Back to the Future (1985)

Director:

Robert Zemeckis

Writers:

Robert Zemeckis (written by) &
Bob Gale (written by)

Release Date:

3 July 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

He's the only kid ever to get into trouble before he was born. [UK]

Plot:

A teenager is accidentally sent 30 years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean invented by his friend, Dr. Emmett Brown, and must make sure his high-school-age parents unite in order to save his own existence.

Plot Keywords:

Time Machine | Delorean | Future | Lightning | Mad Scientist

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 13 wins & 24 nominations

Cast

Michael J. Fox	...	Marty McFly
Christopher Lloyd	...	Dr. Emmett Brown
Lea Thompson	...	Lorraine Baines
Crispin Glover	...	George McFly
Thomas F. Wilson	...	Biff Tannen
Claudia Wells	...	Jennifer Parker
Marc McClure	...	Dave McFly
Wendie Jo Sperber	...	Linda McFly
George DiCenzo	...	Sam Baines
Frances Lee McCain	...	Stella Baines
James Tolkan	...	Mr. Strickland
J.J. Cohen	...	Skinhead (as Jeffrey Jay Cohen)
Casey Siemaszko	...	3-D
Billy Zane	...	Match
Harry Waters Jr.	...	Marvin Berry
Donald Fullilove	...	Goldie Wilson
Lisa Freeman	...	Babs
Cristen Kauffman	...	Betty
Elsa Raven	...	Clocktower Lady
Will Hare	...	Pa Peabody
Ivy Bethune	...	Ma Peabody
Jason Marin	...	Sherman Peabody
Katherine Britton	...	Daughter Peabody
Jason Hervey	...	Milton Baines
Maia Brewton	...	Sally Baines
Courtney Gains	...	Dixon
Richard L. Duran	...	Terrorist
Jeff O'Haco	...	Terrorist Van Driver
Johnny Green	...	Scooter Kid #1
Jamie Abbott	...	Scooter Kid #2
Norman Alden	...	Lou
Read Morgan	...	Cop
Sachi Parker	...	Bystander #1
Robert Krantz	...	Bystander #2
Gary Riley	...	Guy #1
Karen Petrasek	...	Girl #1
George 'Buck' Flower	...	Red Thomas - the Bum (as Buck Flower)
Tommy Thomas	...	Starlighter
Granville 'Danny' Young	...	Starlighter
David Harold Brown	...	Starlighter
Lloyd L. Tolbert	...	Starlighter
Paul Hanson	...	Pinhead
Lee Brownfield	...	Pinhead
Robert DeLapp	...	Pinhead
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Walter Scott	...	Man driving jeep - 1985
Charles L. Campbell	...	1955 Radio Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
Deborah Harmon	...	TV Newscaster (uncredited)
Janine King	...	High School Girl (uncredited)
Huey Lewis	...	High School Band Audition Judge (uncredited)
Tom Tangen	...	Student (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Zemeckis

Writing credits
Robert Zemeckis		(written by) &
Bob Gale		(written by)

Produced by
Neil Canton	....	producer
Bob Gale	....	producer
Kathleen Kennedy	....	executive producer
Frank Marshall	....	executive producer
Steven Spielberg	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Alan Silvestri

Cinematography by
Dean Cundey		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Harry Keramidas
Arthur Schmidt

Casting by
Jane Feinberg
Mike Fenton
Judy Taylor

Production Design by
Lawrence G. Paull

Art Direction by
Todd Hallowell

Set Decoration by
Hal Gausman

Costume Design by
Deborah Lynn Scott		(as Deborah L. Scott)

Makeup Department
Dorothy Byrne	....	hair stylist
Ken Chase	....	makeup creator
Elizabeth Rabe	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Barry Rosenberg	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Jack Grossberg	....	unit production manager
Dennis E. Jones	....	unit production manager
Arthur F. Repola	....	post-production supervisor (as Arthur Repola)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mitchell Bock	....	first assistant director: second unit
Pamela M. Eilerson	....	second assistant director (as Pamela Eilerson)
Frank Marshall	....	second unit director
David McGiffert	....	first assistant director
Concetta Rinaldo-Williams	....	dga trainee (as Concetta Rinaldo)

