What the Hell Happened to Rebecca De Mornay?

Rebecca De Mornay starred opposite Tom Cruise when they were both young actors on the rise.  Cruise went on to star in Top Gun and became the biggest movie star in the world.  De Mornay, on the other hand, struggled to capitalize on her early success.

What the hell happened?

In 1982, De Mornay was an extra in Francis Ford Coppola’s musical, One From the Heart.

One From the Heart starred Terri Garr and Raul Julia.  Coppola had intended to make One From the Heart on the cheap after going over budget on Apocalypse Now.  Instead, he insisted on building costly sets which caused the budget to balloon from $2 million to over $25 million.

Unfortunately, One From the Heart grossed just over half a million dollars.  As a result, Coppola declared bankruptcy.  He has said that the movies he made in the 80’s and 90’s were done to pay off the debts incurred by making One From the Heart.

de mornay - risky business
Rebecca De Mornay – Risky Business – 1983

In 1983, De Mornay starred opposite a young unknown, Tom Cruise in the sex comedy, Risky Business.

Cruise played an over-achieving high school student trying to get into Princeton.  When his parents leave him home alone for the weekend, Cruise’s character engages in a little rebellion by raiding the liquor cabinet, cranking up the stereo and dancing around in his underwear.

But his best friend is unimpressed.  He takes it upon himself to call a prostitute for Joel against his wishes.  Soon, his carefully planned future is turned upside down by one night with a call girl played by De Mornay.

Up until this point, Cruise was just one of the up-and-coming Brat Pack actors.  He hung out with the rest of the guys while making The Outsiders.  But once he was cast in Risky Business, Cruise knew there were bigger and better things in his future.

de mornay - risky business 2
Rebecca De Mornay – Risky Business – 1983

I have often said that Cruise rarely has chemistry with his leading ladies.  De Mornay in Risky Business was one of the exceptions.  The co-stars also dated in real life.

Reviews were positive and Risky Business was a big hit at the box office.  It made Cruise a star if not yet a household name.  And it put De Mornay on the map.  All she needed to do was find the right role to put her over the top.

de mornay - testament
Rebecca De Mornay and Kevin Costner – Testament – 1983

Later that year, De Mornay appeared opposite Kevin Costner in the Cold War drama, Testament..

If you grew up in the 80’s you remember the being afraid of nuclear war.  A month before Testament was released, the TV mini-series The Day After aired on ABC.  Both the movie and the mini-series depicted the fall-out from a nuclear war.

The English counterpart to Testament and The Day After was a TV movie called Threads.  As much as The Day After scared the hell out of me as a kid, Threads sounds so much scarier.

De Mornay’s role in Testament was a small one.  She and Costner played a young couple who decide to leave town after losing their baby.

Testament was originally filmed as a an entry for the PBS TV series, American Playhouse.  It received a small theatrical release before eventually airing on PBS.  Reviews were mostly positive.

de mornay - the slugger's wife
Rebecca De Mornay – The Slugger’s Wife – 1985

In 1985. De Mornay had three at-bats.  The first was the Neil Simon written baseball comedy, The Slugger’s Wife.

De Mornay played a singer who fell in love with a baseball player played by Danny Noonan (aka Michael O’Keefe who apparently continued working after Caddyshack).  Boy meets girl.  Boy loses girl.  Boy gets girl back and hits a home run.  Sound familiar?

Reviews were terrible and the movie flopped at the box office.  It was nominated for a Golden Raspberry for Worst Song “Oh Jimmy” sung by De Mornay.

Director Hal Ashby was canned during post-production.  He encouraged his actors to improvise which did not sit well with the famous playwright.

Rebecca De Mornay – Runaway Train – 1985

Later that year, De Mornay appeared opposite Jon Voight and Eric Roberts in the thriller Runaway Train.

Voight and Roberts starred as two men who had escaped from an Alaskan prison.  They board a train which has no brakes and no driver.  De Mornay played a railway worker who helps them try to stop the runaway engine.

Originally, Tom Berenger was cast in the Eric Roberts role.  But when Berenger dropped out to film Platoon, Roberts stepped in.  De Mornay replaced Karen Allen from Raiders of the Lost Ark and Animal House.

Reviews were positive and the movie was a hit at the box office.  Voight and Roberts were both nominated for Oscars.  There wasn’t a lot of glory left over for De Mornay.

de mornay - trip to bountiful
Rebecca De Mornay – The Trip to Bountiful – 1985

De Mornay ended the year with a supporting role opposite Geraldine Page in The Trip to Bountiful,

Page played an elderly woman who wants to return to her home town.  Her son and daughter-in-law won’t let her travel alone.  She attempts to travel by train, but the train no longer runs to Bountiful.  Which is probably just as well given De Mornay’s history with trains.  Instead, she boards a bus where she meets a young woman played by De Mornay.

