Harper Valley P.T.A. (1978)

Director:

Richard C. Bennett
(more)

Writers:

George Edwards (screenplay)
George Edwards (story)
(more)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

The song was scandalous. The movie is hilarious!

Plot:

Stella Johnson is a single mother living in the town of Harper Valley. Now most of people, particularly...

Plot Keywords:

Pta | Prank | Single Mother | Female Protagonist | Makeover

Cast

Barbara Eden	...	Stella Johnson
Ronny Cox	...	Willis Newton
Nanette Fabray	...	Alice Finely
Louis Nye	...	Kirby Baker
Audrey Christie	...	Flora Simpson Reilly
Ron Masak	...	Herbie Maddox
John Fiedler	...	Bobby Taylor
Susan Swift	...	Dee Johnson
Pat Paulsen	...	Mr. Harper
Bob Hastings	...	Skeeter
Fay DeWitt	...	Willa Mae Jones
J.J. Barry	...	Tex
Royce D. Applegate	...	Dutch
Irene Yah-Ling Sun	...	Myrna Wong
Louise Foley	...	Mavis
Amzie Strickland	...	Shirley Thompson (PTA secretary)
Molly Dodd	...	Olive Glover
DeVera Marcus	...	Holly Taylor
Clint Howard	...	Corley
Pitt Herbert	...	Henry Reilly
Tobias Anderson	...	Barney Crunk
Arlen Stuart	...	Bertha Harper
Laura Teige	...	Reilly twin
Jan Teige	...	Reilly twin
Shelley Hull	...	Dr. Carey
Brian Cook	...	Carlyle
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Luther Fear	...	Butler (uncredited)
Woody Harrelson	...	Extra (uncredited)
Mike McMurry	...	Police Officer (uncredited)
Keith Schrader	...	Man in Crowd (uncredited)
Jeff Vice	...	Ice Cream Parlor Customer (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard C. Bennett
Ralph Senensky		(uncredited)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
George Edwards		screenplay
George Edwards		story
Barry Schneider		writer

Produced by
Phil Borack	....	executive producer
Joan Carson	....	associate producer
Michael Economou	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Nelson Riddle

Cinematography by
Willy Kurant

Film Editing by
Michael Economou

Casting by
Jim Merrick

Art Direction by
Tom Rasmussen

Set Decoration by
Bob Breen
Deborah Siegel

Costume Design by
Tom Rasmussen

Makeup Department
Jim Gillespie	....	assistant makeup artist
Jim La Forte	....	makeup artist
Lynn Masters	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Joan Carson	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tom McCrory	....	assistant director
Steve Siporin	....	assistant director

Art Department
Al Shelly	....	property master

Sound Department
Bill Jackson	....	sound effects editor
Michael C. Moore	....	sound mixer
Wolf Seeberg	....	sound mixer
Jim Yant	....	sound effects editor

Stunts
Whitey Hughes	....	stunt coordinator
Richard Karie	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Vera Anderson	....	still photographer
John Anneman	....	camera operator
Jim Dyer	....	dolly grip
John Gunselman	....	director of photography: additional photography
Ken Miller	....	key grip
Jim Salazar	....	best boy
Tom Stern	....	gaffer
David Trainor	....	best boy

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Karen M. Davis	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Karen Davis)

Music Department
John Fresco	....	music supervisor
Steve Livingston	....	music editor
Rocky Moriana	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Richard Bonforte	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Betty Goldberg	....	script supervisor
Sandy King	....	script supervisor
Patty Richarde	....	production coordinator
Leslie Sue Rosen	....	craft service

Production Companies

• April Fools Productions

Distributors

• April Fools Productions (1978) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1980) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)

Other Companies

• DeLuxe Laboratories  color by (as DeLuxe)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Iceland:L | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Lebanon, Ohio, USA

Company:

April Fools Productions

Trivia:

All but the last 2 weeks of filming were directed by Ralph Senensky. He left after expressing concern that the elephants would be spooked on Halloween night, when a scene was scheduled to be shot. As it turned out he was right and Nanette Fabray was injured.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The helicopter's shadow can be seen during an aerial scene.

Quotes:

Stella Johnson:I'd like to address this meeting of the Harper Valley P.T.A.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Million Eyes of Sumuru (#1.18)" (1989)

Soundtrack:

HARPER VALLEY P.T.A.

Featherweight fun

Good sitcom-ish movie that makes for a pleasant few hours entertainment. A cast of old-style character actor pros make the rather silly plot worth watching. The revenge set-pieces are the highlights, but the action ending doesn't ruin the fun. Any movie that focuses on good guys squelching the snobs is worth getting, and Barbara Eden is always watchable.