Art Department
Cameron Birnie	....	set designer
Ernest Depew	....	construction coordinator (as Ernie Depew)
Al Gaynor	....	graphic artist
Al Gaynor	....	scenic artist
Kirk D. Hansen	....	paint foreman
Joseph E. Hubbard	....	set designer
Dick Lasley	....	production illustrator
Margie Stone McShirley	....	set designer (as Marjorie Stone McShirley)
James Passanante	....	standby painter (as Jim Passanante)
Joe Pfaltzgraf	....	assistant property master
Andrew Probert	....	production illustrator
Michael Scheffe	....	construction coordinator: DeLorean
Arthur Smedley	....	lead person (as Art Smedley)
'Dangerous' Bob Widin	....	assistant property master
John Zemansky	....	property master
Mario D'Alfonso	....	labor foreman (uncredited)
Robert Misetich	....	paint foreman (uncredited)
Tim Stadler	....	painter (uncredited)
Drew Struzan	....	poster artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Charles L. Campbell	....	supervising sound editor
Larry Carow	....	sound editor
Samuel C. Crutcher	....	sound editor (as Sam Crutcher)
Larry Fallick	....	assistant sound editor
Janice Hampton	....	sound editor
Craig Harris	....	processed sound effects
Scott Hecker	....	sound editor
William B. Kaplan	....	production sound mixer
John A. Larsen	....	sound editor
Daniel J. Leahy	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Dan Leahy)
Harry B. Miller III	....	sound editor
Glenn T. Morgan	....	assistant adr editor
Chuck Neely	....	sound editor
Alan L. Nineberg	....	adr editor (as Alan Nineberg)
Tak Ogawa	....	sound designer
Sonny Pettijohn	....	apprentice sound editor
Bruce Richardson	....	sound editor
John Roesch	....	foley artist
Rod Rogers	....	assistant adr editor
Robert R. Rutledge	....	supervising sound editor (as Robert Rutledge)
Earl Sampson	....	boom operator (as Earl F. Sampson)
B. Tennyson Sebastian II	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Tenny Sebastian II)
Larry Singer	....	supervising adr editor
Fred Stafford	....	sound editor
Jerry Stanford	....	sound editor
Robert Thirlwell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bill Varney	....	sound re-recording mixer
Darcy Vebber	....	utility sound
David Kelson	....	utility sound (uncredited)
Robb Navrides	....	supervising sound editor: restoration (uncredited)
Greg Orloff	....	foley mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Sam Adams	....	special effects
Richard Chronister	....	special effects
William A. Klinger	....	special effects (as William Klinger)
Kevin Pike	....	special effects supervisor
Kimberley Pike	....	special effects
Neil Smith	....	special effects foreman
Steve Suits	....	special effects
David Wischnack	....	special effects foreman
Neil Trifunovich	....	special effects buyer (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Peter Albrecht	....	ink & paint: ILM (uncredited)
Donna K. Baker	....	rotoscope artist: ILM (uncredited)
Barbara Brennan	....	animator: ILM (uncredited)
Donald Clark	....	optical camera operator: ILM (uncredited)
Mike Cochrane	....	modelmaker: ILM (uncredited)
Jeff Doran	....	optical technician: ILM (uncredited)
John Ellis	....	optical supervisor: ILM (uncredited)
Scott Farrar	....	camera operator: ILM (uncredited)
Ellen Ferguson	....	ink & paint: ILM (uncredited)
Robert Finley Jr.	....	stage technician: ILM (uncredited)
Warren Franklin	....	general manager: ILM (uncredited)
Michael Fulmer	....	modelmaker: ILM (uncredited)
Steve Gawley	....	supervising modelmaker: ILM (uncredited)
Tim Geideman	....	optical technician: ILM (uncredited)
Ray Gilberti	....	assistant camera operator: ILM (uncredited)
Ralph Gordon	....	optical line-up: ILM (uncredited)
Ned Gorman	....	production buyer: ILM (uncredited)
Joanne Hafner	....	ink & paint: ILM (uncredited)
James Hagedorn	....	optical camera operator: ILM (uncredited)
Robert Hill	....	assistant camera operator: ILM (uncredited)
Robert Hill	....	camera operator: ILM (uncredited)
Sandy Houston	....	rotoscope artist: ILM (uncredited)
Peg Hunter	....	optical line-up: ILM (uncredited)
Ed Jones	....	optical line-up: ILM (uncredited)
Randy Jonsson	....	assistant camera operator: ILM (uncredited)
Ira Keeler	....	modelmaker: ILM (uncredited)
Bill Kimberlin	....	effects editor: ILM (uncredited)
Ellen E. Lichtwardt	....	rotoscope supervisor: ILM (uncredited)
James Lim	....	optical camera operator: ILM (uncredited)
Pamela Marcotte	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Kim Marks	....	camera operator: ILM (uncredited)
Ted Moehnke	....	pyrotechnician: ILM (uncredited)
Jack Mongovan	....	animator: ILM (uncredited)
Michael Moore	....	assistant editor: ILM (uncredited)
Charlie Mullen	....	animation supervisor: ILM (uncredited)
Phillip Norwood	....	visual effects art director: ILM (uncredited)
Terrence Peck	....	assistant editor: ILM (uncredited)
Ken Ralston	....	supervisor of visual effects: ILM (uncredited)
Peggy Regan	....	animator: ILM (uncredited)
Jay Riddle	....	animation camera: ILM (uncredited)
Jay Riddle	....	animator: ILM (uncredited)
Louis Rivera	....	optical technician: ILM (uncredited)
Martin Rosenberg	....	assistant camera operator: ILM (uncredited)
Thomas Rosseter	....	optical line-up: ILM (uncredited)
Wesley Seeds	....	modelmaker: ILM (uncredited)
Kenneth Smith	....	optical camera operator: ILM (uncredited)
Howard Stein	....	supervising visual effects editor: ILM (uncredited)
Peter Stolz	....	pyrotechnician: ILM (uncredited)
Wes Takahashi	....	animator: ILM (uncredited)
Laurie Vermont	....	production coordinator: ILM (uncredited)

