The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
1992 film
Bill Simmons · Chris Ryan · Joanna Robinson
Aired June 15, 2026
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The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
Risky Business
Risky Business
Risky Business
The Game
Film credit
Rebecca De Mornay
Also referred to as Rebecca DeMornay, DeMornay, De Mornay
Stats
- Episodes featuring their films
- 2
- Movies in this archive
- 3
Rewatchables episodes featuring Rebecca De Mornay’s films
Displaying all 2 episodes
Mentioned in discussions
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:39:54Read transcript
- De Mornay is the clear final winner, with her Risky Business history discussed as context. — Craig Horlbeck
Podcast choices
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:35:20Read transcript
- De Mornay is the immediate Oscar choice.
Apex Mountain
No affirmative selection
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:22:55Read transcript
- Risky Business is preferred as de Mornay’s personal apex, though this performance is debated. — Bill Simmons
What’s Aged the Best?
Evil-nanny stories, Rebecca de Mornay, the Seattle setting, and Marlene’s role in the plot
In the discussion (2)
Approx. transcript time · 00:52:29Read transcript
- The evil-nanny premise is said to have aged well. — Bill Simmons
- Seattle’s cinematic use, de Mornay’s performance, and Marlene’s meaningful role are praised.
Who Won the Movie?
Tom Cruise; Paul Brickman gets an in-the-moment qualification.
In the discussion (1)
Approx. transcript time · 01:42:23Read transcript
- Cruise wins, with De Mornay and Brickman as silver medalists. A second response gives Cruise the career-based edge but says Brickman wins when considering the moment itself. — Bill Simmons
Podcast choices
Apex Mountain
Paul Brickman; a split between Risky Business and Say Anything for high-quality eighties teen movies.
In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:21:06Read transcript
- Cruise is rejected and Brickman affirmed. One host chooses this for high-quality 1980 s teen movies over Fast Times, while another prefers Say Anything. — Bill Simmons
- Chicago suburban films leads to a four-film grouping: Home Alone, Ferris Bueller, Risky Business and Thief. — Bill Simmons
- Porsche receives a strong case for inspiring a generation's aspirations, but no explicit final yes. — Bill Simmons
- Pimps loses to earlier cultural examples; In the Air Tonight loses to Miami Vice; Pantoliano and Pinchot are rejected, while De Mornay's later blockbusters challenge this film. — Bill Simmons
- The Drake is considered but other appearances, including My Best Friend's Wedding, prevent a settled answer. — Chris Ryan
Half-Assed Internet Research
Development, ending disputes, casting anecdotes, locations, posters and Porsches.
In the discussion (9)
Approx. transcript time · 00:16:37Read transcript
- Curtis Armstrong's book describes Cruise and Sean Penn socializing during their simultaneous Chicago shoots, and Cruise disappearing from Armstrong's life after filming. — Bill Simmons
- De Mornay was dating Harry Dean Stanton, who received the script for Guido and encouraged her audition. Armstrong recounts a developing Cruise–De Mornay romance while Stanton stayed in Chicago swimming laps. — Bill Simmons
- Warner Bros. put the project in turnaround; Avnet and Tisch struggled to sell it after Night Shift, until Geffen backed it with Lana aged to twenty-one. — Bill Simmons
- The happier ending tested much better for Geffen, while Brickman and Avnet objected; the dispute reportedly prevented a premiere. — Bill Simmons
- Cruise reportedly trained daily, lost weight, then stopped and ate fatty food to soften his face for a teenage appearance. — Bill Simmons
- Joel's Highland Park house is near the Ferris Bueller location, prompting speculation about the characters being neighbors. — Bill Simmons
- The crystal egg came from Steuben Glassworks in Corning, New York; Armstrong's book describes Cruise's active dating during the shoot. — Bill Simmons
- Brickman opposed a raunchy cartoon marketing concept; the hosts admire the final iconic poster but would also buy the rejected one. — Bill Simmons
- Four 1978 Porsche 928 s were used; a surviving car reportedly rose from $49,000 in 2012 to about $2 million nine years later, an investment the hosts doubt will hold its cultural value. — Bill Simmons
Casting What-Ifs
An earlier version paired Bridget Fonda with an actor whose name is transcribed as Kyle McLaughlin; Rebecca De Mornay is proposed as a period alternative, and Jodie Foster and Jeff Bridges were later attached or offered major roles.
This discussion recalls a choice from an earlier episode.
In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 00:40:04Read transcript
- A 1992 version was planned with Jonathan Mostow directing an actor whose name is transcribed as Kyle McLaughlin, alongside Bridget Fonda. — Bill Simmons
- Rebecca De Mornay is proposed as a 1992 alternative for the Bridget Fonda role. — Bill Simmons
- Jodie Foster was announced opposite Michael Douglas in the Conrad role before a dispute led to litigation. — Bill Simmons
- Jeff Bridges was offered Conrad but is judged too close to Douglas in age to play the younger brother. — Bill Simmons
- Sean Penn ultimately took Conrad and is praised as the better fit. — Bill Simmons
Displaying all 8 discussions
