An overweight woman loses her alcoholic plastic surgeon boyfriend to an aging star and immediately doubles her weight. An enchantress puts a spell on the women that makes them immortal -- no matter how dead they get.
Two women, one an author of beauty books and the other a vain actress, constantly compete with each other over which is the more attractive. So they both can't resist when presented with a magical elixir that promises eternal youth, life and loveliness. They discover, to their dismay, that the fiendish potion has some unexpectedly devastating -- and darkly funny -- effects.
Began shooting December 9, 1991; Completed shooting April 7, 1992. Shot in Los Angeles, California.
Released in USA July 31, 1992; Released in Taiwan October 24, 1992; Released in Australia November 26, 1992; Released in UK December 4, 1992.
Budget estimate: $40 million.
Color by DeLuxe. Recorded in Dolby SR.
Bruce Willis replaced Kevin Kline before the film prior to production.
Both Sydney Pollack and Michael Caine have uncredited cameos.
Rated BBFC U by the British Board of Film Classification.
Excerpt: "I don't want to become one of the living dead in Beverly Hills" -- Ernest (Bruce Willis)
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Single Layer
Full Frame - 1.33
Audio:
Dolby Digital - 3.0 - English
Dolby Digital - 3.0 - French
Dolby Digital - 3.0 - Spanish
Production Designer
Rick Carter: Production Designer, THE POLAR EXPRESS (2004)
Review 1:
"...DEATH BECOMES HER boasts stars, special effects and a timely topic that are to die for..."
Source: USA Today
p.6D 07/31/1992
Review 2:
"...An original black-comic theme....The movie has a sprightly cartoon meanness....Streep and Hawn clearly revel in the chance to let the bitchery fly..."
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.37-8 08/14/1993
Review 3:
"...[Streep] outdoes even herself..."
Source: New York Times
p.C8 07/31/1992