Die, Mommie, Die! (2003)

An ex-pop singer kills her much-hated husband to be with her young lover. Her daughter plots Electra-like revenge.

Director:

Mark Rucker

Writers:

Charles Busch (play), Charles Busch (screenplay)

Stars:

Charles Busch, Natasha Lyonne, Jason Priestley

4 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Charles Busch	...	Angela Arden / Barbara Arden
Angela Paton	...	Angela's Fan
Jason Priestley	...	Tony Parker
Natasha Lyonne	...	Edith Sussman
Frances Conroy	...	Bootsie Carp
Philip Baker Hall	...	Sol Sussman
Stark Sands	...	Lance Sussman
Joshua Farrell	...	Policeman (as Josh Hutchinson)
Victor Raider-Wexler	...	Sam Fishbein
Nora Dunn	...	Shatzi Van Allen
Christopher McDaniel	...	Moving Man #1 (as Chris McDaniel)
Tom Hughes	...	Moving Man #2
Stanley DeSantis	...	Tuchman
Paul Vinson	...	Leather Daddy

Storyline

Retired singing star, Angela Arden, heads a dysfunctional family. Her husband, filmmaker Sol Sussman, hates her and has a kissy relationship with his nubile daughter, Edith. Angela carries on an affair with Tony Parker, a lounge lizard, who sleeps with both Edith and her brother, Lance, but not before Angela plots to murder Sol when he cuts off her allowance. Bootsie Carp, the family maid loyal to Sol, is on to Angela, but the diva works quickly and poisons Sol. Edith suspects foul play and wants Lance's help in proving mom's guilt. Lance, who loves his mother deeply, is conflicted. Will Edith succeed? Does love lurk somewhere? And what about Angela's long dead sister, Barbara?

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Plot Keywords:

female nudity | love | singing | singer | diva | 

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Taglines:

Hollywood...It's a dirty town but someone has to do it!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexual content, language and a drug scene

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 October 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Piccole bugie travestite

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Aviator Films,Bill Kenwright Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color Black and White

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the framed photos the camera pans by while Angela (Charles Busch) is administering the deadly suppository to her husband is of Busch in his stage appearance as Gertrude(Gertie) Garnet in his play "The Lady in Question". The photo was used on all the play's promotional materials.

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Goofs

Movie is set in 1967 but Angela sings the Blood, Sweat & Tears hit "Spinning Wheel" which was not released until 1969.

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Quotes

Angela Arden: Darling daughter, you sound like a square from Squaresville.

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Crazy Credits

After the credits, there is silent black and white footage of Angela christening a ship.

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Connections

References What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)

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Soundtracks

Why Not Me
Lyrics by Jerry Patch
Music by Dennis McCarthy
Vocals by Ruth Williamson

User Reviews

The funniest and most entertaining movie I've seen this year!

I can't say enough wonderful things about DIE MOMMIE DIE. It's the funniest and most entertaining movie I've seen this year. Charles Busch is hysterically funny. And he's a wise and generous actor who lets the rest of the cast shine along with him. Everyone else -- particularly Natasha Lyonne, Jason Priestly, and Frances Conroy -- is great -- and obviously having a lot of fun with the story's loopy, inspired twists and turns. Director Mark Rucker has done a fantastic job with this material; it's a very impressive and knowing debut. And, of course, the production design and costumes are outstanding!

While this is a giddy, spot-on parody of the melodramas we all know and love, you don't have to know all the references to enjoy this movie. It's strong enough to stand on its own. I saw it at a recent film festival -- and it put me in the BEST mood. I can't wait to see it again -- and bring my friends.