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Postcards from the Edge

  • 19901990
  • RR
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
17K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Shirley MacLaine and Meryl Streep in Postcards from the Edge (1990)
Home Video Trailer from RCA/Columbia
Play trailer2:19
1 Video
43 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama

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.

IMDb RATING
6.7/10
17K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Mike Nichols
  • Writer
    • Carrie Fisher(book)
  • Stars
    • Meryl Streep
    • Shirley MacLaine
    • Dennis Quaid
Top credits
  • Director
    • Mike Nichols
  • Writer
    • Carrie Fisher(book)
  • Stars
    • Meryl Streep
    • Shirley MacLaine
    • Dennis Quaid
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 69User reviews
    • 49Critic reviews
    • 71Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 2 wins & 12 nominations total

    Videos1

    Postcards from the Edge
    Trailer 2:19
    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 Valeas Suzanne Vale
    Shirley MacLaine
    Shirley MacLaine
    • Doris Mannas Doris Mann
    Dennis Quaid
    Dennis Quaid
    • Jack Faulkneras Jack Faulkner
    Gene Hackman
    Gene Hackman
    • Lowell Kolchekas Lowell Kolchek
    Richard Dreyfuss
    Richard Dreyfuss
    • Doctor Frankenthalas Doctor Frankenthal
    Rob Reiner
    Rob Reiner
    • Joe Pierceas Joe Pierce
    Mary Wickes
    Mary Wickes
    • Grandmaas Grandma
    Conrad Bain
    Conrad Bain
    • Grandpaas Grandpa
    Annette Bening
    Annette Bening
    • Evelyn Amesas Evelyn Ames
    Simon Callow
    Simon Callow
    • Simon Asquithas Simon Asquith
    Gary Morton
    Gary Morton
    • Marty Wieneras Marty Wiener
    CCH Pounder
    CCH Pounder
    • Julie Marsdenas Julie Marsden
    • (as C.C.H. Pounder)
    Sidney Armus
    • Sid Rothas Sid Roth
    Robin Bartlett
    Robin Bartlett
    • Arethaas Aretha
    Barbara Garrick
    Barbara Garrick
    • Carolas Carol
    Anthony Heald
    Anthony Heald
    • George Lazanas George Lazan
    Dana Ivey
    Dana Ivey
    • Wardrobe Mistressas Wardrobe Mistress
    Oliver Platt
    Oliver Platt
    • Neil Bleeneas Neil Bleene
    • Director
      • Mike Nichols
    • Writer
      • Carrie Fisher(book) (screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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. —Jeremy Perkins {J-26}
    • drug rehabilitation
    • alcoholism
    • domineering mother
    • female protagonist
    • drug overdose
    • 63 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Having a wonderful time, wish I were here.
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The story line is based on Carrie Fisher's own life and battle with fame, family and addiction.
    • Goofs
      When Suzanne speaks to the pianist before performing, "you don't know me", there is a clearly 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 At the Movies: 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 reviews69

    Review
    Top 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•47
    17
    • costa205
    • Sep 4, 2004

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    [object Object]
    Photos

    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
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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