Carrie (1976)

Carrie White, a shy, friendless teenage girl who is sheltered by her domineering, religious mother, unleashes her telekinetic powers after being humiliated by her classmates at her senior prom.

Director:

Brian De Palma

Writers:

Stephen King (novel), Lawrence D. Cohen (screenplay)

Stars:

Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Amy Irving

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Sissy Spacek	...	Carrie
Piper Laurie	...	Margaret White
Amy Irving	...	Sue Snell
William Katt	...	Tommy Ross
John Travolta	...	Billy Nolan
Nancy Allen	...	Chris Hargenson
Betty Buckley	...	Miss Collins
P.J. Soles	...	Norma
Priscilla Pointer	...	Mrs. Snell
Sydney Lassick	...	Mr. Fromm
Stefan Gierasch	...	Mr. Morton
Michael Talbott	...	Freddy
Doug Cox	...	The Beak
Harry Gold	...	George
Noelle North	...	Frieda

Storyline

It's nearing the end of the school year. High school senior Carrie White is a social outcast, largely due to being unwise to the ways of the world based on her upbringing. Her mother, Margaret White, is a religious fanatic, her extreme views primarily targeted against sex, which she believes is a sin. She even believes natural associated processes such as menstruation are a sin, about which she has refused to mention to Carrie. Mrs. White's beliefs were taken to that extreme largely because of her own failed marriage and her husband Ralph long ago having run off with another woman. The only adult authority figure who tries to help Carrie with her life is her phys ed teacher, Miss Collins, who is nonetheless warned not to get too close to go against how Mrs. White chooses to raise Carrie, Mrs. White whose beliefs are well known in the community. An impromptu event that happens among Carrie's phys ed classmates against her leads to her classmates being punished. One of those students, ...

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Plot Keywords:

telekinesis | prank | high school prom | bad mother | female protagonist | 

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Taglines:

If only they knew she had the power.

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Genres:

Horror

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Amy Irving, who played Sue Snell, originally read for the part of Princess Leia, and William Katt, who played Tommy Ross, originally read for the part of Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977).

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Goofs

The story takes place during several days leading up to prom, yet Norma is clearly seen wearing the same outfit and baseball cap in every single scene except for gym class and prom.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Miss Collins: Okay! Game Point: 15-14, this team serves!

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Alternate Versions

The original network TV version opens with an alternate pan across the girl's locker room with most girls wearing at least bras and panties - Nancy Allen is naked but covers herself with a towel. There is a mid-scene dissolve and some brief additional slow motion in a sloppy effort to re-sync the soundtrack, because this shot was shorter than the original one. This alternate take of the shower scene was shot specifically for the network television version of 'Carrie'. Also notable during this sequence, the on-screen credits are white (instead of red) and centered on the screen. Most profanity, especially during the scene with John Travolta and Nancy Allen arguing while he is driving, is re-looped to remove bad language. However, alternate, non-profane takes are used when Travolta and Allen are stopped in a parking lot just before the oral sex scene (which of course is deleted). In recent years, this print of the movie has vanished from circulation.

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Connections

Featured in Cutting 'Carrie' (2016)

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Soundtracks

(Love is Like a) Heatwave
(uncredited)
Written by Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland and Eddie Holland
Sung by Martha & The Vandellas

User Reviews

Kinetic Energy

Youthful energy. That's what this is -- and what it is about.

Spacek, King and Depalma are all at their most committed exuberance. Sometimes callow, but sometimes so rawly honest one often tingles quite apart from the story. See it on this basis alone. DePalma's camera has a sense of dance -- Scorcese does too, but DePalma's is more emotional. Spacek is so clean in her acting that her ability frightens. How strange it went away, like a poltergism.

The story has a haunting tone, also centered on youth and yearning. Menarche as a horror, the innocent acceptance/fear of the basest religion, the brash director intelligently spoofing Hitchcock. Odd mix that, so an odd and intriguing experience.

Details

Official Sites:

MGM Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 November 1976 (USA)

Also Known As:

Carrie

Filming Locations:

124 N 7th St, Santa Paula, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,800,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$33,800,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$33,800,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Red Bank Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1