The Trip to Bountiful was a big screen adaptation of a 1953 teleplay.  Page won an Oscar for her performance.

In 1985, De Mornay starred in one critical and commercial disaster and had supporting roles in two well-reviewed hits.  Oh, and she did this too:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32ScTb6_KHg]

One could say storms were brewin’ in her eyes.

What’s up with the old timey black and white footage and the tornado?  If someone could explain the story of Starship’s Sara video to me in the comments section, it would be greatly appreciated.  So far all I can figure out is that De Mornay gets drunk and knocks over lamps while attempting to dance 80’s style.

Steve Guttenberg and Rebecca De Mornay - Pecos Bill
Tall Tales and Legends – 1986

In 1986, De Mornay turned to television.  She played Slew Foot Sue opposite Steve Guttenberg’s Pecos Bill on Shelly Duvall’s cable TV series Tall Tales and Legends. 

de mornay - pecos bill

Martin Mull sure does look happy to be a singing cowboy in a purple hat.

The Murders in the Rue Morgue – 1986

She also appeared opposite George C Scott and Val Kilmer in a TV adaptation of Edgar Allen Poe’s The Murders in the Rue Morgue.

George C. Scott played a retired detective and De Mornay played his daughter.  Her fiance is the prime suspect in a double murder mystery.  The clues are confounding and the resolution is, well, ridiculous.  *spoilers* It turns out the murders were committed by a monkey.

Kilmer - Monkey
Val Kilmer and Rebecca De Mornay – The Murders in the Rue Morgue – 1986

Or at least a guy in a cheap monkey costume.

MSDBEAN EC106
Rebecca De Mornay – Beauty and the Beast – 1987

 In 1987, De Mornay returned to the big screen for a musical version of Beauty and the Beast.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t Disney’s musical adaptation of a classic fairy tale.  It was a production of Canon Films who were best known for their low-budget action movies.

Not exactly a tale as old as time.  This Beauty received beastly reviews and disappeared quickly from screens.

Rebecca De Mornay - And God Created Woman - 1988
Rebecca De Mornay – And God Created Woman – 1988

In 1988, De Mornay starred in a remake of the 1956 film Et Dieu… créa la femme which translates to And God Created Woman.  Both the original and the remake were directed by Roger Vadim.

Before we look at the ’88 remake, here’s the trailer for the ’56 original.

Bardot?  Don’t get me wrong, I like De Mornay.  She was plenty sexy in Risky Business.  But there is only one Bardot.

So, how did De Mornay fill the legend’s shoes?

Not well.  Reviews were terrible and the movie flopped.  De Mornay was nominated for a Golden Raspberry for Worst Actress.  And Vincent Spano was forgotten for all time.

de mornay - feds
Rebecca De Mornay – Feds – 1988

Later that year, De Mornay starred opposite Mary Gross in the action comedy Feds.

Who is Mary Gross you ask?  She’s one of the many Saturday Night Live alum who never ,made the transition to movie stardom.  Uh-oh.  That doesn’t bode well for Feds, does it?

The critics hated Feds and the movie bombed at the box office ending Gross’ movie career before it started.

Rebecca De Mornay - Dealers - 1989
Rebecca De Mornay – Dealers – 1989

In 1989, De Mornay starred in the British film, Dealers.

Reviews were mixed.  Dealers played at film festivals in the US, but was never released theatrically.  De Mornay’s film career appeared to be over.

TELEVISION FILM 'AN INCONVENIENT WOMAN' BY LARRY ELIKANN
Rebecca De Mornay – An Inconvenient Woman -1991

In 1991, De Mornay starred opposite Jason Robards in a TV movie based on Dominick Dunne’s novel, An Inconvenient Woman.

De Mornay played a waitress who has an affair with a rich and powerful older man.

de mornay - backdraft
Kurt Russell and Rebecca De Mornay – Backdraft – 1991

Later that year, De Mornay starred opposite Kurt Russell in Ron Howard’s tribute to firefighters, Backdraft.

De Mornay played Russell’s devoted wife.  Co-star Jennifer Jason Leigh complained about her similarly thankless role as William Baldwin’s girlfriend.

The star-studded cast also included Scott Glenn, Donald Sutherland and Robert De Niro.  Reviews were mosty positive and the movie was a hit at the box office.

de mornay - the hand that rocks the cradle
Rebecca De Mornay – The Hand That Rocks the Cradle – 1992

In 1992, De Mornay followed up Backdraft with a starring role in Curtis Hanson’s thriller, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle.

De Mornay played a crazy nanny who tries to kill Annabella Sciorra and steal her life.  She’s kind of a cross between Mary Poppins and Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction.  Also, she threatens Winston from Ghostbusters.

In a lot of ways, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle was just another 90’s thriller with a title that’s way too long.  But director Curtis Hanson showed promise of the film-maker he would become with LA Confidential.

