Mistress (film)
Encyclopedia
Mistress is a 1992 comedy-drama film starring Robert de Niro
, Danny Aiello
, Eli Wallach
, Robert Wuhl
and Martin Landau
. It was written by Barry Primus
and J.F. Lawton and directed by Primus.
) is working on cheaply made instructional videos when his years-old script is read by Jack Roth (Martin Landau
), a desperate has-been producer who offers to help poor Marvin find investors for his movie.
Men willing to put up the money are found, including the ruthless businessman Evan (Robert DeNiro), the disturbed war veteran Carmine (Danny Aiello
) and the eccentric millionaire George (Eli Wallach
). But each has a mistress he insists be cast in the film. They are the demanding diva Beverly (Sheryl Lee Ralph
), the alcoholic flight attendant Patricia (Jean Smart
) and the perky blonde Peggy (Tuesday Knight
).
Marvin repeatedly is asked to compromise his standards and change his script to accommodate these backers until he finally sees no semblance of his original ideas. The project also puts a strain on the marriage of Marvin and his long-patient wife Rachel (Laurie Metcalf
).
Marvin's screenplay is a bleak one about a painter who commits suicide, based on an actor named Warren (Christopher Walken
) who did exactly that during a film Marvin was directing years ago. Roth brings in young Stuart Stratland (Jace Alexander
) to adapt the script for the investors' mistresses, but not only does Stuart constantly enrage Marvin with his suggested changes, he falls in love with Peggy and they have an affair.
When his wife demands Marvin grow up and move with her to New York, where she is opening a restaurant, he breaks up with Rachel instead, giving his loyalty to a film that, as she puts it, nobody wants to see. On the verge of signing contracts, everything falls apart, Beverly discovering that the role she expected to play has been drastically reduced in Peggy's favor.
Marvin is left alone, a broken man, done with Hollywood for good. Or at least until the next time Jack Roth gets in touch.
Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro, Jr. is an American actor, director and producer. His first major film roles were in Bang the Drum Slowly and Mean Streets, both in 1973...
, Danny Aiello
Danny Aiello
Daniel Louis "Danny" Aiello, Jr. is an American actor who has appeared in numerous motion pictures, including Once Upon a Time in America, Ruby, The Godfather: Part II, Hudson Hawk, The Purple Rose of Cairo, Moonstruck, Léon, Two Days in the Valley, and Dinner Rush...
, Eli Wallach
Eli Wallach
Eli Herschel Wallach is an American film, television and stage actor, who gained fame in the late 1950s. For his performance in Baby Doll he won a BAFTA Award for Best Newcomer and a Golden Globe nomination. One of his most famous roles is that of Tuco in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly...
, Robert Wuhl
Robert Wuhl
-Early life:Wuhl was born in Union, New Jersey to a Jewish family, including a father who worked as a produce distributor. After attending Union High School, Wuhl headed to the University of Houston, where he was active in the drama department and the Epsilon-Omicron Chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon...
and Martin Landau
Martin Landau
Martin Landau is an American film and television actor. Landau began his career in the 1950s. His early films include a supporting role in Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest . He played continuing roles in the television series Mission: Impossible and Space:1999...
. It was written by Barry Primus
Barry Primus
Barry Primus is an American television and film actor.Primus is primarily an actor, but has also doubled and tripled as writer and director. He worked on stage for the first decade of his career. He gained some experience on TV in shows like The Defenders, East Side/West Side and The Virginian...
and J.F. Lawton and directed by Primus.
Plot
A down-and-out Hollywood screenwriter and director named Marvin Landisman (Robert WuhlRobert Wuhl
-Early life:Wuhl was born in Union, New Jersey to a Jewish family, including a father who worked as a produce distributor. After attending Union High School, Wuhl headed to the University of Houston, where he was active in the drama department and the Epsilon-Omicron Chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon...
) is working on cheaply made instructional videos when his years-old script is read by Jack Roth (Martin Landau
Martin Landau
Martin Landau is an American film and television actor. Landau began his career in the 1950s. His early films include a supporting role in Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest . He played continuing roles in the television series Mission: Impossible and Space:1999...
), a desperate has-been producer who offers to help poor Marvin find investors for his movie.
Men willing to put up the money are found, including the ruthless businessman Evan (Robert DeNiro), the disturbed war veteran Carmine (Danny Aiello
Danny Aiello
Daniel Louis "Danny" Aiello, Jr. is an American actor who has appeared in numerous motion pictures, including Once Upon a Time in America, Ruby, The Godfather: Part II, Hudson Hawk, The Purple Rose of Cairo, Moonstruck, Léon, Two Days in the Valley, and Dinner Rush...
) and the eccentric millionaire George (Eli Wallach
Eli Wallach
Eli Herschel Wallach is an American film, television and stage actor, who gained fame in the late 1950s. For his performance in Baby Doll he won a BAFTA Award for Best Newcomer and a Golden Globe nomination. One of his most famous roles is that of Tuco in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly...
). But each has a mistress he insists be cast in the film. They are the demanding diva Beverly (Sheryl Lee Ralph
Sheryl Lee Ralph
Sheryl Lee Ralph is an American actress, singer, and activist.-Personal life:Raised between Mandeville, Jamaica, and Long Island, New York, Sheryl Lee Ralph was born in Waterbury, Connecticut to an African American father and a Jamaican mother. Sheryl attended Uniondale High School in Uniondale, NY...
