If These Walls Could Talk poster & wallpaper
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Xander Berkeley, Eileen Brennan, Dena Burton, Cher, Kevin Cooney ... see more see more... , Lindsay Crouse , Robin Gammell , Joanna Gleason , Anne Heche , Catherine Keener , Shirley Knight , Jason London , Phyllis Lyons , Craig T. Nelson , Jada Pinkett Smith , CCH Pounder , Diana Scarwid , Sissy Spacek , Lorraine Toussaint , Rita Wilson , Harris Yulin , Demi Moore , Ian Bohen , Janna Michaels , Hedy Burress , Zack Eginton , Aaron Lusting

The compilation film If These Walls Could Talk consists of three short films that each deal with the controversial issue of abortion. Although each of the stories is set in a different decade, the uni... read more read more...fying element (aside from the subject matter) is that all three transpire in the same house. The first story stars Demi Moore as the widow of a soldier killer in combat. She becomes pregnant and does not feel it would be morally appropriate to have the baby. Because it is the '50s, she must attempt to secure an illegal abortion. The second story, set in the '70s, stars Sissy Spacek as a mother of a struggling family. Having successfully raised four children on a meager income, Spacek's character must now decide if she should seek an abortion after finding out she is expecting a fifth. The final story takes place in the '90s. Anne Heche portrays a grad student who crosses protestors' picket lines in order to consult a doctor (Cher) about having an abortion. The first two parts, "1952" and "1974," were directed by Nancy Savoca, and the last part, "1996," was helmed by Cher, in her directorial debut. If These Walls Could Talk aired originally on HBO. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Flixster Users

70% liked it

5,846 ratings

Critics

88% liked it

8 critics

R, 1 hr. 35 min.

Directed by: Cher, Nancy Savoca

Release Date: September 11, 1996

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DVD Release Date: March 21, 2000

Stats: 248 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (248)

  • danieljparsons
    May 9, 2009
    danieljparsons
    If These Walls Could Talk is an uncompromising trio of films dealing with the abortion issue over three decades. It's fascinating to watch how times have (and haven't) changed. In this regard, 1952 starring Demi Moore and 1996 starring Anne Heche and Cher are... read more the most resonant stories. In the former, Moore plays a widowed nurse struggling to find a way to safely terminate her pregnancy in a decade where such practices were illegal, shrouded in secrecy and often resulted in the woman dying from haemorrhaging or infection. It's painful to watch and Moore is unusually excellent, and there's good support from mother-of-one Catherine Keener as the step-sister. In 1996, Heche plays a student who becomes pregnant following an affair with one of her professor's. This is easily the standout story; it is still hugely relevant, with a mixture of views on the issue represented without judgement. Cher, who capably directs this segment, has quite a small role as one of the doctors at the clinic Heche visits, and I wonder if her ego was involved in getting her the starring credit or if it was considered necessary by the studio in order to attract a bigger audience. 1996 undoubtedly is based on true events - the ending, which is properly shocking, seems ripped from the headlines - making it all the more powerful. By contrast, the Sissy Spacek headlining 1974 - the shortest of the three films - isn't particularly involving since, oddly, her situation is presented as the least difficult to manage. I suppose a middle-aged woman with a large family discovering she is pregnant once again just isn't particularly interesting (though I do remember that an episode of ER handled a very similar situation with greater dramatic depth). Overall though, If These Walls is a moving project that rises above from its somewhat 'televisual' aesthetic.
  • SunilJawahir
    April 4, 2009
    SunilJawahir
    Wow. Amazingly upsetting but a really good HBO movie.
  • InaHH
    July 5, 2008
    InaHH
    Have to see it again one day, it's been a while, but I remember that it made a very big impression on me and stuck in my head ever since. Moving, important film.
  • ileo
    December 15, 2007
    ileo
    Great film!
  • trisarahtops22
    October 27, 2007
    trisarahtops22
    A very different kind of movie - shows abortion isnt evil and heartless or even welcomed as many on the right would suggest.
  • drum2harmonize
    November 6, 2009
    drum2harmonize
    This is a great portrayl of the truth of what many woman have experienced on the subject of abortion. Now who says who lives or dies and it also displays the violence in the hands of men in the name of God I know that God would disapprove.
  • jasonwallace2000
    August 14, 2007
    jasonwallace2000
    Awesome cast brilliant concept good movie for its time groundbreaking cher and demi co produced first for both producing if my mind serves me right.
  • groovyredhead
    June 2, 2007
    groovyredhead
    Awesome! Awesome film! We need to make more movies like this one! It talks about such a controversial subject.
  • rondaschlenger
    March 28, 2007
    rondaschlenger
    This is a very good movie, although you have to pay close attention to it, or it will lose you, cause it jumps around over different era's of time.
    BUT...
    it has a wonderful, all-star cast,
    Cher
    Demi Moore
    Sissy Spacek
    and a few others...
  • rcastro5113
    February 4, 2007
    rcastro5113
    To walk a mile in her shoes. The power of all women, the power of choice. God save us, God forgive us, Please understand.

View All If These Walls Could Talk Reviews

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
October 26, 2006
Emanuel Levy, Variety

There's little art and not much entertainment either in HBO's earnestly didactic anthology of how a series of different women deal with their unexpected pregnancies. Full Review

Nick Davis
August 13, 2004
Nick Davis, Nick's Flick Picks

Overly earnest but admirable short films about important issues.

Mark Robison
June 19, 2003
Mark Robison, Reno Gazette-Journal

Too earnest perhaps, but interesting

Emanuel Levy
July 16, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Philip Martin
July 8, 2005
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

No review available.

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
March 27, 2004
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

No review available.

Carol Cling
August 22, 2003
Carol Cling, Las Vegas Review-Journal

No review available.

Dragan Antulov
May 14, 2003
Dragan Antulov, rec.arts.movies.reviews

No review available.

Geoff Andrew
June 24, 2006
Geoff Andrew, Time Out

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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If These Walls Could Talk Trivia

  • If These Walls Could Talk was about a house that many people lived in over the decades in which each story told had to do with Abortion. What topic did If These Walls Could Talk 2 look at?  Answer »
  • This actress had supporting roles in the following movies, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, If These Walls Could Talk 2 and Ray.   Answer »
  • What actress played the widow run out of her own house after the death of her lifelong partner, but her partner's own family. Hint - Movie is If These Walls Could Talk 2  Answer »
  • Who played Sharon Stone's lover in If These Walls Could Talk 2? (  Answer »
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