Postcards from the Edge (1990)

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

Writers:

Carrie Fisher (book), Carrie Fisher (screenplay)

Stars:

Meryl Streep, Shirley MacLaine, Dennis Quaid

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Meryl Streep	...	Suzanne Vale
Shirley MacLaine	...	Doris Mann
Dennis Quaid	...	Jack Faulkner
Gene Hackman	...	Lowell Kolchek
Richard Dreyfuss	...	Doctor Frankenthal
Rob Reiner	...	Joe Pierce
Mary Wickes	...	Grandma
Conrad Bain	...	Grandpa
Annette Bening	...	Evelyn Ames
Simon Callow	...	Simon Asquith
Gary Morton	...	Marty Wiener
CCH Pounder	...	Julie Marsden (as C.C.H. Pounder)
Sidney Armus	...	Sid Roth
Robin Bartlett	...	Aretha
Barbara Garrick	...	Carol

Storyline

Substance-addicted Hollywood actress Suzanne Vale is on the skids. After a spell at a detox center her film company insists, as a condition of continuing to employ her, that she live with her mother, Doris Mann, who was once a star and now a champion drinker. Such a set-up is bad news for her as she has struggled for years to get out of Doris' shadow, who still treats her like a child. Despite these problems and further ones involving the men in in her life, she can begin to see the funny side of her situation, and it also starts to occur to her that not only do daughters have mothers, mothers do too.

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Plot Keywords:

drug rehabilitation | alcoholism | domineering mother | female protagonist | drug overdose | 

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Taglines:

Having a wonderful time, wish I were here.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Movie Channel [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

14 September 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Recuerdos de Hollywood

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$22,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,871,856, 16 September 1990

Gross USA:

$39,071,603

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$39,071,603

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min 95 min (edited)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the ABC News show "20/20 (1978)" aired shortly after the deaths of Reynolds and Fisher, Debbie Reynolds is reported by an editorial director for "People" and "Entertainment Weekly" as stating that she was not like Doris Mann, as portrayed by Shirley Maclaine, deeming that woman to be sort of angry, while Reynolds considered herself to be very sunny. Also, in the "Orlando Sentinel", she claims that she doesn't drink vodka for breakfast, and never crashed her car into a tree.

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Goofs

Lowell tells Suzanne that none of the airport scene can be saved because it was shot without any cutaways. However, the scene is obviously edited as the characters jump about 3 feet farther from the camera as they walk from past a pole between the ticket counter and the passport control desk.

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Quotes

Neil Bleene: I've been in the theatre. I'm actually a theatre director. Sometimes certain line-readings apply. Like in comedy, it is a rule. Inflections go up at the end.
Suzanne Vale: That's a comedy RULE?
Neil Bleene: Well, not so much rule as guideline.

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Connections

References What a Way to Go! (1964)

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Soundtracks

You Don't Know Me
Written by Cindy Walker (as C. Walker) and Eddy Arnold (as E. Arnold)
Performed by Meryl Streep

User Reviews

Wonderfully Nutty

Meryl Streep is just about the best actress around and this, I think, is one of my favourite performances by her. (so far). Why? Because she is not playing her usual self -- she is a total nut case in this film --- neurotic and downright hilarious. Much like 2002's "Adaption" she is playing against her normal dramatic type and is a wonderful comedienne -- a role she should play more often --- actresses usually playing actresses usually are not memorable --- this is a "keeper" role --- and what a voice. (had she not been an actress, she could give most singers these days a run for their money!) Do rent it and laugh --- it is worth the trip to the video store!