Lady in White (1988)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Frank LaLoggia

Writer:

Frank LaLoggia (written by)

Release Date:

22 April 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Fantasy | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

The year is 1962. The place is Willowpoint Falls. Nobody talks about what happened in the school cloakroom 10 years ago. Now, in the dead of night, Frankie Scarlatti is going to find out why.

Plot:

Locked in a school closet during Halloween 1962, young Frank witnesses the ghost of a young girl and the man who murdered her years ago...

Plot Keywords:

Halloween | Ghost | Child Abuse | Family Relationships | Investigation

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Fri. July 24	11:15 AM	TMC
Tue. July 28	6:00 AM	TMC
Tue. July 28	6:05 PM	TMC

Cast

Lukas Haas	...	Frankie Scarlatti
Len Cariou	...	Phil Terragarossa
Alex Rocco	...	Angelo 'Al' Scarlatti
Katherine Helmond	...	Amanda
Jason Presson	...	Geno Scarlatti
Renata Vanni	...	Mama Assunta
Angelo Bertolini	...	Papa Charlie
Joelle Jacobi	...	Melissa Anne Montgomery
Jared Rushton	...	Donald
Gregory Levinson	...	Louie
Lucy Lee Flippin	...	Grace La Della
Tom Bower	...	Sheriff Saunders
Jack Andreozzi	...	Tony
Sydney Lassick	...	Mr. Lowry
Rita Zohar	...	Mrs. Agnes Cilak
Hal Bokar	...	Mr. Cilak
Rose Weaver	...	Matty Williams
Henry Harris	...	Harold Williams
Bruce Kirby	...	Cabbie
Emily Tracy	...	Marianna
Karen Powell	...	Anne Montgomery (Lady in White)
Lisa Taylor	...	Mary Ellen
John Holland	...	Father Brennan (as Jack Holland)
Daniel Rojo	...	Reporter
Gregory L. Everage	...	Cameraman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Susan Boyd	...	Singer
Bettina Bush	...	Singer
Donna Davidson	...	Singer
H.K. Dorsey	...	Singer
Jim Haas	...	Singer
Debbie Hall	...	Singer
Sandie Hall	...	Singer
Scottie Haskell	...	Singer
Ron Hicklin	...	Singer
Betty Joyce	...	Singer
Gloria Grace Prosper	...	Singer
Michael Redman	...	Singer (as Michael Redman Jr.)
Daniel Shiplacoff	...	Singer
Sally Stevens	...	Singer
Susan Danielle Stevens	...	Singer (as Susan Stevens)
Robert Tebow	...	Singer
Myhanh Tran	...	Singer
Peter Wade	...	Singer
Maria Warman	...	Singer
Jerry Whitman	...	Singer
Ellen Marguerite Cullivan	...	Airport lady (uncredited)
Helen Kelly	...	Singer (uncredited)
Frank LaLoggia	...	Frank Scarlatti (adult) (uncredited)

Directed by
Frank LaLoggia

Writing credits
Frank LaLoggia		(written by)

Produced by
Charles M. LaLoggia	....	executive producer
Frank LaLoggia	....	producer
Andrew G. La Marca	....	producer
Cliff Payne	....	executive producer
Carl Reynolds	....	associate producer
Peter Kolokouris	....	associate producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Frank LaLoggia		(as Frank Laloggia)

Cinematography by
Russell Carpenter		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Steve Mann

Production Design by
Richard K. Hummel

Art Direction by
Howard Kling
Kenneth Wolf Jr.

