Plot
A boy with a massive facial skull deformity and biker gang mother attempts to live as normal a life as possible under the circumstances.

Release Year: 1985

Rating: 7.0/10 (12,168 voted)

Director: Peter Bogdanovich

Stars: Cher, Eric Stoltz, Sam Elliott

Storyline
Rusty Dennis is the mother of Rocky, a seriously deformed but extremely intelligent and emotionally warm child. Rusty is a no-nonsense mother whose wild lifestyle is often at odds with her tenderness and protectiveness towards Rocky. She is determined that Rocky be given the same chances and happiness that everyone else takes for granted.

Cast:
Cher - Florence 'Rusty' Dennis
Sam Elliott - Gar
Eric Stoltz - Roy L.'Rocky' Dennis
Estelle Getty - Evelyn
Richard Dysart - Abe
Laura Dern - Diana Adams
Micole Mercurio - Babe
Harry Carey Jr. - Red
Dennis Burkley - Dozer
Lawrence Monoson - Ben
Ben Piazza - Mr. Simms
L. Craig King - Eric
Alexandra Powers - Lisa
Kelly Jo Minter - Lorrie (as Kelly Minter)
Joe Unger - 1st Boyfriend

Taglines: Sometimes the most unlikely people become heroes.

Release Date: 8 March 1985

Filming Locations: Azusa, California, USA

Gross: $42,400,000 (USA)

Runtime: 120 min  | USA: 127 min (director's cut)

Trivia:
Eric Stoltz spent so much time under heavy makeup that when he arrived for the post production party he had to present I.D. to security to prove that he was Eric Stoltz. Also, when he got there he had to introduce himself to some of the cast and crew because many of them didn't know what he really looked like.

Goofs:
Anachronisms: When Rocky and Ben are trading baseball cards back and forth near the beginning of the film, on the bench is a card from the 1986 Topps set. The film is supposed to be taking place in the 70s.

Quotes:
Rocky Dennis: [Poem] These things are good: ice cream and cake, a ride on a harley, seeing monkeys in the trees, the rain on my tongue, and the sun shining on my face. These things are a drag: dust in my hair, holes in my shoes, no money in my pocket, and the sun shining on my face.

Hard to Watch at Times, But a Very Good Film.

Rating:

The true story of Rocky Dennis (Eric Stoltz) is the subject of this heart-breaking film that pulls absolutely no punches. The youngster was born with a disease that caused his face to be terribly deformed, making it appear that he had a mask on. Cher is excellent as Stoltz's drug-addicted mother who is so good with him, but so poor with most everyone else. Sam Elliott also leaves a lasting impression as a biker who is much gentler than he appears. An amazing screenplay and the flawless direction of Peter Bogdanovich help to make "Mask" one of the best films of the 1980s. Terribly over-looked. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

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