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Hell on Heels: The Battle of Mary Kay

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Hell on Heels: The Battle of Mary Kay
Film poster
Written byPatricia Resnick
Directed byEd Gernon
Starring
ComposerJonathan Goldsmith
Country of origin
  • Canada
  • United States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
  • Howard Meltzer
  • Peter Sussman
  • Ed Gernon
ProducerIan McDougall
CinematographySteve Danyluk
EditorHarvey Rosenstock
Running time97 minutes[1]
Production companies
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseOctober 6, 2002 (2002-10-06)

Hell on Heels: The Battle of Mary Kay is a 2002 biographical comedy-drama television film directed by Ed Gernon (in his directorial debut) and written by Patricia Resnick. It stars Shirley MacLaine, Shannen Doherty, and Parker Posey. The film is based on the true story of a corporate war in the mid-1990s between cosmetics queen Mary Kay Ash and an ambitious newcomer, Jinger Heath, who launches a rival company.[2]

A co-production between Canada and the United States, the film premiered on CBS on October 6, 2002.[1][2][3][4][5] Both MacLaine and Posey received Golden Globe nominations for their performances, with MacLaine saying the role of Mary Kay was one of her favorite characters.[5]

Summary

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Cosmetics queen Mary Kay relates her rise to the top of the home-beauty industry to an inquiring reporter, never allowing an opportunity pass to emphasize how many doors she has opened for the working women of America. Ultimately, however, Mary Kay's predominance is threatened by a much younger rival, Jinger Heath, whose BeautiControl company takes an enormous bite out of Mary Kay's share of the market. Caught in the middle is a slightly off-center beauty named Lexy Wilcox.[1]

Cast

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  • Shirley MacLaine as Mary Kay
  • Shannen Doherty as Lexy Wilcox
  • Parker Posey as Jinger Heath
  • R. H. Thomson as Richard Rogers
  • Barry Flatman as Dick Heath
  • Rachael Crawford as Annika Kern
  • Dean McKenzie as Clifton Sanders
  • Marnie McPhail as Brooke
  • Rebecca Gibson as Tanya
  • Catherine Fitch as Beverly
  • Maggie Butterfield as Doris
  • Terri Cherniak as Liz
  • Marina Stephenson Kerr as Chris
  • Rhiannon Benedict as Haley
  • Paul Christie as Lexy's Husband
  • Ned Vukovic as Andy (Doorman)
  • Robert Huculak as BC Exec
  • Jessica Burleson as BC Rep
  • John Bluethner as Boss
  • Toby Kennett as Butler

Production

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Patricia Resnick wrote the script and Alliance Atlantis executive Ed Gernon made his directorial debut on the film, which was co-produced with Howard Meltzer's TurtleBack Productions and Alliance Atlantis' Ian McDougall.[6]

Principal photography took place in Winnipeg from July 3 to 28, 2002.[6]

Reception

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Accolades

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Year Award Category Recipient Result Ref.
2003 60th Golden Globe Awards Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Shirley MacLaine Nominated [7]
Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Parker Posey Nominated
2nd AARP Movies for Grownups Awards Best TV Movie Hell on Heels: The Battle of Mary Kay Won [8]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Hell on Heels: The Battle of Mary Kay (2002)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  2. ^ a b King, Susan (October 5, 2002). "Putting a New Gloss on Mary Kay". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  3. ^ Miller, Daryl H. (October 5, 2002). "A Few Blemishes in This Beauty Battle". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  4. ^ Ringle, Ken (October 6, 2002). "Powder and the Glory". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Neal, Rome (October 1, 2002). "Beauty Business Gets Ugly". CBS News. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Bracken, Laura (July 22, 2002). "Mary Kay brings color to Winnipeg". Playback. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  7. ^ "Hell on Heels: The Battle of Mary Kay". Golden Globes. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  8. ^ Newcott, Bill. "Movies for Grownups Awards 2003". AARP: The Magazine. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
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