Reviews were mixed to positive.  But the movie was a big hit at the box office.  With two hits in a row, De Mornay was back in business.  All she needed now was to cement her A-list status with another solid hit.

de mornay - guilty as sin
Rebecca De Mornay – Guilty as Sin – 1993

Instead, De Mornay decided to kill her comeback in its infancy by starring opposite Don Johnson in Sidney Lumet’s courtroom drama, Guilty as Sin.

 If that title doesn’t tell you everything you need to know about the movie, here’s the trailer.

Look, Melanie Griffith had to make movies with Don Johnson.  She was married to him.  But De Mornay should have known better.  Reviews were mostly negative and the movie tanked at the box office.

Rebecca De Monray - Blind Side
Rebecca De Mornay – Blind Side – 1993

De  Mornay also starred opposite Ron Silver and Rutger Hauer in the made-for-HBO thriller, Blind Side.  De Monray and Silver play a couple who are blackmailed by Hauer’s character.

MSDTHMU EC013
Rebecca De Mornay – The Three Musketeers – 1993

Later that year, De Mornay appeared opposite Tim Curry in Disney’s adaptation of The Three Musketeers.

Disney’s approach to adapting a literary classic was to hire the director of The Mighty Ducks and the cast of Young Guns,  The Musketeers were played by Kieffer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen, Chris O’Donnell and Oliver Platt.

There were several casting changes made prior to filming.  Sheen changed roles due to a schedule conflict.  Pretty much any young actor who was hot at the time was at least considered for a role.  The role of the villainous Milady De Winter was originally supposed to be played by Winona Ryder.  But when Ryder dropped out, De Mornay was cast.

Reviews were mostly negative.  The film disappointed at the box office despite making a small profit.

Rebecca De Mornay - Getting Out - 1994
Rebecca De Mornay – Getting Out – 1994

In 1994, De Mornay returned to TV movies with a gritty adaptation of the stage play, Getting Out.  De Mornay played an ex-con struggling to fix her life outside of prison.  Ellen Burstyn co-starred as her nightmarish mother.

de mornay - never talk to strangers
Rebecca De Mornay – Never Talk to Strangers – 1995

 In 1995, De Mornay starred opposite Mr. “Too Sexy” Antonio Banderas in the thriller Never Talk to Strangers.

God help me, I think I watched this one in the theater.

De Mornay plays a psychologist who is reluctant to trust her sexy new boyfriend.  Is he a psychopath or is something far more ridiculous going on?  Spoilers – it’s the latter.  Turns out De Mornay’s character has multiple personality disorder and is stalking herself.

De Mornay got a producer credit on this one.  So she is at least partially to blame for this shit sandwich ever being made in the first place.  Reviews were terrible and the movie flopped.  This effectively ended De Mornay’s mainstream movie career.

Rebecca De Mornay - The Outer Limits - 1995
Rebecca De Mornay – The Outer Limits – 1995

Later that year, De Mornay appeared on an episode of The Outer Limits.  Frank Whaley played a man who has just been released from prison and visits the office Christmas party with vengeance on his mind.

Rebecca De Mornay - The Winner - 1996
Rebecca De Mornay – The Winner – 1996

In 1996, De Mornay starred opposite Vincent D’Onofrio, Michael Madsen, Billy Bob Thornton and Delroy Lindo in the quirky indie, The Winner.

D’Onofrio played a naive guy who hits a lucky streak in Vegas.  De Mornay played a lounge singer who seduces him and tries to con him out of his winnings.

Great cast, right?  Sounds like it could be a lost gem of the 90s indie film scene?  Not so much.  It’s actually another one of those Tarantino rip-offs from that era.  De Mornay was once again a producer on the film.  She and the other producers had the film re-edited against the director’s wishes.  Alex Cox, director of Repo Man and Sid & Nancy, asked to have his name removed from the film.

Rebecca De Mornay – The Shining – 1997

In 1997, De Mornay starred opposite that guy from Wings in the TV miniseries version of Stephen King’s The Shining.

King famously hated Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of his novel.  But everyone else famously loved it.  Admittedly, Kubrick took a few liberties with the source material.  So someone decided it would be a good idea to make a more faithful adaptation for TV.

The miniseries is almost painfully true to the book.  And yes, Wendy Torrance in the book is a hot blonde like De Mornay and not so much like Shelley Duvall.  However, anyone who has seen a few adaptations of King’s works knows that faithfulness is not always a good thing.  Some of King’s writing doesn’t translate all that well to the screen.  The Shining proved to be a case where Kubrick’s less faithful version was far superior.

Reviews were mixed, but the ratings were good.

