Pee-wee's Big Adventure (1985)

Director:

Tim Burton

Writers:

Phil Hartman (written by) &
Paul Reubens (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

9 August 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

You will believe a man can ride a bike.

Plot:

When eccentric man-child Pee-Wee Herman gets his beloved bike stolen in broad daylight, he sets out across the U.S. on the adventure of his life.

Plot Keywords:

Bicycle | Man Child | Alamo | Fortune Teller | Waitress

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Paul Reubens	...	Pee-wee Herman (as Pee-wee Herman)
Elizabeth Daily	...	Dottie
Mark Holton	...	Francis Buxton
Diane Salinger	...	Simone
Judd Omen	...	Mickey
Irving Hellman	...	Mr. Crowtray
Monte Landis	...	Mario
Damon Martin	...	Chip
David Glasser	...	BMX Kid
Gregory Brown	...	BMX Kid
Mark Everett	...	BMX Kid
Daryl Keith Roach	...	Chuck (as Daryl Roach)
Bill Cable	...	Policeman #1
Peter Looney	...	Policeman #2
Starletta DuPois	...	Sgt. Hunter
Professor Toru Tanaka	...	Butler (as prof. Toru Tanaka)
Ed Herlihy	...	Mr. Buxton
Ralph Seymour	...	Francis' Accomplice
Lou Cutell	...	Amazing Larry
Raymond Martino	...	Gang Member
Erica Yohn	...	Madam Ruby
Bill W. Richmond	...	Highway Patrolman (as Bill Richmond)
Alice Nunn	...	Large Marge
Ed Griffith	...	Trucker
Simmy Bow	...	Man in Diner
Jon Harris	...	Andy
Carmen Filpi	...	Hobo Jack
Jan Hooks	...	Tina
John Moody	...	Bus Clerk
John O'Neill	...	Cowboy #1
Alex Sharp	...	Cowboy #2
Chester Grimes	...	Biker #1
Luis Contreras	...	Biker #2
Lonnie Parkinson	...	Biker #3
Howard Hirdler	...	Biker #4
Cassandra Peterson	...	Biker Mama
Jason Hervey	...	Kevin Morton
Bob McClurg	...	Studio Guard
John Paragon	...	Movie Lot Actor
Susan Barnes	...	Movie Lot Actress
Zack Hoffman	...	Director (as Zachary Hoffman)
Lynne Marie Stewart	...	Mother Superior (as Lynne Stewart)
George Sasaki	...	Japanese Director
Richard Brose	...	Tarzan
Drew Seward	...	Kid #1
Brett Fellman	...	Kid #2
Bob Drew	...	Fireman
John Gilgreen	...	Policeman at Pet Shop
Noreen Hennessey	...	Reporter (as Noreen Hennessy)
Phil Hartman	...	Reporter
Michael Varhol	...	Photographer
David Rothenberg	...	Hobo
Patrick Cranshaw	...	Hobo (as Pat Cranshaw)
Sunshine Parker	...	Hobo
Gilles Savard	...	Pierre
James Brolin	...	Himself - as PeeWee
Morgan Fairchild	...	Herself - as 'Dottie'
Tony Bill	...	Terry Hawthorne
Twisted Sister	...	Themselves
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Milton Berle	...	Himself (uncredited)
Terry Bolo	...	Biker Chick (uncredited)
Tim Burton	...	Thug in alley (uncredited)
Cleve Hall	...	Godzilla, 'Satan's Helpers' Biker Gang Member (uncredited)
Tom Willett	...	Diner Patron in Blue Baseball Cap (uncredited)

Directed by
Tim Burton

Writing credits
Phil Hartman		(written by) &
Paul Reubens		(written by) &
Michael Varhol		(written by)

Produced by
Richard Gilbert Abramson	....	producer
William E. McEuen	....	executive producer
Robert Shapiro	....	producer

Original Music by
Danny Elfman

Cinematography by
Victor J. Kemper		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Billy Weber

Casting by
Wallis Nicita		(as Wally Nicita)

Production Design by
David L. Snyder

Set Decoration by
Thomas L. Roysden
Paul Reubens		(uncredited)

