Bright Lights, Big City (1988)

Director:

James Bridges

Writers (WGA):

Jay McInerney (novel)
Jay McInerney (screenplay)

Release Date:

1 April 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

All that glitters is not gold.

Plot:

A disillusioned young writer living in New York City turns to drugs and drinking to block out the memories of his dead mother and estranged wife.

Plot Keywords:

Magazine | Writer | Fashion Show | Estranged Wife | Dead Mother

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Michael J. Fox	...	Jamie Conway
Kiefer Sutherland	...	Tad Allagash
Phoebe Cates	...	Amanda
Swoosie Kurtz	...	Megan
Frances Sternhagen	...	Clara
Tracy Pollan	...	Vicky
John Houseman	...	Mr. Vogel
Charlie Schlatter	...	Michael
David Warrilow	...	Rittenhouse
Dianne Wiest	...	Mother
Alec Mapa	...	Yasu Wade
William Hickey	...	Ferret Man
Gina Belafonte	...	Kathy
Sam Robards	...	Rich Vanier
Bernard Zette	...	Stevie (as Zette)
Marika Blossfeldt	...	Bald Girl
Jessica Lundy	...	Theresa
Kelly Lynch	...	Elaine
Peter Boyden	...	Maitre d'
Annabelle Gurwitch	...	Barbara
Russell Horton	...	Walter Tyler
Maria Pitillo	...	Pony Tail Girl
Susan Traylor	...	Leather Lady
Michael Fischetti	...	Mannequin Craftsman
Harvey Waldman	...	Deli Man
David Hyde Pierce	...	Bartender at Fashion Show
Jim Babchak	...	Bartender at Disco
Peg Murray	...	Receptionist
Barbara Rucker	...	Elegant Lady
Pat Santino	...	Security Guard
Mike Bacarella	...	Bakery Man
Josie Bell	...	Runway Model
Anne Bezamat	...	Runway Model
Alva Chinn	...	Runway Model
Dianne De Witt	...	Runway Model
Nathalie Gabrielli	...	Runway Model
Jennifer Houser	...	Runway Model
Lynn Howland	...	Runway Model
Sheila Johnson	...	Runway Model
Melanie Landestoy	...	Runway Model
Marisol Massey	...	Runway Model
Andrea Sande	...	Runway Model
Malio	...	Runway Model
Maria von Hartz	...	Runway Model
Joko Zohrer	...	Runway Model
Marvin Braverman	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Thomas Brunelle	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Leigh French	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Nicholas Guest	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Fred Newman	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Luisa Leschin	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Andrew Masset	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Anna Mathias	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Tracy Newman	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Reni Santoni	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Wendy Schaal	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Jonathan Stark	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Arnold F. Turner	...	Additional Voices (voice)
Claudette Wells	...	Additional Voices (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Wayne Keeley	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Antony Platt	...	Press Photographer-Fashion Show (uncredited)
Jason Robards	...	Drunken Writer -- Mr. Hardy (uncredited)
Dondre Whitfield	...	Brian Jones (uncredited)

Directed by
James Bridges

Writing credits (WGA)
Jay McInerney		(novel)
Jay McInerney		(screenplay)

Produced by
Jack Larson	....	producer
Gerald R. Molen	....	executive producer
Sydney Pollack	....	producer
Mark Rosenberg	....	producer

Original Music by
Donald Fagen

Cinematography by
Gordon Willis

Film Editing by
George Berndt
John Bloom

Casting by
Mary Colquhoun

Production Design by
Santo Loquasto

Art Direction by
Tom Warren		(as Thomas C. Warren)

Set Decoration by
George DeTitta Jr.

