The Cemetery Club movie storyline. Based on the play by Ivan Menchell, this comedy-drama concerns three friends, Doris (Olympia Dukakis), Lucille (Diane Ladd), and Esther (Ellen Burstyn). All three live in the same Jewish community in Pittsburgh, are in their mid-to-late 50s, and have become widows within the past few years. Once a week, they gather to visit their husbands’ graves and meet at a deli afterward to talk about their lives.
Doris remains fiercely devoted to her late husband and takes her responsibilities as a widow seriously. Lucille is eager to get her feet back in the waters of dating, partly as revenge against her late husband, who often cheated on her, and partly because she’s very lonely by herself. Esther is also not used to being alone after 39 years of marriage, but she doesn’t feel ready to start dating again, at least not until she meets Ben (Danny Aiello), a former cop turned cab driver who gradually but firmly eases his way into her life.
Doris is appalled when she discovers that Esther is dating again and loudly protests that she’s being disrespectful to her late husband, while Lucille is more than a bit jealous that Esther snagged a good man before she could. All of which comes to fruition at the wedding of their friend Selma (Lainie Kazan). Jerry Orbach and Lee Richardson appear in a brief prologue sequence.
The Cemetery Club is a 1993 film directed by Bill Duke. It stars Ellen Burstyn, Olympia Dukakis, Diane Ladd, Danny Aiello, Lainie Kazan, Christina Ricci, Bernie Casey, Sam Schwartz, Stephen Pearlman and Allan Pinsker.
The Cemetery Club (1993)
Directed by: Bill Duke
Starring: Ellen Burstyn, Olympia Dukakis, Diane Ladd, Danny Aiello, Lainie Kazan, Christina Ricci, Bernie Casey, Sam Schwartz, Stephen Pearlman, Allan Pinsker
Screenplay by: Ivan Menchell
Production Design by: Maher Ahmad
Cinematography by: Steven Poster
Film Editing by: John Carter
Costume Design by: Hilary Rosenfeld
Set Decoration by: Gene Serdena
Art Direction by: Nicklas Farrantello
Music by: Elmer Bernstein
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sensuality and some language.
Distributed by: Buena Vista Pictures
Release Date: February 3, 1993
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