''On the Edge'' is a 2001 television film, broadcast on

Showtime Showtime or Show Time may refer to: Film * ''Showtime'' (film), a 2002 American action/comedy film * ''Showtime'' (video), a 1995 live concert video by Blur Television Networks and channels * Showtime Networks, a division of Paramount Global w ...

. It is a

anthology film An anthology film (also known as an omnibus film, package film, or portmanteau film) is a single film consisting of several shorter films, each complete in itself and distinguished from the other, though frequently tied together by a single theme ...

, with each segment directed by an actress with few or no prior directing credits and adapted from an existing science fiction short story. The film was part of the larger Showtime '' Directed By'' series. The film consists of a frame segment, directed by

Jana Sue Memel Jana Sue Memel (born 7 March 1955, Los Angeles) is an American Academy Award-winning film producer, film director and writer, best known for her films '' Ray’s Male Heterosexual Dance Hall'' (1987) and '' Lieberman in Love'' (1995) that won Oscar ...

, and three story segments. The first, "Happy Birthday", was directed by

Helen Mirren Dame Helen Mirren (born Helen Lydia Mironoff; born 26 July 1945) is an English actor. The recipient of numerous accolades, she is the only performer to have achieved the Triple Crown of Acting in both the United States and the United Kingdom. ...

and was based on '' The Placement Test '' by Keith Laumer. The second segment, "The Other Side", was directed by Mary Stuart Masterson and based on '' Lifeboat on a Burning Sea '' by

Bruce Holland Rogers Bruce Holland Rogers is an American author of short fiction who also writes under the pseudonym Hanovi Braddock. His stories have won a Pushcart Prize, two Nebula Awards, the Bram Stoker Award, two World Fantasy Awards, the Micro Award, and ha ...

. The third segment, "Reaching Normal", was directed by

Anne Heche Anne Celeste Heche ( ; May 25, 1969August 11, 2022) was an American actress, known for her roles in a variety of genres in film, television, and theater, receiving numerous accolades, including a National Board of Review Award and multiple Emmy ...

and based on '' Command Performance '' by

Walter M. Miller Jr. Walter Michael Miller Jr. (January 23, 1923 – January 9, 1996) was an American science fiction writer. His fix-up novel, ''A Canticle for Leibowitz'' (1959), the only novel published in his lifetime, won the 1961 Hugo Award for Best Novel. ...

Cast

Frame segment

* Scott Lowell as Charlie * Jolene Blalock as Charlie's Wife * Stephen Tobolowsky as Tom *

Kathleen Wilhoite Kathleen Wilhoite (born June 29, 1964) is an American actress and musician. She made her feature film debut in ''Private School'' (1983) before having a leading role in '' Murphy's Law'' (1986), followed by supporting parts in '' Witchboard'' (a ...

as Lucy

Happy Birthday

* John Goodman as The Dean * Sydney Tamiia Poitier as Hannah *

Beverly D'Angelo Beverly Heather D'Angelo (born November 15, 1951) is an American actress who starred as Ellen Griswold in the ''National Lampoon's Vacation'' films (1983–2015). She has appeared in over 60 films and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for h ...

as Bag Lady * Christopher Lloyd as Attorney Bum * David Hyde Pierce as Barney * Caroline Rhea as Monica *

Jenica Bergere Jenica Bergere is an American actress known for her roles in ''Trophy Wife'', ''Bosch'', ''The Drew Carey Show'', ''The Faculty'', and others. Bergere has also appeared in the films ''Safety Not Guaranteed'', '' And Then There Was Eve'', ''Psych ...

as Sally *

Ken Hudson Campbell Kenneth Hudson Campbell (born June 5, 1962) is an American television and voice actor. Early life Campbell attended York Community High School in Elmhurst, Illinois, Southern Illinois University Carbondale and Columbia College Chicago. He bega ...

as Security Guard *

Roman Danylo Roman Danylo (born in Calgary, Alberta) is a Canadian comedian, improviser and actor based out of Vancouver, British Columbia. He is best known for his starring role in the CTV Television Network show '' Comedy Inc.'' Career As a teen, Danylo r ...

as Donald *

Kimiko Gelman Kimiko Gelman (born February 20, 1966) is an American actress. Gelman is best known for starring in the television series ''Rags to Riches'' from 1987 to 1988, where she played the role of Rose. She has also made appearances on a number of othe ...

as May Lee Ha *

Jean Kasem Jean Thompson Kasem (born May 21, 1954) is a former American actress. She is the widow of radio personality and actor Casey Kasem. Early life Jean Thompson was one of five children born to Irene Celia Thompson and Herbert Owens Thompson Sr. (d ...

as Nurse * Taylor Negron as Policeman * Travis Wester as Chute Boy * Dondre Whitfield as Man in Elevator * Marissa Jaret Winokur as Dean's Secretary *

as Distinguished Woman

The Other Side

* Anthony LaPaglia as Dr. Maas/Biobot * Karen Sillas as Dr. Anna Richardson * Bruce Davison as Jackson Bierly

Reaching Normal

* Andie MacDowell as Lisa * Paul Rudd as Kenneth * Joey Lauren Adams as Sarah * Alan Rosenberg as Frank *

Joel Gray Joel Grey (born Joel David Katz; April 11, 1932) is an American actor, singer, dancer, photographer and theatre director. He is best known for portraying the Master of Ceremonies in the musical ''Cabaret'' on Broadway as well as in the 1972 fil ...

as Dr. Mensley * Ellen DeGeneres as Operator

Reception

The film generally received negative or mixed reviews. A review in '' Variety'' describes it as "Three short films, all debut directing efforts by well-known actresses....Not surprisingly, the collection is uneven and the work a bit rough, particularly so when the actors also write their own scripts, as in the case of Mary Stuart Masterson and Anne Heche." According to the website ''Fantafilm'', the film is an "Interesting, even if not entirely successful, trilogy of the fantastic in which the actresses Masterson, Mirren, and Heche try their hand at directing by proposing a vision of the future with disconcerting and satirical tones."

Promotion

The tagline is: "Tales that will take you to the edge... if you dare...".

Notes

External links

* * 2001 television films 2001 science fiction films 2000s English-language films American science fiction television films American anthology films Films directed by Mary Stuart Masterson Films directed by Anne Heche Showtime (TV network) films {{US-tv-film-stub