Paper Moon (1973)

Director:

Peter Bogdanovich

Writers:

Joe David Brown (novel)
Alvin Sargent (screenplay)

Release Date:

9 May 1973 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

As P.T. Barnum put it, "There's a sucker born every minute."

Plot:

During the Great Depression, a con man finds himself saddled with a young girl who may or may not be his daughter, and the two forge an unlikely partnership.

Plot Keywords:

Bible | Carnival | Con Man | Missouri | Kansas

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 7 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Ryan O'Neal	...	Moses Pray
Tatum O'Neal	...	Addie / Addie Loggins
Madeline Kahn	...	Trixie Delight
John Hillerman	...	Deputy Hardin / Jess Hardin
P.J. Johnson	...	Imogene
Jessie Lee Fulton	...	Miss Ollie
James N. Harrell	...	The Minister (as Jim Harrell)
Lila Waters	...	The Minister's Wife
Noble Willingham	...	Mr. Robertson
Bob Young	...	Gas Station Attendant
Jack Saunders	...	Station Master
Jody Wilbur	...	Cafe Waitress
Liz Ross	...	The Widow Morgan (Pearl)
Yvonne Harrison	...	The Widow Bates (Marie)
Ed Reed	...	The Lawman - Bates' Home
Dorothy Price	...	Ribbon Saleslady
Eleanor Bogart	...	The Widow Stanley (Elvira)
Dorothy Forster	...	The Widow Huff (Edna)
Lana Daniel	...	Moze's Girlfriend
Herschel Morris	...	The Barber
Dejah Moore	...	Salesgirl ($20 bill)
Ralph Coder	...	Store Manager
Harriet Ketchum	...	Store Customer
Desmond Dhooge	...	Cotton Candy Man
Kenneth Hughes	...	Harem Tent Barker
George Lillie	...	The Photographer
Burton Gilliam	...	Floyd (Desk Clerk)
Floyd Mahaney	...	Beau (Hardin's Deputy)
Gilbert Milton	...	Leroy's Father
Randy Quaid	...	Leroy
Tandy Arnold	...	Leroy's Brother
Dennis Beden	...	Leroy's Brother
Vernon Schwanke	...	Leroy's Brother
Hugh Gillin	...	2nd Deputy
Art Ellison	...	Silver Mine Gentleman
Rose-Mary Rumbley	...	Aunt Billie (as Rosemary Rumbley)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jack Benny	...	Himself (on his radio show) (voice) (uncredited) (archive footage)
Jim Jordan	...	Fibber McGee (on his radio show) (voice) (uncredited) (archive footage)
Marian Jordan	...	Molly McGee (on her radio show) (voice) (uncredited) (archive sound)
Don Wilson	...	Himself on Jack Benny Radio Show (voice) (uncredited) (archive footage)

Directed by
Peter Bogdanovich

Writing credits
Joe David Brown		(novel "Addie Pray")
Alvin Sargent		(screenplay)

Produced by
Peter Bogdanovich	....	producer
Frank Marshall	....	associate producer
Francis Ford Coppola	....	executive producer (uncredited)
William Friedkin	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Cinematography by
László Kovács		(director of photography) (as Laszlo Kovacs)

Film Editing by
Verna Fields

Casting by
Gary Chason

Production Design by
Polly Platt

Set Decoration by
John P. Austin		(as John Austin)

Costume Design by
Polly Platt		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Dorothy Byrne	....	hairdresser
Rolf Miller	....	makeup

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jerry Ballew	....	second assistant director
Gary Daigler	....	assistant director trainee
Ray Gosnell Jr.	....	assistant director (as Ray Gosnell)

Art Department
George Lillie	....	painter
Ed Shanley	....	construction coordinator
James H. Spencer	....	set designer (as James Spencer)
Mark Wade	....	assistant prop man
Tony Wade	....	prop master

Sound Department
William C. Carruth	....	assistant sound editor (as Bill Carruth)
Les Fresholtz	....	mixer
Richard Portman	....	re-recordist
Kay Rose	....	sound editor
Frank E. Warner	....	sound editor (as Frank Warner)
Norman Webster	....	boom man

Visual Effects by
Jack Harmon	....	optical effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Richmond L. Aguilar	....	gaffer (as Richmond Aguilar)
Bobby Byrne	....	camera operator (as Robert Byrne)
Dick Colean	....	assistant cameraman
George Hill	....	key grip
Leonard Lookabaugh	....	dolly grip
Lou Noto	....	assistant cameraman (as Louis Noto)
Lawrence E. Peets	....	best boy (as Larry Peets)
Paul Caven	....	electrician (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Pat Kelly	....	costumer
Sandra Stewart	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Rick Fields	....	post-production assistant (as Richard Fields)
William Neel	....	assistant editor