Costume Design by
Aggie Guerard Rodgers

Makeup Department
Frank Griffin	....	makeup artist
Linda Trainoff	....	hair stylist

Production Management
David Silver	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert P. Cohen	....	first assistant director
Robert Engelman	....	second assistant director
Willie E. Simmons Jr.	....	second second assistant director
Harvey Waldman	....	second assistant director

Art Department
John Alvin	....	poster artist
Craig B. Ayers Sr.	....	greensman
Paul Chadwick	....	illustrator
Bruce J. Gfeller	....	construction coordinator
Ronald C. Jacobs	....	lead man
Steven M. Levine	....	property master
Margie Stone McShirley	....	assistant art director
Edson C. Moreno	....	lead man
David Q. Quick	....	assistant property master (as David Quick)
James E. Tocci	....	set designer
Walter Zingelewicz	....	stand-by painter

Sound Department
Irene Bowers	....	assistant sound editor
Neil Brody	....	sound re-recording mixer
Scott Brose	....	sound re-recording mixer
David B. Cohn	....	supervising sound editor
Leslie Gaulin	....	foley editor
Cecelia Hall	....	supervising sound editor
Petur Hliddal	....	production sound mixer
Denise Horta	....	sound editor
David J. Hudson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Joseph A. Ippolito	....	sound editor
David Pettijohn	....	sound editor
Roger Pietschmann	....	boom operator
Terry Porter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Edward M. Steidele	....	foley artist

Special Effects by
Peter Alnez	....	special effects assistant
Danny Cangemi	....	special effects assistant
Joe Day	....	special effects coordinator
Wayne Edgar	....	special effects assistant
John Frazier	....	special effects assistant
Chuck Gaspar	....	special effects supervisor
Elmer Hui	....	special effects assistant
Thomas Mertz	....	special effects assistant
Bruce Robles	....	special effects assistant
Jeffrey A. Wischnack	....	special effects assistant
Jeffrey A. Wischnack	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Stephen Chiodo	....	animated effects consultant
Rick Heinrichs	....	animated effects supervisor
John Scheele	....	animated effects consultant
Rocco Gioffre	....	special visual effects: DQI (uncredited)
Mark Sullivan	....	special visual effects: DQI (uncredited)
Hoyt Yeatman	....	special visual effects: DQI (uncredited)

Stunts
Mary Albee	....	stunts
J.P. Amateau	....	stunts
Amanda Baxley	....	stunts
Paul Baxley	....	stunt coordinator
Alonzo Brown	....	stunts
Eurlyne Epper	....	stunts
Corey Michael Eubanks	....	stunts (as Corey Eubanks)
Theresa Eubanks	....	stunts
Trace Eubanks	....	stunts
Marian Green	....	stunts
Don Happy	....	stunts
Suzanne Harvey	....	stunts
Bob Herron	....	stunts
Shelly Hoffman	....	stunts
Jeff Imada	....	stunts
Angelo Lamonea	....	stunts
Steve Mack	....	stunts
Joe Margucci	....	stunts
Salomon I. Marx	....	stunts
Troy Melton	....	stunts
Pat Romano	....	stunts (as Patrick Romano)
Fred Scheiwiller	....	stunts
Russell Solberg	....	stunts
Stagg Summers	....	stunts
Corey Michael Eubanks	....	stunt double: Paul Reubens (uncredited)
Dean Raphael Ferrandini	....	stunt double: James Brolin (uncredited)
Spiro Razatos	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mike Watson	....	stunt double: Paul Reubens (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Audie Aragon	....	best boy grip
Billy Craft	....	lighting operator
Earl Gilbert	....	gaffer
Rhio Haessig	....	best boy
Kyle T. MacDowell	....	electrician
Patrick Marshall	....	rigging gaffer
Bill Roe	....	first assistant camera
Gaylin P. Schultz	....	key grip
Bernie Schwartz	....	dolly grip
Peter Sorel	....	still photographer
Robert C. Thomas	....	camera operator
Mario Zavala	....	second assistant camera