Set Decoration by
Sarah Burdick

Costume Design by
Jacqueline Saint Anne

Makeup Department
Ann Montesanto	....	makeup artist
Frank C. Montesanto	....	hair stylist (as Frank Montesanto)
Cheri Montesanto-Medcalf	....	hair supervisor (as Cheri Montesanto)
Cheri Montesanto-Medcalf	....	makeup supervisor (as Cheri Montesanto)

Production Management
Kelly Van Horn	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sandy Collister	....	second second assistant director (as Sandra Collister)
Lee Everage	....	second second assistant director
Ernest D. Farino	....	second unit director
Heidi Gutman	....	second assistant director
Sherri Lubov	....	second second assistant director
Betsy Pollock	....	first assistant director
Peter Chesney	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Stephen Almekinder	....	carpenter
Mark Bero	....	assistant props
Christine Bodine	....	scenic artist
Dawn Boeheim	....	set dresser
Michael Courville	....	props
Theo P. Demos	....	carpenter
John Dennehy	....	art department assistant
Dick Figueras	....	carpenter
David Fritz	....	carpenter
Cindy Gess	....	art department assistant
Barry Grant	....	painter
Gordon Guard	....	set dresser
Kit Hellman	....	assistant set decorator
Darryl Henley	....	storyboard artist (as Daryl Henley)
Danny Kopel	....	carpenter
Anne LaLopa	....	props (as Anne La Lopa)
Michael Moran	....	set dresser
George A. Olson Jr.	....	painter
Thomas Patrick O'Shea	....	lead carpenter
Jocelyn Railton	....	carpenter
P. Gibson Ralph	....	carpenter
Russell Rebmann	....	art department assistant
Mansell Rivers-Bland	....	sculptor
Charles Rutyna	....	carpenter
Mindy Saffran	....	set dresser
Donna Santy	....	scenic artist
F. Lee Stone	....	leadman
John Jeff Ungar	....	set dresser
Sara Lee Wade	....	assistant props
Carl Zollo	....	art department consultant

Sound Department
Robert J. Anderson Jr.	....	sound mixer (as Robert Anderson Jr.)
Gregg Barbanell	....	foley artist
Sam Caylor	....	sound editor
Brianne S. Chierighino	....	sound assistant
Joseph D. Citarella	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Joe Citarella)
Don Crosby	....	foley editor
Diggy	....	sound effects designer
Kim Fowler	....	foley artist
David W. Gray	....	stereo consultant: Dolby
Charles Grenzbach	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Charles 'Bud' Grenzbach)
Anthony Ippolito	....	supervising sound editor
Randall Lawson	....	sound assistant
Steve Mann	....	sound effects designer
Matthew McFadden	....	boom operator (as Matthew John McFadden)
Art Ottinger	....	adr editor
Josef von Stroheim	....	sound editor (as Joe von Stroheim)
Ray West	....	sound re-recording mixer
Troy Porter	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Peter Chesney	....	special effects coordinator
Jarn Heil	....	special effects leadman
Emmet Kane	....	special effects technician (as Emmett Kane)
Jim Kundig	....	special effects assistant
Tom Chesney	....	special effects (uncredited)
David Hill	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)
Rodd Matsui	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Bruce A. Block	....	matte cameraman
Betzy Bromberg	....	optical supervisor
David Emerson	....	optical camera
Ernest D. Farino	....	visual effects supervisor
David Fiske	....	split scan effects: Animagic
Michael Griffin	....	camera assistant: Fantasy II Film Effects
Linda Henry	....	optical lineup
John Huneck	....	cameraman: Fantasy II Film Effects
Leslie Huntley	....	production supervisor: Fantasy II Film Effects
Frank H. Isaacs	....	rotoscope assistant (as Frank Isaacs)
Michael Joyce	....	model maker: Fantasy II Film Effects
Ken Marschall	....	matte artist: Fantasy II Film Effects
Bret Mixon	....	rotoscope supervisor
Peter Montgomery	....	split scan effects: Animagic
Heather Pumphrey	....	production assistant: Fantasy II Film Effects
Christopher Warren	....	production assistant: Fantasy II Film Effects
Gene Warren Jr.	....	visual effects supervisor

