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IMDbPro

Postcards from the Edge

  • 1990
  • R
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
19K
YOUR RATING
Shirley MacLaine and Meryl Streep in Postcards from the Edge (1990)
Home Video Trailer from RCA/Columbia
Play trailer2:19
1 Video
43 Photos
ComedyDrama

A substance-addicted actress tries to look on the bright side even as she is forced to move back in with her mother to avoid unemployment.A substance-addicted actress tries to look on the bright side even as she is forced to move back in with her mother to avoid unemployment.A substance-addicted actress tries to look on the bright side even as she is forced to move back in with her mother to avoid unemployment.

  • Director
    • Mike Nichols
  • Writer
    • Carrie Fisher
  • Stars
    • Meryl Streep
    • Shirley MacLaine
    • Dennis Quaid
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    19K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Mike Nichols
    • Writer
      • Carrie Fisher
    • Stars
      • Meryl Streep
      • Shirley MacLaine
      • Dennis Quaid
    • 70User reviews
    • 50Critic reviews
    • 71Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 2 wins & 12 nominations total

    Videos1

    Postcards from the Edge
    Trailer 2:19
    Watch Postcards from the Edge

    Photos43

    Carrie Fisher, Shirley MacLaine, Meryl Streep, and Debbie Reynolds in Postcards from the Edge (1990)
    Shirley MacLaine and Meryl Streep in Postcards from the Edge (1990)
    Gene Hackman and Meryl Streep in Postcards from the Edge (1990)
    Carrie Fisher, Shirley MacLaine, and Meryl Streep in Postcards from the Edge (1990)
    Shirley MacLaine, Dennis Quaid, and Meryl Streep in Postcards from the Edge (1990)
    Dennis Quaid in Postcards from the Edge (1990)
    Meryl Streep in Postcards from the Edge (1990)
    Shirley MacLaine and Meryl Streep in Postcards from the Edge (1990)
    Meryl Streep in Postcards from the Edge (1990)
    Shirley MacLaine in Postcards from the Edge (1990)
    Mike Nichols in Postcards from the Edge (1990)
    Shirley MacLaine, Meryl Streep, and Mark Lowenthal in Postcards from the Edge (1990)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Meryl Streep
    Meryl Streep
    • Suzanne Vale
    Shirley MacLaine
    Shirley MacLaine
    • Doris Mann
    Dennis Quaid
    Dennis Quaid
    • Jack Faulkner
    Gene Hackman
    Gene Hackman
    • Lowell Kolchek
    Richard Dreyfuss
    Richard Dreyfuss
    • Doctor Frankenthal
    Rob Reiner
    Rob Reiner
    • Joe Pierce
    Mary Wickes
    Mary Wickes
    • Grandma
    Conrad Bain
    Conrad Bain
    • Grandpa
    Annette Bening
    Annette Bening
    • Evelyn Ames
    Simon Callow
    Simon Callow
    • Simon Asquith
    Gary Morton
    Gary Morton
    • Marty Wiener
    CCH Pounder
    CCH Pounder
    • Julie Marsden
    • (as C.C.H. Pounder)
    Sidney Armus
    • Sid Roth
    Robin Bartlett
    Robin Bartlett
    • Aretha
    Barbara Garrick
    Barbara Garrick
    • Carol
    Anthony Heald
    Anthony Heald
    • George Lazan
    Dana Ivey
    Dana Ivey
    • Wardrobe Mistress
    Oliver Platt
    Oliver Platt
    • Neil Bleene
    • Director
      • Mike Nichols
    • Writer
      • Carrie Fisher
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Debbie Reynolds reportedly wanted to play the role of Doris Mann, loosely based on herself. However, director Mike Nichols personally requested Shirley MacLaine.
    • Goofs
      When Suzanne speaks to the pianist before performing, "You don't know me", there is a visible red tape mark on the ground to instruct her where to stand.
    • Quotes

      Doris: Will you please tell me what is this awful thing I did to you when you were a child!

      Suzanne: Okay, you want to know? Do you?

      Doris: I want to know! Tell me!

      Suzanne: Okay, FINE! From the time I was 9 years old, you gave me sleeping pills!

      Doris: That was over-the-counter medication, and I gave it to you because you couldn't sleep!

      Suzanne: Mom! You don't give children sleeping pills when they can't sleep!

      Doris: They were not sleeping pills! It was store-bought and it was perfectly SAFE! Now don't blame ME for your drug-taking! I do not blame my mother for my misfortunes or for my drinking!

      Suzanne: Well, you don't acknowledge that you drink. How could you possibly blame your mother for something you don't even do? Remember my 17th birthday party when you lifted your skirt up in front of all those people, including that guy, Michael?

      Doris: I did not lift my skirt, it TWIRLED UP! You only remember the bad stuff, don't you? What about the big band that I got to play at that party? Do you remember that? No! You only remembered that my skirt accidentally TWIRLED UP!

      Suzanne: And you weren't wearing any underwear.

      Doris: Well...

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Postcards from the Edge/Saving Grace/White Hunter, Black Heart/After Dark, My Sweet (1990)
    • Soundtracks
      I'm Checkin' Out
      Written by Shel Silverstein

      Performed by Meryl Streep and Blue Rodeo

      Blue Rodeo appears courtesy of Risque Disque, Inc.

      WEA Music of Canada, Ltd.

    User reviews70

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Mike who?
    Postcards From The Edge is one of my all-time favorites. It's a truly addictive movie that's always funny and touching no matter how many times I see it. Some of the criticism I've read have always seemed just a tad off base, particularly the ones that say that Streep never seems to get a handle on her character--she just acts kind of comically frazzled. Well I think that's the point, isn't it? Streep as Fisher doesn't know what she wants or who she is, and while trying to discover these things, she must battle her drug dependence, rebuild her career against all odds and hope, in addition to trying to reconcile her relationship with her outlandishly domineering mother, who just happens to be a legendary star with issues of her own. In this scenario, "frazzled" would seem to be the way to go.

    In any case, those who have commented positively on the movie have mostly mentioned the great performances (as well as Carrie Fisher's wonderful screenplay), and rightly so since this is one the most smartly acted (and well-written) movies you will ever see. But it seems strange that the outstanding direction of Mike Nichols is rarely mentioned. I remember one Oscar ceremony when a producer whose movie had just won Best Picture, and, indeed, swept all the major awards--except Best Director--said "apparently the Academy thinks that the actors directed themselves." It would seem that many of the viewers of Postcards From The Edge think the same thing. In my opinion, Nichols doesn't get enough credit for the seamless way this movie moves or for the crispness of the comic timing. At every turn, he brings out the best in his actors, most especially in the dynamic scenes involving Streep and McLaine. I also love the way he shows, through shifting background effects, how movie illusions are created, which he further uses to illustrate how we often hide our true motivations. (The great example of this is in the scene on the lot with Streep and Dennis Quaid where he was trying to convince her he has always been sincere in his feelings for her--and maybe they should even marry. Then suddenly the background, a house and white picket fence cardboard front, is moved away by a production crew.)

    This is a wonderfully entertaining movie, brilliantly acted and written and, yes, superbly directed.
    helpful•48
    17
    • costa205
    • Sep 4, 2004

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 14, 1990 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Sony Movie Channel (United States)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Recuerdos de Hollywood
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Columbia Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $22,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $39,071,603
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $7,871,856
      • Sep 16, 1990
    • Gross worldwide
      • $39,071,603
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 41 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

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