Hi, Mom!

Hi, Mom!
Hi, Mom!
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Brian De Palma
Screenplay by	Brian De Palma
Story by	Charles Hirsch; Brian De Palma;
Produced by	Charles Hirsch
Starring	Charles Durning; Robert De Niro; Jennifer Salt; Gerrit Graham; Lara Parker; Allen Garfield;
Cinematography	Robert Elfstrom
Edited by	Paul Hirsch
Music by	Eric Kaz
Production; company	West End Films
Distributed by	Sigma III
Release date	April 27, 1970;
Running time	87 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Hi, Mom!is a 1970 Americanblack comedy filmwritten and directed byBrian De Palma,and is one ofRobert De Niro's first films. De Niro reprises his role of Jon Rubin fromGreetings(1968). In this film, Rubin is a fledgling "adult filmmaker" who has an idea to post cameras at his window and film his neighbors.^[1]

Plot

Returned Vietnam veteran and aspiring filmmaker Jon Rubin (Robert De Niro) is hired by producer Joe Banner (Allen Garfield) to make apornographic film.Rubin, who has been spying on his neighbor Judy Bishop (Jennifer Salt), uses the opportunity to seduce her and secretly film the two of them havingsexual intercourseusing a camera mounted on his apartment window. The camera tilts during filming, spoiling the results, and the displeased Banner withdraws his offer.

Rubin then joins an experimental acting troupe headed by another of his neighbors (Gerrit Graham). The troupe mounts a production calledBe Black Baby!Later, a group of white theater patrons attend a performance by the troupe. First they are forced to eatsoul food.The white audience is then subjected to wearing shoe polish on their faces, while theAfrican Americanactors sport whiteface and terrorize the people inblackface.The white audience members attempt to escape from the building and are ambushed in the elevator by the troupe. As two of the black actors rape one of the white audience members, Rubin arrives in the character of anNYPDpoliceman and arrests members of the white audience under the pretense that they are black. The sequence concludes with a thoroughly battered and abused audience raving about the show onpublic television.

Rubin decides to remain in the city and stay with the troupe. He marries Judy and finds work as an insurance salesman. The film ends with Rubin planting a bomb in the building where he lives with Judy, demolishing it.^[1]^[2]He watches the devastation from the street and speaks to a TV reporter.

Cast

Robert De Niroas Jon Rubin
Charles Durningas Superintendent
Allen Garfieldas Joe Banner
Lara Parkeras Jeannie Mitchell
Bruce D. Priceas Jimmy Mitchell
Ricky Parker as Ricky Mitchell
Andy Parkeras Andy Mitchell
Jennifer Saltas Judy Bishop
Paul Bartelas Uncle Tom Wood
Gerrit Grahamas Gerrit Wood
Floyd L. Petersonas John Winnicove
Paul Hirschas Avery Gunnz

MPAA rating board

According to the 1972 bookThe Movie Rating Gameby Stephen Farber, the film was originally given an "X" rating by theMotion Picture Association of America(MPAA), but after a few minor trims, it was approved for an R. The main cut occurred during the scene where Gerrit Graham paints his entire body for theBe Black, Babyperformance. He hesitated for a moment about painting his penis, and then finally finished the job. The actual painting of the penis was deleted to obtain the R.^[3]

Reception

Roger GreenspunofThe New York Timeswrote that the film "stands out for its wit, its ironic good humor, its multilevel sophistications, its technical ingenuity, its nervousness, and its very special ability to bring the sensibility of the suburbs to the sins of the inner city."^[4]Varietystated that the film "is three-fourths of a funny, engaging serio-comedy about a 'peep art' filmmaker and urban guerrilla in New York. Unfortunately, the fourth that fails is the finale which literally and figuratively flops, leaving the audience with a creative promise unfulfilled."^[5]Kevin Thomasof theLos Angeles Timeswrote, "Satire is a naturally attractive form of expression for young film-makers, but few display the degree of sustained humor, energy and control that De Palma did in 'Greetings' and now even more so in the farther-ranging 'Hi, Mom!' Indeed, his ability to fuse hilarity and anger, spontaneity and discipline, is nothing short of brilliant."^[6]

Additional notes

Jennifer SaltandCharles Durningboth later worked with DePalma on his suspense thriller Sisters.Appearing in a supporting role wasPaul Bartel,who later directedEating RaoulandScenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills.

References

^^a ^bHenderson, Eric (June 11, 2004)."Review: Hi, Mom!".Slant Magazine.
^"HI, MOM! – Dennis Schwartz Reviews".
^Farber, Stephen (1972).The Movie Rating Game.Washington, D.C.:Public Affairs Press.pp. 66–67.ISBN 978-0-81830-181-0.
^Greenspun, Roger (April 28, 1970). "'Hi, Mom!' a Brian De Palma Satire".The New York Times.50.
^"Film Reviews: Hi, Mom!"Variety.April 15, 1970. 17.
^Thomas, Kevin (June 25, 1970). "'Hi, Mom!' Topical Satire".Los Angeles Times.Part IV, p. 18.

External links

Hi, Mom!atIMDb
Hi, Mom!atAllMovie
Hi, Mom!atRotten Tomatoes
Hi, Mom!at theAFI Catalog of Feature Films
Hi, Mom!at theTCM Movie Database

[slant-1] Henderson, Eric (June 11, 2004)."Review: Hi, Mom!".Slant Magazine.

[2] "HI, MOM! – Dennis Schwartz Reviews".

[3] Farber, Stephen (1972).The Movie Rating Game.Washington, D.C.:Public Affairs Press.pp. 66–67.ISBN 978-0-81830-181-0.

[4] Greenspun, Roger (April 28, 1970). "'Hi, Mom!' a Brian De Palma Satire".The New York Times.50.

[5] "Film Reviews: Hi, Mom!"Variety.April 15, 1970. 17.

[6] Thomas, Kevin (June 25, 1970). "'Hi, Mom!' Topical Satire".Los Angeles Times.Part IV, p. 18.

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