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 | reference to halloween | camp | love | singing | 

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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

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$54,129, 2 November 2003

Gross USA:

$320,092

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$320,092

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

During one of the black and white flashbacks, Barbara is shown at a jewelry counter that reads "Kenwrights", named after the film's producer Bill Kenwright.

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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

Lance Sussman: [Lance, unexpectedly home from college, has hidden behind the stairs and jumps up and scares Angela] Arrrrh!
Angela Arden: Lance! You scared the bejesus out of me!
Lance Sussman: [Chuckling] Kiss me, you beautiful creature.
Lance Sussman: [Upon kissing Lance on the lips] Do I smell pot?
Lance Sussman: Gee, mom, you got me on that one.
Angela Arden: Listen, baby, I'm not one of your friends' square old ladies. I toured with a band. I'm quite familiar with reefer, and fully acquainted with its dangers.
Lance Sussman: You're the coolest mom ever!
Angela Arden: What are you doing home from school?
Lance Sussman: The...
[...]

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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

Featured in The Lady in Question Is Charles Busch (2005)

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Soundtracks

Spinning Wheel
Written by David Clayton-Thomas
Performed by Charles Busch

User Reviews

If this is the kind of movie you like, you'll like this movie

I watched this as someone who knows and loves the styles of movie-making and acting that Busch and company are spoofing. Even so, I occasionally found the script it a little draggy, the photography a little dark and blocking a little static, but only occasionally. When it did work, which in my opinion was most of the time, it did so delightfully. Totally unpretentious, it doesn't make itself out to be anything other than it is. I give it an 8.