Rebecca De Mornay - The Con - 1998
Rebecca De Mornay – The Con – 1998

In 1998, De Mornay starred opposite William H. Macy in the comedy, The Con.  Macy played a lonely gas station attendant who doesn’t yet know that he is about to receive a large inheritance.  De Mornay played a beautiful con artist out to take it from him before he knows what happened.

Rebecca De Mornay - Night Ride Home - 1999
Rebecca De Mornay – Night Ride Home – 1999

In 1999, De Mornay starred opposite Keith Carradine in the TV movie, Night Ride Home.

The movie was based on the novel of the same name by Barbara Esstman.  De Mornay and Carradine played a married couple living on a horse ranch.  When their son is killed in a horse riding accident indirectly caused by their daughter (played by Thora Birch), the couple must come together to deal with the loss.  Ellen Burstyn played De Mornay’s mother once again.

de mornay - thick as thieves
Rebecca De Mornay – Thick as Thieves – 1999

Next, De Mornay played a cop in the crime movie, Thick as Thieves.  Alec Baldwin starred as a master thief competing against his arch rival played by Michael Jai White.

Rebecca De Mornay - A Table For One - 1999
Rebecca De Mornay – A Table For One – 1999

De Mornay also starred in the erotic thriller, Table For One also known as Wicked Ways.  De Mornay and Michael Rooker played a married couple who keep trying to kill each other.  The two actors also produced the movie together

de mornay - er
Rebecca De Mornay – E/R – 1999

Finally, De Mornay had a five-episode run as a guest star on TV’s E/R in 1999.  She played Noah Wyle’s cousin’s ex-wife.  The two start up a relationship but break it off when it is discovered De Mornay’s character has breast cancer.

Rebecca De Mornay - The Right Temptation - 2000
Rebecca De Mornay – The Right Temptation – 2000

In 2000, De Mornay starred opposite Kiefer Sutherland and Dana Delany in the erotic thriller, The Right Temptation.  De Mornay played a private investigator who is hired by Delany to flirt with her husband to see if he strays.  But De Mornay falls for the husband played by Sutherland and breaks off the deal with Delany.

Rebecca De Mornay - A Girl Thing - 2001
Rebecca De Mornay – A Girl Thing – 2001

In 2001, De Mornay appeared in the Showtime mini-series, A Girl Thing.  Stockard Channing starred as a psychiatrist who sees various patients over the course of the series.  Elle MacPherson playe d a lawyer who questions her sexuality when she finds herself attracted to another woman played by Kate Capshaw.  Glenne Headly plays a woman who has to spend a week with her two estranged sisters after the death of their mother.  The sisters are played by De Mornay and Allison Janney.

Lynn Whitfield played a woman who suspects her husband is being unfaithful.  So she hires a private investigator played by Linda Hamilton to flirt with him.  She discovers that he is cheating on his wife with a waitress played by Mia Farrow.

Rebecca De Mornay - The Salem Witch Trials - 2003
Rebecca De Mornay – The Salem Witch Trials – 2002

In 2002, De Mornay appeared in a History Channel mini-series about the Salem Witch Trials.

de mornay - identity
Rebecca De Mornay – Identity – 2003

 In 2003, De Mornay appeared in a supporting role in the psychological thriller, Identity.

Identity is about a bunch of strangers stranded at a motel.  People start dying.  That sounds simple enough, but the movie’s final reveal defies explanation.

Despite mixed reviews, Identity was a hit at the box office.

de mornay - raise your voice
Rebecca De Mornay – Raise Your Voice – 2004

In 2004, De Mornay appeared opposite Hilary Duff in Raise Your Voice.  Remember Duff?  Raise Your Voice was supposed to establish her as a movie star.

Instead, it bombed and all of her roles went to her rival, Lindsay Lohan.

De Mornay - The Practice
Rebecca De Mornay – The Practice – 2004

De Mornay also guest starred on four episodes of the legal drama, The Practice.

de mornay - lords of dogtown
Rebecca De Mornay – The Lords of Dogtown – 2005

In 2005, De Mornay appeared in the skater movie, Lords of Dogtown.  Although Heath Ledger’s performance was praised by critics, the movie was not well-received and bombed at the box office.

de mornay - wedding crashers
Rebecca De Mornay – The Wedding Crashers – 2005

In 2006, De Mornay had a cameo in the Owen Wilson/Vince Vaughn comedy, Wedding Crashers.  The movie was a huge hit, but did you even remember she was in it?  I didn’t.

In 2010, De Mornay appeared in the horror movie, Mother’s Day.  In 2011, she appeared in Apartment 1303 3-D.  She appeared on TV shows like The Practice in 2004 and John from Cincinnati in 2007.

de mornay - american reunion
Rebecca De Mornay – American Reuinion – 2012

In 2012, De Mornay had a cameo in American Reunion.  She played Finch’s hot mom with whom Stifler finally evens the score.

