Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)

Director:

Howard Deutch

Writer:

John Hughes (written by)

Release Date:

27 February 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Before they could stand together, they had to stand alone.

Plot:

A young tomboy, Watts, finds her feelings for her best friend, Keith, run deeper than just friendship...

Plot Keywords:

Best Friend | Tomboy | School | Wrong Side Of The Tracks | Father

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Eric Stoltz	...	Keith Nelson
Mary Stuart Masterson	...	Watts
Lea Thompson	...	Amanda Jones
Craig Sheffer	...	Hardy Jenns
John Ashton	...	Cliff Nelson
Elias Koteas	...	Skinhead
Molly Hagan	...	Shayne
Maddie Corman	...	Laura Nelson
Jane Elliot	...	Carol Nelson
Candace Cameron Bure	...	Cindy Nelson (as Candace Cameron)
Chynna Phillips	...	Mia
Scott Coffey	...	Ray
Carmine Caridi	...	Museum Guard
Lee Garlington	...	Gym Instructor
Laura Leigh Hughes	...	Holly
Laura Tubelle	...	Laura's Friend
Amy Lynne	...	Laura's Friend
Michael Bergman	...	Skinhead's Friend
Megan Daniels	...	Skinhead's Friend
Dale L. Evans	...	Skinhead's Friend
Peter Elbling	...	Maitre 'D
Patricia Gaul	...	Mrs. Gale
Kenneth Kimmins	...	Detention Teacher
James MacDonald	...	Hardy's Friend (as James G. Macdonald)
J. Patrick McNamara	...	Fight Teacher
Jonathan Schmock	...	Carparker (as Jonathon Schmock)
James Vallely	...	Carparker
Lita Stevens	...	Amanda's Friend
Christine Spiotta	...	Waitress
Tom Ashton	...	The March Violets
Laurence Elliott	...	The March Violets
Cleo Murray	...	The March Violets
Andy Tolson	...	The March Violets
Steve Alterman	...	Party Guest
Pamela Anderson	...	Party Guest
Cathy Cavadini	...	Party Guest
Ike Eisenmann	...	Party Guest
Deborah Fallender	...	Party Guest
Noelle Harling	...	Party Guest
Barbara Harris	...	Party Guest (as Barbara Iley)
David McCharen	...	Party Guest
Paige Pollack	...	Party Guest (as Paige Nan Pollock)
Bryan Scott	...	Party Guest
Vernon Scott	...	Party Guest
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Spezzano	...	Lawn kid (uncredited)

Directed by
Howard Deutch

Writing credits
John Hughes		(written by)

Produced by
Michael Chinich	....	executive producer
Ronald Colby	....	executive producer
John Hughes	....	producer

Original Music by
Stephen Hague
John Musser

Cinematography by
Jan Kiesser		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Bud S. Smith		(as Bud Smith)
M. Scott Smith		(as Scott Smith)

Casting by
Judith Weiner

Production Design by
Josan F. Russo		(as Josan Russo)

Art Direction by
Gregory Pickrell		(as Greg Pickrell)

Set Decoration by
Linda Spheeris

Costume Design by
Marilyn Vance		(as Marilyn Vance-Straker)

Makeup Department
Zoltan Elek	....	makeup artist (as Zoltan)
Michael Germain	....	additional makeup artist (as Perry M. Germain)
Marina Pedraza	....	hair stylist
Bren Plaistowe	....	additional hair stylist

Production Management
Jerry A. Baerwitz	....	unit production manager (as Jerry Baerwitz)
Bill Brown	....	post-production supervisor
Ronald Colby	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bryan Denegal	....	second assistant director
Vicki Jackson-Lemay	....	second assistant director (as Vicki LeMay)
Kimberly Sizemore	....	dga trainee
Jerry Ziesmer	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Carl Aldana	....	illustrator
Jerry Allen	....	propmaker foreperson
Rubin Andreatta	....	greensperson
Robert Bonino	....	construction foreperson
Edmond Brown	....	lead person
John Hutchinson	....	production painter
Richard Leon	....	assistant property master
Jeff Passanante	....	construction supervisor
Edmund Villa	....	property master
Han Xin	....	portrait painter
Greg Knapp	....	construction medic (uncredited)

Sound Department
Pamela Bentkowski	....	foley supervisor
James Beshears	....	adr supervisor
Steve Bowerman	....	boom operator (as Steven R. Bowerman)
Dominick De Stefano	....	cable person
Don Digirolamo	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mike Dobie	....	supervising sound editor
Julia Evershade	....	sound editor
Robert Glass	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Bob Glass)
Kimberly Harris	....	sound editor (as Kimberly Ann Harris)
Devon Heffley Curry	....	assistant sound editor
Robert Knudson	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Buzz Knudson)
David MacMillan	....	sound mixer (as David Macmillan)
Judee Margules	....	assistant sound editor
David Pettijohn	....	sound editor
Gary Wright	....	sound editor
Edward M. Steidele	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Louis R. Cooper	....	special effects coordinator (as Louis Cooper)

