Mask (1985)

A teenager with a massive facial skull deformity and biker gang mother attempt to live as normal a life as possible under the circumstances.

Director:

Peter Bogdanovich

Writer:

Anna Hamilton Phelan

Stars:

Cher, Eric Stoltz, Sam Elliott

Won 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Cher	...	Rusty Dennis
Sam Elliott	...	Gar
Eric Stoltz	...	Rocky Dennis
Estelle Getty	...	Evelyn
Richard Dysart	...	Abe
Laura Dern	...	Diana
Micole Mercurio	...	Babe
Harry Carey Jr.	...	Red
Dennis Burkley	...	Dozer
Lawrence Monoson	...	Ben
Ben Piazza	...	Mr. Simms
L. Craig King	...	Eric
Alexandra Powers	...	Lisa
Kelly Jo Minter	...	Lorrie (as Kelly Minter)
Joe Unger	...	1st Boyfriend

Storyline

Rusty Dennis is the mother of Rocky, a seriously deformed, but extremely intelligent and emotionally warm teenager. Rusty is a no-nonsense mother whose wild lifestyle is often at odds with her tenderness and protectiveness towards Rocky. She is determined that Rocky be given the same chances and happiness that everyone else takes for granted.

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Plot Keywords:

teenager | biker | deformity | prejudice | biker gang | 

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Taglines:

They told 16-year-old Rocky Dennis he could never be like everyone else. So he was determined to be better.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 March 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Peter Bogdanovich's Mask

Filming Locations:

William Howard Taft Charter High School, Woodland Hills, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$48,230,162

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min 127 min (director's cut)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The poem that Rocky (Eric Stoltz) read to Rusty (Cher) was written by the real Rocky Dennis.

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Goofs

Early in the movie, set in 1979, Rocky and Ben come home from trick or treating and talk about selling their candy at school on Monday. Halloween 1979 was on a Wednesday; they wouldn't have had to wait until Monday.

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Quotes

[to a student staring at her son's face]
Rusty Dennis: What's the matter, never seen anyone from the planet Vulcan before?

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Alternate Versions

The Director's Cut print runs around 7 minutes longer and includes a scene where Rocky & Rusty sing around a bonfire, and the funeral of cyclist Red (his motorbike is buried beside him). It also replaces the Bob Seger songs with those of Bruce Springsteen.

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Connections

Referenced in Picture This: The Times of Peter Bogdanovich in Archer City, Texas (1991)

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Soundtracks

Stumblin' In
Written by Mike Chapman(as Mike Chapman) / Nicky Chinn(as Nicky Chinn)
Performed by Suzi Quatro / Chris Norman

User Reviews

Cher in a wonderful performance

Eric Stoltz plays Rocky Dennis, a teen afflicted with a horribly disfiguring disease. He lives with his mom, Rusty (Cher), a sometime junkie who pals around with a gang of bikers.

Between coping with his mom's antics, dealing with the prejudice he encounters and the debilitating migraines he suffers from, Rocky still manages to win over his teachers and classmates, becoming an inspiration to them.

While the story initially seems to be about Rocky, it's also about Rusty. She wants everyone to see her as the tough biker chick who can handle anyone and anything that comes her way, including Rocky's disease and the strangers who stare. This is her mask. She's really scared to death for Rocky and turns to the alcohol and drugs to help her cope.

A great film based on a true story, Mask will convince you that sometimes the most unlikely people become heroes.