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IMDbPro

Throw Momma from the Train

  • 19871987
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 28m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
37K
YOUR RATING
Billy Crystal and Danny DeVito in Throw Momma from the Train (1987)
Home Video Trailer from Orion Pictures
Play trailer0:31
1 Video
96 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Crime
  • Thriller
A bitter ex-husband wants his former spouse dead. A put-upon momma's boy wants his mother dead. Who will pull it off?A bitter ex-husband wants his former spouse dead. A put-upon momma's boy wants his mother dead. Who will pull it off?A bitter ex-husband wants his former spouse dead. A put-upon momma's boy wants his mother dead. Who will pull it off?
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
37K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Danny DeVito
  • Writer
    • Stu Silver
  • Stars
    • Danny DeVito
    • Billy Crystal
    • Kim Greist
Top credits
  • Director
    • Danny DeVito
  • Writer
    • Stu Silver
  • Stars
    • Danny DeVito
    • Billy Crystal
    • Kim Greist
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 100User reviews
    • 41Critic reviews
    • 56Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Oscar
      • 2 wins & 4 nominations total

    Videos1

    Throw Momma from the Train
    Trailer 0:31
    Throw Momma from the Train

    Photos96

    Danny DeVito in Throw Momma from the Train (1987)
    Kim Greist in Throw Momma from the Train (1987)
    Danny DeVito and Anne Ramsey in Throw Momma from the Train (1987)
    Billy Crystal and Danny DeVito in Throw Momma from the Train (1987)
    Billy Crystal and Rob Reiner in Throw Momma from the Train (1987)
    Billy Crystal and Danny DeVito in Throw Momma from the Train (1987)
    Billy Crystal and Danny DeVito in Throw Momma from the Train (1987)
    Danny DeVito and Anne Ramsey in Throw Momma from the Train (1987)
    Anne Ramsey in Throw Momma from the Train (1987)
    Billy Crystal and Danny DeVito in Throw Momma from the Train (1987)
    Kate Mulgrew in Throw Momma from the Train (1987)
    Billy Crystal and Kim Greist in Throw Momma from the Train (1987)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Danny DeVito
    Danny DeVito
    • Owenas Owen
    Billy Crystal
    Billy Crystal
    • Larryas Larry
    Kim Greist
    Kim Greist
    • Bethas Beth
    Anne Ramsey
    Anne Ramsey
    • Mommaas Momma
    Kate Mulgrew
    Kate Mulgrew
    • Margaretas Margaret
    Branford Marsalis
    Branford Marsalis
    • Lesteras Lester
    Rob Reiner
    Rob Reiner
    • Joelas Joel
    Bruce Kirby
    Bruce Kirby
    • Detective DeBenedettoas Detective DeBenedetto
    Joey DePinto
    • Sergeantas Sergeant
    Annie Ross
    Annie Ross
    • Mrs. Hazeltineas Mrs. Hazeltine
    Raye Birk
    Raye Birk
    • Pinskyas Pinsky
    Oprah Winfrey
    Oprah Winfrey
    • Oprah Winfreyas Oprah Winfrey
    Olivia Brown
    Olivia Brown
    • Ms. Gladstoneas Ms. Gladstone
    Philip Perlman
    Philip Perlman
    • Mr. Perlmanas Mr. Perlman
    Stu Silver
    • Ramonas Ramon
    J. Alan Thomas
    • Millingtonas Millington
    Randall Miller
    Randall Miller
    • Buckyas Bucky
    Andre Rosey Brown
    Andre Rosey Brown
    • Roseyas Rosey
    • (as Andre 'Rosey' Brown)
    • Director
      • Danny DeVito
    • Writer
      • Stu Silver
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Anne Ramsey's speech impediment was caused by operations she underwent in order to treat throat cancer. During filming, Ramsey was undergoing additional oral surgery and endured intense pain. However, according to director Danny DeVito, she never requested to be excused from work. "Momma" went on to become Ramsey's most critically-lauded performance, culminating with Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress in 1988.
    • Goofs
      When Larry reads out the title of a student's "coffee table book" he says "One Hundred Girls I'd Like To Pork" but his lips are clearly mouthing the final word as "Fuck." This line was presumably overdubbed to avoid an R rating.
    • Quotes

      [Momma sees Larry for the first time]

      Momma: Who's this?

      Owen: This is Cousin Paddy. He's coming to stay with us a while. Isn't that nice?

      Momma: [suspiciously] You don't *have* a "Cousin Paddy".

      Owen: [to Larry] You lied to me!

      [Owen knocks Larry out with a frying pan to the head]

    • Crazy credits
      The credit for Assistant Sound Editor Robert Martel has a gap in the vertical stroke of the L.
    • Alternate versions
      Network TV versions restore extra footage.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: The Duxorcist/Walker/Manon of the Spring/The Dead (1987)
    • Soundtracks
      LARRY'S SONG
      Written by Branford Marsalis

    User reviews100

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Motives, Alibis and Crisscross
    The college teacher Larry Donner (Billy Cristal) is a blocked writer since his former wife Margareth (Kate Mulgrew) ruined him, stealing his novel that became a best-seller. He does not hide his hatred for Margareth, upsetting his girlfriend Beth Ryan (Kim Greist), who is an anthropologist teacher in the same college. While giving classes of Creative Writing, he is stalked by the student Owen (Danny DeVito) that wants to know his opinion about his crime tale. Larry tells that he did not like it, and explains that in every mystery tale, the murderer should eliminate the motive and establish an alibi, otherwise he would get caught. Further, Larry suggests Owen to watch Hitchcock's movies to understand the structure of a suspenseful story. Owen, who wants to kill his detestable mother (Anne Ramsey), watches "Strangers on a Train" and misunderstands Larry's advice, believing that his teacher wants to swap murders to eliminate the motive. Owen travels to Hawaii and while in a ship, Margareth falls overboard vanishing in the sea and is considered dead. However, Larry does not have an alibi and becomes the prime suspect, while the deranged Owen presses him to kill his mother as part of their supposed deal.

    "Throw Momma from the Train" is one of the funniest comedies of the 80's and a great tribute to Alfred Hitchcock. The direct reference is "Strangers on a Train", but there are jokes with "Vertigo" (with the spinning camera), "Family Plot" (with the car without breaks) and other movies. The lines are excellent and there is an interesting point when Larry tells that every great romance or mystery has a train. Anne Ramsey is amazing in the role of a nasty and abusive dominating mother and the viewer will certainly feel sorrow and understand the insanity of Owen. Kim Greist is very beautiful and Kate Mulgrew is the perfect bitch. Billy Cristal performs an obsessed character with many silly and unreasonable attitudes but necessary to the plot. My vote is seven.

    Title (Brazil): "Jogue a Mamãe do Trem" ("Throw Momma from the Train")
    helpful•15
    6
    • claudio_carvalho
    • Dec 26, 2009

    FAQ10

    • Why does Owen want Larry to kill Momma?
    • Who is Larry Donner?
    • Who is Owen Lift?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 11, 1987 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Throw Mama from the Train
    • Filming locations
      • Princeville, Kauai, Hawaii, USA
    • Production companies
      • Orion Pictures
      • Rollins, Morra & Brezner
      • Throw Momma
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $14,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $57,915,972
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $7,318,878
      • Dec 13, 1987
    • Gross worldwide
      • $57,915,972
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 28 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

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