By Lorraine LoBianco
Postcards From The Edge
Brief Synopsis
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Based on Carrie Fisher's roman a clef, the story concerns a young actress who has recently gone through drug rehabilitation, and is trying to cope with not only the Hollywood scene but her own mother's, a former musical comedy star of the 50s and 60s, more socially acceptable alcoholism.
Cast & Crew
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Mike Nichols
Director
Meryl Streep
Suzanne Vale
Shirley Maclaine
Doris Mann
Dennis Quaid
Jack Falkner
Gene Hackman
Lowell
Richard Dreyfuss
Doctor Frankenthal
Film Details
Also Known As
Bons baisers d'Hollywood, Hariuddo Ni Kuchizuke, Lembrancs de Hollywood, Postales desde el filo, Vykort från drömfabriken
MPAA Rating
Genre
Comedy
Drama
Medical
Music
Release Date
1990
Production Company
Columbia Pictures; Sunrise Caterers; Technicolor
Distribution Company
Sony Pictures Releasing; 20th Century Fox International; Sony Pictures Home Entertainment; Sony Pictures Releasing; Sony Pictures Releasing International; Warner Bros. Pictures International
Location
Los Angeles, California, USA
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 41m
Synopsis
Based on Carrie Fisher's roman a clef, the story concerns a young actress who has recently gone through drug rehabilitation, and is trying to cope with not only the Hollywood scene but her own mother's, a former musical comedy star of the 50s and 60s, more socially acceptable alcoholism.
Director
Mike Nichols
Director
Cast
Meryl Streep
Suzanne Vale
Shirley Maclaine
Doris Mann
Dennis Quaid
Jack Falkner
Gene Hackman
Lowell
Richard Dreyfuss
Doctor Frankenthal
Rob Reiner
Joe Pierce
Mary Wickes
Grandma
Conrad Bain
Grandpa
Annette Bening
Evelyn Ames
Simon Callow
Simon Asquith
Gary Morton
Marty Wiener
Cch Pounder
Julie Marsden
Sidney Armus
Sid Roth
Robin Bartlett
Aretha
Barbara Garrick
Carol
Anthony Heald
George Lazan
Dana Ivey
Wardrobe Mistress
Oliver Platt
Neil Bleene
Michael Ontkean
Robert Munch
Pepe Serna
Raoul
Mark Lowenthal
Bart
Michael Byers
Allen
J D Souther
Ted
George Wallace
Carl
Peter Onorati
Cameraman
J. Roy Helland
Makeup Man
Douglas Roberts
Soundman
R M Haley
Assistant Director
Kathleen Gray
Cindy
Gloria Crayton
Maid At Party
Gary Matanky
Sound Editor
Marc Tubert
Sound Editor
John Verea
Young Intern
Rene Assa
Passport Official
Natalija Nogulich
Friend At Airport
Susan Forristal
Friend At Airport
Evelina Fernßndez
Airline Employee
Neil A Machlis
Rob Sonnenfeld
Gary Jones
Fan At Party
Jane Galloway
Nurse
Steven Brill
Assistant Director
Jason Tomlins
Officer
Shelley Kirk
First Lady
Jessica Z Diamond
Script Supervisor
Scott Frankel
Pianist At Party
Sheridan Leatherbury
Stand-In
Ken Gustein
Director Of Photography
James Deeth
Helicopter Pilot
Robert F Marshall
Helicopter Pilot
Jim Cuddy
Blue Rodeo Band Member
Greg Keelor
Blue Rodeo Band Member
Bazil Donovan
Blue Rodeo Band Member
Mark French
Blue Rodeo Band Member
Bob Weiseman
Blue Rodeo Band Member
George Wallace
Crew
E Arnold
Song ("You Don'T Know Me")
Florian Ballhaus
1st Assistant Camera
Michael Ballhaus
Dp/Cinematographer
Michael Ballhaus
Director Of Photography
Diane Bandolas
Production Accountant
Stan Bochner
Sound Editor Supervisor
Chris A Butler
Set Decorator
John Calley
Producer
Gene S Cantamessa
Sound Mixer
Steve Cantamessa
Boom Operator
Kris Cole
Assistant Editor
Lee Dichter
Sound Rerecording Mixer
David Dunlap
Camera Operator
Carrie Fisher
Source Material (From Novel)
Carrie Fisher
Screenwriter
Robert Greenhut
Executive Producer
Lynda Gurasich
Hairstyles
Michael Haley
1st Assistant Director
Bill Hansard
Other
Ilean Helland
Assistant (To Mike Nichols)
J. Roy Helland
Makeup
J. Roy Helland
Hairstyles
Michele Imperato-stabile
Production Coordinator
Michael Jacobi
Adr Editor
David James
Stills
Gary Jones
Costume Designer Assistant
Ken Lavet
Location Manager
Jack Lee
Music Coach (Shirley Maclaine)
Ellen Lewis
Casting
Neil A Machlis
Executive Producer
Neil A Machlis
Unit Production Manager
Shirley Maclaine
Song Performer ("I'M Still Here")
Sue Macnair
Associate Producer
C J Maguire
Property Master
Eddie Marks
Costume Supervisor
Joel Marrow
Transportation Coordinator
Thomas May
Key Grip
Cheri Minns
Makeup
Mike Nichols
Producer
Sam O'steen
Editor
James Orendorff
Construction Coordinator
Suzana Peric
Music Editor
Cole Porter
Song ("From This Moment On")
Gilda Radner
Song ("I Love To Be Unhappy")
Helen Robin
Assistant (To Robert Greenhut)
Ann Roth
Costume Designer
Marshall Schlom
Script Supervisor
Marshall I Schlom
Script Supervisor
Pau Shaffer
Song ("I Love To Be Unhappy")
Howard Shore
Musical Supervisor
Shel Silverstein
Song
Carly Simon
Music
Stephen Sondheim
Song ("I'M Still Here")
Kandy Stern
Art Direction
Meryl Streep
Song Performer ("I'M Checkin' Out" "You Don'T Know Me")
Douglas Allen Taylor
Publicist
Juliet Taylor
Casting
James R Tynes
Chief Lighting Technician
Nathalie Vadim
2nd Assistant Director
Patrizia Von Brandenstein
Production Designer
C Walker