Animation Department
Jorgen Klubien	....	cel animator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sandy Berke Jordan	....	costumer: women
Richard Little	....	costumer: men
Don Vargas	....	costumer: men

Editorial Department
Donah Bassett	....	negative cutter
Claudia Finkle	....	assistant editor
Richard Ritchie	....	color timer

Music Department
Bob Badami	....	music editor
Steve Bartek	....	music arranger
Danny Elfman	....	composer: theme music
Robert Fernandez	....	scoring mixer
Philip Giffin	....	composer: additional music
Lennie Niehaus	....	conductor
Lennie Niehaus	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Tommy Tedesco	....	musician: guitar (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Tino Caira	....	transportation captain
Craig Lietzke	....	driver
Randy Peters	....	transportation coordinator
Mario Simon	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Scott E. Chester	....	assistant: Mr. Abramson (as Scott Chester)
Stephen Chiodo	....	animated effects consultant
Jeff Freedman	....	unit publicist
Anthony Goldschmidt	....	title designer: main titles
Rick Heinrichs	....	animated effects supervisor
Jan Kemper	....	script supervisor
Sam Mercer	....	location manager
Cristie Miele	....	animal coordinator
Brian Nelson	....	assistant: Mr. Reubens
John Scheele	....	animated effects consultant
Phil Smith	....	animal trainer
Lee Stitch	....	production secretary
Valen Watson	....	assistant: Mr. Shapiro

Thanks
Linda Koulisis	....	special thanks
Randy Pitkin	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Warner Bros (presents)
• Aspen Film Society

Distributors

• Warner Bros (1985) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment (1985) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (2001) (Finland) (TV)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment Finland Oy (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video Española S.A. (2006) (Spain) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1986) (West Germany) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2012) (Germany) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1986) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Dream Quest Images (special visual effects)

Other Companies

• Animal Actors of Hollywood  animals provided by
• BT Industrial Supply  expendables
• Green Floats Company  parade floats
• Michaelson's  catering

Also Known As:

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

France:U | Germany:12 | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/6 | Spain:T | UK:U | Singapore:PG | Italy:T | Netherlands:AL | Canada:F (Ontario) | Canada:G (Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | USA:PG (certificate #27844) | West Germany:12 | Finland:K-7 (2006) | Brazil:Livre | South Korea:All

Filming Locations:

1846 Oxley St., South Pasadena, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros

Trivia:

Tim Burton's directorial debut.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: While making breakfast, when Abraham Lincoln flips the fourth and final pancake which sticks to the ceiling, you can see the pancake hit the ceiling and bounce to the side, revealing that the filmmakers simply dropped pancakes on the floor then inverted the shot.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Pee-wee:Look out, Mister Potato Head!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Robot Holocaust (#2.9)" (1990)

Soundtrack:

TEQUILA

Good fun if you're in the mood for it

Man-child Pee-wee Herman lives a magical life but has one possession that he treasures over all the others – his bicycle. The envy of the neighbourhood, his bike is his life and he is horrified when he finds it stolen. With the police unwilling to start a statewide search, Pee-wee sets out on an adventure to try and find his bike.

Pee-Wee Herman is a fairly acquired taste and won't please all audiences. I quite liked him here but couldn't have watched his show on a weekly basis. In this film though his `man-child' style and outlandish sense of humour really work out well. The plot is fairly pointless and just sparks off a road trip, which has a series of bizarre characters and adventures along the way.

Tim Burton's darkly comic imagination certainly helps and he gives the whole film an other-worldly feel to the whole thing, whether it be in the delivery of Herman's dreams or just the look of the film as a whole. Not all of it works of course, some of it misfires and isn't as funny as it would like to think that it is, however much of it is weirdly amusing and will be entertaining if you like Herman's style.

Herman can be annoying but here he stays on the right side of irritating and he is amusing in his delivery. He certainly suits the material and his OTT/hyper style helps the audience get into the very silly plot! Support is good and has lots of small roles that are weird and funny.

Overall this film is very much a matter of taste. If you like Herman then you should enjoy this film as it is very well done and is blessed with a real other-worldly touch by a great director in the making.