| Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead | |
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Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Stephen Herek |
| Produced by | Jeffery Silver Brian Reilly |
| Written by | Neil Landau |
| Starring | Christina Applegate Joanna Cassidy John Getz Josh Charles |
| Music by | David Newman |
| Cinematography | Tim Suhrstedt |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. HBO Films |
| Release date(s) | June 7, 1991 |
| Running time | 102 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $10 million |
| Box office | $25,196,249[1] |
Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead is a 1991 comedy film directed by Stephen Herek starring Christina Applegate.
Applegate stars as a teenager whose mother leaves for a two-month summer vacation in Australia, putting all five siblings in the care of a strict tyrannical elderly babysitter. When the babysitter suddenly dies in her sleep, Applegate (as the eldest) assumes the role as "head of the household" to keep the freedom of having no parents around. She fakes a resume to get a job in the fashion industry, but proves capable and lucky enough to succeed.
The film also features Joanna Cassidy, Keith Coogan, Josh Charles, Danielle Harris, John Getz, and then-obscure actor David Duchovny, later of The X-Files fame. The original music score was composed by David Newman.
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Sue Ellen Crandell is a 17-year old high school graduate who, due to lack of funds cannot go to Europe for the summer with her friends. Despite being unable to travel abroad, Sue Ellen remains optimistic about a summer of freedom with her siblings: stoner Kenny, tomboy Melissa, ladies man Zach and game show fanatic Walter while their mother travels to Australia with her boyfriend. Much to Sue Ellen's dismay, her mother hires a live-in babysitter, Mrs. Sturak, a seemingly sweet, humble old woman who assures Mrs. Crandell that she can take care of all five children. Eventually, Sue Ellen and her siblings find that Mrs. Sturak had died in her sleep. Knowing that contacting the authorities would ruin their summer vacation, they agree to stuff the babysitter in a trunk and drop her off at a local funeral home, with a note attached reading "Nice old lady inside, died of natural causes".
Sue Ellen, having to deal with the family's bills, finds work at a fast food restaurant called Clown Dog. Despite a budding relationship with an attractive co-worker named Bryan, she quits due to the poor job conditions. Inspired by her interest in fashion, Sue Ellen forges a resume under the guise of a 28-year-old fashion designer and applies at General Apparel West, hoping to secure a job as a receptionist. However, Rose Lindsey, a company executive, finds her resume so impressive that she offers Sue Ellen a job as her administrative assistant, much to the chagrin of Carolyn, a secretary on Rose's floor.
At GAW, Sue Ellen has to balance the adult responsibilities thrust upon her while trying to have the summer of her life as a teenager. The double life causes a strain on her relationship with Bryan when she discovers that he and Carolyn are brother and sister.
After finally settling into her role as Rose's personal assistant, Sue Ellen finds herself tested when she learns that GAW is in danger of going out of business. Utilizing her personal knowledge of fashion and design, she takes it upon herself to create a new clothing line and Rose suggests holding a fashion show to exhibit their new designs. Sue Ellen offers to host the party herself, convincing her siblings to help clean up the house and act as caterers for the guests. Although she manages to pull off the party, it comes to an end when Bryan unexpectedly shows up to apologize for their breakup, shortly followed by Mrs. Crandell herself, who has come home early from Australia. With her cover blown, Sue Ellen has no choice but to confess the truth in front of everyone.
While apologizing to Rose after the party, Sue Ellen learns that her unique designs had effectively saved the company and that the owners did not care about her personal life. Rose then offers the real Sue Ellen the job as her personal assistant, which she respectfully declines in favor of going to college first. Meanwhile, Mrs. Crandell, impressed with the cleanliness of the house, the improved behavior of the children and the sudden maturity of Sue Ellen, decides not to punish them for throwing the party.
In the end, Sue Ellen and Bryan make up, but are soon interrupted by Mrs. Crandell, who inquires about Mrs. Sturak's whereabouts. As the credits roll, the scene cuts away to the cemetery, where two morticians look over a gravestone that reads "Nice Old Lady Inside, Died of Natural Causes".
Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a score of 33% based on reviews from 24 critics, with an average score of 4/10.[2] The New York Post called Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead the best teen hit of 1991.
In June 2010, reports surfaced that a remake of the film, produced by The Mark Goodwin Company, is currently in the works. As of December 2011, further details are unknown.[3]
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