Death Becomes Her

Lore & Background

The film was shot entirely in Los Angeles between December 1991 and April 1992, with principal photography beginning on December 9, 1991, and wrapping on April 7, 1992. Locations included Greystone Mansion, the Ebell of Los Angeles, and Mount St. Mary's University. Kevin Kline was the first choice for Dr. Ernest Menville but fell out due to a pay dispute; Jeff Bridges and Nick Nolte were considered before Bruce Willis was cast. The production had mishaps, including Meryl Streep accidentally cutting Goldie Hawn's face with a shovel, leaving a faint scar. Streep disliked the heavy focus on special effects and vowed never to work on another such film, calling the experience tedious.

Reader's Guide

Death Becomes Her is regarded as a cult classic and a highly treasured film within the gay community. Its pioneering use of computer-generated imagery, under Industrial Light and Magic, represented a major advancement in CGI, including the first use of CGI skin texture. The digital techniques pioneered on this film were incorporated into Jurassic Park, released a year later. The film opened at number one at the box office and set a record in Taipei. Its DVD release was criticized for poor transfer quality. The original ending, which featured Tracey Ullman as a bartender helping Ernest fake his death, was cut after test audiences reacted unfavorably, replaced by a darker ending. The film's legacy includes a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical adaptation.

Did You Know?

• The film is noted for pioneering CGI effects, though it was not the first to use CGI skin texture.
• Meryl Streep accidentally cut Goldie Hawn's face during a shovel fight scene, leaving a faint scar.
• The original ending, cut after test audiences reacted unfavorably, did not feature Tracey Ullman as a bartender helping Ernest fake his death.
• The film's visual effects advancements were later used in Jurassic Park, which shared cinematographer Dean Cundey and production designer Rick Carter.