The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992)

After her humiliated husband kills himself, an embittered pregnant widow loses her child, and embarks on a mission of vengeance against a woman and her family.

Director:

Curtis Hanson

Writer:

Amanda Silver

Stars:

Annabella Sciorra, Rebecca De Mornay, Matt McCoy

6 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Annabella Sciorra	...	Claire
Rebecca De Mornay	...	Peyton
Matt McCoy	...	Michael
Ernie Hudson	...	Solomon
Julianne Moore	...	Marlene
Madeline Zima	...	Emma
John de Lancie	...	Dr. Mott
Kevin Skousen	...	Marty
Mitchell Laurance	...	Lawyer
Justin Zaremby	...	Schoolyard Bully
Eric Melander	...	Baby Joe
Jennifer Melander	...	Baby Joe
Ashley Melander	...	Baby Joe
Cliff Lenz	...	Seattle Today Host
Penny LeGate	...	Seattle Today Host

Storyline

Peyton Flanders (Rebecca De Mornay) seemed to be the perfect nanny, but secretly she was out to wreck the lives of the family she was supposed to be helping. Before becoming the nanny, Peyton had a miscarriage due to the stress caused by the death of her husband, Dr. Victor Mott (John de Lancie), and blamed it on Claire (the mother, played by Annabella Sciorra),. Claire suspects nothing, having never met Peyton before.

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Plot Keywords:

gynecological exam | sexual assault | gynecologist | female nudity | lifting a female into the air | 

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Taglines:

... is the hand that rules the world.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for terror, violence, a scene of sexual molestation, and for language

Did You Know?

Trivia

The third time that John de Lancie plays a doctor. He did so before in Emergency!: The Convention (1979) & Emergency!: The Steel Inferno (1978).

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Goofs

When Mrs. Mott is making the soufflé, she says "It's a shame Michael's not here, he's gonna miss it" but her mouth isn't moving.

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Quotes

Peyton Flanders: [on the phone]
Peyton Flanders: Who is this?
Marlene 'Marl' Craven: Marlene Craven, you want me to spell it?

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Crazy Credits

As the end credits roll, we see the Bartel residence.

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Connections

Referenced in Almost Home: To Date or Not to Date? (1993)

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Soundtracks

MY GALLANT CREW GOOD MORNING
from "H.M.S. Pinafore"
Written by W.S. Gilbert (uncredited) and Arthur Sullivan (uncredited)
Performed by The D'Oyly Carte Opera Company
Courtesy of London Records
A Division of PolyGram Classics

User Reviews

Rebecca de Mornay is the nanny from hell...scary thriller...

You have to hand it to the makers of THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE--once the story starts to unravel, you have to stay tuned to find out how this manipulative bitch will get her comeuppance. It's as simple as that. We know from the start that she has evil intentions, but we never know how evil they are until she starts a series of manipulative acts that demonstrate how cunning and remorseless she is.

REBECCA de MORNAY is so convincingly evil that you have to wonder why her career didn't skyrocket after this. It's a performance worthy of award consideration, but both she and the film itself have been largely forgotten. None of the supporting players, with the exception of JULIANNE MOORE, have become household names but they're all quite effective.

The ending may be somewhat predictable--and most welcome when it finally comes--but it's still stylishly done and a satisfying conclusion to a tale of household terror when a nanny's rage goes amok because of an incident in her past involving a woman whom she perceives as ruining her husband's life. Sure, it's been done before, but never quite so cunningly presented.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 January 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle

Filming Locations:

810 N. Yakima Avenue, Tacoma, Washington, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$11,700,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,675,016, 12 January 1992

Gross USA:

$88,036,683

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$88,036,683

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hollywood Pictures, Interscope Communications, Nomura Babcock & Brown

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1