Light of Day (1987)

Director:

Paul Schrader

Writer:

Paul Schrader (written by)

Release Date:

6 February 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music

Tagline:

La Rage Au Ventre, La Musique Dans La Peau (France DVD)

Plot:

The siblings Patty and Joe live in an industrial suburb. While Patty's ambition is their rock band "The Barbusters" only...

Plot Keywords:

Rock Band | Uncle | Hospital | Working Class | Single Mother

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Michael J. Fox	...	Joe Rasnick
Gena Rowlands	...	Jeanette Rasnick
Joan Jett	...	Patti Rasnick
Michael McKean	...	Bu Montgomery
Thomas G. Waites	...	Smittie
Cherry Jones	...	Cindy Montgomery
Michael Dolan	...	Gene Bodine
Paul J. Harkins	...	Billy Tettore
Billy L. Sullivan	...	Benji Rasnick (as Billy Sullivan)
Jason Miller	...	Benjamin Rasnick
Tom Irwin	...	Reverend Ansley
Jerry Gideon	...	Sean
Cherise Vonae Haugen	...	Crystal
Michael Rooker	...	Oogie
Yvette Heyden	...	Laurie
Del Close	...	Dr. Natterson
Ray Bradford	...	Dr. Gould
Jolly Roger	...	Club Manager
Clarence L. Chavers III	...	The Motion
Ann Whitney	...	Older Nurse
Maureen Mueller	...	Trainee Nurse
Jason Shepley	...	Cocky Kid
John Rubano	...	Arguing Man
Barbara E. Robertson	...	Arguing Woman
Ronald A. Zacharias	...	Young Worker
Mark Herzog	...	Sophomore
Erik Leeper	...	Sophomore
David Pasquesi	...	Sophomore
Bryan Stillman	...	Sophomore
Jeff Dieter	...	Young Man
Linda Reisman	...	Young Clerk
Lisa Fischer	...	Woman at Garage Sale
Ray Krawczyk	...	Car Salesman
Alan Poul	...	Cashier (as Alan Mark Poul)
Erwin Martin	...	Foreman
Daniel Shriver	...	Intern (as Dan Shriver)
Marleen Paulette	...	Nurse
Camilla Hawk	...	Older Woman
Ron Dean	...	Mourner
P.K. Doyle	...	Mourner
Barbara Sullivan	...	Mourner
Karel King	...	Mourner
Kim Vander Bie	...	Mourner
Clyde L. Morse	...	Mourner
Maris Sodetz	...	Mourner
Laura A. Holzheimer	...	Bar Waitress
Pam Majeski	...	Bar Patron
James H. Saft	...	Bar Patron
Mars Frehley	...	Barbuster Fan
Sandi Dublo	...	Barbuster Fan
Lisa Ann Barney	...	Coed
Amy R. Delorean	...	Coed
Mark Diamond	...	The Hunzz
Mark Franco	...	The Hunzz
Joe Aparo	...	The Hunzz
Jimi Bell	...	The Hunzz
Kimberly A. Rittwage	...	The Motion
J. Howard Calvin	...	The Motion
Ted Peplowski	...	The Motion
Craig E. Norman	...	The Motion
Norman F. Tischler	...	The Motion
Dennis D. Bunkley	...	The Motion
John E. Sferra	...	The Motion
Mark Addison	...	The Problems
Frank Vale	...	The Problems
Trent Reznor	...	The Problems
Jimmie Vaughan	...	The Fabulous Thunderbirds (as Jimmie L. Vaughan)
Kim Wilson	...	The Fabulous Thunderbirds
Fran Christina	...	The Fabulous Thunderbirds
Preston Hubbard	...	The Fabulous Thunderbirds
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bill Marinella	...	Bar Punk (uncredited)
Julie Matthews	...	Barbuster Fan (uncredited)
Robert Minkoff	...	Bit (uncredited)
Lisa Muller	...	Girl at Concert (uncredited)
Jock L. Schloss	...	Man at Bar (uncredited)

Directed by
Paul Schrader

Writing credits
Paul Schrader		(written by)

Produced by
Keith Barish	....	producer
Doug Claybourne	....	executive producer
Rob Cohen	....	producer
Alan Poul	....	associate producer (as Alan Mark Poul)

Original Music by
Thomas Newman

Cinematography by
John Bailey		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jacqueline Cambas
Jill Savitt

Casting by
Bonnie Timmermann

Production Design by
Jeannine Claudia Oppewall

Set Decoration by
Lisa Fischer

Costume Design by
Jodie Lynn Tillen		(as Jodie Tillen)

Makeup Department
Art Anthony	....	special makeup effects
Edwin Butterworth	....	makeup artist (as Ed Butterworth)
Lori Davis	....	hair colorist
Robyn Goldman	....	makeup artist
Brian J. Kossman	....	hair stylist (as Brian Kossman)

