Death Becomes Her (1992)

Director:

Robert Zemeckis

Writers (WGA):

Martin Donovan (written by) &
David Koepp (written by)

Release Date:

31 July 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy

Tagline:

Some people will go to any lengths to stay young forever. But Madeline Ashton and her old friend Helen Sharp are about to go TOO far.

Plot:

When a woman learns of an immortality treatment, she sees it as a way to outdo her long-time rival.

Plot Keywords:

Rival | Actress | Alcoholic | Immortality | Revenge

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 3 wins & 8 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sat. Jan. 2	4:30 PM	HBO
Wed. Jan. 6	2:15 PM	HBO

Cast

Meryl Streep	...	Madeline Ashton
Bruce Willis	...	Dr. Ernest Menville
Goldie Hawn	...	Helen Sharp
Isabella Rossellini	...	Lisle von Rhoman
Ian Ogilvy	...	Chagall
Adam Storke	...	Dakota
Nancy Fish	...	Rose, Madeleine's Maid
Alaina Reed Hall	...	Psychologist
Michelle Johnson	...	Anna, Chagall's Aide
Mary Ellen Trainor	...	Vivian Adams
William Frankfather	...	Mr. Franklin
John Ingle	...	Eulogist
Clement von Franckenstein	...	Opening Man
Petrea Burchard	...	Opening Woman
Jim Jansen	...	Man #2

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some nudity and off-color humor.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:L | Italy:T | Brazil:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-14 | Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Spain:T | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

In the scene where Helen sits down onto a shovel handle, she didn't sit in the way she was expected to do, so the SFX people had to morph the image to make it look like the shovel handle was pushing up into her chest.

Goofs:

Continuity: Helen falls backwards into the fountain after being shot, but gets up from a face-down position.

Quotes:

Madeline Ashton: [after she discovers Dakota has a girl over] Who is the little piece of meat?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "ER: Wake Up (#12.5)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Me

A Cult Classic

I never saw "Death Becomes Her" when it first come out because of a review I had read somewhere. The review was dismissive and made a lot of sense, so I decided to give it a miss. What a terrible mistake! This is a movie I would love to see on a big screen. The script is so brilliantly clever. Disguised as a silly comedy there is a world of serious themes executed by a knowing cast. Meryl Streep in particular, playing convincingly an actress without talent. I remember the bad review criticized the writers for setting the story in a rainy, stormy Los Angeles when California was going through a drought. Imagine if a comedy about magic potions should worry about the accuracy of the weather. In fact the Los Angeles of "Death Becomes Her" feels more like Los Angelers than most realistic movies and it does it with nerve and wit. "In 12 years in Los Angeles have you ever seen a neighbor?" screams Meryl to his mousy Bruce. An absolute delight. Other hidden treasures are a cameo from Sidney Pollack and a very funny and very sexy "76 years old" Isabella Rossellini. A new cult classic and a total must.