Transportation Department
Gil Casper	....	driver: camera car
Clyde Harper	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Selma Brown	....	production secretary
Neil Canton	....	production assistant
Rudi Fehr	....	records from the collection of
Karen Hale Wookey	....	script supervisor (as Karen Wookey)
Richard Waltzer	....	production assistant
Mae Woods	....	assistant to the producer
Ralph M. Leo	....	production accountant (uncredited)

Thanks
Jack Benny	....	special thanks
The Blue Sky Boys	....	special thanks (as The Blue Sky Boys)
Hoagy Carmichael & His Orchestra	....	special thanks (as Hoagy Carmichael and His Orchestra)
Bing Crosby	....	special thanks
Ramona Darby	....	special thanks
Jimmie Davis	....	special thanks
Jimmie Grier and His Orchestra	....	special thanks
Peggy Healy	....	special thanks
Jack Hylton and His Orchestra	....	special thanks
Johnny Hamp's Kentucky Serenaders	....	special thanks
Jim Jordan	....	special thanks
Marian Jordan	....	special thanks
Frank Luther	....	special thanks
Enric Madriguera and Orchestra	....	special thanks (as Enric Madriguera and His Orchestra)
Nat Gonella and His Georgians	....	special thanks
Ozzie Nelson and Orchestra	....	special thanks (as Ozzie Nelson and His Orchestra)
Paul Whiteman and Orchestra	....	special thanks (as Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra)
Dick Powell	....	special thanks
Leo Reisman and His Orchestra	....	special thanks
Larry Stewart	....	special thanks
Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra	....	special thanks (as Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra)
Victor Young and His Orchestra	....	special thanks
Don Wilson	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Directors Company, The (presents)
• Saticoy Productions (as A Saticoy Production)
• Paramount Pictures (uncredited)

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1973) (USA) (theatrical) (as Paramount A Gulf+Western Company®)
• Cinema Internazional Corporation (1973) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1976) (USA) (TV)
• Paramount Pictures (1980) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Cine Plus Home Entertainment (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2006) (France) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Other Companies

• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.)
• People in and around Hays, Kansas and St. Joseph, Missouri  special thanks (as The People in and around Hays, Kansas and St. Joseph, Missouri)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-8 | Sweden:11 | USA:PG (PCA #23558) | Singapore:PG | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (2005) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Germany:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Norway:16 | West Germany:16 (nf) | Brazil:14 | Argentina:13 | Peru:14 | UK:PG (video rating: DVD director's audio commentary) (2003) | UK:PG (tv rating)

Filming Locations:

Boca Raton, Florida, USA

Company:

Directors Company, The

Trivia:

Film debut of Tatum O'Neal.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: During the final scene when Mose and Addie are driving off down a long dirt road, there's a clearly visible contrail from a high altitude plane across the sky in the distance. The film was set in the early-1930s when high altitude flights were far from commonplace.

Quotes:

[first lines]
The Minister:Judge me, oh Lord, for I have lost in mine integrity. I have trusted also in the Lord, therefore I shall not slide. Examine me, oh Lord, and prove me. Try my reins and my heart, for Thy loving kindness is before mine eyes, and I have walked in Thy truth.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Asking for the Moon (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

Georgia on My Mind

A terrific film on all levels

Paper Moon has to be one of the finest pieces of American cinema to grace the 70's. Bogdanovich's direction bares a strong resemblance to The Last Picture Show, but overall this film is much more satisfying and enjoyable. The Black and White photography gives the film a nostalgic beauty that perfectly complements the Depression-era it attempts to recreate. Also notable is the charming Jazz-based score, with a wonderful opening title track, reinforcing the film's charm. As good as the story, direction and music are however, the true stars of the film are the O'Neal twosome. Both bring forth their best performances of their careers, and share a chemistry on screen that only a father and daughter could. Ryan O'Neal brings forth a subtle charm as the wise-talking, but inept hustler Moses Pray. Tatum however, even upstages her father with what has to be the best youth performance in history. She is funny and moving when need be, and always charming, eliciting laughs many times based solely on her malleable facial expressions. Her show-stopping five minute shot, no matter how long it took to film, proves just how fully Tatum was able to embody little Addie Pray. The movie is always entertaining, with never a dull spot, with a strong supporting performance by Madeline Kahn to help keep things rolling during the middle. This is a true classic that should be seen by people of all ages, I can't recommend it enough!