Production Management
Graham Place	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
James Giovannetti Jr.	....	second assistant director (as James R. Giovannetti)
Stefanie Moore	....	second second assistant director (as Stefanie A. Moore)
Alan Poul	....	second unit director (as Alan Mark Poul)
Mark Radcliffe	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Bill Barnes	....	painter (as William Barnes)
Alan Broadbent	....	painter
Frank D. Dambra	....	painter (as Frank Dambra)
Edward England	....	construction coordinator (as Ed England)
Joe Evreniadis	....	swing gang (as Joe Evreniaedis)
Tom Gagnon	....	swing gang (as Thomas Gagnon)
James A. Gelarden	....	art department assistant (as James Gelarden)
Gilbert Gerity	....	carpenter
David Gianneschi	....	swing gang
Cliff Hallerud	....	carpenter (as Clifford Hallerud)
Gary Happ	....	carpenter
Robert Higham	....	painter
Herman Hirsch	....	swing gang
Gregg Jarrett	....	painter
Carl Jonke	....	assistant props
Rodman Kiser	....	labor foreman
Barbara Leatherman	....	painter
Marvin Lood	....	carpenter
Karen B. Mazzulla	....	property master (as Karen Mazzulla)
Robert Mingus	....	swing gang
Joel Prihoda	....	leadman
Thomas Sedor	....	swing gang
Bundy Trinz	....	art department assistant
Danae Walczak	....	assistant props

Sound Department
Gina Alfano	....	assistant sound editor
Amy Briamonte	....	assistant sound editor
Kam Chan	....	assistant sound editor
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist
Harald Danker	....	monitor engineer (as Harold M. Danker)
Michael DiCosimo	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Suzy Elmiger	....	assistant adr editor (as Susan Elmiger)
Tom Fleischman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Phil Gitomer	....	sound crew: 24 track
Frank J. Greene	....	cable man
Marshall Grupp	....	sound editor
Dorian Harris	....	adr editor
Robert Hein	....	supervising sound editor (as Bob Hein)
David Hewitt	....	audio consultant
Dale R. Janus	....	boom person (as Dale Janus)
Frank Kern	....	assistant sound editor
Fritz Lang	....	sound crew: 24 track
Clare Larson	....	apprentice sound editor
Alisa Lepselter	....	apprentice sound editor
J.B. Matteotti	....	sound crew: 24 track
J. Paul Oddo	....	sound mixer
Thom Panunzio	....	chief sound engineer
Bill Pellak	....	sound mixer
Daniel Richter	....	second boom operator (as Dan Richter)
Greg Sheldon	....	sound editor
Michael Steinfeld	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Dieter Sturm	....	special effects

Stunts
Rick Le Fevour	....	stunt coordinator (as Rick LeFevour)
Charles Croughwell	....	stunt double: Michael J. Fox (uncredited)
Daniel Maldonado	....	stunt double (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Art Bartels	....	dolly grip
Kelly R. Borisy	....	grip (as Kelly Borisy)
John Bukala	....	electrician
Daniel Cleary	....	grip
William Dambra	....	electrician (as Bill Dambra)
Maggie Fox	....	second assistant camera
Bill Hardin	....	second assistant camera
William Kingsley	....	grip
George Kohut	....	camera operator
Michael M. Krevitt	....	key grip (as Michael Krevitt)
Peter Kuttner	....	first assistant camera
Michael A. Levitt	....	electrician
Morgan Michael Lewis	....	electrician (as Mike Lewis)
Ann Lukacs	....	assistant camera: second unit
Gregory Lundsgaard	....	director of photography: second unit (as Gregory A. Lundsgaard)
Ken McCahan	....	grip (as Kenneth McCahan)
Mike Moyer	....	gaffer (as Michael G. Moyer)
Dick Oakes	....	best boy
John S. Robertson	....	grip (as John Robertson)
John Stevenson	....	electrician
Jim 'J.T.' Tucker	....	electrician (as J.T. Tucker)
Paul Vombrack	....	second camera operator (as Paul F. Vom Brack)
Chris White	....	lighting designer
James Zenk	....	still photographer (as Jim Zenk)
Richard Zitello	....	grip

Casting Department
Aleta Chappelle	....	location casting (as Aleta Wood-Chappelle)
Rosanne E. Krevitt	....	extra casting assistant
Michael Wolfe	....	casting assistant: New York

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lorry Richter	....	costume supervisor
Theresa Ryan	....	wardrobe assistant
Barbara Scott	....	assistant costume designer (as Barbara K. Scott)

Editorial Department
Donah Bassett	....	negative cutter (as Donah J. Bassett)
Laura Civiello	....	assistant editor
Peter Esmonde	....	assistant editor
Jerrie Fowler	....	assistant editor
Ron Hershey	....	apprentice editor
Rose Kuo	....	apprentice editor
Ed O'Malley	....	assistant editor (as Edward O'Malley)
Robert Raring	....	color timer (as Bob Raring)

Music Department
Bob Badami	....	music editor
Anita Camarata	....	assistant music supervisor
Greg Fulginiti	....	music engineer
Danny Goldberg	....	music supervisor
Nigel Harrison	....	special music consultant
Bill Marino	....	music post-production
John Vigran	....	scoring engineer

