Moonstruck (1987)

Director:

Norman Jewison

Writer:

John Patrick Shanley (written by)

Release Date:

18 December 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Life. Family. Love.

Plot:

Loretta Castorini, a book keeper from Brooklyn, New York, finds herself in a difficult situation when she falls for the brother of the man she agreed to marry (the best friend of her late husband who died seven years previously).

Plot Keywords:

Love | Brother | Bookkeeper | Opera | Marriage

Awards:

Won 3 Oscars. Another 16 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

Cher	...	Loretta Castorini
Nicolas Cage	...	Ronny Cammareri
Vincent Gardenia	...	Cosmo Castorini
Olympia Dukakis	...	Rose Castorini
Danny Aiello	...	Mr. Johnny Cammareri
Julie Bovasso	...	Rita Cappomaggi
John Mahoney	...	Perry
Louis Guss	...	Raymond Cappomaggi
Feodor Chaliapin Jr.	...	Old Man (as Feodor Chaliapin)
Anita Gillette	...	Mona
Leonardo Cimino	...	Felix
Paula Trueman	...	Lucy
Nada Despotovich	...	Chrissy
Joe Grifasi	...	Shy Waiter
Gina DeAngeles	...	Old Crone
Robin Bartlett	...	Barbara
Helen Hanft	...	Lotte
David S. Howard	...	Irv
Robert Weil	...	Bobo
Amy Aquino	...	Bonnie
Tony Azito	...	Conti
Frank Gio	...	Florist (as Frankie Gio)
Ann McDonough	...	Nancy
John Christopher Jones	...	Lowell
Lisa Howard	...	Patricia
Cynthia Dale	...	Sheila
Anthony Messuri	...	Priest
Martha Collins	...	Mimi
John Fanning	...	Rodolfo
Antonia Minella	...	Vesta
Nicholas Pasco	...	Eddie
Al Therrien	...	Bob
Lou Pitoscia	...	Mook
Gilberto Godoy	...	Rocco
Louis Di Bianco	...	Jimmy
Betti Orsatti	...	Woman in Hair Salon
Michael Barbaro	...	Pietro
Antonio Pariselli	...	Franco
Corrado Gianna	...	Old Man
Tommy Hollis	...	Parking Attendant
Matt Myers	...	Cab Driver
Michael Dunster	...	P.A. Announcer
Stella Bruno	...	Old Woman
Mimi Cecchini	...	Old Woman
Mimi Lizio	...	Ruby
Tim Koetting	...	Al
Gerard Flannery	...	Harvey
Robert Payson	...	Man at Bar
Catherine Scorsese	...	Customer at Bakery
Jack K. Tsirakis	...	Bar Patron (as Jack Tsirakis)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Giardina	...	Opera Patron (uncredited)
Cathy Ladman	...	Beautician in hair salon (uncredited)
Peter Austin Noto	...	Opera Patron (uncredited)
Helen Proimos	...	Opera Patron (uncredited)

Directed by
Norman Jewison

Writing credits
John Patrick Shanley		(written by)

Produced by
Norman Jewison	....	producer
Bonnie Palef	....	associate producer (as Bonnie Palef-Woolf)
Patrick J. Palmer	....	producer (as Patrick Palmer)

Original Music by
Dick Hyman

Cinematography by
David Watkin

Film Editing by
Lou Lombardo

Casting by
Howard Feuer

Production Design by
Philip Rosenberg

Art Direction by
Dan Davis
Barbra Matis

Costume Design by
Theoni V. Aldredge

Makeup Department
Ann Brodie	....	makeup artist: Toronto
James D. Brown	....	hair stylist: Toronto (as James Brown)
Leonard Engelman	....	makeup artist: Cher
Bob Grimaldi	....	hair stylist: New York
Ed Jackson	....	makeup artist: New York
Renate Leuschner	....	hair stylist: Cher

Production Management
Bonnie Palef	....	production manager: Toronto (as Bonnie Palef-Woolf)
Roger Paradiso	....	unit production manager: New York

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sue Fellows	....	DGA trainee: New York (as Susan Fellows)
Lewis Gould	....	first assistant director: New York
David McAree	....	first assistant director: Toronto
Gregory Palmer	....	second assistant director: New York
Ann Petrie	....	second unit director: New York
Andrew Shea	....	second assistant director: Toronto
Stephen Wertimer	....	second assistant director: New York

