Miss Firecracker (1989)
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67% of critics liked it
(9 reviews) -
48% of users liked it
(1,376 ratings)
A hot tamale tries to throw off a different sort of heat in this comedy of small-town manners. Carnelle Scott (Holly Hunter) is best-known in her hometown of Yazoo City, MS, for her unrepentant promiscuity. An orphan taken in by her genteel relatives, she idolizes her older cousin, Elain Rutledge… More A hot tamale tries to throw off a different sort of heat in this comedy of small-town manners. Carnelle Scott (Holly Hunter) is best-known in her hometown of Yazoo City, MS, for her unrepentant promiscuity. An orphan taken in by her genteel relatives, she idolizes her older cousin, Elain Rutledge (Mary Streenburgen), a former Fourth of July "Miss Firecracker" contest winner who is taking time out from her life as a pampered wife in Atlanta to give a speech on "My Life as a Beauty" at this year's pageant. Determined to follow in Elain's footsteps, Carnelle puts a damper on her libido and enlists the help of local seamstress Popeye Jackson (Alfre Woodard) in preparing for the pageant. She also implores Elain to let her borrow the red dress in which Elain won the contest in 1972. Meanwhile, Elain's brother, ne'er-do-well Delmount Williams (Tim Robbins), arrives with a get-rich-quick scheme that involves hocking the family estate. Into this mix steps Mac Sam (Scott Glenn), one of the men who contributed to Carnelle's scandalous past. Adapted by Beth Henley from her own play The Miss Firecracker Contest, Miss Firecracker finds Hunter reprising her stage role. The actress also starred in Henley's Crimes of the Heart on Broadway, although she did not appear in the 1986 film adaptation. Woodard and Steenburgen previously appeared together in Cross Creek. Miss Firecracker was shot on-location in real-life Yazoo City. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi
- Directed By
- Thomas Schlamme
- Genres
- Drama, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Apr 28, 1989 Wide
- Studio
- HBO Video
Critic Reviews
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Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Warmly human film based on Beth Henley's 1984 play. It will appeal to those who long for liberation from bad dreams and yearn for a place where they can be accepted for who they are.
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James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
Hunter is great, but the story works better on stage
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Nell Minow, Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies
A neglected gem with sensational performances by everyone, especially Steenburgen and Woodard.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Holly Hunter
as Carnelle Scott
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Mary Steenburgen
as Elain Rutledge
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Tim Robbins
as Delmount Williams
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Alfre Woodard
as Popeye Jackson
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Scott Glenn
as Mac Sam
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Trey Wilson
as Benjamin Drapper
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Ann Wedgeworth
as Miss Blue
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Veanne Cox
as Tessy Mahoney
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Amy Wright
as Missy Mahoney
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Bert Remsen
as Mr. Morton
- Gregg Burge
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Kathleen Chalfant
as Miss Lily
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Robert Fieldsteel
as Tommy Turner
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Avril Gentles
as Mrs. Biggs
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Greg Germann
as Ronnie Wayne
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Joyce Murrah
as Ruby Kay
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Brent Spiner
as Preacher Mann
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John Burgess
as William
- Avy Kaufman
- Mindy Marin
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Mitch Saxton
as Mitch
