Factual error: When Julia Roberts and her roommate are in their living room and "I Love Lucy" comes on the TV, the opening theme song is accompanied by the traditional heart with "I Love Lucy" written on it. However, this movie takes place in 1953-1954, and that opening for the show wasn't used until the show was put in syndication many years later. During the show's primary run, cartoon characters of Lucy and Ricky opened the show. (00:13:50)
Mona Lisa Smile (2003)
Ending / spoiler
Directed by: Mike Newell
Starring: Julia Roberts, Kirsten Dunst, Julia Stiles, Maggie Gyllenhaal
Although the college administrators disapprove of Katherine's views and teaching methods, they offer to extend her contract only if she will stick to a pre-approved curriculum. She refuses and resigns. Katherine also breaks off her relationship with Bill (Dominic West), the Italian teacher, when she discovers he lied about his past (he was never stationed in Italy during the war). Joan (Julia Stiles) is accepted to Yale Law School but, under pressure from her family and fiance, declines the offer of admission. Her fiance convinces her to elope. Betty (Kirstin Dunst) gets married, but soon discovers that her husband is cheating on her. She leaves him and moves to New York with Giselle (Maggie Gyllenhaal) with whom she is now friends. Connie (Ginnifer Goodwin), the rather plain girl who thinks she'll never be loved, gets together with the guy who dated her. She mistakenly thought he was only using her, but he loves her.
More mistakes in Mona Lisa Smile
Katherine Watson: You can confirm to what other people expect of you, or.
Betty Warren: I know. Be ourselves.
Trivia: In one scene Julia Roberts takes her students to see a painting by Jackson Pollack. Julia's co-star Marcia Gay Harden won her Academy Award playing Pollack's wife in the movie, "Pollack" opposite Ed Harris, who incidentally played Julia's boyfriend/fiance in "Stepmom". (00:45:20)
Question: The lady that plays Julia Stile's mother looks remarkably like Swoozie Kurtz. Any relation?
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Answer: I can not find any reference to Joan Brandwyn's mother. I do not remember seeing her. Perhaps you are thinking of Mrs. Warren, Kirsten Dunst's mother in the film. She is played by Donna Mitchell. I have been unable to find a connection between the two.