The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond
| The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Jodie Markell |
| Produced by | Brad Michael Gilbert Robbie Kass Brad Stokes Roxanna Raanan |
| Written by | Tennessee Williams (Screenplay) |
| Starring |
Bryce Dallas Howard Chris Evans Ellen Burstyn Ann-Margret Jennifer Sipes |
| Music by | Mark Orton |
| Cinematography | Giles Nuttgens |
| Edited by | Barry Malkin |
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Production
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| Distributed by | Screen Media Films |
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Release date
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Running time
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102 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond is a 2008 independent film by director Jodie Markell. The film is based on Tennessee Williams' long-forgotten 1957 screenplay. The film stars Bryce Dallas Howard in the leading role of Fisher Willow.
It also holds the distinction of being the last film released in the 2000s.
The film tells the story of heiress Fisher Willow (Bryce Dallas Howard). Fisher returns home from overseas to find that her father has become a hated man in Memphis as he had intentionally blown up the southern half of his levee earlier that year, resulting in the deaths of 8-9 people and enormous property damage for anyone downstream. Fisher is to come out to society this season, but because of her father's reputation – and her inappropriate/wild behavior – she is unable to find a man willing to be her escort. She asks Jimmy (Chris Evans) to be her escort for the season.
Though Jimmy is not currently her social equal, he is the grandson of the former governor and she was always taken with him. His father works at Fisher's commissary though he is a heavy drinker and is at risk of losing his job, and his mother was committed to an insane asylum and no longer recognizes her son. Jimmy agrees to be her escort as she is willing to pay him and he could use the money to help his parents. Fisher arranges for him to be outfitted properly, and promises that there are better places for Jimmy's mother.
Fisher borrows $10,000 teardrop diamond earrings from her aunt to wear to these social events. Fisher and Jimmy attend the first society party together, where she causes a scene when she has the band play controversial music and dances in "flapper" fashion. Soon the entire party views her as a joke and laughs at her, insulting her father and the fact that she had to pay a man to be her escort. In response, Jimmy yells at everyone to shut up and helps Fisher to the car.
The only other social gathering that Fisher is invited to is a Halloween party, given by her friend Jules in northern Memphis, where no one knows of her father's previous actions. As he waits for Fisher to pick him up for the next party, Jimmy mentions to his father that Fisher seemed to be sending him the message that she wanted to become more intimate. Jimmy suggests that if he were to agree to be more than her escort, then it would certainly lead to marriage. This would mean a permanent job for his father and better care for his mother.
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Wikipedia