Stunts
Erik Cord	....	stunts
Dana Dru Evenson	....	stunts
Sasha Jenson	....	stunts
Pamela Manganaro	....	stunts
Steve Morey	....	stunt double
Steve L. Morey	....	stunts
Edward J. Ulrich	....	stunts (as Ed Ulrich)
Sasha Jenson	....	stunt double: Craig Sheffer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Albert Bettcher	....	camera operator (as Al Bettcher)
Doug Cook	....	second company grip (as Douglas Cook)
Lowell Crisp	....	electrical lighting technician (as Lowell E. Crisp)
Lowell Crisp	....	electrician
Michael Gershman	....	camera operator (as Michael E. Gershman)
Clyde Hart	....	first company grip
O.T. Henderson	....	dolly grip
Calvin Maehl	....	chief lighting technician
Charles E. Nippell	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Charles Nippell)
Aaron Pazanti	....	first assistant photographer
Ed Reilly	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Joyce Rudolph	....	still photographer
Robert Samuels	....	second assistant photographer (as Robert B. Samuels)
Eddie Taylor	....	chief rigging electrician

Casting Department
Barbara Flinn	....	extras casting
Steven Jacobs	....	casting associate: New York
Ruth Lambert	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Elinor Bardach	....	assistant to costume designer
Greg Hall	....	costumer: men
Silvio Scarano	....	costume supervisor: men
Barbara Siebert	....	costume supervisor: women (as Barbara Siebert Bolticoff)
Victoria Snow	....	costumer: women

Editorial Department
Richard Alderete	....	assistant editor
Seth Flaum	....	associate editor
Kim Nolan	....	apprentice editor
Robert Raring	....	color timer (as Rob Raring)

Music Department
Dan Carlin Sr.	....	music editor
Tarquin Gotch	....	music supervisor
Ron Payne	....	music coordinator

Transportation Department
Todd Connolly	....	transportation co-captain
Dan Marrow	....	transportation coordinator
Gaston Veilleux	....	transportation captain (as Gaston 'Gus' Veilleux)

Other crew
Pamela Alch	....	script supervisor
James Bailey	....	first aid (as Jim Bailey)
Bruce A. Block	....	filmic consultant
Tony Bowers	....	location manager (as Anthony Bowers)
Robin Citrin	....	location manager
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer
David Gonzales	....	production associate
Doris Hellmann	....	production secretary (as Doris Helman)
Gus Hill	....	caterer
Arthur 'Clondike' Jones	....	craft service (as Art 'Klondike' Jones)
Tim McNeal	....	production assistant (as Timothy K. McNeal)
Billy Moore	....	drumming instructor
Don Petrie	....	production auditor
Fredell Pogodin	....	publicity coordinator
Kathryn Rhodes	....	production assistant
Nanette Siegert	....	production coordinator
Susan Smith	....	production assistant
Elena Spiotta	....	production associate
Ron Stack	....	assistant production auditor
Douglas E. Stoll	....	location manager (as Doug Evan Stoll)
Jane Vickerilla	....	assistant: John Hughes
Jeanne Webber	....	technical consultant (as Jeanne Weber)

Production Companies

• Hughes Entertainment
• Paramount Pictures (presents)

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures

Other Companies

• Central Casting  extras casting
• K!SSPROOF Entertainment  cast appearance booking
• MCA Records  soundtrack
• Pacific Title  opticals
• Reel People Inc.  negative cutting

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | Canada:PG | Finland:K-8 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:7 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Hollywood Bowl - 2301 N. Highland Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Hughes Entertainment

Trivia:

In an earlier version of the script, Keith proposes to Susan (Watts' first name) at the end (August 1986 script).

Goofs:

Continuity: When Keith's sister, Laura, is talking to her friends about her new "popular" status, she has a military-style vest on over a yellow blouse. When we see her jump down after being accused of being "false", the vest is gone, but immediately reappears in the next shot.

Quotes:

Watts: Get your skag and let's go.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Indie Sex: Teens (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Turn To The Sky

Stop calling me Clifford

Some Kind Of Wonderful tanked at the box office when it came out, but the truth is this sleeper hit was actually good. And I will even go far saying that this reverse Pretty In Pink is better than Pretty In Pink itself. Why? Good, honest performaces. Hughes decides to leave his Brat Packers behind and went with great choices in Eric Stoltz (who could've gave John Cusack a run for his money in the Teen Angst movie department), Lea Thompson and Mary Stewart Masterson, who steals the show as Watts. Sure the story is run of the mill, but it is the acting that pulls it through. Another good thing is that Thompson's character of Amanda Jones doesn't come off as being a snooty brat (for use of a better word). She is from the same part of town like Keith and tries to fit in with the 'cool' clique. Another good supporting performance is Duncan, the headbanger who is a regular in detention. I love how they forge a friendship through their art. And who can forget how Duncan and the lifers help Keith make his date with Amanda a success? One other thing I like is the soundtrack. It doesn't sound commerical like in other Hughes films. The music really suits every scenes it shows up in (especially the end credits that feature Lick The Tins take on 'Can't Help Falling In Love'). Molly Ringwald reportedly turned down a role in this film, but it's good that she did because I couldn't picture her in this classic. Great film.