Stunts
Richard E. Butler	....	stunts
Charles Croughwell	....	stunts (as Charlie Croughwell)
Loren Janes	....	stunts
Max Kleven	....	stunts
Bernie Pock	....	stunts
Spiro Razatos	....	stunts
Robert Schmelzer	....	stunts
John-Clay Scott	....	stunts
Walter Scott	....	stunt coordinator
Per Welinder	....	stunts
Bob Yerkes	....	stunts
Charles Croughwell	....	stunt double: Michael J. Fox (uncredited)
Gene Hartline	....	stunts (uncredited)
Terry Jackson	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Dic Alexander	....	grip
Richard Babin	....	dolly grip (as Dick Babin)
Clyde E. Bryan	....	first assistant camera
Dan Cooper	....	best boy grip
George La Fountaine Jr.	....	electrical lighting technician (as George LaFountaine)
'Wild' Will MacLean	....	dolly grip
Thomas Marshall	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Thom Marshall)
Steve Mathis	....	electrical lighting technician (as Steven R. Mathis)
Ralph Nelson	....	still photographer
Michael Orefice	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Michael Paul Orefice)
Michael Salts	....	grip
Charles J. Schray	....	grip (as Chuck Schray)
Raymond Stella	....	camera operator
Raymond Stella	....	director of photography: second unit
Steve Tate	....	second assistant camera (as Stephen Tate)
Mark Walthour	....	chief lighting technician (as Mark D. Walthour)
Anthony Wong	....	electrical lighting technician
Ronald Woodward	....	key grip (as Ronald T. Woodward)
Ray Gilberti	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Albert Hood	....	electrician (uncredited)
Randy Jonsson	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Ron Kunecke	....	musco light operator (uncredited)
Michael R. Marquette	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Brian Callahan	....	costume supervisor: men
Julie Starr Dresner	....	key costumer
Haleen K. Holt	....	costume illustrator (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Donah Bassett	....	negative cutter (as Donah J. Bassett)
Barbara Palmer Dixon	....	assistant film editor (as Barbara Dixon)
Terry Haggar	....	color timer
Roger Jaep	....	apprentice film editor
Peter Lonsdale	....	assistant film editor (as Peter N. Lonsdale)
Charles Simmons	....	apprentice film editor
David Handman	....	assistant editor (uncredited)
Ron S. Herbes	....	trailer editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Dick Bernstein	....	music software
James B. Campbell	....	orchestrator (as James Campbell)
Bones Howe	....	music supervisor
Kenneth Karman	....	music editor
Dennis S. Sands	....	music scoring mixer (as Dennis Sands)
Deborah Zimmerman	....	assistant music editor
Tom Boyd	....	musician: oboe soloist (uncredited)
Chuck Domanico	....	musician: bass (uncredited)
Tommy Johnson	....	musician: tuba (uncredited)
James Thatcher	....	musician: French horn solos (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Bob Cornell	....	transportation captain (as Bob R. Cornell)
John Feinblatt	....	transportation coordinator
Tom Garris	....	transportation captain: picture cars
Eugene Schwartz	....	transportation manager (as Gene Schwartz)
Jack Carpenter	....	driver: insert car (uncredited)
Gregory Dultz	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Kate Barker	....	assistant: Ms. Kennedy
Richard L. Calkins	....	animal handler (as Richard Caulkins)
Jeffrey R. Coates	....	production associate
Ron Cobb	....	consultant: DeLorean time travel
Robert R. Draney	....	assistant accountant
Lynn D. Ezelle	....	assistant accountant
Ann Furia	....	assistant accountant
Anthony Gibson	....	production associate
Babette T. Gorman	....	assistant: Mr. Canton
Nancy Hansen	....	script continuity (as Nancy B. Hansen)
Diana L. Hayes	....	production associate
Brad Jeffries	....	choreographer
Leanne Moore	....	production accountant
Julie Moskowitz	....	assistant: Mr. Spielberg
Gail Oliver	....	assistant: Mr. Zemeckis
Eileen Omaye	....	assistant: Mr. Gale
Maureen Osborne-Beall	....	production coordinator
Ramon Pahoyo	....	craft service (as Ramon B. Pahoyo)
Paul Pav	....	location manager
Bonne Radford	....	production controller
Mary T. Radford	....	assistant: Mr. Marshall
Marsha Robertson	....	unit publicist
Nina Saxon	....	title design
Steven Spielberg	....	presents
Rob Stevens	....	assistant production coordinator
Steven Talmy	....	production associate
Judy Thomason	....	assistant: Mr. Repola
Robert Weatherwax	....	animal handler
Alexander Xavier Ponce-Bonano	....	scientific consultant (uncredited)