Costume Design by
Bernie Pollack

Makeup Department
Romaine Greene	....	hair stylist
Craig Lyman	....	assistant makeup artist
Bernadette Mazur	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Michael Badalucco	....	assistant production manager
Robin Forman	....	post-production supervisor
Ted Kurdyla	....	assistant unit production manager
Gerald R. Molen	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gina Leonetti	....	dgc trainee
David McGiffert	....	first assistant director
Barbara M. Ravis	....	second second assistant director (as Barbara Ravis)
Stephen Wertimer	....	second assistant director (as Steven Wertimer)
Nelson Cabrera	....	second second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Michael Badalucco	....	assistant property master (as Mike Badalucco)
Frank Didio	....	head carpenter
Glenn Lloyd	....	art department coordinator
James Mazzola	....	property master
Arne Olsen	....	construction grip
Ron Petagna	....	construction coordinator (as Ronald Petagna)
Jefferson Sage	....	assistant art director
Cosmo Sorice	....	stand-by scenic artist
James Sorice	....	master scenic artist (as Jim Sorice)
Thomas M. Southern	....	scenic artist
Dave Weinman	....	set dresser
Gilbert S. Williams	....	assistant to production designer (as Gil Williams)
Gerald DeTitta	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gary Alexander	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michael Bedard	....	sound recordist (as Mike Bedard)
Pamela Bentkowski	....	sound effects editor
George Berndt	....	adr editor
Brian M. Chic	....	sound apprentice
Teri E. Dorman	....	sound editor
Ann Ducommun	....	assistant sound editor
Susan Dudeck	....	dialogue editor
John Duvall	....	foley editor (as John Duval)
Douglas Greenfield	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Spike Allison Hooper	....	sound assistant
Chris Jenkins	....	sound re-recording mixer
Laura Krumholz	....	sound assistant
Les Lazarowitz	....	production sound mixer
Skip Lievsay	....	sound supervisor
Martin Maryska	....	sound editor
James Matheny	....	sound effects editor
Linda Murphy	....	boom operator
Steve Pederson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Joan Rowe	....	foley artist
Ralph Stuart	....	first assistant sound editor
Jerry Trent	....	foley artist

Special Effects by
Kelly Lepkowsky	....	animatronics (uncredited)

Stunts
Charles Croughwell	....	stunt double: Michael J. Fox

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Connors	....	best boy (as Bob Conners)
Raymond Fortune	....	electrician
Tom Gilligan	....	grip
Louis Goldman	....	still photographer
Douglas C. Hart	....	first assistant camera
Chaim Kantor	....	second assistant camera
Billy Kerwick	....	best boy grip
Thomas Landi	....	electrician
Bobby Mancuso	....	camera trainee
Richard Quinlan	....	chief lighting technician
Ed Quinn	....	key grip
Donald Sweeney	....	camera operator

Casting Department
Michael Colberg	....	casting assistant
Judie Fixler	....	additional casting (as Julie Fixler)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
William A. Campbell	....	costumer: men
Hope Hanafin	....	assistant costume designer
Melissa Stanton	....	costumer: women (as Melissa Adzima-Stanton)

Editorial Department
Donah Bassett	....	negative cutter
Maryann Brandon	....	assistant film editor
Peter B. Ellis	....	apprentice film editor
Ed Stabile	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Joseph S. DeBeasi	....	playback music editor
George Doering	....	musician
Donald Fagen	....	orchestrator
Rob Mounsey	....	composer: additional music
Rob Mounsey	....	orchestrator
Joel Sill	....	executive music producer
Curt Sobel	....	music editor
Wayne Yurgelun	....	scoring engineer

Transportation Department
James Giblin	....	transportation captain (as Jim Giblin)