Currently, De Mornay has been cast in a pilot for an NBC show about two feuding families.  The show is called Hatfields & McCoys despite the fact it takes place in the present day.

 So, what the hell happened?

De Mornay had two real shots at success; Risky Business and The Hand That Rocks the Cradle.  She was never able to capitalize on the success of either one.  She was a sex symbol, but never really a box office draw on her own.  Frankly, most of her movies were pretty terrible.  In the 90s, she got stuck in one lousy thriller after another. And then, despite still looking great for her age, she was replaced by younger sex symbols.

But the future is still bright for De Mornay.  TV has proven a great place for actresses to stage career comebacks.

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Shemp
10 years ago

re: Frankly, most of her movies were pretty terrible.

You kind-of summed it up right there. Further, “The Winner” is one of the WORST movies I’ve ever seen — GREAT cast, AWFUL script, and it’s one of those wants-SO-BADLY-to-be-cool Tarantino knock-offs. In this, if Ms. RDM was any more wooden, she’d be a coffee table. And she was a producer, too.

She’s a mediocre actress. Of course, that hasn’t stopped many mediocre actresses from having successful careers, but RDM has managed to say “yes” to cinematic turkey after turkey, movie bomb after bomb. Maybe she’ll have better luck with TV.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Shemp

I backed off making any kind of judgement on her acting abilities. I do think she has talent. But she definitely has limitations as well. If you want someone to play a crazy blonde, De Monray’s your top pick. Icy, self-serving call girl – call De Mornay. Beyond that… I dunno. Clearly her taste in material skews towards the terrible. And I get the impression that as a producer she took movies that could have been good and pushed them in the wrong direction. Also, I think she chose some roles based on whether or not they would allow her… Read more »

Shemp
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

I stand by what I said: If Ms. RDM were any more wooden in “THE WINNER”…

And her “FEDS” is one of the few movies that I’ve rented that was SO BAD I COULD NOT FINISH IT…I didn’t even bother to fast-forward to see how it ended. (Gosh, that movie buried Mary Gross, didn’t it?)

Still, I wish for her all the best icy-blond luck on the small screen.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Shemp

You have me curious to check out The Winner to see just how bad it really is. 😉

Feds crushed Gross before she even had a chance. Not that women had much of a chance coming off of SNL back then. Hollywood didn’t even know what to do with Gilda Radner.

Shemp
10 years ago
Reply to  admin
admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Shemp

“It’s SO bad it’s almost worth a rental…Whaley’s overacting makes William Shatner seem restrained by comparison.”

Funny. You keep making me think I need to check it out. Come on Netflix! Add this soon.

Shemp
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

I guess because I’ve seen Whaley give brief but great performances (in “PULP FICTION” and “HOFFA”) that his showing here stands out in its I-can’t -believe-what-I’m-seeing scenery-chewing! I half-expected him to start doing a Cagney impression and saying, “Yoor the durty rat what killed my bruthah!” But then, the whole movie is a study in turkey-town badness. (For a good slice-of-weirdness gambling movie, rent “HARD 8.”)

…and try to keep from either laughing or vomiting when D’onofrio says with Archie ‘n’ Jughead earnestness, “You’re like a bit of Heaven on Earth!” to DeMornay.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Shemp

I remember watching Hard 8, but it’s been a long time.

I’ve seen Whaley in a lot of stuff. At one point, I thought he was going places. What I have seen of his performance in The Winner is way, way over the top. But in a so bad I want to see it way. I’m sure the movie is awful. But it doesn’t look boring.

admin
Admin
admin
6 years ago
Reply to  admin

As much as Rebecca De Mornay has grown on me (I mean, I came to to call her Becky!), I agree, her film material isn’t mighty (maybe Mighty Taco, or Taco Bell). Okay, no more “The Slugger’s Wife” for Rebecca De Mornay (I like films from the 1980’s, and even that one doesn’t get past the roadblock for me, and I’m the same person who thinks “Streets of Fire” is an awesome concept. I still do think it’s an awesome concept:-). I actually like a few Becky films that most people don’t like: the film she did with Don Johnson,… Read more »

Matt
Matt
5 years ago
Reply to  Shemp

Her best movie and Thee best train movie AND prison movie of all time was Runaway Train. Period.

