The Big Chill (1983)

Director:

Lawrence Kasdan

Writers:

Lawrence Kasdan (written by) &
Barbara Benedek (written by)

Release Date:

28 September 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

The story of eight old friends searching for something they lost, and finding that all they needed was each other.

Plot:

A group of seven former college friends gather for a weekend reunion at a posh South Carolina winter house after the funeral of one of their friends.

Plot Keywords:

Friend | Funeral | Suicide | 1960s | Reunion

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Tom Berenger	...	Sam Weber
Glenn Close	...	Sarah Cooper
Jeff Goldblum	...	Michael Gold
William Hurt	...	Nick Carlton
Kevin Kline	...	Harold Cooper
Mary Kay Place	...	Meg Jones
Meg Tilly	...	Chloe
JoBeth Williams	...	Karen Bowens
Don Galloway	...	Richard Bowens
James Gillis	...	Minister
Ken Place	...	Peter the Cop
Jon Kasdan	...	Harold and Sarah's Son
Ira Stiltner	...	Running Dog Driver
Jake Kasdan	...	Autograph Seeker (as Jacob Kasdan)
Muriel Moore	...	Alex's Mother
Meg Kasdan	...	Airline Hostess
Patricia Gaul	...	Annie
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kevin Costner	...	Alex (scenes deleted)

Directed by
Lawrence Kasdan

Writing credits
Lawrence Kasdan		(written by) &
Barbara Benedek		(written by)

Produced by
Lawrence Kasdan	....	executive producer
Marcia Nasatir	....	executive producer
Barrie M. Osborne	....	associate producer (as Barrie Osborne)
Michael Shamberg	....	producer

Cinematography by
John Bailey

Film Editing by
Carol Littleton

Casting by
Wallis Nicita		(as Wally Nicita)

Production Design by
Ida Random

Set Decoration by
George Gaines

Costume Design by
April Ferry

Makeup Department
Michael Germain	....	makeup artist
Lyndell Quiyou	....	hair stylist
Mickey Scott	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Barrie M. Osborne	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Stephen P. Dunn	....	second assistant director (as Stephen Dunn)
Michael Grillo	....	first assistant director
Daniel J. Heffner	....	second assistant director (as Dan Heffner)

Art Department
Donald R. Abblett	....	production painter (as Donald Ablett)
Michael Casey	....	assistant property master
Tim Donelan	....	set dresser
Mike Higelmire	....	set dresser (as Michael Higelmire)
Gary Kudroff	....	set dresser
Michael Muscarella	....	construction coordinator
Rick Young	....	property master
Lewis Bowen	....	painter (uncredited)
David Goldstein	....	painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Raul A. Bruce	....	boom operator (as Raul Bruce)
Gene S. Cantamessa	....	production sound mixer
Dennis Drummond	....	sound editor
Patrick Drummond	....	sound editor
Robert Grieve	....	sound editor
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer
Donald O. Mitchell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kevin O'Connell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Norman B. Schwartz	....	post-production dialogue
Michael Tomack	....	sound editor
Dody Dorn	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)
Stephen Purvis	....	adr post-production (uncredited)
Donald C. Rogers	....	technical director of sound (uncredited)
Philip Rogers	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Lawrence J. Cavanaugh	....	special effects supervisor (as Larry Cavanaugh)

Stunts
James Winburn	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Lou Barlia	....	camera operator
Michael W. Blymyer	....	best boy (as Michael Blymyer)
Bobby Brown	....	assistant camera (as Robert Brown)
Jack Brown	....	assistant camera
Michael Ginsburg	....	still photographer
Al LaVerde	....	key grip
Ronald W. McLeish	....	gaffer (as Ron McLeish)
George R. Schrader	....	dolly grip (as George Schrader)
Ty Suehiro	....	second grip
Jeffrey W. Petersen	....	electrician (uncredited)
Riko Schatke	....	grip (uncredited)
Ronald Vidor	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Sandra Dawes	....	extras casting
Deborah Lucchesi	....	casting coordinator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
April Ferry	....	costume supervisor
Michele Neely	....	costumer
Mort Schwartz	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Bruce Cannon	....	assistant editor
Mia Goldman	....	assistant editor
Bruce Pearson	....	color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
Meg Kasdan	....	music consultant
Mike Deasy	....	musician (uncredited)