Stunts
Cliff Cudney	....	stunts
Rawn Hutchinson	....	stunt coordinator
Debbie Wilson	....	stunts
Chris Nielsen	....	stunt driver (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Stuart Allen	....	louma crane operator
Huston Beaumont	....	electrician
Marsha Blackburn	....	still photographer (as Marsha Lynn Blackburn)
Alan Caso	....	Steadicam operator
Kenny S. Christiansen	....	best boy electric (as Ken Christiansen)
Angelo Cicero	....	grip
Brian Crane	....	electrician
Stephen Crawford	....	gaffer
Robert De Looze	....	grip
Doug Dole	....	video playback operator (as Douglas Dole)
Cobie Fair	....	best boy grip
Thomas H. Fenton	....	video playback operator (as Thomas Fenton)
Harlan M. Freedman	....	dolly grip
Thomas Grubbs	....	camera operator: second unit
M. Todd Henry	....	camera operator: second unit
Paul Hughen	....	additional assistant camera
Kent Hughes	....	additional assistant camera
Mark Jackson	....	first assistant camera
Peter C. Jensen	....	Steadicam operator (as Peter Jensen)
Duane Journey	....	grip
Jeff Jur	....	camera operator: second unit
Vincent LaLoggia	....	additional assistant camera (as Vincent Laloggia)
Dirk Large	....	electrician
Paul Laufer	....	additional assistant camera
Chris Lombardi	....	Steadicam assistant cameraman
Tommy Magglos	....	Steadicam assistant cameraman
Albert Malvaez	....	first assistant camera
Barbu Marian	....	additional assistant camera
Jerry McSpirit	....	crane operator (as Jerry Mc Spirit)
Renton-Paul Medcalf	....	grip
Daryn Okada	....	camera operator: second unit
Richard Orrange	....	grip
David Andrews Peters	....	second assistant camera
Frank Reiber	....	electrician
Thomas Smith	....	grip
Thom Soris	....	electrician (as Thom Souris)
Robert Stone	....	key grip
Jim Thorpe	....	grip
Michael R. Thorpe	....	grip (as Michael Thorpe)
Eric Ward	....	electrician
Robert Watson Jr.	....	grip

Casting Department
Janet Cunningham	....	extras casting: Los Angeles
Mali Finn	....	casting
Gary Matwijkow	....	extras casting: New York

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Susan Camusi	....	costumer
Janice Flating	....	costumer
Fred Lloyd	....	costumer
Sally Smith-McCardle	....	costumer (as Sally Smith)

Editorial Department
Dennis Brookins	....	negative cutter
Bette Jane Cohen	....	additional assistant editor (as Bette Cohen)
Richard Currie	....	assistant film editor
Ed Sogg	....	color timer

Music Department
Stan Jones	....	music editor
Jon Joyce	....	choir conductor
Frank LaLoggia	....	music arranger (as Frank Laloggia)
John Massari	....	conductor
John Massari	....	music supervisor
Michael Stone	....	music scoring mixer
John Massari	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Ray Brooks	....	driver: honeywagon
Lance Clough	....	assistant picture car coordinator
Chett Haffey	....	production van driver
David Hill	....	driver
Joseph La Lopa	....	driver
Mike Naselli	....	driver
Chris Nielsen	....	transportation coordinator (as John Christian Nielsen)
John Christian Nielsen	....	transportation coordinator
Brett Rockefeller	....	driver

