My Dinner with Andre (1981)

Director:

Louis Malle

Writers:

Wallace Shawn
Andre Gregory

Release Date:

11 October 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Plot:

Wallace Shawn and Andre Gregory, apparently playing themselves, share their lives over the course of an evening meal at a restaurant...

Plot Keywords:

Restaurant | Talking To A Plant | Electric Blanket | Espresso | Flag

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Wallace Shawn	...	Wally Shawn
Andre Gregory	...	Andre Gregory
Jean Lenauer	...	Waiter
Roy Butler	...	Bartender

Directed by
Louis Malle

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Andre Gregory
Wallace Shawn

Produced by
Dave Franke	....	associate producer
George W. George	....	producer
Beverly Karp	....	producer
Keith W. Rouse	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Allen Shawn

Cinematography by
Jeri Sopanen

Film Editing by
Suzanne Baron

Production Design by
David Mitchell

Art Direction by
Stephen McCabe

Set Decoration by
Doug Kraner		(as Douglas Kraner)

Costume Design by
Jeff Ullman		(as Jeffrey Ullman)

Makeup Department
Barbara Rouse	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Lloyd Kaufman	....	production manager (as Lloyd Kaufmann)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Norman Berns	....	assistant director

Art Department
Jean-Vincent Fournier	....	properties (as Vincent Fournier)

Sound Department
Michael R. Burnstine	....	boom operator (as Michael Burnstine)
Jean-Claude Laureux	....	sound

Camera and Electrical Department
Pedro Bonilla	....	assistant camera
Robert Lechterman	....	gaffer
Diana Michener	....	still photographer
Ralph Perri	....	key grip
Robert Strong	....	grip
Doug Sutton	....	first electrician (as Douglas Sutton)
John Thomas	....	second electrician
Deborah Watkins	....	grip

Editorial Department
James Bruce	....	assistant editor
Keith W. Rouse	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Joseph Villa	....	musician: piano, "First Gymnopédie"

Other crew
Ruth Ansel	....	title designer
Richard Blankenship	....	production assistant
James Bruce	....	production coordinator
Matthew Gaddis	....	production assistant
George W. George	....	presenter
France Lachapelle	....	script supervisor (as France LaChapelle)
Vincent Malle	....	assistant to director
Richard Siegel	....	production assistant
Michael White	....	associate presenter
Scott MacDonough	....	publicity coordinator (uncredited)

Thanks
Mercedes Gregory	....	special thanks
Dede Leiber	....	special thanks
Steve Leiber	....	special thanks
Margaret Ramsey	....	special thanks
George Ross	....	special thanks
Max Stafford-Clark	....	special thanks
Frederick M. Supper	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Saga Productions Inc.
• The Andre Company

Distributors

• New Yorker Films (1981) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cinegate (198?) (UK) (theatrical)
• Gaumont (1983) (France) (theatrical)
• Al!ve AG (2011) (Germany) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Fox Lorber Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Momentum Pictures Home Entertainment (2001) (UK) (VHS)
• Optimum Home Entertainment (2009) (UK) (DVD)
• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1984) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)

Other Companies

• Atlas Theatre Company Inc.  special thanks
• Gensaco Marketing  certain properties
• Mason Candlelight Company  certain properties
• Norman Winston Foundation  special thanks
• Oneida Silversmiths Inc.  certain properties
• Royal Court Theatre  special thanks
• Saga Productions Inc.  production supervised by
• Syracuse China Inc.  certain properties
• Troma Entertainment  additional production services by
• Upstate Films Inc.  special thanks
• Virginia Film Office  special thanks

Also Known As:

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:PG | Australia:G | UK:12 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

USA

Company:

Saga Productions Inc.

Trivia:

Lloyd Kaufman of Troma, Inc. was production manager and his fledgling company provided support to the making of this film. This was one of his first credits.

Goofs:

Continuity: Shortly after the main course is served, Wallace Shawn's plate disappears, then a few minutes later, it's back again.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Wally:The life of a playwright is tough. It's not easy as some people seem to think. You work hard writing plays and nobody puts them on. You take up other lines of work to make a living - I became an actor - and people don't hire you. So you just spend your days doing the errands of your trade.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Home Improvement: My Dinner with Wilson (#4.9)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

Gymnopedie 1

Look Closer

First off, I love this film. I'm sure I will see it a dozen or more times before I die. Definitely a 10/10.

But I comment for a different reason. Sure, you see the philosophy in the conversation. It is very interesting. What I think a lot of viewers are missing, though, is the strong characterizations of Wallace and Andre. They very clearly reveal their characters throughout the movie. I also love the tension that arises between them. Andre subtly criticizes Wally several times in the film (note what Andre says about people who stuff their face out of habit while Wallace is eating; also notice that we hardly ever see Andre himself eat). Wally is perceptive enough to catch them. This movie hit so close to home it was unbelievable. I think I've had that conversation before. The dynamics between Wallace and Andre have existed before between myself and friends with whom I have argued. If you find Andre a little pretentious, by the way, which many people will, don't necessarily believe that that wasn't deliberate. Wally himself finds his friend somewhat pretentious. And I think many people will be fooled into believing that the director sides with Andre just because he speaks the most. Some people will just buy into Andre's ideas and believe Wally is a poor sap. Don't be too sure that Wally has his life in any order. Don't believe he understands all that happens around him. Remember the line in Autumn Sonata that made him weep. Also, notice that Wally is fibbing a bit himself. In his opening monologue, he complains how hard his life is getting. All he used to think about was art, but now the only thing he thinks about is money.

See, this film is filled, just stuffed, with layers. Who would ever think that the most multi-layered film ever is a film about two people who sit down to dinner and talk!