Mask is a 1985 American biographical drama film directed by Peter Bogdanovich, starring Cher, Sam Elliott, and Eric Stoltz with supporting roles played by Dennis Burkley, Laura Dern, Estelle Getty, and Richard Dysart. Cher received the 1985 Cannes Film Festival award for Best Actress.[2] The film is based on the life and early death of Roy L. "Rocky" Dennis, a boy who had craniodiaphyseal dysplasia, an extremely rare genetic disorder known commonly as lionitis due to the disfiguring cranial enlargements that it causes. Mask won the Academy Award for Best Makeup at the 58th ceremony, while Cher and Stoltz received Golden Globe Award nominations for their performances.
Plot
In 1978 Azusa, California, Rocky Dennis, a teenage boy with the extremely rare genetic disorder known as craniodiaphyseal dysplasia, is accepted without question by his freewheeling biker mother's boyfriend Gar who is a father figure to him, his "extended motorcycle family," and his maternal grandparents who share his passion of baseball card collecting; but is treated with fear, pity, awkwardness, and teasing by those unaware of his humanity, humor, and intelligence.
Rocky's tough minded free sprited and loving but unstable mother, Florence "Rusty" Dennis is determined to give Rocky as normal a life as possible, in spite of her own wild ways as a member of the Turks biker gang, as well as her strained relationship with her father. She fights for Rocky's inclusion in a mainstream junior high school, and confronts the principal Mr. Simms who would rather classify Rocky as intellectually disabled and relegate him to a special education school, despite the fact that his condition has not affected his intelligence.
At Rocky's semi-annual physical, Rocky claims to be feeling pretty well despite recurring headaches that his mother can remedy by simply singing to him. A young doctor tells Rusty that Rocky's life expectancy is limited to only six more months; but Rusty scoffs, pointing out that many other doctors have made claims about Rocky's condition (e.g he would be deaf, blind, intellectually impaired etc.) that were completely disproven.
Rocky thrives at school, making lots of friends with his wit and humor, tutoring his classmate for $3 per hour, as well as assisting a fellow student with his locker combination and telling an entertaining rendition of the Trojan Wars to his history class. One summer, He is asked by the principal to accept a job as a counselor's aide at Camp Bloomfield, a summer camp for blind children. At his graduation from junior high, Rocky takes home several academic achievement prizes in mathematics, history, and science.
Later, Rocky faces the pain of separation from the two people to whom he feels closest. His lifelong dream of a motorbike trip through Europe is shattered when his best friend Ben, who was to come with him, reveals one day that he is leaving Azusa and permanently moving back to Michigan to live with his father. After taking a bus trip to visit Diana at the equestrian stables, located near Griffith Park, Rocky learns that Diana's parents had prevented her from receiving his phone messages and are sending her to a private boarding school for the blind and will never see each other again. Rocky vows that despite being separated, they will always love each other and will always be together.
Eric Stoltz as Roy L. "Rocky" Dennis, an adolescent boy who was born with craniodiaphyseal dysplasia. His character's makeup was provided by Michael Westmore and Zoltan Elek.
Cher as Florence "Rusty" Dennis, Rocky's semi-unstable (but fiercely determined) mother.
Sam Elliott as Gar, a member of Rocky's motorcycle family, who acts as a father figure and occasional peacemaker between Rocky and Rusty, and whose character is based on Bernie Tullis.[3]
Estelle Getty as Evelyn Steinberg, Rusty's mother and Rocky's grandmother, who tries to mediate the tension between her husband and her daughter.
Richard Dysart as Abe Steinberg, Rusty's father and Rocky's grandfather, who has a loving relationship with his grandson, but a tumultuous relationship with his daughter.
Laura Dern as Diana Adams, a blind girl from summer camp who becomes Rocky's love interest; the two form a bond based on personality, humor and conversation, rather than physical appearances.
Micole Mercurio as Babe.
Harry Carey Jr. as Red.
Dennis Burkley as Dozer.
Barry Tubb as Dewey.
Lawrence Monoson as Ben, Rocky's best friend, who trades baseball cards and plans a biking trip across Europe with Rocky.
Ben Piazza as Mr. Simms the Principal of Rocky's Junior high school who initially rejects
L. Craig King as Eric.
Alexandra Powers as Lisa.
Kelly Jo Minter as Lorrie.
Todd Allen as Canuck.
Howard Hirdler as Stickman.
Andrew Robinson as Dr. Vinton.
Les Dudek as Bone.
Marsha Warfield as the homeroom teacher.
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