

Stunts
Larry Holt	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Rebecca Baehler	....	first assistant camera (segment "1996")
Deborah Bayer	....	camera production assistant
Daniel Beaman	....	key grip (segment "1952")
Cheli Clayton	....	camera loader
Deena DeNaro	....	second assistant camera
Jim Dunford	....	key grip (segment "1996")
James Frederick	....	electrician
Anthony Gaudioz	....	camera operator (segment "1996") (as Tony Gaudioz)
Derek Jensen	....	grip
Dennis Kington	....	Steadicam operator
Michael J. Latino	....	first assistant camera (segment "1974")
Ron Levin	....	electrician
Chris Lombardi	....	camera operator
Fritz Marx	....	electrician
Tony Mazzucchi	....	key grip (segment "1974")
Byron McCulloch	....	grip
John Roy Morgan	....	best boy grip (as John R. Morgan)
John C. Nadeau	....	gaffer (segment "1952") (as John Nadeau)
Randy Paik	....	Steadicam first assistant camera
Peter Thomas	....	gaffer (segment "1996")
J. Wesley Tillman	....	electrician
Joel Unangst	....	gaffer (segment "1974")
Susanna Virtanen	....	first assistant camera (segment "1952")
Jeffrey L. Wilson	....	grip
Kimberly Wright	....	still photographer

Casting Department
Katie DiMento	....	casting assistant
Tina Fuller	....	casting assistant
Dixie Webster	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Nicole Allowitz	....	costumer (segments "1974" and "1996")
Nancy Cone	....	costumer: Ms. Moore (as Nancy Natalie Cone)
Ann Foley	....	set costumer (segment "1996")
Rhona Meyers	....	costumer: Ms. Moore
Michelle M. Pershing	....	set costumer (segments "1952" and "1974")
Serena Rosen	....	costumer (segment "1952")
Carla Shivener	....	costumer: dayplayer
Pamela Withers	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Pamela Ball Withers)

Editorial Department
Beth Jochem Besterveld	....	assistant editor (segment "1996")
Jeff Ervin	....	assistant editor
Judd H. Maslansky	....	assistant editor (as Judd Maslansky)
Jim Passon	....	color timer
Alex Trocker	....	editor: main title
Deborah J. Wright	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Bill Abbott	....	music editor
Leslie Ann Jones	....	scoring mixer

Transportation Department
Chris Basso	....	production van operator
Roger Bojarski Jr.	....	driver: honeywagon
Roger Bojarski	....	transportation captain
Haryl L. Deason	....	driver
Jeri Kelley	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Laura Arceneaux	....	production assistant
Jamie Babbit	....	script supervisor (segment "1974")
Carol Banker	....	script supervisor (segment "1952")
Lisa M. Bock	....	set production assistant (as Lisa Bock)
Candice D. Campos	....	assistant production coordinator (as Candice Campos)
Alan Grabelsky	....	vice president production
Victoria Gregory	....	production accountant
Pamela Louise Griner	....	assistant to producer
Greg Guzik	....	production assistant
Christy Hall	....	assistant: Ms. Savoca
Michael Hinkle	....	executive assistant: Ms. Moore
Laurie A. Hoover	....	first assistant accountant
Jody Hummer	....	location manager
Brad Jeffries	....	assistant: Cher
Travis Knox	....	assistant: Ms. Todd
Scott R. Kowalchyk	....	set production assistant (as Scott Kowalchyk)
Gary Kurashige	....	set medic
Stephanie McRiley	....	craft service (as Stephanie Fortney McRiley)
Leslie A. Morrow	....	location scout (as Leslie Morrow)
Julie Myatt	....	assistant: Ms. Savoca
Kris Nielsen	....	production coordinator
Joshua L.T. O'Malley	....	production assistant
Mark Reinking	....	set production assistant: Ms. Moore (as Mark 'Hunter' Reinking)
Kenneth Roth	....	set production assistant (as Ken Roth)
Judith Saunders	....	script supervisor (segment "1996")
Derek Smith	....	assistant production accountant
Vicki Thornton	....	production assistant
Robert H. Turlington	....	production assistant
Derek Jan Vermaas	....	production assistant
Frank H. Woodward	....	assistant location manager
Katreniah L. Washington	....	executive assistant to vice president of production (uncredited)

Production Companies

• HBO NYC Productions
• Moving Pictures

Distributors

• Gativideo (Argentina) (video)
• Home Box Office Home Video (HBO)
• Manga Films (1997) (Spain) (video)
• SF Video (1997) (Sweden) (VHS)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for realistic depiction of abortions, a graphic shooting and some language

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | UK:15 (cut) | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Netherlands:16 | South Korea:15 | Spain:18 | USA:R

Company:

HBO NYC Productions

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch: Bundt Friday (#1.2)" (1996)

Soundtrack:

One by One

Another Captivating And Enthralling Original Movie From HBO.

"If These Walls Could Talk" is a disturbing and yet emotionally powerful film that's set in the same house on the same street over three different decades (the first segment takes place in the early 1950's, the second is set in the mid-1970's and the third in the mid-1990's...all tumultuous eras in which issues affecting females and their bodies have been brought to the forefront). It details what happens when three women of varying ages are suddenly forced to face the difficult and very personal choices that must be made concerning their unplanned pregnancies. Demi Moore, Sissy Spacek and Anne Heche are all nearly perfect in their respective roles as the three leading women at odds with family members, friends and society in general over the situations that they've found themselves in. Cher (who also co-produced this film) is wonderful as well in a small supporting role as an abortion doctor who in my humble opinion has the most clear-headed view on the troubling matter of almost any other character in the entire movie. Altogether, "If These Walls Could Talk" is a truly exceptional flick from HBO that forcefully deals with the mammoth topic of abortion which in all honesty is a very hard one to tackle especially with as much tact and delicacy as this film has! (***** out of *****)