Thanks
Mark Campbell	....	special thanks
Ron Hitchcock	....	special thanks
Gregg Landaker	....	special thanks
Steve Maslow	....	special thanks
Tim May	....	special thanks
Stephen Semel	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures
• Amblin Entertainment
• U-Drive Productions (uncredited)

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1985) (USA) (theatrical)
• Lucernafilm - Alfa (1992) (Czechoslovakia) (theatrical)
• Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI) (1985) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1985) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1985) (France) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1985) (UK) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1985) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1985) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1986) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Argentina Video Home (2002) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2002) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-edited)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Home Video Hellas (HVH) (1986) (Greece) (VHS)
• MCA Home Video (1986) (USA) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1989) (USA) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1988) (USA) (TV)
• Prem'er Video Fil'm (Russia) (VHS)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Home Video (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pay Television (????) (USA) (TV) (An MCA Company)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD) (25th anniversary trilogy)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2010) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (25th anniversary trilogy)

Special Effects

• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) (visual effects)

Other Companies

• CBS Television Network  permission: use of "The Honeymooners" excerpt (as CBS)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes and dollies (uncredited)
• Digital Media Services (DMS)  digital marketing asset management
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production (uncredited)
• Group IV Scoring Facility  special thanks
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  logo (as IATSE)
• Intrada  score album released by (limited edition) (uncredited)
• MCA Records  original soundtrack (as MCA Records and Cassettes)
• Movie Magic  opticals
• Photographic Illustration Company,  special thanks
• Post Logic Studios  digital film mastering (uncredited)
• Softitler  English subtitles (uncredited)
• The David Forbes Company  marketing and distribution services
• Unique Movie Cars  picture cars (uncredited)
• Viacom Enterprises  courtesy: film clip

Also Known As:

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints) (as Dolby Stereo)

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Canada:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:K-10 | Iceland:L | Italy:T | Netherlands:AL | Norway:11 | Peru:PT | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG (certificate #27831) | West Germany:12 | Ireland:PG | Netherlands:MG6 (DVD rating) | Portugal:M/6 | South Korea:12 | Brazil:Livre | Spain:T | Canada:G (Quebec) | Japan:PG12 (2010) | Canada:PG (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The script was rejected 40 times before it was finally green-lit.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the beginning of film when Marty realizes he is late for school and rushes out of Doc Browns place, he closes the gate and places his skateboard at his right foot. The long shot then shows him skating away on the left foot.

Quotes:

[first lines]
1985 radio announcer:October is inventory time, so right now, Statler Toyota is making the best deals of the year on all 1985-model Toyotas. You won't find a better car at a better price with better service anywhere in Hill Valley. That's Statler Toyota in downtown Hill Valley.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Scream Awards 2010 (2010) (TV)

Soundtrack:

THE BALLAD OF DAVY CROCKETT

A Time -Travelling Classic

Zemeckis's 'Back To The Future' trilogy has been a childhood favourite for a long time. Having revisited it today, brought me to a nostalgic state. The 80's saw a lot of excellent original fun 'young' films like 'Back To The Future' (of course), 'Better Off Dead', 'Heathers', 'The Breakfast Club' etc. What really made these films immensely enjoyable then, and classics today, is that they really reflected what it was like being a young person in the 80s. The movies themselves were well written, well executed, well acted and they cut straight to the point.

Back to 'Back To The Future'. This one is sheer fun, even today. There's an incredible energy about it but it still manages to stay an 'innocent' film. The music is very effective. It's slick and follows a steady pace. The special effects are decent. Though people might pick on the plausibility of the time travelling, I think this is really a very minor flaw because it is overall a well written movie and the point was to entertain. Yet, this is not to say that it's brainless entertainment. I think it cleverly brings forth some interesting themes and I liked how they funnily used some ideas of Oedipus Rex's story.

The acting is superb overall. Christopher Lloyd as the over-the-top mad scientist is a laugh riot. Michael J. Fox totally owns Marty McFly with his natural charisma, raw energy and brilliant dialogue delivery. Lea Thompson is cute and vivacious and Crispin Glover is good.

'Back To The Future' is one of the most enjoyable time-travelling classics. It's over 23 years old and it still hasn't gotten old. Sadly, they don't make it like this these days but then again we always can revisit them. That's why they're classics.