The Accidental Tourist (1988)

Director:

Lawrence Kasdan

Writers (WGA):

Anne Tyler (book)
Frank Galati (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

6 January 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

An emotionally distant writer of travel guides must carry on with his life after his son is killed and his marriage crumbles.

Plot Keywords:

Travel | Travel Writer | Travel Guide | Suitcase | Dog

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 3 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

William Hurt	...	Macon Leary
Kathleen Turner	...	Sarah Leary
Geena Davis	...	Muriel Pritchett
Amy Wright	...	Rose Leary
David Ogden Stiers	...	Porter Leary
Ed Begley Jr.	...	Charles Leary
Bill Pullman	...	Julian
Robert Hy Gorman	...	Alexander Pritchett (as Robert Gorman)
Bradley Mott	...	Mr. Loomis
Seth Granger	...	Ethan Leary
Amanda Houck	...	Debbie
Caroline Houck	...	Dorrie
London Nelson	...	Caroline
Gregory Gouyer	...	Paris Boy
Bill Lee Brown	...	Morgue Detective #1 (as W.H. Brown)
Donald Neal	...	Morgue Detective #2
Peggy Converse	...	Mrs. Barrett
Maureen Kerrigan	...	Laura Canfield
Jake Kasdan	...	Scott Canfield (as Jacob Kasdan)
Paul Williamson	...	London Hotel Manager
Walter Sparrow	...	Hot Dog Vendor
Todd J. Adelman	...	Macon's Doctor (as Todd Adelman)
Meg Kasdan	...	Receptionist
David Q. Combs	...	Minister (as David Combs)
Jon Kasdan	...	Boy at Doctor's Office (as Jonathan Kasdan)
Thomas Paolucci	...	Taunting Boy
Neana N. Collins	...	Taunting Girl
Roland Riallot	...	Paris Taxi Driver
Audrey Rapoport	...	Girl on Plane (as Audrey R. Rapoport)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Aaron Michael Lacey	...	Restaurant Patron (uncredited)

Directed by
Lawrence Kasdan

Writing credits (WGA)
Anne Tyler		(book)
Frank Galati		(screenplay) and
Lawrence Kasdan		(screenplay)

Produced by
Phyllis Carlyle	....	executive producer
Michael Grillo	....	producer
Lawrence Kasdan	....	producer
John Malkovich	....	executive producer
Charles Okun	....	producer

Original Music by
John Williams

Cinematography by
John Bailey

Film Editing by
Carol Littleton

Casting by
Wallis Nicita

Production Design by
Bo Welch

Art Direction by
Tom Duffield

Set Decoration by
Cricket Rowland

Costume Design by
Ruth Myers

Makeup Department
Vincent Callaghan	....	makeup artist: Baltimore (as Vincent Callahan)
Leonard Engelman	....	makeup artist
Lynda Gurasich	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Jean-Yves Asselin	....	unit manager: Paris
Véronique Bourboulon	....	assistant unit manager: Paris (as Veronique Bourboulon)
Richard Dobson	....	production manager: London
Charles Okun	....	unit production manager
Daniel Szuster	....	production manager: Paris
Sylvie Duluc	....	assistant unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dominique-Anne Arquillier	....	second assistant director: Paris
Eric Bartonio	....	first assistant director: Paris
Carey Dietrich	....	second second assistant director
Stephen P. Dunn	....	second assistant director (as Stephen Dunn)
Paul Frift	....	second assistant director: London
Michael Grillo	....	first assistant director
Simon Hinkly	....	first assistant director: London
Wendy Peterson	....	dga trainee (as Wendolyn Peterson)

Art Department
Donald R. Abblett	....	stand-by painter (as Don Abblett)
Greg John Callas	....	construction coordinator (as Greg Callas)
Cheryl Carasik	....	lead person
R. Scott Doran	....	swing gang
Ann Harris	....	set designer
Tim Hutchinson	....	art director: London
Gérard James	....	property master: Paris
Jack Johnson	....	illustrator
Gary F. Kieldrup	....	assistant property master (as Gary Kieldrup)
Larry Lennert	....	greensman
André Loisif	....	construction coordinator: Paris
Chuck McSorley	....	swing gang
Nick Navarro	....	set designer
Dan Ondrejko	....	greensman
Robert Perez	....	swing gang
William A. Petrotta	....	property master (as Bill Petrotta)
Félix Placenti	....	production buyer: Paris
Michael Redding	....	construction coordinator: London
Peter Rutherford	....	production buyer: London
Jim Samson	....	lead person: Baltimore
Paul Sonski	....	set designer
Gérard Viard	....	art director: Paris
Keith Vowles	....	property master: London
John Warnke	....	assistant art director
John Cassel	....	propmaker (uncredited)
Giovanni Ferrara	....	head painter (uncredited)
Martin J. Gibbons	....	propmaker (uncredited)
Ed Mirassou	....	toolman (uncredited)

