Mask (1985)

Director:

Peter Bogdanovich

Writer:

Anna Hamilton Phelan (written by)

Release Date:

8 March 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

They told 16-year-old Rocky Dennis he could never be like everyone else. So he was determined to be better.

Plot:

A teenager with a massive facial skull deformity and biker gang mother attempts to live as normal a life as possible under the circumstances.

Plot Keywords:

Biker Gang | Biker | Deformity | California | Dignity

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Cher	...	Florence 'Rusty' Dennis
Sam Elliott	...	Gar
Eric Stoltz	...	Roy L.'Rocky' Dennis
Estelle Getty	...	Evelyn
Richard Dysart	...	Abe
Laura Dern	...	Diana Adams
Micole Mercurio	...	Babe
Harry Carey Jr.	...	Red
Dennis Burkley	...	Dozer
Lawrence Monoson	...	Ben
Ben Piazza	...	Mr. Simms
L. Craig King	...	Eric
Alexandra Powers	...	Lisa
Kelly Jo Minter	...	Lorrie (as Kelly Minter)
Joe Unger	...	1st Boyfriend
Todd Allen	...	Canuck
Howard Hirdler	...	Stickman
Jeannie Dimter Barton	...	Jr. High Secretary
Steve James	...	Hospital Intern
Cathy Arden	...	Hospital Doctor
Andrew Robinson	...	Doctor Vinton
Ivan J. Rado	...	Dr. Rudinsky
Anna Hamilton Phelan	...	Puppy Lady
Wayne Grace	...	Drug Dealer
Nick Cassavetes	...	T.J.
Les Dudek	...	Bone
Rebecca Wood	...	Angel (as Rebecca Sharkey)
Paige Matthews	...	Stickman's Girl
Patricia Pelham	...	Canuck's Girl
Gale Ricketts	...	Sunshine's Girl
Stan Ross	...	Drunken Biker
Scott Willardsen	...	Jr. High Student
Marsha Warfield	...	Homeroom Teacher
Allison Roth	...	Nancy Lawrence
David Scott Milton	...	History Teacher
Creed Bratton	...	Carnival Ticket Taker
Charles Taylor	...	2nd Boyfriend
Rummel Mor	...	Track Runner
Barry Tubb	...	Dewey
Norman Kaplan	...	Himself
Marilyn Hamilton	...	Mr. Kaplan's Aide
Anna Thea	...	Woman Counselor
Louis Waldon	...	Camp Cook
Toni Sawyer	...	Mrs. Adams
Lou Felder	...	Mr. Adams
Christopher Rydell	...	Senior High Student
Beth McKinley	...	Senior High Student
Jill Whitlow	...	Anne Marie
Eddie Paul	...	Biker
Michael Adams	...	Biker (as Mike Adams)
Jeff Jensen	...	Biker
Jack Wright	...	Biker
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dorothy Hack
Jo-El Sonnier	...	Sunshine
Robert 'Duckie' Carpenter	...	Blind Boy (uncredited)
Djuna Hobbs	...	Camp Counselor (uncredited)

Directed by
Peter Bogdanovich

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Anna Hamilton Phelan		written by

Produced by
Howard P. Alston	....	co-producer (as Howard Alston)
C.J. Kettler	....	executive producer
George Morfogen	....	associate producer
Peggy Robertson	....	associate producer
Martin Starger	....	producer

Original Music by
Dennis Ricotta

Cinematography by
László Kovács		(director of photography) (as Laszlo Kovacs)

Film Editing by
Barbara Ford

Casting by
Jackie Burch
Michael Chinich

Art Direction by
Norman Newberry

Set Decoration by
Richard J. DeCinces		(as Richard J. de Cinces)

Makeup Department
Hazel Catmull	....	hair stylist
Sherry Caudle	....	body makeup
Tommy Cole	....	makeup artist: Cher
Zoltan Elek	....	makeup artist: Rocky (as Zoltan)
John M. Elliott Jr.	....	makeup artist
Renate Leuschner	....	hair stylist: Cher (as Renate Leuschner Pless)
Brian Penikas	....	test prosthetics

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Katy Emde	....	first assistant director
Robert Williams	....	dga trainee

Art Department
Fred Chapman	....	property master
Craig Gentry	....	standby painter
Tom Margozewitz	....	set property master
Phil Read	....	construction coordinator (as Philip Read)
Greg Sachen	....	lead man
Andrew Probert	....	pre-production artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bruce Bell	....	sound editor
Chris Carpenter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Crew Chamberlain	....	boom operator
Crew Chamberlain	....	sound recordist
Lucy Coldsnow-Smith	....	sound editor (as Lucy Coldsnow)
Michael H. Ford	....	sound editor
Gil Hudson	....	adr editor
Angie Luckey	....	assistant sound editor
Bob Minkler	....	sound re-recording mixer
Sam Shaw	....	supervising sound editor
John Stacy	....	supervising sound editor (as John M. Stacy)
Bruce Stambler	....	sound editor
Ray West	....	sound re-recording mixer
Keith A. Wester	....	sound recordist (as Keith Wester)