Other crew
Dennis T. Benatar	....	location staff (as Dennis Benatar)
Julie Bergman Sender	....	assistant to producers
Nicholas Bernstein	....	location staff
Ted Casablanca	....	technical advisor
Cynthia Cox	....	assistant production coordinator
Michael DeCasper	....	production assistant
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer
Edward A. Ioffreda	....	production assistant (as Edward Ioffreda)
Harriette Kanew	....	production coordinator
Linda Labov	....	secretary to producer
Erica Lawson	....	assistant: Mr. Fox
John A. Machione	....	assistant auditor
Penny McCarthy	....	assistant: Mr. Bridges
Charlie McNamara	....	production assistant: locations department
Douglas S. Ornstein	....	production assistant
Donna Ostroff	....	secretary to producer
Brian Pulido	....	production assistant
Ken Ryan	....	auditor
Donna Santora	....	accounting assistant
Stephanie Saunders	....	assistant: Mr. Bridges
Barbara Stoia	....	script supervisor
Ari Taub	....	assistant location coordinator

Production Companies

• CST Telecommunications
• Mirage

Distributors

• United Artists (1988) (USA) (theatrical)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Audio Visual Enterprises (1990) (Greece) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2008) (USA) (DVD) (20th Anniversary Edition)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2010) (Australia) (DVD)

Other Companies

• New Visions Music Group Inc.  music supervision
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Panavision  camera equipment
• Peggy Siegal Company  publicity
• Todd Thaler Casting  additional casting

Also Known As:

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA | Japan

Language:

English

Color:

Color (DuArt)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Norway:15 | Iceland:L | UK:15 (video re-rating) (2003) | UK:18 (original rating) | UK:18 (video rating) (1989) | Sweden:15 | Australia:R | France:-16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Portugal:M/18 | Australia:MA (Cable TV rating)

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

CST Telecommunications

Trivia:

Before the role was handed to Fox, casting was about to hire a man working in Tiffanys in NYC named Chris Salales and wanted to make him the star role without knowing him or any prior experience.

Goofs:

Continuity: During Jamie's story of his relationship with Amanda to Megan his wineglass goes from half-full to empty in less than two seconds, while he's speaking.

Quotes:

Drunken Writer:[rambling on aimlessly to himself] ... Siamese fighting fish in the water cooler... the old crew in the golden days of this magazine would have thought of it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Teenage Caveman (#4.15)" (1991)

Soundtrack:

Kiss & Tell

Dim lights, fuzzy details.

It must have struck cinematographer Gordon Willis as highly ironic that he would shoot a film with the title "Bright Lights, Big City". Willis, known for his fabulous work with dark, muted colors and characters in shadows or silhouettes, seems absolutely lost within this night-life milieu, which isn't bright and hardly seems big. Jay McInerney adapted his own 1984 novel about a would-be writer in New York City whose job in the research department of a prominent magazine (Gotham!) is constantly threatened by his drug use, which may stem from a broken marriage and memories of his deceased mother. It's not difficult to pinpoint what went wrong here: although Michael J. Fox may seem well-cast from the outset, it clearly becomes apparent he's in over his head. Fox (whose plastic voice-over narration was probably supposed to sound hard-boiled) is too well-scrubbed and corn-fed to be convincing as a party maniac; acting disoriented by blinking his eyes heavily and tightening his thin mouth, Fox is strictly a morose good-time guy, mourning the separation from fashion model spouse Phoebe Cates. But there's nothing at stake for this kid when he stays up all night (except for his job at the magazine, which hardly matters to us since the sequences set there are wholly unconvincing). Director James Bridges takes an episodic approach to the narrative, but his continuity (or perhaps the editing) is sloppy and gummy, and the people in Fox's small circle aren't terribly interesting. And did the movie go through a budgetary crisis? The weak nightclubbing scenes look barren and cheap (aside from some city vistas and subway rides, the picture could easily take place in Passaic, New Jersey for all we know). When Fox goes out on a blind date with Tracy Pollan, we know instantly these two clean-cut kids will click on their appearance alone: they look like an upscale young couple coming home from a Republican fundraiser. There's nothing dangerous about Michael J. Fox or his approach to this part. He drinks, he snorts, he swears, but he doesn't live the highs and lows of an addict on the edge. Or, is this guy an addict? There's no visual punch in Bridges' staging to suggest he's anything more than a spoiled kid looking for a girl to adore him. *1/2 from ****