Sound Department
George H. Anderson	....	sound effects editor (as George Anderson)
Beth Bergeron	....	adr editor
Steve Bowerman	....	boom operator
Joe Dorn	....	sound assistant
Jay Dranch	....	adr editor
Paul Filby	....	boom operator: London
Robert Grieve	....	supervising sound editor
Wilt Henderson	....	sound assistant
John Hoeren	....	foley editor
Neil Kingsbury	....	sound mixer: London
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer
Stephanie Lowry	....	sound assistant (as Stephanie Ng)
Beth Lynk	....	sound assistant
David MacMillan	....	production sound mixer
Gavin Marrable	....	sound maintenance engineer: London
Denis Martin	....	boom operator: Paris
Cindy Marty	....	dialogue editor
Donald O. Mitchell	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Murray	....	foley editor
Kevin O'Connell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jean-Pierre Ruh	....	sound mixer: Paris (as Jean Pierre Ruh)
Frank Smathers	....	dialogue editor
Linda Whittlesey	....	sound effects editor
Gabriel Cubos	....	sound utility (uncredited)
John Roesch	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Carolyn Tapp	....	foley recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Joseph P. Mercurio	....	special effects (as Joe Mercurio)

Stunts
Boone Narr	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Lou Barlia	....	camera operator
Neil Binney	....	camera operator: London
Bobby Brown	....	second assistant camera: Baltimore (as Bob Brown)
Jack Brown	....	first assistant camera: Baltimore
John Flemming	....	camera grip: London
Christian Hereau	....	chief electrician: Paris
Michael M. Krevitt	....	key grip
Joe Laune	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Carol McCullough	....	still photographer
Ronald W. McLeish	....	chief lighting technician (as Ron McLeish)
Mike Moyer	....	chief lighting technician
Edward R. Nedin	....	rigging gaffer (as Ed Nedin)
Terry Nightingall	....	clapper loader: London
Jean Orjollet	....	camera operator: Paris
George R. Schrader	....	dolly grip
Laurie Shane	....	gaffer: London
Donald E. Thorin Jr.	....	first assistant camera (as Don Thorin Jr.)
Jeffrey Thorin	....	second assistant camera (as Jeff Thorin)
Gil Valle	....	best boy grip
Albert Vasseur	....	chief grip: Paris
Jürgen Vollmer	....	still photographer: Baltimore (as Jurgen Vollmer)
George Whitear	....	still photographer: London

Casting Department
Françoise Guernier	....	casting: Paris
Mary Selway	....	casting: London
Marlène Tommasi	....	extras casting: Paris (as Marlene Tommasi)
Joanne Zaluski	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Norman A. Burza	....	key costumer (as Norman Burza)
Brenda Dabbs	....	wardrobe: London
Linda Matthews	....	costumer: women
Germinal Rangel	....	wardrobe: Paris
Constance West	....	costumer: women

Editorial Department
Lisa Zeno Churgin	....	assistant film editor (as Lisa Churgin)
Raúl Dávalos	....	assistant film editor (as Raul Davalos)
Robert Raring	....	color timer (as Bob Raring)

Music Department
Herbert W. Spencer	....	orchestrator (as Herb Spencer)
Dan Wallin	....	music score mixer
Kenneth Wannberg	....	music editor (as Ken Wannberg)
John Rotondi	....	scoring engineer: Y4 (uncredited)
James Thatcher	....	musician: French horn (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Tino Caira	....	transportation captain
James E. Foote	....	transportation coordinator
Arnold Stone	....	transportation captain
James Sweeney	....	transportation coordinator: Baltimore
Foard J. Wilgis	....	transportation captain: Baltimore (as Foard Wilgis)
Michael Luckeroth	....	driver (uncredited)
Prentis Woods	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Todd J. Adelman	....	first aid (as Todd Adelman)
Andy Andrews	....	production accountant: London
Christine Baer	....	assistant to producers
Steph Benseman	....	location manager
Billy Brashier	....	location projectionist: Baltimore
Jean-Jacques Damiani	....	location manager: Paris
Isabelle Dassonville	....	production coordinator: Paris
Jimmy Davis	....	office assistant
Andrew M. Flinn	....	office assistant: Baltimore (as Andy Flinn)
Sara Gardner-Gail	....	office assistant: Baltimore (as Sara Gardner)
Julie Glanfield	....	production contact: London
Nigel Gostelow	....	loaction manager: London
Granville Greene	....	office assistant: Baltimore
Sally Hayman	....	production coordinator: London
Kevin Kertscher	....	office assistant: Baltimore
Fenella Maguire	....	auditor: Paris
Gail Martin-Sheridan	....	production accountant (as Gail P. Martin)
David J. McMillan	....	animal trainer (as Dave McMillan)
Boone Narr	....	animal trainer
David O'Ferrall	....	office assistant: Baltimore
Grant Olson	....	craft service
Audrey Rapoport	....	assistant: Lawrence Kasdan
Anne Rapp	....	script supervisor
Danis Regal-O'Connell	....	production secretary (as Danis Regal O'Connell)
Stacy Starr	....	office assistant: Baltimore
Anne Marie Stein	....	unit publicist
Kimberly Street	....	location contact: Baltimore
Ann Tasker	....	unit publicist: London
Laurie Arnow-Epstein	....	construction accountant (uncredited)
Patrick Boshart	....	location scout (uncredited)
Pam Ellington	....	first assistant production accountant (uncredited)
Elise Ganz	....	welfare/studio teacher (uncredited)
William L. Wright	....	stand-in (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Warner Bros