Art Department
Guenter Bartlik	....	scenic artist: Toronto
Hank Bauer	....	construction supervisor: New York
Michael Bird	....	set dresser: New York
Billy Bishop	....	assistant property master: New York
J. Tracy Budd	....	property master: Toronto
Bruno De La Celle	....	assistant property master: Toronto
Jaro Dick	....	set decorator: Toronto
Tony Gamiello	....	set dresser: New York
Mike Harris	....	set dresser: Toronto
Weits Jekel	....	construction supervisor: Toronto
Elena Kenney	....	set dresser: Toronto
Nikita Knatz	....	sketch artist: New York
Jon Linder	....	scenic artist: New York
Anthony Matteo	....	art department trainee: Toronto
Jimmy Raitt	....	property master: New York
Richard Reseigne	....	construction design coordinator: Toronto
Siv Sandstrom	....	art department coordinator
Philip Smith	....	set decorator: New York
Brick Mason	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)
Joan Winters	....	graphic designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Anke Bakker	....	assistant sound editor: Toronto
Steven J. Balzarini	....	boom operator: New York (as Steve Balzarini)
Ross Carter	....	assistant sound editor: Toronto
Alison Clark	....	sound effects editor: Toronto
Michael DiCosimo	....	stereo consultant: Dolby, Toronto
Paul Durand	....	assistant sound editor: Toronto
Alison Fisher	....	assistant sound editor: Toronto
Alison Grace	....	dialogue editor: Toronto
Joe Grimaldi	....	sound re-recording mixer: Toronto
Sharon Lackie	....	supervising sound editor: Toronto
Dennis Maitland	....	sound mixer (as Dennis L. Maitland)
Kim Maitland	....	sound assistant: New York
Andy Malcolm	....	foley editor: Toronto (as Andrew Malcolm)
Michael O'Farrell	....	supervising sound editor: Toronto
Jim Thompson	....	boom operator: Toronto (as James L. Thompson)
Don White	....	sound re-recording mixer: Toronto
William Lee	....	sound trainee (uncredited)
Michael Liotta	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
David Lemmen	....	special effects: Toronto (as David Lemmem)
Tony Parmelee	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Mat Beck	....	plate cameraman: moon opticals (as Matt Beck)
Bruno George	....	plate cameraman: moon opticals
Ronald B. Moore	....	optical supervisor: moon opticals (as Ron Moore)
Mark Vargo	....	visual effects supervisor: moon opticals
Dave Gregory	....	optical composite photography: Robert Abel & Associates (uncredited)
Ken Pontac	....	visual effects (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Daprato	....	dolly grip: Toronto (as Robert DaPrato)
Steve Ferrier	....	best boy: Toronto
Vincent Galindez	....	second assistant camera: New York
Eric Gerrard	....	camera trainee: Toronto (as Eric Gerard)
Kenneth Goss	....	key grip: New York (as Ken Goss)
Tim Guinness	....	best boy: New York
Gábor Kövér	....	first assistant camera: New York (as Gabor Kover)
Harald Ortenburger	....	camera operator
Bill Reinhart	....	dolly grip: New York (as Bill Reinhardt)
Thom Ryan	....	first assistant camera: Toronto
Frank Schulz	....	chief lighting technician: New York
Dave C. Sheridan	....	second assistant camera: Toronto (as David Sheridan)
Randy Tambling	....	key grip: Toronto
Rae Thurston	....	chief lighting technician: Toronto
Jürgen Vollmer	....	still photographer: New York (as Jurgen Vollmer)
David Whittaker	....	still photographer: Toronto

Casting Department
Sam Broomall	....	casting assistant: New York
Blanca Jansuzian	....	extras casting: Toronto

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ursula Brooke	....	wardrobe assistant: Toronto
Arthur Rowsell	....	costumer: Toronto
Guy Tanno	....	costumer: men, New York
Rose Trimarco	....	costumer: women, New York (as Rose Trimarco Cuervo)
Suzy Benzinger	....	costume executor (uncredited)
Barbara Matera	....	costume executor (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Rosmary Conte	....	second assistant editor: Toronto
J. Kathleen Gibson	....	assistant editor: New York (as Kathleen Gibson)
Bob Hausler	....	color timer: Toronto
John Hill	....	stand-by editor: New York
Michael Jewison	....	editor trainee: Toronto
Lee Michael Searles	....	first assistant editor: Toronto

