If These Walls Could Talk 4948738 223332620 2008-07-03T16:42:27Z 89.107.192.10 /* External links */ {{Infobox Film | name = If These Walls Could Talk | image = If-These-Walls-Could-Talk.jpg|thumb|centre|999px | caption = Region 1 DVD cover-art | director = [[Nancy Savoca]]<br>[[Cher]] | producer = [[Demi Moore]] | writer = Susan Nanus<br>I. Marlene King<br>[[Nancy Savoca]]<br>Earl W. Wallace<br>[[Pamela Wallace]] | narrator = | starring = [[Cher]]<br>[[Demi Moore]]<br>[[Hedy Burress]]<br>[[Anne Heche]]<br>[[Jada Pinkett Smith]]<br>[[Sissy Spacek]] | music = | cinematography = | editing = | distributor = Home Box Office Home Video | released = [[October 13]], [[1996 in film|1996]] | runtime = 95 min | country = {{flagicon|USA}} USA | language = English | budget = | preceded_by = | followed_by = ''[[If These Walls Could Talk 2]]'' ([[2000 in film|2000]]) | website = | amg_id = 136782 | imdb_id = 0116607 }} '''''If These Walls Could Talk''''' is a [[1996 in film|1996]] [[Golden Globe Award|Golden Globe]] and [[Emmy Award]]-nominated [[made for television movie]], broadcast on [[HBO]]. It follows the plights of three different women and their experiences with [[abortion]]. Each of the three stories takes place in the same house in three different years: [[1952]], [[1974]], and [[1996]]. All three segments were co-written by [[Nancy Savoca]]. Savoca directed the first and second segment while [[Cher]] directed the third. The women's experiences in each vignette are designed to demonstrate the popular views of society on the issue in each of the given decades. The film became a surprise success, and was HBO's highest rated movie ever. The film's success was followed by an international release, and spawned a sequel, ''[[If These Walls Could Talk 2]]'' ([[2000]]), starring [[Sharon Stone]], [[Michelle Williams (actress)|Michelle Williams]], [[Chloë Sevigny]] and [[Ellen DeGeneres]], which deals with [[homosexuality]] in three different eras. The films ''[[Common Ground (film)|Common Ground]]'' (2000) and ''[[The Hours (film)|The Hours]]'' (2002) would also use a similar format to address the issue of [[homophobia]] as ''If These Walls Could Talk''. [[Anne Heche]], who starred in the 1996 segment went on to direct the sequel, which received an [[Emmy Award]]. ==Plot== ===1952=== The 1952 segment deals with Claire Donnelly ([[Demi Moore]]), a widowed nurse living in suburban [[Chicago]], who becomes pregnant by her brother-in-law and decides to undergo abortion in order not to hurt her late husband's family. However, abortion at the time is strictly illegal. Donnelly eventually finds another nurse ([[CCH Pounder]]) who provides her the name of a woman who can find her someone who will perform the abortion. She finally manages to abort, but dies shortly after due to hemorrhage. ===1974=== The 1974 segment deals with Barbara Barrows ([[Sissy Spacek]]), a struggling and aging mother with four children, who discovers she must welcome another addition to the family, despite having recently gone back to college. She considers abortion with the support of her teenage daughter ([[Hedy Burress]]) but ultimately chooses to keep the child. ===1996=== The 1996 segment deals with Christine Cullen ([[Anne Heche]]), a college student who got pregnant by her married professor decides on an abortion when he breaks up with her and only offers her money. She is operated on by Dr. Beth Thompson ([[Cher]]). However, the abortion takes place during a violent protest, and an abortion protester ([[Matthew Lillard]]) walks in on the operation and shoots Dr. Thompson. ==Cast== '''1952 segment:''' *[[Demi Moore]] - Claire Donnelly *[[Shirley Knight]] - Mary Donnelly *[[Catherine Keener]] - Becky Donnelly *[[Jason London]] - Kevin Donnelly *[[CCH Pounder]] - Jenny Ford '''1974 segment:''' *[[Sissy Spacek]] - Barbara Barrows *[[Xander Berkeley]] - John Barrows *[[Hedy Burress]] - Linda Barrows *[[Janna Michaels]] - Sally Barrows *[[Ian Bohen]] - Scott Barrows *[[Zack Eginton]] - Ryan Barrows '''1996 segment:''' *[[Anne Heche]] - Christine Cullen *[[Cher]] - Dr. Beth Thompson *[[Jada Pinkett Smith]] - Patti *[[Eileen Brennan]] - Tessie *[[Lindsay Crouse]] - Frances White *[[Craig T. Nelson]] - Jim Harris *[[Matthew Lillard]] - Protester ==Awards and nominations== *[[Emmy Awards]] **Outstanding Made for Television Movie (''nomination'') **Outstanding Editing for a Miniseries or a Special - Single Camera Production (''nomination'') **Outstanding Hairstyling for a Miniseries or a Special (''nomination'') *[[Golden Globe Awards]] **[[List of Golden Globe Awards: Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television|Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV]] (''nomination'') **[[List of Golden Globe Awards: Mini-series, Best Actress|Best Lead Actress in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV]] &ndash; Demi Moore (''nomination'') **[[List of Golden Globe Awards: Mini-series, Best Supporting Actress|Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV]] &ndash; Cher (''nomination'') *[[NAACP Image Awards]] **Outstanding Lead Actress in a Television Movie or Mini-Series &ndash; Jada Pinkett Smith (''nomination'') *National Educational Media Network, USA **Gold Apple ('''won''') *[[Satellite Awards]] **Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV (''nomination'') **Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV &ndash; Cher (''nomination'') ==External links== *[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116607/ ''If These Walls Could Talk''] at The Internet Movie Database *[http://www.mrqe.com/lookup?^If+These+Walls+Could+Talk+(1996)+(TV) Film Reviews] [[Category:American television films]] [[Category:Dramatic works about abortion]] [[Category:Feminist films]] [[Category:HBO original films]] [[Category:1996 television films]] [[de:Haus der stummen Schreie]] [[it:Tre vite allo specchio]] [[no:If These Walls Could Talk]] [[pt:If These Walls Could Talk]] [[ru:Если бы стены могли говорить]]