), the alcoholic flight attendant Patricia (Jean Smart
Jean Smart
Jean E. Smart is an American film, television, and stage actress. She is known for her comedic roles, one of the best known being her role as Charlene Frazier Stillfield on the CBS sitcom Designing Women. She later gained critical acclaim for dramatic work, with her portrayal of Martha Logan on 24...
) and the perky blonde Peggy (Tuesday Knight
Tuesday Knight
Tuesday Lynn Knight is an American actress. The daughter of composer Baker Knight, she is perhaps best remembered for her role as Kristen Parker in the 1988 horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master. Also an accomplished musician, Tuesday recorded the song "Nightmare," used during...
).
Marvin repeatedly is asked to compromise his standards and change his script to accommodate these backers until he finally sees no semblance of his original ideas. The project also puts a strain on the marriage of Marvin and his long-patient wife Rachel (Laurie Metcalf
Laurie Metcalf
Lauren Elizabeth "Laurie" Metcalf is an American actress. She is widely known for her performance as Jackie Harris on the ABC sitcom Roseanne, Mary Cooper on The Big Bang Theory, the voice of Mrs. Davis in the Toy Story film series and as Debbie Salt in Scream 2...
).
Marvin's screenplay is a bleak one about a painter who commits suicide, based on an actor named Warren (Christopher Walken
Christopher Walken
Christopher Walken is an American stage and screen actor. He has appeared in more than 100 movies and television shows, including Joe Dirt, Annie Hall, The Deer Hunter, The Prophecy trilogy, The Dogs of War, Sleepy Hollow, Brainstorm, The Dead Zone, A View to a Kill, At Close Range, King of New...
) who did exactly that during a film Marvin was directing years ago. Roth brings in young Stuart Stratland (Jace Alexander
Jace Alexander
Jace Alexander is an American television director and former actor.-Biography:Alexander was born Jason Alexander in New York City, the only son of actress Jane Alexander and her first husband Robert, founder and former director of The Living Stage...
) to adapt the script for the investors' mistresses, but not only does Stuart constantly enrage Marvin with his suggested changes, he falls in love with Peggy and they have an affair.
When his wife demands Marvin grow up and move with her to New York, where she is opening a restaurant, he breaks up with Rachel instead, giving his loyalty to a film that, as she puts it, nobody wants to see. On the verge of signing contracts, everything falls apart, Beverly discovering that the role she expected to play has been drastically reduced in Peggy's favor.
Marvin is left alone, a broken man, done with Hollywood for good. Or at least until the next time Jack Roth gets in touch.
Cast
| Actor/Actress | Role |
|---|---|
| Robert De Niro Robert De Niro Robert De Niro, Jr. is an American actor, director and producer. His first major film roles were in Bang the Drum Slowly and Mean Streets, both in 1973... |
Evan M. Wright |
| Danny Aiello Danny Aiello Daniel Louis "Danny" Aiello, Jr. is an American actor who has appeared in numerous motion pictures, including Once Upon a Time in America, Ruby, The Godfather: Part II, Hudson Hawk, The Purple Rose of Cairo, Moonstruck, Léon, Two Days in the Valley, and Dinner Rush... |
Carmine Rass |
| Robert Wuhl Robert Wuhl -Early life:Wuhl was born in Union, New Jersey to a Jewish family, including a father who worked as a produce distributor. After attending Union High School, Wuhl headed to the University of Houston, where he was active in the drama department and the Epsilon-Omicron Chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon... |
Marvin Landisman |
| Martin Landau Martin Landau Martin Landau is an American film and television actor. Landau began his career in the 1950s. His early films include a supporting role in Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest . He played continuing roles in the television series Mission: Impossible and Space:1999... |
Jack Roth |
| Laurie Metcalf Laurie Metcalf Lauren Elizabeth "Laurie" Metcalf is an American actress. She is widely known for her performance as Jackie Harris on the ABC sitcom Roseanne, Mary Cooper on The Big Bang Theory, the voice of Mrs. Davis in the Toy Story film series and as Debbie Salt in Scream 2... |
Rachel |
| Eli Wallach Eli Wallach Eli Herschel Wallach is an American film, television and stage actor, who gained fame in the late 1950s. For his performance in Baby Doll he won a BAFTA Award for Best Newcomer and a Golden Globe nomination. One of his most famous roles is that of Tuco in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly... |
George |
| Sheryl Lee Ralph Sheryl Lee Ralph Sheryl Lee Ralph is an American actress, singer, and activist.-Personal life:Raised between Mandeville, Jamaica, and Long Island, New York, Sheryl Lee Ralph was born in Waterbury, Connecticut to an African American father and a Jamaican mother. Sheryl attended Uniondale High School in Uniondale, NY... |
Beverly |
| Jean Smart Jean Smart Jean E. Smart is an American film, television, and stage actress. She is known for her comedic roles, one of the best known being her role as Charlene Frazier Stillfield on the CBS sitcom Designing Women. She later gained critical acclaim for dramatic work, with her portrayal of Martha Logan on 24... |
Patricia |
| Tuesday Knight Tuesday Knight Tuesday Lynn Knight is an American actress. The daughter of composer Baker Knight, she is perhaps best remembered for her role as Kristen Parker in the 1988 horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master. Also an accomplished musician, Tuesday recorded the song "Nightmare," used during... |
Peggy |