Music Department
Dick Hyman	....	music adaptor
Judy 'Lucky' Kemeny	....	assistant music editor (as Judy Kemeny)
Carl Zittrer	....	supervising music editor: Toronto

Transportation Department
Craig S. Kohne	....	transportation captain: Toronto (as Craig Kohne)
Harry J. Leavey	....	transportation coordinator: New York (as Harry Leavey)
James Sweeney	....	transportation captain: New York (as Jim Sweeney)
Nick Sweetman	....	transportation coordinator: Toronto

Other crew
Stephen Auerbach	....	production assistant: New York
Kelley Baker	....	assistant: Mr. Jewison
Alexia Beach	....	craft service: Toronto
Toni Blay	....	assistant production coordinator: Toronto
Renee Bodner	....	script supervisor: New York
Beth Boigon	....	location manager: Toronto
Julie Bovasso	....	dialogue coach
Katherine Broadfoot	....	caterer: J.C. Canadian Catering, Toronto
Elizabeth Broden	....	assistant: Mr. Jewison
Stefani Brown	....	production assistant: Toronto
Sam Bruskin	....	production assistant: New York
Vince Burns	....	production assistant: New York
Jan A. Campbell	....	production accountant
Christopher Cook	....	production associate
Susanna David	....	script supervisor: Toronto
Michael DeCasper	....	production assistant: New York (as Mike DeCasper)
Lynn Elston	....	assistant accountant
Gino Empry	....	unit publicist: Toronto
Jeff Flach	....	assistant location manager: New York
Michael Fruhling	....	location assistant: New York
Laura Gross	....	production assistant: New York
Tina Hong	....	assistant production coordinator: New York
Peter Hume	....	production assistant: New York
Thomas A. Imperato	....	assistant accountant: New York
Lotfi Mansouri	....	opera sequence: Toronto
Jackie Martin	....	production coordinator: New York
Roberta Mayer	....	assistant accountant: Toronto
Ron Mitchell	....	production assistant
Gregory Palmer	....	unit talent coordinator: Toronto
Debbie Paull	....	assistant: Cher (as Deborah Paull)
Ann Petrie	....	production observer: New York
Paul Pettigrew	....	production assistant
Fred Plotkin	....	opera consultant
Jeremy Podeswa	....	production assistant: Toronto
Stacie Rauch	....	assistant: Mr. Chaliapin, New York
Valley Via Reseigne	....	production coordinator: Toronto
Suzanne Rothbaum	....	assistant to producer
Steve Schottenfeld	....	location manager: New York (as Steven Schottenfeld)
Eoin Sprott	....	hand designer: Mr. Cage, Toronto (as Eion Sprott)
Joanne Tickle	....	assistant: Mr. Chaliapin, Toronto
Peter Watson	....	production assistant: Toronto
Jeff Woolnough	....	production observer: Toronto
Braden Wright	....	unit publicist: Toronto

Thanks
Larry Auerbach	....	the producers wish to thank
Lenny Brooks	....	the producers wish to thank (as Leonard Brooke)
Dominic Cortese	....	the producers wish to thank
Jeannine Edmunds	....	the producers wish to thank
Gilberto Godoy	....	the producers wish to thank
Lynn Lombardo	....	the producers wish to thank
Ron Meyer	....	the producers wish to thank
Finn Quinn	....	the producers wish to thank
Roger Sherman	....	the producers wish to thank
Joe Violante	....	the producers wish to thank (as Joey Violante)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (presents)
• Star Partners (in association with)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1987) (USA) (theatrical)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
• Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI) (1988) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1988) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1990) (USA) (TV)
• Encore Avenue (2009) (Canada) (TV)
• Gativideo (198?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD) (deluxe edition)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (The Nicholas Cage Star Collection)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1988) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1997) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Dawn Animal Agency  dogs owned and trained by (as Dawn Animal Agency, New York)
• Peggy Siegal Company  publicity: New York
• Sylvia Fay Casting  extras casting: New York
• Stuart Aikins Casting  casting: Toronto
• J.C. Canadian Catering  catering: Toronto
• Goldin-Feldman  Miss Gillette's fur by (as Goldin Feldman)
• Ferco  camera equipment (as Ferco, New York)
• William F. White International  camera equipment (as William F. White, Toronto)
• Theo Dimson Design Inc.  titles designed by
• Film Effects  opticals by (as Film Effects, Toronto, Canada)
• T.A.B. Inc.  negative cutting
• Metropolitan Opera, New York, The  the producers wish to thank (as Metropolitan Opera House)
• Mayor's Office for New York Film  the producers wish to thank
• Canadian Opera Company  the producers wish to thank
• Toronto Film and Television Office, The  the producers wish to thank (as Toronto Film Office)
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  acknowledgment (as I.A.T.S.E.)
• Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts  special thanks to (as The Lincoln Center For The Performing Arts Inc.)
• Capitol Records  soundtrack (uncredited)
• Pacific Studios Inc.  chromatrans background