Song ("You Don'T Know Me")
Film Details
Also Known As
Bons baisers d'Hollywood, Hariuddo Ni Kuchizuke, Lembrancs de Hollywood, Postales desde el filo, Vykort från drömfabriken
MPAA Rating
Genre
Comedy
Drama
Medical
Music
Release Date
1990
Production Company
Columbia Pictures; Sunrise Caterers; Technicolor
Distribution Company
Sony Pictures Releasing; 20th Century Fox International; Sony Pictures Home Entertainment; Sony Pictures Releasing; Sony Pictures Releasing International; Warner Bros. Pictures International
Location
Los Angeles, California, USA
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 41m
Award Nominations
Best Actress
1990
Meryl Streep
Best Song
1990
Articles
Postcards from the Edge
Director Mike Nichols' Postcards from the Edge (1990) was adapted from the novel by Carrie Fisher, which was loosely based on her own life as an actress with a substance abuse problem and as the child of famous parents, although Fisher's mother, actress Debbie Reynolds, would later balk at being depicted as an argumentative alcoholic in the film. Meryl Streep was given the role of Suzanne Vale with Shirley MacLaine as her mother, Doris Mann. Also in the cast were Dennis Quaid, Gene Hackman, Richard Dreyfuss, Annette Bening and Rob Reiner. MGM reportedly paid Fisher six figures for the book rights and hired her to do the screenplay adaptation that differed from the novel, wanting her to focus on the relationship between mother and daughter. Nichols was brought on in 1987 as director, with Debra Winger rumored for Suzanne before the part went to Streep. Filming began in August 1989 at Burbank Studios in Los Angeles and at various places around Los Angeles, including The Pat Sajak Show for a scene that did not appear in the final film. Nichols, who had started his career as a comedian, most notably with his then-partner Elaine May before becoming a director on Broadway and film, asked composer Stephen Sondheim to do a re-write to the lyrics of "I'm Still Here," originally from his 1971 musical Follies to better suit MacLaine's character. When the film was released in September 1990, it received positive reviews, with Streep and MacLaine singled out for praise, and by November the film had grossed over $35.5 million. During Academy Award season, the film was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Streep and Best Original Song for Shel Silverstein.
By Lorraine LoBianco
By Lorraine LoBianco
Postcards from the Edge
Director Mike Nichols' Postcards from the Edge (1990) was adapted from the novel by Carrie Fisher, which was loosely based on her own life as an actress with a substance abuse problem and as the child of famous parents, although Fisher's mother, actress Debbie Reynolds, would later balk at being depicted as an argumentative alcoholic in the film. Meryl Streep was given the role of Suzanne Vale with Shirley MacLaine as her mother, Doris Mann. Also in the cast were Dennis Quaid, Gene Hackman, Richard Dreyfuss, Annette Bening and Rob Reiner. MGM reportedly paid Fisher six figures for the book rights and hired her to do the screenplay adaptation that differed from the novel, wanting her to focus on the relationship between mother and daughter. Nichols was brought on in 1987 as director, with Debra Winger rumored for Suzanne before the part went to Streep. Filming began in August 1989 at Burbank Studios in Los Angeles and at various places around Los Angeles, including The Pat Sajak Show for a scene that did not appear in the final film. Nichols, who had started his career as a comedian, most notably with his then-partner Elaine May before becoming a director on Broadway and film, asked composer Stephen Sondheim to do a re-write to the lyrics of "I'm Still Here," originally from his 1971 musical Follies to better suit MacLaine's character. When the film was released in September 1990, it received positive reviews, with Streep and MacLaine singled out for praise, and by November the film had grossed over $35.5 million. During Academy Award season, the film was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Streep and Best Original Song for Shel Silverstein.
By Lorraine LoBianco
Quotes
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Expanded Release in United States February 15, 1991
Released in United States Fall September 12, 1990
Released in United States on Video June 5, 1991
Released in United States September 14, 1990
Released in United States September 6, 1990
Shown at Cinetex/90 International Comedy Film Festival, Las Vegas September 6, 1990.
Formerly distributed by RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video.
Began shooting August 14, 1989.
Completed shooting October 16, 1989.
Expanded Release in United States February 15, 1991
Released in United States on Video June 5, 1991
Released in United States Fall September 12, 1990
Released in United States September 14, 1990
Released in United States September 6, 1990 (Shown at Cinetex/90 International Comedy Film Festival, Las Vegas September 6, 1990.)
