The Slums
of Beverly Hills
DOWN &
DIRTY:
Comedy/Drama: A teen comes of age
during the 1970's and must deal
with her quirky family, her
changing body, and her awakening
sexuality.
NITTY GRITTY:
Vivian Abramowitz (NATASHA
LYONNE) is a fourteen-year-old
girl growing up in the 1970's.
She's uncomfortable with the
recent changes her body has been
undergoing, and she must also
deal with her family -- divorced
dad Murray (ALAN ARKIN),
smart-mouthed older brother Ben
(DAVID KRUMHOLTZ), and younger
wide-eyed brother Rickey (ELY
MARIENTHAL) -- none of whom
understand what she's going
through.
Not only is she embarrassed by
her suddenly oversized chest and
everyone's attention to it, but
she must also contend with the
fact that her poor family
continually moves from one
apartment to the next to stay
ahead of landlords but remain in
the Beverly Hills school
district.
Their luck changes when Murray
agrees to watch over his
twenty-nine-year-old niece, Rita
(MARISA TOMEI). In return,
Murray's successful brother,
Mickey (CARL REINER), will pay
for a nice place for them to
live.
Although secretly pregnant, Rita
quickly becomes a role model for
Vivian and welcomes her into the
adult world of feminine
sexuality.
THE ENDING:
After her first day at nurse
training school, Rita
accidentally tells her boyfriend
that she is pregnant. He doesn't
want anything to do with her.
Upset, Rita overdoses on drugs.
Vivian and her family find Rita
and get her some help.
Murray's brother Mickey comes
into town and they all gather at
the airport restaurant for lunch.
Mickey berates Murray to the
point that Vivian jabs a fork
into her uncle's leg. Mickey cuts
off the rent money to Murray and
the family has to move....again
WHAT EVERYONE WILL BE
TALKING ABOUT:
The vibrator dance.
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