list http://www.spout.com/ Recent community activity around Throw Momma From the Train on Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 http://www.spout.com/films/Throw_Momma_From_the_Train/35008/default.aspx Title: Throw Momma From the Train
Year: 1987
Director: Danny DeVito
Plot: The "exchange murders" plot gambit, played with utter solemnity in Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train, is used as the launching pad for raucous laughter in Throw Momma From the Train. Director/star Danny DeVito plays Owen Lift, a middle-aged bachelor, totally dominated by his gorgon mother, played with hilarious ferocity by Anne Ramsey. Billy Crystal co-stars as Larry Donner, a creative-writing professor, saddled with a vituperative, thoroughly despicable ex-wife, Margaret (Kate Mulgrew). Signing up for Larry's writing course, Owen has trouble at first with character development and construction in his stories. Larry recommends that Owen watch a screening of Strangers on a Train, which he considered a model of tight, concise storytelling. Owen is so entranced by the film that he decides to emulate Strangers star Robert Walker. That is, Owen wants Larry to bump off his mother, in exchange for Owen's murder of Margaret. Without being asked, Owen does away with Margaret (or so it seems), then hounds Larry to the point of killing "Momma." This being a comedy, the actual consequences of the swap-murder plot aren't nearly as calamitous as in the Hitchcock film. Cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld would apply the "black humor" lessons learned in Throw Momma From the Train for his own directorial debut, The Addams Family (1991). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 8
Number of Lists: 5
Number of blog posts: 1
SpoutRating: 3
]]>Fri, 08 Feb 2008 03:42:03 GMTThrow Momma From the Train1987Danny DeVitoThe "exchange murders" plot gambit, played with utter solemnity in Hitchcock's <a href=/films/33193/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>Strangers on a Train</a>, is used as the launching pad for raucous laughter in Throw Momma From the Train. Director/star <a href="/players/P____17602/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Danny DeVito</a> plays Owen Lift, a middle-aged bachelor, totally dominated by his gorgon mother, played with hilarious ferocity by <a href="/players/P____58676/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Anne Ramsey</a>. <a href="/players/P____86318/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Billy Crystal</a> co-stars as Larry Donner, a creative-writing professor, saddled with a vituperative, thoroughly despicable ex-wife, Margaret (<a href="/players/P____51214/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Kate Mulgrew</a>). Signing up for Larry's writing course, Owen has trouble at first with character development and construction in his stories. Larry recommends that Owen watch a screening of <a href=/films/33193/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>Strangers on a Train</a>, which he considered a model of tight, concise storytelling. Owen is so entranced by the film that he decides to emulate <a href=/films/33184/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>Strangers</a> star <a href="/players/P___115803/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Robert Walker</a>. That is, Owen wants Larry to bump off his mother, in exchange for Owen's murder of Margaret. Without being asked, Owen does away with Margaret (or so it seems), then hounds Larry to the point of killing "Momma." This being a comedy, the actual consequences of the swap-murder plot aren't nearly as calamitous as in the Hitchcock film. Cinematographer <a href="/players/P___112135/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Barry Sonnenfeld</a> would apply the "black humor" lessons learned in Throw Momma From the Train for his own directorial debut, <a href=/films/413/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>The Addams Family</a> (1991). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide8Taggedy Taggged (6-10)513http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t61103p5god.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Throw_Momma_From_the_Train/35008/default.aspxFilm http://www.spout.com/blogs/jakestevens/archive/2007/11/6/21475.aspx Post By: JakeStevens
Post To: JakeStevens Blog
Post Date: 11/6/2007 2:31:08 PM
Body: This darly funny film was my "real" introduction to Billy Crystal, and I had a great deal more respect for Danny DeVito after seeing this film. I've probably seen it over 30 times in my life...and I'm still not sick of it. Anne Ramsey has some of the most memorable lines in the film, and you should end up hating her, but you enjoy watching this strange trifecta of oddball character stumble through their adventures together. Please, watch it!
]]>Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:31:08 GMTJakeStevensJakeStevens Blog11/6/2007 2:31:08 PMThis darly funny film was my &quot;real&quot; introduction to Billy Crystal, and I had a great deal more respect for Danny DeVito after seeing this film. I&#39;ve probably seen it over 30 times in my life...and I&#39;m still not sick of it. Anne Ramsey has some of the most memorable lines in the film, and you should end up hating her, but you enjoy watching this strange trifecta of oddball character stumble through their adventures together. Please, watch it! http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/funny/MemberTagFilms.aspxfunny
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