Distributors

• Warner Bros. (1989) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1989) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Warner Bros
• Warner Home Video (2006) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) (special visual effects)

Other Companies

• American Humane Association, The  made in cooperation with
• Baltimore Film Commission  producers wish to thank
• Central Casting  baltimore location casting
• Cinema Research  titles and opticals
• D. Bassett & Associates  negative cutting (as Donah Bassett & Associates)
• For Stars Catering  catering (as For Star's Catering)
• Maryland Film Commission  producers wish to thank
• TAJ Soundworks  foley (as Taj Sound Works)
• Technicolor  color timing
• The People of Baltimore  producers wish to thank
• Warner Bros. Records  soundtrack

Also Known As:

Runtime:

121 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | UK:PG | West Germany:12 | Australia:PG | Brazil:12 | South Korea:15 | Sweden:Btl | USA:PG (Certificate #29469) | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | Peru:14 | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

324 Hawthorne Road, Roland Park, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Company:

Warner Bros

Trivia:

Ellen Barkin was considered for the role of Muriel Pritchett.

Goofs:

Continuity: The shaving cream on Macon's face changes as he talks with Sarah.

Quotes:

Macon:I don't really care for movies; they make everything seem so close up.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert: The Best Films of 1988" (1988)

Soundtrack:

I'M GONNA LASSO SANTA CLAUS

Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone

The Accidental Tourist is a quiet and contemplative film that adults rarely have an opportunity to experience from an American perspective. Macon (William Hurt) is a Baltimore travel writer whose son was accidentally killed in a robbery. His wife Sarah (Kathleen Turner) leaves him when Macon withdraws to a somnambulist response, a favored routine to life that is Macon's family way. Macon's brothers (Ed Begley, Jr. and David Ogden-Stiers) are 40+ year old bachelors and living with their spinster sister, Rose in the family home. With the addition of the now separated Macon, the siblings are reduced to an eccentric routines of alphabetizing the pantry and discussions of who could be calling while the phone rings.

Into Macon's sedentary and uneventful pattern comes Muriel Pritcherd (Geena Davis), a dog trainer who takes hold of Edward, Macon's misbehaving Corgi, and inserts herself into their lives. A latent Annie Hall dresser whose mismatched clothing and late 50s car screams woman of a certain age with free spirit tendencies, Muriel gives new options to Macon through her unpredictable character and a small son, who takes immediately to him. Edward the dog even manages to behave and the little family becomes a new and invigorating experience for Macon, whose own relatives have long ago lost any sense of independence or initiative. With the unheard of occasion of the spinster sister's wedding to Macon's publisher, (Bill Pullman), Macon and Sarah are reunited and Muriel is dropped for the familiar situation of a convenient reconciliation. When Macon's work takes him to Paris, Muriel accidentally finds they are on the same plane and hotel. Although he is reluctant to interact with her, Muriel is storming the walls of resistance as before. Macon's situation is made more complicated with the appearance of his ex-wife, whose presence is both familiar and upsetting to a Macon-Muriel-Sarah menage.

How this trio resolves the situation is filled with wonderful and literate conversations between characters which ring true to the adult situation of marriage and changing lives, goals, and the unexpected. For an American film this kind of complex story telling is almost a lost art in today's car chase, adolescent fart humour, and situational absurdities. However, with long silences and occasional comic relief from the dog, the film is both contemplative and entertaining as it unfolds with bittersweet truisms.