Special Effects by
Danny Lester	....	special effects (as Dan Lester)

Stunts
Michael Barnett	....	stunts
Steve Morey	....	stunt double
Eddie Paul	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Richmond L. Aguilar	....	chief lighting technician (as Richmond Aguilar)
Paul Caven	....	best boy electrical
Steve Greaves	....	best boy grip
Gene Kearney	....	key grip
Gemma La Mana	....	still photographer (as Gemma LaMana Wills)
Paul Mindrup	....	second assistant camera
Bob Munoz	....	best boy grip
Robert M. Stevens	....	camera operator (as Robert Stevens)
Joseph E. Thibo	....	first assistant camera

Casting Department
Karl Brindle	....	extras casting
David Gonzales	....	casting coordinator
Nancy Nayor	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Robert Chase	....	costumer: men
Sandra Culotta	....	costumer: women
April Ferry	....	costumes: Cher
G. Tony Scarano	....	costume supervisor: men (as Tony Scarano)
Marla Denise Schlom	....	costume supervisor: women

Editorial Department
Donah Bassett	....	negative cutter
Lisa Zeno Churgin	....	assistant editor (as Lisa Churgin)
Brent Eldridge	....	digital color correction
Rick Fields	....	assistant editor (as Richard Fields)
Éva Gárdos	....	supervising editor (as Eva Gardos)
David Williams	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Dennis Ricotta	....	music editor
Laurie Higgins Tobias	....	assistant music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
John Tuell	....	transportation captain
Bob Wilson	....	transportation coordinator (as Robert Wilson)

Other crew
Marilyn Raye Bradfield	....	medical technical advisor
Cathy Churchman	....	animal trainer
Steve Foley	....	production assistant: Bogdanovich
Jim Gerwig	....	caterer
Steve Ginsberg	....	unit publicist
Rosalyn Inzerella	....	production coordinator
Jackie Martin	....	animal trainer
Bill McCamey	....	nurse: second unit
Betsy Norton	....	script supervisor
Willie Radcliff	....	craft service
David C. Thomas	....	location manager (as David Thomas)
James Wilson	....	vocal coach: Rocky
Ron Windred	....	location manager

Thanks
Robert L. Hoyt	....	particular thanks (as Robert Hoyt)
Norman Kaplan	....	very special thanks

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1985) (USA) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1985) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• MCA Home Video (1986) (USA) (VHS) (full screen pan and scan)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Home Video (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2010) (Australia) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (198?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• CIC Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• K!SSPROOF Entertainment  cast appearance booking

Also Known As:

"Peter Bogdanovich's Mask" - USA (complete title)

Runtime:

120 min | USA:127 min (director's cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-10 | France:U | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 (re-rating after appeal) | Singapore:PG | Australia:M | Netherlands:AL | Iceland:12 | West Germany:12 (f) | South Korea:15 | USA:R (original rating) | Peru:14 | Germany:12 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Azusa, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Kevin Costner was considered for the role of Rocky Dennis.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When Cher opens her beer can in the camping scene near the beginning of the movie, the can has a stay tab. These were not used on cans until the 80s. Cans prior to then used pull tabs.

Quotes:

[to a student staring at her son's face]
Rusty Dennis:What's the matter, never seen anyone from the planet Vulcan before?

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The X-Files: The Post-Modern Prometheus (#5.5)" (1997)

Soundtrack:

Quarter to Three

A triumph in storytelling.

Definitely one of the best films made in 1985; Peter Bogdanovich's "Mask" is an engrossing character study on the life of Rocky Dennis, and the somewhat tumultuous but always loving relationship he shared with his mom Rusty. Tragic, touching, inspirational – the movie succeeds in proving the importance of maintaining a positive attitude despite life's adversities. Bogdanovich masterfully draws stunning performances from all of the principle players. With several noteworthy scenes throughout the film where Cher shines, it's no surprise she won the best actress trophy at Cannes for her role as Rusty; effectively depicting a loving mother who is incredibly strong willed, yet also lost and vulnerable. No other actress would have made the portrayal so gut wrenchingly real – it's a shame she wasn't awarded the Oscar as well. Eric Stoltz, Sam Elliott, and Laura Dern are also magnificent. The incredible acting by everyone involved really makes this film such a rewarding and worthwhile experience, with the viewer being taken on an intimate journey through the lives of every day people facing extraordinary circumstances. If possible, see the original version with the Bob Seger soundtrack – the re-release DVD contains only the Springsteen soundtrack; which one would have expected a Director's Cut edition to have both choices. Having seen the original so many times, I opted to hunt down the now out-of-print original theatrical release by Image Entertainment for my collection. Not to be missed by anyone with an interest in true life stories. Highly recommended – a 9/10.