Transportation Department
William J. Martin	....	transportation captain
John P. McAuliffe	....	transportation co-captain (as John McAuliffe)
Kenny Searle	....	transportation coordinator (as Kenneth Searle)

Other crew
Frances Agresta	....	tutor
Kate Amer	....	office production assistant
Marion Billings	....	unit publicist
Billy Brashier	....	location projectionist
Doug Burdinski	....	production auditor
Daniel Bush	....	set production assistant
Joe Cahn	....	set production assistant
Peter Carley	....	production aide: Mr. Schrader
Mary J. Carlson	....	script supervisor
John Clancy	....	first aid
Terri Clemens	....	production coordinator
Diane Collins	....	unit publicist
Tracy Cutts	....	set production assistant (as Tracey Cutts)
Sean H. Ferrer	....	director of marketing foreign servicing
Holly Hudecek	....	tutor
Cathy Jackman	....	first aid
Andrea Jaffe	....	unit publicist
James J. Klekowski	....	location scout
Frank William Knittel	....	stand-in
Erica Lawson	....	assistant: Mr. Fox
Sondra Lee	....	consultant: Mr. Schrader
Pat Lydon	....	location manager (as Patricia D. Lydon)
Julie Matthews	....	production assistant
Eileen McCahill	....	location assistant
Brian McMahon	....	helicopter services
Sue Bea Montgomery	....	assistant: Mr. Claybourne (as Sue Bea Belknap)
Sue Bea Montgomery	....	location publicity assistance (as Sue Bea Belknap)
Beth Nall	....	office production assistant
Thomas Nemec	....	office production assistant
George Parra	....	set production assistant
Erica C. Pearsall	....	assistant production coordinator (as Erika Pearsall)
Caryn Picker	....	production assistant: New York
Linda Reisman	....	assistant: Mr. Schrader
Pattee Roedig	....	representative: Cine Guarantors
Margaret Scarpello	....	assistant auditor
Anne Short	....	first aid
Robert J. Short	....	craft service
Evan L. Sidel	....	production assistant: New York (as Evan Sidel)
Jill Simpson	....	assistant: Mr. Claybourne
Michael Sudalnik	....	craft service
Timothy W. Tiedje	....	labour foreman
Shannon Wilson	....	set production assistant
Thomas Zell	....	set production assistant (as Thomas C. Zell)
Frank Byrne	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Paul G. Alberghetti	....	the producers wish to thank
Richard Celeste	....	the producers wish to thank (as Governor Richard Celeste of Ohio)
Wynn Cochran	....	the producers wish to thank
Gene Kirkwood	....	special thanks
Bruce Springsteen	....	special thanks
George V. Voinovich	....	the producers wish to thank (as Mayor George V. Voinovich of Cleveland)

Production Companies

• TAFT Entertainment Pictures
• Keith Barish Productions
• Home Box Office (HBO) (in association with)

Distributors

• TriStar Pictures (1987) (USA) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1990) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (19??) (USA) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (1987) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Live Home Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Live Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Panarecord (19??) (Italy) (VHS)
• Transvídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Vestron Video (1989) (USA) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Sturm's Special Effects International (snow making)

Other Companies

• Illinois Film Office, The  the producers wish to thank (as The Illinois Film Commission)
• M/S Billings Publicity Ltd.  publicist (as M/S Billing Publicity)
• Mac Neal Hospital  the producers wish to thank
• Ohio Film Commission  the producers wish to thank (as The Ohio Film Commission)
• R/Greenberg Associates  title design
• Sound One Corporation  post-production facilities
• Sync Sound  music post-production
• The Gardner Stern Company  caterers

Also Known As:

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Astrocolor)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | Portugal:M/12 | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Berwyn, Illinois, USA

Company:

TAFT Entertainment Pictures

Trivia:

The final scene, where the Barbusters perform in front of an adoring crowd, was shot twice. Bits of the first version can be seen in the music video for the song "Light of Day" (where Joan Jett's hair is in a noticeably different, fluffier style). 'Rolling Stone' magazine reported that Jett wasn't happy with the first version and asked that it be re-shot. Director Paul Schrader said, "I was about to leave the set and wait out the storm in my trailer... but I listened to her arguments and decided she was right."

Quotes:

Smittie:[Joe pays Smittie for some tools Patti stole from his brother-in-law] I like you, you're all right. You've got real family loyalty. Too bad your sister ain't worth it!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Real Wild Child: Video Anthology (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

Stay with Me Tonight

Excellent Emotional Drama

This film is notable for two reasons: The excellent writing, and the amazing acting performances of Joan Jett (surprise - this woman can ACT!), and Michael J. Fox.

Mature, heart-wrentching emotional drama centered on the trials of a dysfunctional family headed by matriarch Gena Rowlands - who also gives a stellar performance. Jett should have been nominated for an Oscar for her performance - particularly the scenes with her dying mother. An insightful, brutally honest script coupled with exceptional acting produces a film of unusual emotional power. Very moving and thought-provoking. A must-see, and definitely one of the best films of the 1980s.