If These Walls Could Talk (1996)

The movie examines the abortion issue through three stories set in different eras: 1952, 1974 and 1996.

Directors:

Cher, Nancy Savoca

Writers:

Pamela Wallace (story), Earl W. Wallace (story)

Stars:

Demi Moore, Shirley Knight, Catherine Keener

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 4 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Demi Moore	...	Claire Donnelly (segment "1952")
Shirley Knight	...	Mary Donnelly (segment "1952")
Catherine Keener	...	Becky Donnelly (segment "1952")
Jason London	...	Kevin Donnelly (segment "1952")
CCH Pounder	...	Nurse Jenny Ford (segment "1952")
Kevin Cooney	...	Dr. Kramer (segment "1952")
Robin Gammell	...	Jim Donnelly (segment "1952")
Phyllis Lyons	...	Audrey (segment "1952")
Aaron Lustig	...	Tom (segment "1952")
Dena Burton	...	Young Nurse (segment "1952")
Marie DeCicco	...	Nurse Annie Ross (segment "1952")
Lorna Scott	...	Louise (segment "1952")
Mary Portser	...	Margaret (segment "1952")
Annie Weldon	...	Nurse (segment "1952")
Vaughn Armstrong	...	Painter (segment "1952")

Storyline

A trilogy of stories set in the same house, but with different occupants and spanning over 40 years, deals with various women and moral crisis over unexpected pregnancies and their choice of abortion. In 1952, when abortion was illegal, a nurse deals with her unexpected pregnancy and takes drastic measures to get one. In 1974 a family housewife with four children discovers that she's pregnant and decides she can't handle another child to raise. In 1996, a pregnant college student decides on an abortion, but doesn't realize the means to go through to get one.

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Plot Keywords:

f rated | premarital sex | abortion | pregnancy | student | 

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Taglines:

Changing times, intimate decisions, and the four walls that hold their secrets.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for realistic depiction of abortions, a graphic shooting and some language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Cher and Diana Scarwid Co starred in this and Silkwood.

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Goofs

In the 1974 segment, one of the kids mentions wanting to watch The Partridge Family (1970), which at that time, aired on Saturday night. However, the kids had been to school that day so it was not a Saturday.

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Alternate Versions

The UK video version was cut by 3 secs to reduce multiple gunshots during the hospital shooting scene.

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Connections

Followed by If These Walls Could Talk 2 (2000)

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Soundtracks

Walk This World
Written and Performed by Heather Nova

User Reviews

Almost too painful to watch - and that's a good thing

If you ever thought a woman's right to choose was an easy one, this will take care of that. Unexpected pregnancy can be from carelessness of course, but it can also be from fallible birth control, boyfriends who lie, and people you were with against your will. This is three distinct movies in one on the same topic of a woman trying to chose to have, or not have, an unexpected baby. Each one is set in a different decade.

I had to turn the volume down and close my eyes at times. Not for gruesomeness but the way you close your eyes when someone is about to hit that awful note in the Star Spangled Banner. You feel the pain of their attempt at something difficult. You don't just watch this movie, you feel it.

Men are not portrayed as multi-dimentional as the women are, but they are not the villian either. They are included yet they can never fully understand. You see the suffering the women go through in their own head, how difficult it is, the wavering in their decisions. They have equal fear of having an abortion, having a baby, and having the people around them know of their predicament.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 October 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

If These Walls Could Talk

Company Credits

Production Co:

HBO NYC Productions, Moving Pictures (I)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby (Dolby Surround)

Color:

Color (DeLuxe) (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1