Dawn
Dawn
10 years ago

Another great entry in the What the Hell Happened series! I watched the Sara video and had such bad 80’s flashbacks that I couldn’t stop alternatively laughing and cringing long enough to focus. However, I think Wiki summed it up well: “The music video for “Sara” prominently features actress Rebecca De Mornay and Thomas in a storyline about a relationship ending, on a dust bowl farm in the midwest, with frequent flashbacks to what is presumably Thomas’s character’s childhood and the tornado that wrecked his home.” What struck me is that the woman who plays Thomas’s mother looks like Thomas,… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Dawn

The Mom stuff in the Starship video really confused me and creeped me out. It looks like the black and white footage from the Wizard of Oz. How old is this guy? Was he 8 years old in the 1930’s? And why is he equating his mother who apparently disappeared in a tornado with the fiesty drunk blonde who keeps knocking over his furniture? Seriously, this dude has some issues! Totally agree that he looks like what I assume is supposed to be his mom in drag. Just gross. I thought she had a real presence in Risky Business. But… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
6 years ago
Reply to  admin

I like Starship, and always followed their career (I think Grace Slick is cool; I prefer Jefferson Airplane though:-), and yeah, I felt the music video was difficult to understand. Even early in the morning, one needs focus, or have Priscilla Barnes as a psychic (ha ha, have to throw film references around, plus I think Priscilla Barnes is fun on “Three’s Company”; now, she’s a hot blonde as well, still?).

RB
RB
10 years ago

Her movies were by and large pretty terrible but I can’t say she’s not a good actress. “Cradle” especially should prove she’s got acting chops. I’m kind of at a temporary loss for words, as this WTHH subject has not been discussed here, and which, definitely, is an excellent choice for the series. 80s was such an interesting decade….

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  RB

I have to admit, I sort of forgot De Mornay existed. Which is weird because I was a pretty big fan back in the day. I saw more of her terrible movies than I am comfortable admitting. I was watching TV and saw a clip from RB and nearly fell out of my chair. “What the hell happened to Rebecca De Mornay?!?” I demanded of no one in particular. And then I thought, “Someone should really write an article to answer that question.” Then I remembered that I actually do that and decided to make De Mornay my next subject… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  RB

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecinefiles/permalink/10153604410860795/

Damn, I forgot how scary Rebecca is in this!! Also, someone named Julianne Moore is in it as well, but I doubt she’ll have a career after this.

admin
Admin
admin
8 years ago

Julianne Moore? Never heard of her! Her character in that film died in a pretty horrible way for sure though.

Danielle Charney
Danielle Charney
10 years ago

Ultimately, as you and others always say- the public makes the star- it’s not like she hadn’t gotten her shots- they didn’t stick- as you compared the lack luster career of Tea Leoni – who I love and think is so talented- as for Runaway Train- no one could have starred over that incredible script- think is was George Malichevich and directing- MIlos Foreman- if anyone stuck out beyond that and the relentless beat it was Voight- Eric Roberts is another one- very competent – good looking- never really caught on – sorry for not double checking the facts and… Read more »

Danielle Charney
Danielle Charney
10 years ago

is there an edit button? so sorry – next time I will edit- and fact check – forgive me – raging fever

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago

Unfortunately, there’s no edit button. But don’t sweat it. Hope you feel better soon!

Shemp
10 years ago

re: Meanwhile, Harrison Ford is jumping around in another INDIANA JONES flick at 70!

It’d be funny to see Indy’s whip get tangled in his walker!

As far as aging male actors “in action” go, this is truly hilarious:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtPsxClqrAc

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Shemp

Have to admit, sort of hoping Indy 5 never happens. Indy 4 was bad enough. Give it a rest, guys.

thom
thom
10 years ago

I saw her on a guest spot on Hawaii Five-O a few new nights ago. I thought, wow, that woman looks like Rebecca De Mornay. It was!

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  thom

I was surprised by how much TV work she has been doing in recent years. You would think it would make entertainment headlines for an 80s movie star to be appearing on so many TV shows. But apparently no one cares.

She looks absolutely fantastic. So I think if she gets on a halfway decent evening soap, she’s got a real chance at a TV comeback.

thom
thom
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

That’s a good point! She has that “steely” look. She could definitely play the ‘evil queen/matriarch’ type on a prime time show. Although it might not pan out if it’s a knock-off show of … “Revenge” (not that I watch the show, I just see Madeline Stowe playing the mean matriarch…what the hell happened to her?!)

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  thom

If it weren’t for Revenge (which I also do not watch) Stowe would already have a WTHH entry. In fact, I plan to cover each of the actresses from the 90’s Western Bad Girls at some point.

Shemp
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

Why? While this is not at all “definitive,” but I recall reading an article in the mid-’90’s interviewing one of the “Bad Girls” (of the western movie fame) and she — I honestly can’t recall if it was Barrymore or McDowell — said that Stowe was not exactly easy to work with. And I’m NOT a Stowe hater or anything — in fact much of her work I’ve liked. But if one isn’t easy to work with, that CAN be a factor…just look at the careers of Kilmer, Myers, Basinger, Kath Heigl, etc. I mean, the latter is on her… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Shemp

Shemp, I think I read that same interview. I wish I had not thrown out all my old movie magazines. I’m thinking it was in Premiere. You know that it takes a fair amount for actors to blab about each other to a magazine like that. So for everyone to single out Stowe, she must have seriously ruffled some feathers.

