Neighbors (1981)

Director:

John G. Avildsen

Writers:

Thomas Berger (novel)
Larry Gelbart (screenplay)

Release Date:

18 December 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Lock the doors... here come the Neighbors

Plot:

A quiet man's peaceful suburban lifestyle is threatened by the new, obnoxious couple that moves in next door.

Plot Keywords:

House | Neighbor | Torn Shirt | Fire | Sexual Desire

Cast

John Belushi	...	Earl Keese
Kathryn Walker	...	Enid Keese
Cathy Moriarty	...	Ramona
Dan Aykroyd	...	Vic
Igors Gavon	...	Chic
Dru-Ann Chuckran	...	Chic's Wife
Tim Kazurinsky	...	Pa Greavy
Tino Insana	...	Perry Greavy
P.L. Brown	...	Police Officer #1
Henry Judd Baker	...	Police Officer #2
Lauren-Marie Taylor	...	Elaine Keese
Sherman G. Lloyd	...	Fireman #1 (DOC) (as Sherman Lloyd)
Bert Kittel	...	Fireman #2
J.B. Friend	...	Additional Fireman
Bernie Friedman	...	Additional Fireman
Edward S. Kotkin	...	Additional Fireman (as Edward Kotkin)
Michael Manoogian	...	Additional Fireman
Dale Two Eagles	...	Mr. Thundersky

Directed by
John G. Avildsen

Writing credits
Thomas Berger		(novel)
Larry Gelbart		(screenplay)

Produced by
Bernie Brillstein	....	executive producer
David Brown	....	producer
Irving Paul Lazar	....	executive producer
Richard D. Zanuck	....	producer

Original Music by
Bill Conti

Cinematography by
Gerald Hirschfeld

Film Editing by
Jane Kurson

Casting by
Kathy Talbert

Production Design by
Peter S. Larkin		(as Peter Larkin)

Set Decoration by
Thomas C. Tonery		(as Thomas Tonery)

Costume Design by
John Boxer

Makeup Department
Joseph Coscia	....	hair stylist
Michael R. Thomas	....	makeup artist (as Michael Thomas)

Production Management
George Manasse	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Yudi Bennett	....	first assistant director
Frank Falvey	....	dga trainee (as Francis Falvey)
Paula Mazur	....	second assistant director
Mark McGann	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Richard T. Allen	....	construction supervisor (as Richard Allen)
Ken Kammerer	....	set dresser (as Kenneth Kammerer)
William Kane	....	property master (as William B. Kane)
Ernest W. Southern	....	chargeman scenic artist (as Ernest Southern)

Sound Department
Rick Alexander	....	sound effects mixer (as Dick Alexander)
Les Fresholtz	....	dialogue mixer
Jerry Jacobson	....	sound editor
Les Lazarowitz	....	sound mixer
Tod A. Maitland	....	boom operator (as Todd A. Maitland)
Dan Sable	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Edward Drohan	....	special effects
Gary Zeller	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Don Biller	....	second assistant camera (as Donald Biller)
Ken Finlay	....	best boy (as Kenneth Finlay)
Gil Geller	....	additional photographer
Marc Hirschfeld	....	first assistant camera (as Marc D. Hirschfeld)
Ronald M. Lautore	....	camera operator (as Ronald Lautore)
James McGrath	....	key grip
Michael McGrath	....	dolly grip
Lorey Sebastian	....	still photographer
Louis Tobin	....	gaffer
John Thomas Kennedy	....	key rigging grip (uncredited)
Michael Douglas Middleton	....	still photographer: props (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mark Klein	....	wardrobe: men
Rose Trimarco	....	wardrobe: women
Carol Anne Wegner	....	stand-by wardrobe

Editorial Department
John G. Avildsen	....	supervising editor
Paul Cavagnero	....	assistant editor
Chip Cronkite	....	assistant editor
John Murray	....	assistant editor (assistant editor)

Music Department
George Doering	....	musician
Stephen A. Hope	....	music editor
Peter T. Myers	....	orchestrator (as Peter Myers)
Arthur Piantadosi	....	music mixer
Bruce Robb	....	music engineer: theme song
Bruce Robb	....	music mixer: theme song
Bruce Robb	....	music producer: theme song

Transportation Department
Patrick Hogan	....	driver

Other crew
Rick Derby	....	production assistant (as Ricky Jay Derby)
Joyce Wilson Fetherolf	....	assistant: John G. Avildsen
Jonathan Filley	....	location manager
Laurel Hargarten	....	production assistant
Michael Hourihan	....	teamster captain
Mary Kane	....	location services
Lynn Lewis Lovett	....	script supervisor
Vince Martinez	....	location auditor (as Vincent Martinez)
Nancy Wood-Tuber	....	production office coordinator (as Nancy Wood Tuber)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Warner-Columbia Film (1982) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Films (1982) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Columbia Pictures
• GoodTimes Home Video (1988) (USA) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (19??) (Argentina) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (video)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (DVD-R)

Other Companies

• Cherokee Studios  original music recorded and mixed at
• Hastings Sound Editorial  sound effects
• M/S Billings Publicity Ltd.  publicity

Also Known As:

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12 | Iceland:L | Australia:M | Argentina:16 | Sweden:11

Filming Locations:

Staten Island, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Taglines for this movie described it as "A Comic-Nightmare", nightmare being an appropriate word to describe this film's shoot. This was a troubled production because the two lead actors argued with the director, the director argued with the producers and everybody tried to rewrite the screenplay. Though the script is credited to Larry Gelbart, much of it was re-written, and Gelbart publicly aired his disapproval. At one point, John Belushi, who would soon die from a drug overdose within four months of the film debuting, accused writer Larry Gelbart of drinking too much. Belushi's drug use also caused problems for the production of the film.

Goofs:

Plot holes: After Vic's dog Baby is heard barking in Enid and Earl's bedroom, we never hear or see the dog again, even after Vic, Ramona and Earl leave Bird Street.

Quotes:

Ramona:Now, I'm just going to go under the covers and take a little inventory. Promise you won't go away.
Earl Keese:You're really wonderful!
Ramona:That's what I've been trying to tell you. Is it so hard having your fantasies come to life?

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Too Young to Die: John Belushi - Ein Leben über dem Limit (#1.1)" (2012)

Soundtrack:

Hello, I Love You

Definitely not fit for mass consumption

not a mainstream comedy by any means This movie fails on nearly every front but has 2 things going for it, the cast, its an almost forgotten piece of Ackroyd and Belushi in their prime, secondly its off kilter pace and atmosphere, these alone are enough to give it a place in my collection.

If your not into either of the above then give this a wide berth as its sure to disappoint. apparently the film had a difficult gestation and this seems plausible as its very inconsistent and aimless at times, shifting gear unexpectedly. an eclectic and patchy dark comedy it should suit die hard fans who want to see more of A&B