The Amityville Horror (1979)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Stuart Rosenberg

Writers:

Sandor Stern (screenplay)
Jay Anson (book)
(more)

Release Date:

27 July 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

"For God's Sake, Get Out!"

Plot:

Newlyweds move into a house where a murder was committed, and experience strange manifestations which drive them away.

Plot Keywords:

Priest | Evil | Real Estate Agent | Murder | Cult Favorite

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 nominations

Cast

James Brolin	...	George Lutz
Margot Kidder	...	Kathy Lutz
Rod Steiger	...	Father Delaney
Don Stroud	...	Father Bolen
Murray Hamilton	...	Father Ryan
John Larch	...	Father Nuncio
Natasha Ryan	...	Amy
K.C. Martel	...	Greg
Meeno Peluce	...	Matt
Michael Sacks	...	Jeff
Helen Shaver	...	Carolyn
Amy Wright	...	Jackie
Val Avery	...	Sgt. Gionfriddo
Irene Dailey	...	Aunt Helena
Marc Vahanian	...	Jimmy
Elsa Raven	...	Mrs. Townsend
Ellen Saland	...	Bride
Eddie Barth	...	Agucci
Hank Garrett	...	Bartender
James Tolkan	...	Coroner
Carmine Foresta	...	Cop at the House
Peter Maloney	...	Newspaper Clerk
Charlie Welch	...	Carpenter
J.R. Miller	...	Boy
Patty Burtt	...	Girl
Michael Hawkins	...	New York State Trooper
Richard Hughes	...	2nd New York State Trooper
James Dukas	...	Neighbor (as Jim Dukas)
Baxter Harris	...	Cop #2 at the House
Michael Stearns	...	Policeman
Jack Krupnick	...	Dead Father

Directed by
Stuart Rosenberg

Writing credits
Sandor Stern		(screenplay)
Jay Anson		(book)
George Lutz		story (uncredited)
Kathy Lutz		story (uncredited)

Produced by
Samuel Z. Arkoff	....	executive producer
Elliot Geisinger	....	producer
Ronald Saland	....	producer

Original Music by
Lalo Schifrin

Cinematography by
Fred J. Koenekamp		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Robert Brown		(as Robert Brown Jr.)

Casting by
Jane Feinberg
Mike Fenton
Judy Taylor

Art Direction by
Kim Swados

Set Decoration by
Robert R. Benton		(as Robert Benton)

Makeup Department
Stephen Abrums	....	makeup artist
Christine Lee	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Salvatore Billitteri	....	post-production supervisor
Jere Henshaw	....	executive in charge of production
Russell Saunders	....	unit production manager (as Russ Saunders)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Benjamin Rosenberg	....	second assistant director
Edward E. Vaughan	....	first assistant director (as Ed Vaughan)

Art Department
Donald B. Nunley	....	property master (as Donald Nunley)

Sound Department
Stephen Hunter Flick	....	sound effects editor
Robert W. Glass	....	sound re-recording mixer
Maury Harris	....	sound mixer
Bill Henderson	....	sound re-recording engineer
Christopher Ramsey	....	boom operator (as Chris Ramsey)
Richard Tyler	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Wilkinson	....	sound re-recording mixer (as John K. Wilkinson)

Special Effects by
Dell Rheaume	....	special effects (as Delwyn Rheaume)

Visual Effects by
Allen Blaisdell	....	visual effects
William Cruse	....	visual effects

Stunts
Bruce Paul Barbour	....	stunt driver
Brian Bruderlin	....	stunt double
Roger Creed	....	stunt coordinator
Conrad E. Palmisano	....	stunt driver
Richard Seaman	....	stunt driver (as Richard D. Seaman)

Camera and Electrical Department
Mike Benson	....	camera operator (as Michael Benson)
Edward Morey III	....	camera assistant
John Murray	....	key grip (as Johnny Murray)
Gene Stout	....	gaffer (as Eugene Stout)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Cynthia Bales	....	wardrobe: women
Richard Butz	....	wardrobe: men

Editorial Department
Bill Berry	....	negative cutter
Dee D'Orazio	....	additional editing (as Etter 'Dee' D'Orazio)
Stanley Frazen	....	associate editor
Dennis Galling	....	assistant editor
Barbara Gandolfo-Frady	....	apprentice editor (as Barbara Gandolfo)

Music Department
Kenneth Hall	....	music editor (as Ken Hall)
Aaron Rochin	....	scoring mixer

Transportation Department
Johnny Dias	....	transportation

Other crew
Susan Anker	....	production secretary
Samuel Z. Arkoff	....	presenter
Reverend Thomas Bermingham	....	religious supervisor
Gary Gillingham	....	production controller
Connie Greenwood	....	unit controller
Karl Lewis Miller	....	animal trainer
Mary Ann Newfield	....	script supervisor
Barbara Pieters	....	production coordinator
Steve Warner	....	location auditor

Production Companies

• American International Pictures (AIP)
• Cinema 77
• Professional Films

Distributors

• American International Pictures (AIP) (1979) (USA) (theatrical)
• Ambassador Film Distributors (Canada) (theatrical)
• UGC Distribution (1980) (France) (theatrical)
• CEL Home Video (198?) (Australia) (VHS)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1981) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• GoodTimes Home Video (198?) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2001) (UK) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• RCV Home Entertainment (1998) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Star Video (198?) (Australia) (VHS)
• Vestron Video (198?) (USA) (VHS) (laserdisc)
• Video Diversión S.A. (1984) (Spain) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1983) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Glen Glenn Sound  sound re-recording (as Glen Glenn Sound Company)
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.)
• Neiman-Tillar Associates  creative sound services (as Neiman-Tillar Assoc.)
• New Jersey Film Commission  producers wish to thank
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Panavision  photographic equipment (as Panavision®)

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Netherlands:16 | USA:R (No. 25653) | South Korea:12 | Canada:PG (Canadian Home Video rating) | Italy:VM14 (re-rating) | Italy:VM18 (original rating) | Argentina:18 | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Chile:18 | Finland:K-18 | France:-12 | Iceland:16 | Norway:18 | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:X (original rating) | West Germany:16 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Connecticut, USA

Company:

American International Pictures (AIP)

Trivia:

James Brolin was hesitant when he was first offered the role of George Lutz. He was told that there was no script and that he must obtain a copy of Jay Anson's novel and read it as soon as possible. Brolin started the book one evening at seven o'clock and was still reading at two o'clock in the morning. He had hung a pair of his pants up in the room earlier and at a really "tense" part in the book, the pants fell down from wherever they had been hanging. Brolin jumped out of his chair, nearly crashing his head into the ceiling. It was then that Brolin said, "There's something to this story." He agreed to do the movie.

Goofs:

Continuity: The ball-shaped finial on the newel post at the bottom of the stairs (which is shown to fall off easily when the Lutz's are first being shown the house) appears, then disappears, then reappears between shots in one sequence.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Cop at the House: Jesus Christ, it gets worse all the time.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Scary Movie 2 (2001)

Excellent For it's time

This movie was based on the true story and it did a great job of re-creating what actually happened. The creepy way the little girl talks to the seemingly empty rocking chair and the 3:15 am horrifying nightmares over and over again would make anyone feel a little freaked out. The reaction of anyone who has anything to do with the church should have been a sign to get out of this house. The flies, cold spots, and eyes peering in and outside of the windows are all things that actually happened inside that house in Amityville Long Island. I recommend this movie to anyone who wants to enjoy a scary movie or for anyone who has been freightened of a house before. This movie does the trick without any fancy special effects.l