Leona Helmsley: The Queen of Mean (1990) (TV)

Director:

Richard Michaels

Writers:

Randsell Pearson (book)
Dennis Turner (writer)

Release Date:

23 September 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot Keywords:

Hotel | Based On Book

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Suzanne Pleshette	...	Leona Helmsley
Lloyd Bridges	...	Harry Helmsley
Joe Regalbuto	...	Paul Summerton
Raymond Singer	...	Jay Panzirer
Bruce Weitz	...	Joseph Lubin
Marcia Diamond	...	Leona's Mother
Patricia Collins	...	Sandra
Gale Garnett	...	May
Lori Hallier	...	Sarah
Ken James
Victoria Snow	...	Marilyn Norrito
Eric Donkin	...	Stanley
Maurice Godin	...	Mark
Marvin Goldhar	...	Leona's Attorney
Ransdell Pierson	...	Ransdell

Also Known As:

Queen of Mean

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Royal York Hotel, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Fries Entertainment

Quotes:

Stanley: Now when the jury comes in I want you to remain composed regardless, understood? And after the verdict's been read...
Leona Helmsley: They don't know me. They don't know who I am am. They don't know what I am. They don't know what I've dome. And they're going to come in and pass judgment on me?
Stanley: That's the system.
Leona Helmsley: Well it stinks.

"The only Palace in the world where the Queen stands guard!"

Randsell Pearson's fact-based book provides the basis for this gossipy, though well-cast television-movie chronicling the stormiest business years in the life of wealthy New York City hotelier Harry Helmsley and his eventual wife Leona, who took a particular delight in running roughshod over "the little people". There's no attempt made to delve into Leona's complicated psyche (why did she seemingly hate everyone who stood in an 'inferior' position to her power...and why did she apparently terminate friendships with those trusted few who only wanted her to see the truth of her actions?). Still, if the film is just a well-dressed tattler (and a thin one at 94 minutes), it isn't campy and is served well by Suzanne Pleshette's strong performance as "The Queen of Mean". Matching her are Lloyd Bridges as Harry (who occasionally got fed up with his wife's possessiveness), Joe Regalbuto as confidante Paul Summerton, and Raymond Singer as Leona's son Jay (who actually tried to bilk his stepfather's subsidiary without being noticed). The movie doesn't pretend to be art--and the final summation was probably already dated by the time the picture aired--but it certainly keeps its audience entertained.