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

ABC Family is adapting “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle”:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/hand-rocks-cradle-adaptation-works-651731

The 1992 film starring Rebecca De Mornay is poised for a remake.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago

There was barely enough story to fill a movie. There is no way this can be good.

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

RIP Curtis Hanson http://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=12691501&postcount=16 It is. I just meant that genre was becoming tired at that point in time. The same year saw the release of Unlawful Entry and Single White Female, so the whole “psycho stalker” trend that started with Fatal Attraction was played out. But Hand That Rocks the Cradle surprised me. The first 10-15 minutes really does an effective job setting up Rebecca De Mornay’s mental state and why she targets that family. If anything, it’s more of a revenge thriller than a psycho stalker flick(although it has elements of the latter, of course). The twist is… Read more »

Joboots
Joboots
10 years ago

Is ABC Fam becoming the new Lifetime/LMN,perhaps????

Dar
Dar
10 years ago

Another excellent article, with a wrothy subject.

I think De Mornay’s problem was that, while talented and good-looking, there was something icy about her looks.

It worked perfectly in “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle”, but otherwise she looked “unwelcoming” as an actress.

Funny enough, her father Wally George had a warmer screen presence than her.

=====

Side note since she was mentioned:

Is Hilary Duff the only Disney starlet to not whore out?

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Dar

Glad you liked it. She was definitely the icy blonde. Hitchcock probably would have loved her. Problem was while she made a lot of thrillers, she didn’t have Hitchcock-level directors. Curtis Hanson was decent, but other than that she was mostly working with hacks. On Duff: No, she’s not the only one. There are a lot of Disney Channel actresses out there. But most of the ones who have gone on to any level of success have felt the need to do something to show how “edgy” they are and to break away from their Disney image. I suppose Duff… Read more »

Victor
Victor
10 years ago

“In 2004, De Mornay appeared opposite Hilary Duff in Raise Your Voice. Remember Duff? Raise Your Voice was supposed to establish her as a movie star. Instead, it bombed and all of her roles went to her rival, Lindsay Lohan.”

And yet Hilary is pretty much in a better place than Lindsay nowadays. Funny how things turn out.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Victor

In her personal life, I’m sure that’s true. Professionally, I think Lohan is still a bigger earner. She has more trouble getting insured, etc. But she’s still more in demand than Duff.

Shemp
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

re: (La Lohan) in demand

AS WHAT? I can hear the lunchtime conversation now: “Sid, we need an actress we’ll have trouble insuring, plus she’ll have to be a snotty diva that shows up LATE to the set and can’t get along with ANYone, ever America Ferarra. What are our options…besides Kath Heigl, I mean?”

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  Shemp

I absolutely don’t buy the notion that Lindsay Lohan is in greater “demand” now a days than say Hilary Duff. Lindsay is of course, in the news more often due in no small part to her personal problems. However, how exactly is Lindsay otherwise in “demand” (other than her negative notority creating an immediate “buzz” so to speak) when she otherwise has trouble getting insured and has already developed a reputation for being a diva? To me, that argument sounds really counterproductive.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago

But what has Duff got going on?

I will say this, Duff has more stuff on tap for 2014. But she’s been off everyone’s radar forever. Lohan can still deliver an audience. Duff can’t. For now at least, Lohan wins.

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Shemp

Is her reputation toxic? Yes. But she’s also getting more high profile gigs than Duff. When’s the last time Duff hosted Saturday Night Live? Lohan frequently gets big ratings when she makes a TV appearance. Her Playboy issue broke records. Let’s compare their IMDB entries for the last two years: Lohan: Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (TV Series) Stephanie – Episode dated 26 September 2013 (2013) … Stephanie 2013 The Canyons Tara 2013 Anger Management (TV Series) Lindsay Lohan – Charlie Gets Lindsay Lohan Into Trouble (2013) … Lindsay Lohan 2013 Scary MoVie Lindsay Lohan 2013 InAPPropriate Comedy Marilyn 2012… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)
Reply to  admin

Why Hilary Duff’s career hasn’t gone further beyond “Lizzie Maguire”, I really don’t know? I think it was generally excepted or believed that Lindsay Lohan was going to have a more successful career as an adult actress. If I had to make a guess, I would say that Hilary never really had her “Mean Girls” (which on its own, helped Lindsay be able to make a hit movie w/o Disney’s help) to serve as a platform/bridge for more edgy or adult roles. It seemed like Hilary kept “playing it safe” (I think her mother had a huge part in managing… Read more »

