Splash (1984)

A man is reunited with a mermaid who saves him from drowning as a boy and falls in love not knowing who/what she is.

Director:

Ron Howard

Writers:

Brian Grazer (story), Bruce Jay Friedman (screen story),

Stars:

Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah, Eugene Levy

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Hanks	...	Allen Bauer
Daryl Hannah	...	Madison
Eugene Levy	...	Walter Kornbluth
John Candy	...	Freddie Bauer
Dody Goodman	...	Mrs. Stimler
Shecky Greene	...	Mr. Buyrite
Richard B. Shull	...	Dr. Ross
Bobby Di Cicco	...	Jerry
Howard Morris	...	Dr. Zidell
Tony DiBenedetto	...	Tim, The Doorman (as Tony Di Benedetto)
Patrick Cronin	...	Michaelson
Charles Walker	...	Michaelson's Partner
David Knell	...	Claude
Jeff Doucette	...	Junior
Royce D. Applegate	...	Buckwalter

Storyline

Allen Bauer is rescued from drowning as a young boy off Cape Cod by a young mermaid. Years later he returns to the same location, and once again manages to fall into the sea, and is rescued once more by the mermaid (Allen isn't sure what he's seen and what he's imagined). The mermaid decides to search for Allen in New York, sprouting legs when her tail dries. On finding Allen, they fall in love, but she has a secret, which will no longer be a secret if she gets her legs wet..

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Plot Keywords:

mermaid | love | wallet | sunken ship | surveillance | 

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Taglines:

Two days ago, this girl showed up naked at the Statue of Liberty. For Alan Bauer, it was love at first sight. Now, everyone is chasing her... trying to prove she's a mermaid. From the first laugh you'll be hooked.

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Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Swedish

Release Date:

9 March 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Splash - Jungfrau am Haken

Filming Locations:

Biltmore Hotel - 506 S. Grand Avenue, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$69,800,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Brooke Shields reportedly turned down an offer to play Madison so she could study French Literature at Princeton.

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Goofs

In the final sequence, bubbles from safety diver are visible ahead of Madison and Allen.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Mary Bauer: Freddie!
Young Freddie: I dropped something.
Mary Bauer: Ralph, talk to him. Listen to your father. Come on, from over there we can see Cape Cod.
Ralph Bauer: We were just on Cape Cod. We could have stayed there, I would have saved twelve dollars.
Mary Bauer: Allen, sweetheart, don't you want to see Cape Cod? All right, darling, you know where we are if you change your mind.

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Crazy Credits

Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah swimming and coming to an underwater city.

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Connections

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: Tom Hanks/Sade (1985)

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Soundtracks

"Wooly Bully"
Performed by Sam the Sham

User Reviews

Early Tom Hanks/Ron Howard.

Over-achieving little film that was directed by Ron Howard and stars Tom Hanks as a young man who finds the woman of his dreams (Daryl Hannah). The only problem: she is really a mermaid. A smart screenplay and some real drama in the film save this project which could have been a disaster, but ends up being a nice piece of entertainment. Eugene Levi and John Candy are appropriately hilarious in supporting turns. 4 stars out of 5.