Transportation Department
John Reade	....	transportation coordinator
Roy A. Grace	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Pamela Alch	....	script supervisor
Jenny Collins	....	production assistant
Nan R. Eisley	....	assistant: Mr. Kasdan
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer
Michael Hill	....	production accountant
Mark Indig	....	location manager: South Carolina
Larry Kaplan	....	unit publicist
Stratton Leopold	....	location manager: Atlanta
Scott Musgrave	....	production assistant
Elise Rohden	....	production coordinator
Gerald Scaife	....	production assistant
Emily T. Warwick	....	assistant: Mr. Shamberg
Michael McCulley	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation (as Columbia Pictures) (presents)
• Carson Productions (as Carson Productions Group Ltd.)

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1983) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1986) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (1999) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Criterion Collection, The (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video (1992) (Germany) (video) (laserdisc)

Other Companies

• Delta Airlines  travel services
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• Modern Film Effects  titles
• Motown Records  soundtrack

Also Known As:

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:15 | Denmark:A (DVD rating) | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:18 | Peru:18 | New Zealand:M | Netherlands:AL | Portugal:M/16 | Argentina:18 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Italy:T | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

As he fights off the bat, Harold hums the theme from Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), a movie also written by Lawrence Kasdan.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): As the characters are preparing to watch the football game, Harold sings the University of Michigan fight song, "Hail to the Victors", yet the tune is obviously not correct.

Quotes:

Nick:[in a high-pitched voice] Hey. everyone, it's J.T. Lancer! Let's all go watch this incredible show!
Sarah:Woo hoo!
[everyone runs into the living room]
Karen:Come on, Sam.
Sam Weber:[lagging behind] Jesus!

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in The Big Mope (2007)

Soundtrack:

IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR

A Winning Comedy-Drama Backed by One of the Best Soundtracks Ever!

1983's THE BIG CHILL is one of those beautifully crafted and wonderfully acted films that is so ingratiating that I can watch it over and over and never tire of it. Director Lawrence Kasdan hits the bullseye in this alternately hilarious and moving variation on the earlier RETURN OF THE SECAUCUS SEVEN. This film follows the reunion of a group of friends who went to college together, who have gathered for the funeral of their mutual friend, Alex, who has committed suicide. The original screenplay included scenes with Alex, who was played by Kevin Costner, but, in a stroke of genius, it was decide to delete all of the Alex scenes in the film, lending a wonderful air of mystery to the character of Alex and allowing the audience more input as to why Alex decided to end his life. Alex's friends are Harold Cooper (Kevin Kline), who now owns a shoe store franchise and his doctor-wife, Sarah (Glenn Close), who also serve as our hosts ; Michael (Jeff Goldblum), a writer for PEOPLE magazine; Meg (Mary Kay Place)an attorney who wants to have a baby; Sam (Tom Berenger) an actor with his own TV show who misses the simple life; Karen (JoBeth Williams), a restless housewife who would really like to be a writer and Nick (William Hurt) a drug dealer who would like to be anything else. Also thrown into the mix is Chloe (Meg Tilly) Alex's girlfriend, who knows a completely different Alex than his friends do. This gathering of old and new friends sets the stage for some long-dormant resentments to bubble to the surface and for some long buried passions to be re-ignited. Kasdan has a sharp directorial eye and a flawless ear for dialogue with one of the most quotable screenplays ever and it is all set to a soundtrack of the greatest music from the 1960's ever compiled for a movie soundtrack. The cast is perfection...Close received a Best Supporting Actress nomination but the entire cast works at the same level and to honor one without honoring the ensemble wouldn't have been right. This is the ultimate ensemble piece and it works just about perfectly. Anyway you slice it, an instant classic.