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:

Originally starred Paul Newman and daughter Nell Potts, but this changed when original director John Huston bowed out and was replaced by Peter Bogdanovich.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: The camera crew's shadow can be seen as Mose, Trixie and Imogene leave the circus tent.

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:

Referenced in "All in the Family: Mike and Gloria Mix It Up (#4.16)" (1974)

Soundtrack:

Sunnyside Up

The Depression- The Good Guys Started it!!!

Environment is Frankenstein for situations gone bad, and, actions which become instigated for the wrong reason... Everyone in the movie is basically alright, just a little twisted, despite what side of the law they are masquerading under!!...The film, "Paper Moon", based on the book "Adie Pray", so succinctly accommodates the definition of a comedy by correlating to all of the diverse characteristics of human error!!Isn't it funny!! isn't it cute!! isn't it slightly sordid, and pretty illegal!! Most of all!! Isn't "Paper Moon" a film which initiates a compendium of some of the most creative types of humor you have ever seen in virtually any movie made whatsoever!!! To quote another movie ("A Funny Thing Happened To Me On The Way To The Forum") "Nothing with kings, nothing with crowns, bring on the LOVERS!! liars and clowns"..."Old situations, new complications, something for everyone it's Comedy" (Ryan O'Neal) "Comedy" (Tatum O'Neal) "Comedy" (Madeline Kahn) "Comedy" (John Hilerman) "Comedy" (Randy Quaid) TONIGHT!!!".. How devoutly we the movie audience will root for the underdog...Fathers and daughters are suppose to go to chocolate cake socials in the public school gymnasium together, they are not suppose to be swindling bootleggers, merchants, and well to do widows!!!!! ..The precarious camaraderie between Ryan and Tatum O'Neal resonates itself to whereby con games are a dangerous form of nefarious fun!! Their overall philosophy being: "Please understand that we are only human!" "Let us hasten to add" "Please understand that we are only human, and the country is in the middle of the Depression!!!" This movie is hilarious! If you are not laughing outwardly throughout the entire film, your eyes are smiling every minute of this incredibly funny film.. guaranteed!! The plot is very well developed in this movie, and, the acting, cinematography, and director, are all first rate with this comedy classic!! In my opinion, Ryan O'Neal has never been better, of course, I'm not a woman!! The role of the charming finagler by default, suits Ryan O'Neal perfectly!!! Tatum O'Neal has never been better!! Her role is such that even as young as Adie is, she realizes that situational survival necessitates pecuniary chicanery!!! The whole thirties genre with this movie is sensational!! "Paper Moon" is one of my favorite movies of all time, I even love the song!!...The title was conjured up as a result of Tatum giving Ryan a picture of herself sitting on a paper moon at a carnival...It is sort of a love by way of a kindred spirit..There is love through marriage! There is love through family and friendship bonds!! There is love through sexual encounters! This love, however, is predicated on the parlayed premise of "Hey! Don't we make a great team of cons, no one swindles people with more finesse than the two of us...Don't you think?".. In 1973, when this movie was released, it manufactured a tailor made invitation for the moviegoer to be empathetic with the thought patterns of a con man!! "Sting" came out that year too, and "Sting" won for best picture in 1973. The mercurial charm of a swindler, and, his wickedly clever wiles of debauchery, became a train of thought which garnered a fascinating charisma with the movie audience that year!! The director of the film, "Paper Moon" Peter Bogdanovich, sets his own standards for the definition of a great movie...He articulates an aspect of human nature whereby the characters in the movie are innately aware of their seedier side!!! They are cajoled by lucrative adversity, and thus, very susceptible to the yearnings of the proverbial larceny in the soul!! Bogdanovich evokes a bittersweet empathy for the performing actors in his movie, as well as the emotions of people in general, this is what makes him an excellent director!! "Paper Moon" is Bogdanovich's prize movie, mostly on account of it's artistic gratification!!! I am impressed!!! Like I said before, I loved this movie!!