Taglines: They needed a family. What they got was magic.
Corrina, Corrina opens and a scene of black-heeled shoes are seen. Voices are discussing food and recipes when the search for Molly (Tina Majorino) ensues. She is located under the serving table, by her grandfather who joins her. It is then understood that Molly’s mother, Annie, has suddenly died; this gathering is the post-funerary “pot-luck” at the home of the now-widowed Manny Singer (Ray Liotta). Grandfather Harry (Don Ameche) stays under the table with Molly as they are slowly joined by (and we are introduced to) the other main cast including Manny’s mother, the old world Eva (Erica Yohn).
As his friends and family leave after the gathering, it is apparent that this new situation is going to be trying. A newly-widowed man and his seven-year old girl, who will no longer speak, due to her mother’s passing, trying to find a way to move forward. There is a need for a housekeeper/nanny so that Manny can return to work (and to also crank out selling jingles for a living lest his job becomes shaky—per his best friend and boss, Sid (Larry Miller).
After a failed trial run with a nanny of sorts, Corrina Washington (Whoopi Goldberg) interviews for the position. Since her mother’s death, Molly has not only refused to speak but does not even acknowledge people. She responds to Corrina and Manny hires her as a housekeeper. Very quickly a strong bond is formed between them. Corrina works out a system to “talk” with her without making her speak and also helps her find a pet turtle they name Lois.
Corrina watches the early struggles of life after Annie. She asks about an unfinished grocery list and Manny admits to being unable to erase Annie’s handwriting from the board. Late one evening a distraught Manny lies and says Annie is in the bathtub, rather than admit to her sudden passing. Upon hearing this lie, Molly runs to the tub hoping to see her. Corrina sees the lonely Molly sit quietly in the empty tub while Manny buries his head in his hands as he sits in the chair Annie purchased for their home.
Corrina, Corrina is a 1994 American feature film set in 1959 about a widower (Ray Liotta) who hires a housekeeper/nanny (Whoopi Goldberg) to care for his daughter (Tina Majorino). It was written and directed by Jessie Nelson, in her feature film directing debut. It was the final film in which Don Ameche starred; he died shortly after filming was completed.
Corrina, Corrina (1994)
Directed by: Jessie Nelson
Starring: Ray Liotta, Whoopi Goldberg, Tina Majorino, Lucy Webb, Erica Yohn, Larry Miller, Joan Cusack, Karen Leigh Hopkins, Lin Shaye, Marcus Toji
Screenplay by: Jessie Nelson
Production Design by: Jeannine Oppewall
Cinematography by: Bruce Surtees
Film Editing by: Bruce Surtees
Costume Design by: John Hayles, Francine Jamison-Tanchuck
Set Decoration by: Lauren Gabor
Art Direction by: Dina Lipton
Music by: Rick Cox
MPAA Rating: PG for thematic material.
Distributed by: New Line Cinema
Release Date: August 12, 1994
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