Mistress (1992 film)

Mistress
Directed by	Barry Primus
Produced by	Meir Teper Robert De Niro
Written by	Barry Primus J.F. Lawton
Starring	Robert Wuhl Martin Landau Jace Alexander Danny Aiello Robert De Niro Laurie Metcalf Christopher Walken Eli Wallach
Music by	Galt McDermont
Cinematography	Sven Kirsten
Editing by	Steven Weisberg
Release date(s)	24 July 1992
Running time	110 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$1,102,469

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.

Plot

A down-and-out Hollywood screenwriter and director named Marvin Landisman (Robert Wuhl) 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.

Cast

Actor/Actress	Role
Robert De Niro	Evan M. Wright
Danny Aiello	Carmine Rass
Robert Wuhl	Marvin Landisman
Martin Landau	Jack Roth
Laurie Metcalf	Rachel
Eli Wallach	George
Sheryl Lee Ralph	Beverly
Jean Smart	Patricia
Tuesday Knight	Peggy

External links

• Mistress at the Internet Movie Database