Biloxi Blues (1988)

Director:

Mike Nichols

Writers:

Neil Simon (screenplay)
Neil Simon (play)

Release Date:

25 March 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

The Army made Eugene a man. But Daisy gave him basic training!

Plot:

A group of young recruits go through boot camp during the Second World War in Biloxi Mississippi. From the play by Neil Simon.

Plot Keywords:

Boot Camp | Sergeant | Love | U.S. Army | Gay

Cast

Matthew Broderick	...	Eugene Morris Jerome
Christopher Walken	...	Sgt. Toomey
Matt Mulhern	...	Joseph Wykowski
Corey Parker	...	Arnold B. Epstein
Markus Flanagan	...	Roy Selridge
Casey Siemaszko	...	Don Carney
Michael Dolan	...	James J. Hennesey
Penelope Ann Miller	...	Daisy
Park Overall	...	Rowena
Alan Pottinger	...	Peek
Mark Evan Jacobs	...	Pinelli
David Kienzle	...	Corporal (as Dave Kienzle)
Matthew Kimbrough	...	Spitting Cook
Kirby Mitchell	...	Digger #1
Allen Turner	...	Digger #2
Tom Kagy	...	Digger #3
Jeff Bailey	...	Mess Hall Corporal
Bill Russell	...	Rifle Instructor
Natalie Canerday	...	Natalie Canterday
A. Collin Roddey	...	Pvt. Roddey
Christopher Ginnaven	...	Cpl. Ginnaven
Morris Mead	...	Cpl. Mead
David Whitman	...	Tower Officer
Norman Rose	...	Newsreel Announcer
Ben Hynum	...	Pvt. Lindstrom
Andy Wigington	...	Cpl. Wigington
Scott Sudbury	...	Pvt. Sudbury
Michael Haley	...	Cpl. Haley (as Michael R. Haley)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Virginia Sandifur	...	Additional Voice (voice)
David Schwimmer	...	Soldier on train (uncredited)

Directed by
Mike Nichols

Writing credits
Neil Simon		(screenplay)
Neil Simon		(play)

Produced by
Joseph M. Caracciolo	....	executive producer
Marykay Powell	....	executive producer
Ray Stark	....	producer

Original Music by
Georges Delerue

Cinematography by
Bill Butler		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Sam O'Steen

Casting by
Juliet Taylor

Production Design by
Paul Sylbert

Costume Design by
Ann Roth

Makeup Department
Jay Cannistraci	....	makeup department head

Production Management
Joseph M. Caracciolo	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael Haley	....	first assistant director
James W. Skotchdopole	....	second assistant director
Glen Trotiner	....	additional second assistant director

Art Department
Roland Brooks	....	charge scenic artist
David G. McKnight	....	swing

Sound Department
Stan Bochner	....	supervising sound editor
Allan Byer	....	sound mixer
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist
Lee Dichter	....	sound re-recording mixer
George A. Lara	....	foley mixer
Gary Parker	....	boom operator

Stunts
Rick Le Fevour	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Bill Coe	....	assistant camera
Ralph Gerling	....	camera operator

Casting Department
Sarah Tackett	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gary Jones	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Kris Cole	....	first assistant editor
Bruce Pearson	....	color timer
Richard Nord	....	associate editor (uncredited)

Music Department
James Flatto	....	assistant music editor
Thomas Hasselwander	....	music supervisor
Patrick Mullins	....	music editor
Roy B. Yokelson	....	music recording engineer

Other crew
B.J. Bjorkman	....	script supervisor
Joan Eisenberg	....	unit publicist
Joe Hughes	....	assistant location manager
Robert Rippe	....	production assistant
Matilde Valera	....	assistant accountant

Production Companies

• Rastar Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1988) (USA) (theatrical)
• MCA Home Video (1988) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)

Other Companies

• Cine' Specialists  military vehicles (uncredited)

Also Known As:

"Neil Simon's Biloxi Blues" - USA (complete title)

Runtime:

106 min | UK:102 min (DVD)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Portugal:M/12 | Australia:M | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:16 | Singapore:PG | Brazil:12 | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, USA

Company:

Rastar Pictures

Trivia:

The original Broadway production of "Biloxi Blues" opened at the Neil Simon Theater on March 28, 1985 and ran for 524 performances. Matthew Broderick, Penelope Ann Miller and Matt Mulhern reprise their roles in the movie. The play also won the 1985 Tony Award for Best Play, written by Neil Simon who also wrote the screenplay for the movie version.

Goofs:

Continuity: The amount of milk in the glasses in the mess hall.

Quotes:

Sergeant Toomey:What would you do if the entire Japanese Army were behind you?
Eugene Morris Jerome:Surrender and get some sleep.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Daybreakers/Leap Year/Youth in Revolt (#2.2)" (2010)

Soundtrack:

Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree

character comedy/drama

Biloxi Blues is a wonderful character comedy with strong dramatic scenes as well. Eugene Jerome (Matthew Broderick) is an anti-hero, who is typically concerned with making wisecracks, rebelling against the rigid drill Sergeant (Christopher Walken), and talking about wanting to become a writer. Similar to the dark pathos of characters in Catch-22, Biloxi Blues exposes men in the service who do not want to be there, who are incompetent, and basically as far from battlefield heroism as you can imagine. Mike Nichols directs, and his comedic and dramatic pace is pitched perfectly for the film.

The movie has quotable lines throughout. But if you are looking for a typical war movie, this is not for you. There are no heros, at least in the conventional sense, as the story focuses upon the dusty boot camp in Biloxi, Mississippi. The story does deal with sharp internal conflicts, and the cultural topics addressed emerge strongly against the backdrop of one of the US's most traditional institutions: the military. Although it has been over fifteen years since the release of the movie, the conflict in the movie feels timely and relevant for today's world. It's the type of tight, well-written comedy that rarely exists in current cinema.