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

Actors/actresses who blew their careers (movie, TV shows, character): http://www.city-data.com/forum/entertainment-arts/1716585-actors-actresses-who-blew-their-careers-2.html Faye Dunaway took a big career dive after starring in Mommy Dearest. Until then, she was having a long-lasting and hot career, but her character was so hated it rubbed off on her. Another near career killer was Angela Landsbury’s wicked mother in the Manchurian Candidate. Until then, Landsbury had always been the sweet lady, and was often in musicals. Her son in the movie was actually only 3 years younger than she was, but her she played her role so convincingly, was so deeply evil, it took her a… Read more »

Rusty
Rusty
10 years ago

I agree that she can make a comeback, and the way for them to do that is to cast her as what she is, a very sexy woman who looks great for her age. Don’t try to be what you aren’t, though that’s what acting is all about, right? Still, the way back is for her sexiness to be used, such as Stiffler’s evening the score. From there, she can maybe play more serious roles. But the turht is, why go for one or the other…many sexy women can be serious at the same time. Look at her in that… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago
Reply to  Rusty

“Look at her in that picture with Stiffler. Now, pull her hair back into a ponytail and put some glasses and a lab coat on her. Instant sexy older scientist working on a cure for an ongoing pandemic, right?”

I’d watch that movie right now.

Rusty
Rusty
10 years ago
Reply to  admin

You and me both!

admin
Admin
admin
10 years ago

Yeah. Really bad reviews even for this kind of movie. But at this point in her career, a gig is a gig. I feel worse for Mischa Barton who surely didn’t see her career going this far south this fast.

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

Kathleen Turner and Rebecca De Mornay: From Here to Maternity: http://frettsonfilm.com/2012/05/11/kathleen-turner-and-rebecca-de-mornay-from-here-to-maternity/ They were two of the ’80s hottest sex symbols, breaking out in Body Heat and Risky Business. But movie stardom is a truly risky business, and now Kathleen Turner and Rebecca De Mornay find themselves fiftysomethings, and big-screen leading roles are few and far between. Still, this Mother’s Day weekend, they’re back with a vengeance as very different Moms from Hell in new movies debuting simultaneously in theaters and on VOD: Mother’s Day and The Perfect Family. Like Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, who went from femme fatales (The… Read more »

Brad Deal
9 years ago

My grandfather had an old pickup truck with a heavy duty four speed manual transmission. Every morning in the summer we would head off to work in the truck. My grandfather would first grind on the starter to get the motor started; grinnd, griiiind cough, cough wheeze before the engine started. The the gears would grind when putting it into first gear. Grind, grind lurch as the truck began to move. Then grind, lurch, cough as the truck reached second gear. And so it went all for the lack of a little maintenance and repair. It appears as though the… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
9 years ago
Reply to  Brad Deal

She’s moving on to TV which I am hopeful will be a good fit. She looks absolutely stunning. I’m not even going to say “for her age”. I think TV audiences may rediscover DeMornay.

Let me just say that I love the style of your comments. You don’t just make a point. You tell a story. I would never have thought to compare DeMornay to an old pickup truck, but it works.

Brad Deal
9 years ago

Starship’s Sara video is about a man who’s relationship with his love is failing. The video harkens back to his youth where the family farm is located in the Dust Bowl. He loses his mother and his home to a devastating tornado. The memories of these childhood events are brought to the surface as his current girlfriend leaves the farm, and him behind. The similarities between losing his mother and girlfriend combine to increase the emotional pain. The part where the girlfriend is dancing in color are the recent memories of the happy times spent together. Or maybe it has… Read more »

admin
Admin
admin
9 years ago
Reply to  Brad Deal

That’s the closest anyone has come to a sensible explanation of the Sara video. I’ll take it! It actually makes sense. There’s a decades-old mystery solved. Now I can move on to obsessing over something else. Maybe Ah-Ha’s Take On Me video. Thanks!

RB
RB
9 years ago
Reply to  admin

What’s not to understand.. a beautifully done video (love the song) using both B&W and color…. the comic book hero comes to life, and the lucky girl gets to go and live in his world instead of returning to this one…

admin
Admin
admin
9 years ago
Reply to  RB

Sort of like The Purple Rose of Cairo for Norwegian pop music/comic books about motorcycle racing. Makes perfect sense. 😉

patwol
9 years ago

When I think of Risky Business…I remember Rebecca in that role…NOT Tom…she smouldered…that is all….

Terrence Clay (@TMC1982)

10 Actors Who Profited From Films That Ruined Careers: http://whatculture.com/film/10-actors-who-profited-from-films-that-ruined-careers-2.php/7 Tom Cruise – Risky Business It might seem to many as if Tom Cruise sticks himself on autopilot and plays nothing other than the near-flawless action hero these last two decades, but earlier in his career he was known for playing slightly more varied roles. His first, Risky Business, is a far cry from the chisel-jawed stunt-performing characters we’re more familiar with. Risky Business’s satirical slant on the greed and materialism of the 1980s remains every bit as relevant today as it did back then (perhaps even more so), and… Read more »

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