17 December 2006

Hand That Rocks the Cradle, The (1992)

a large collection of unusual screenshots taken from

1992
































































































































































































































































































































Directed by
Curtis Hanson

Writing credits
Amanda Silver

Taglines:
  • ... is the hand that rules the world.
  • Trust is her weapon. Innocence her opportunity. Revenge her only desire.
  • Behind a beautiful face, beneath a dangerous smile, lies a revenge that can't be stopped.
Plot outline:
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle is director Curtis Hanson's suburban horror story of a demented nanny bent on revenge for past wrongs. Peyton (Rebecca De Mornay) was once a happily married woman, but when her doctor husband is accused of assaulting a patient and he commits suicide, her world falls apart and she plots revenge. Claire (Annabella Sciorra), the woman who made the accusation, hires Peyton as a nanny, not knowing of their past involvement. Peyton then proceeds to terrorize the family, attempts to seduce the husband and generally destroy Claire as she feels she has been destroyed. The film, while somewhat implausible, is saved by the strong performances of Sciorra and De Mornay. Rebecca De Mornay has not given such a good performance since Risky Business, and she manages to make Peyton both believable, frightening and sympathetic. De Mornay has many great moments, but the scene, where she slowly destroys a bathroom in her impotent rage is unbelievably powerful. Hanson, a superb director of thrillers, manages to bring all the elements together to make The Hand that Rocks the Cradle a frightening psychological thriller and an interesting look at a woman's obsessive hatred and envy. [Linda Rasmussen, All Movie Guide]

Cast:
Annabella Sciorra.... Claire Bartel
Rebecca De Mornay.... Mrs. Mott/Peyton Flanders
Matt McCoy.... Michael Bartel
Ernie Hudson.... Solomon
Julianne Moore.... Marlene Craven
Madeline Zima.... Emma Bartel
John de Lancie.... Dr. Victor Mott
Kevin Skousen.... Marty Craven
Mitchell Laurance.... Lawyer
Justin Zaremby.... Roth, the Schoolyard Bully
Eric Melander.... Joey 'Joe' Bartel
Jennifer Melander.... Joey 'Joe' Bartel
Ashley Melander.... Joey 'Joe' Bartel
Cliff Lenz.... Seattle Today Host
Penny LeGate.... Seattle Today Host
Mary Anne Owen.... Maria, Dr. Mott's Nurse
Therese Tinling.... Receptionist (as Therese Xavier Tinling)
Todd Jamieson.... Surgeon
Laura Ferri.... Emergency Room Nurse
Dee Dee Van Zyl.... Emergency Room Nurse
Cristine McMurdo-Wallis.... Peyton's Nurse
Sara Jennifer Sharp.... Peyton's Nurse
Susan Chin.... Newscaster
Kimberly Hill.... Newscaster
Jane Jones.... Woman in Park
Ericka Matson.... Child in Schoolyard
Robert James.... Child in Schoolyard
Aimee Kanemori.... Child in Schoolyard
Elane Micklesen.... Child in Schoolyard
Brian Finney.... Stan, Botanical Gardens Worker
Stephen West.... Federal Express Clerk
David Scully.... Gilbert, Male Lab Worker
Julie Clemmons.... Female Lab Worker
Joseph Franklin.... Joe, Man at the Cleaners
Tom Francis.... Marlene's Assistant
Jeff Conkel.... Paramedic
Patrick Ryals.... Al, Policeman
Charles Lucia.... Bruce Silverman, Realtor (as Chip Lucia)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rachel Glenn.... Emma's Friend (uncredited)
Valerie Masterson.... Recorded Singer (uncredited)