Also Known As:

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:S | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Sweden:7 | UK:PG | USA:PG (#28740) | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | Canada:PG | Iceland:L | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:PG | Australia:PG | Canada:PG (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

19 Cranberry Street, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Like several other members of the production crew, costume designer Theoni V. Aldredge is also credited on the poster for "La bohème" shown at the beginning of the film.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Loretta's grandfather enters the kitchen with dogs in front of him. As he walks through, you can see a leash pulling the dogs from off camera.

Quotes:

Ronny Cammareri:I ain't no freakin' monument to justice! I lost my hand! I lost my bride! Johnny has his hand! Johnny has his bride! You want me to take my heartache, put it away and forget?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in It's My Party (1996)

Soundtrack:

La Bohème

Let's Hear it for Families

This movie is still an all time favorite. Only a pretentious, humorless moron would not enjoy this wonderful film. This movie feels like a slice of warm apple pie topped with french vanilla ice cream! I think this is Cher's best work ever and her most believable performance. Cher has always been blessed with charisma, good looks, and an enviably thin figure. Whether you like her singing or not - who else sounds like Cher? Cher has definitely made her mark in the entertainment industry and will be remembered long after others have come and gone. She is one of the most unique artists out there. It's funny, because who would have thought of Cher as such a naturally gifted actress? She is heads above the so-called movie "stars" of today. Cher is a real actor on the same level as Debra Winger, Alfre Woodard, Holly Hunter, Angela Bassett and a few others, in that she never seems to be "acting," she really becomes the character convincingly. She has more than earned the respect of her peers and of the movie-going public.

Everything about Moonstruck is wonderful - the characters, the scenery, the dialog, the food. I never get tired of watching this movie.

Every time single time I watch the scene where they are all sitting around the dinner table at Rose's house, I pause the remote to see exactly what delicious food Rose is serving. I saw the spaghetti, mushrooms (I think), but I can't make out whether they are eating ravioli, ziti? What is that main course? It looks wonderful and its driving me nuts!

Everybody in that family was a hardworking individual and they respected and cared about one another. The grandfather wasn't pushed aside and tolerated, he was a vital part of the family and he was listened to and respected for his age and wisdom. He seemed to be a pretty healthy, independent old codger too.

Loretta's mom wasn't "just a housewife," she was the glue that held the family together and was a model example of what a wife, mother, and home manager should aspire to be. She was proud of the lifestyle she had chosen but she didn't let it define who she was. High powered businessmen aren't as comfortable in their skin as Rose Casterini was. Notice the saucy way she said "I didn't have kids until after I was 37. It ain't over 'til its over." You got the sense that she had been the type of young woman who did exactly as she pleased and got her way without the other person realizing what had happened. She was charming, quick witted, and very smart. What a great mom!

I didn't actually like Loretta right away because she seemed like a bit of a know--it-all who wasn't really as adventurous and as in control of herself as she wanted others to think. She could tell others about themselves and where they had gone wrong, but she really didn't apply common sense to her own life. She was going to marry a middle-aged mama's boy simply because she wanted a husband and a sense of identity and purpose to her life. She was more conventional than her own mom. She dressed and wore her hair like a matron at a house of detention and seemed humorless and bored, but underneath you sensed that she was vulnerable and lonely and had a lot of love to give the right man. She would probably end up making an awesome mom too.

I could see in the future, a house full of Loretta and Ronnie's loud, screaming happy kids and Rose and Cosmo enjoying every minute of it.