Hi, Mom!
Hi, Mom! | |
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Directed by | Brian De Palma |
Screenplay by | Brian De Palma |
Story by |
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Produced by | Charles Hirsch |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Robert Elfstrom |
Edited by | Paul Hirsch |
Music by | Eric Kaz |
Production company | West End Films |
Distributed by | Sigma III |
Release date |
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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 earliest 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
[edit]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
[edit]- 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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abHenderson, 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.ISBN978-0-81830-181-0.
- ^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
[edit]- 1970 films
- 1970 comedy-drama films
- 1970 black comedy films
- 1970s English-language films
- 1970s political comedy-drama films
- 1970s political satire films
- American black comedy films
- American political comedy-drama films
- American political satire films
- English-language black comedy films
- Films about pornography
- Films directed by Brian De Palma
- Films set in New York City
- 1970s American films
- Films about veterans
- Fictional portrayals of the New York City Police Department
- Films about salespeople