Other crew
Jane Bartelme	....	production coordinator
Lenny Brooks	....	animal supplier (as Lenny Brooks, Dawn Animal Agency)
Glenn Bruce	....	stand-in
Lisa Bruno	....	production assistant
Bryan Campbell	....	investor relations
Al Cerullo	....	helicopter pilot (as Al Cerullo Jr.)
Patricia Champion	....	assistant locations: (New York )
Nancy Cole	....	production accountant (as Nancy M. Cole)
Teri Durston	....	assistant production coordinator
Aimee East	....	production assistant
Jane Fleming	....	stand-in
Peter Kolokouris	....	production associate
Gregory R. La Marca	....	helicopter pilot
Mary Jo Malone	....	production assistant
Dixie Marlowe	....	production assistant
Howard McCain	....	production assistant
Sandra Miller	....	assistant accountant
Tom Oldberg	....	fire safety
Stratton Rawson	....	location manager: (New York )
Patrick Ryco	....	production assistant (as Pat Ryco)
John Sculli	....	production assistant
Shelly Seymour	....	assistant production coordinator
Stephanie Spangler	....	location manager: (Hawaii )
Martha Speed	....	assistant: Charles LaLoggia
Nicholas Toth	....	animal supplier (as Nick Toth, Cougar Hill Ranch)
Annie Welles	....	script supervisor
Paul Wilkowsky	....	production assistant
Lorie Zerweck	....	production coordinator
Kristine Greco	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Thanks
Paul Adams	....	the producers wish to thank
Joey Barretta	....	special recognition
Charles Border	....	the producers wish to thank
Richard Calabrese	....	the producers wish to thank
Lee Chaloukian	....	the producers wish to thank (as Leo Chaloukian)
John Farrell	....	the producers wish to thank
Jana Jones	....	the producers wish to thank
Pasquale Marra	....	the producers wish to thank
Kenneth Moore	....	the producers wish to thank
Janet Morris	....	special recognition
Robin Payne	....	the producers wish to thank
Cary Presley	....	special recognition
Kevin Royston	....	special recognition
Scott Stowell	....	the producers wish to thank
Michael Talley	....	the producers wish to thank
Ken Valentine	....	the producers wish to thank

Production Companies

• New Sky Communications Inc. (presents) (as New Sky Productions)

Distributors

• New Century Vista Film Company (1988) (USA) (theatrical)
• Elite Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Highlight Video (West Germany) (VHS)
• Look Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1996) (Finland) (TV)
• Nordic Film Group (1989) (Finland) (VHS)
• Virgin (video)

Special Effects

• Animagic Entertainment Corporation (slit scan effects) (as Animagic, Inc.)
• Fantasy II Film Effects (visual effects)
• Image Engineering (special effects by)

Other Companies

• Adam & Eve Wig Studios  the producers wish to thank
• Cell Communications  the producers wish to thank
• Coast to Coast Catering  catering (as Coast-to-Coast Caterers)
• Cougar Hill Ranch  animals
• Dawn Animal Agency  animals
• General Cameras West  camera, grip, and lighting equipment supplied by (as General Camera West)
• Lynn Stalmaster & Associates  casting
• Mary Williams Music Clearance  music clearances by
• New York State Governor's Office for Motion Picture & Television Development  the producers wish to thank (as N.Y. State Governor's Office for Motion Pictures and T.V. Development)
• Ryder Sound Services  sound by
• Trans World Airlines  travel arrangements by

Also Known As:

The Mystery of the Lady in White (Australia) (poster title)

Runtime:

112 min | USA:118 min (extended version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:12 | USA:PG-13 (re-rating on appeal) | USA:R (original rating) | Finland:K-16 | Australia:M | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Berkshires, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

New Sky Communications Inc.

Trivia:

On the DVD commentary, director Frank LaLoggia says that he got the idea for using the song "Did You Ever See a Dream Walking?" (which is a significant plot element in the movie) from hearing it in the Eddie Cantor movie Roman Scandals (1933). Actually, this song does not appear in the Cantor film; it was written for the musical Sitting Pretty (1933). Both "Roman Scandals" and "Sitting Pretty" were released in 1933.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: When Frankie is praying in front of a picture of Jesus, towards the right there is what looks like a toy dinosaur. But in the following shot the dinosaur has disappeared. This is an apparent goof resulting from the compression of distance by the telephoto lens used to achieve a closeup at 49:17 where it appears that the picture of Jesus and the statuette of Godzilla are side-by-side when the statuette is actually some distance behind the picture as can be seen at 49:26 where the statuette is behind the picture at the left edge of the wide screen frame.

Quotes:

Frankie Scarlatti: [about Melissa the ghost who Geno sees for the first time] She's looking for her mother.
Geno Scarlatti: Got her number? Lets call her.

Movie Connections:

References Sitting Pretty (1933)

Soundtrack:

(HOW MUCH IS THAT) DOGGIE IN THE WINDOW

Why independent movies are so weird?

What makes a good mystery? First of all, weirdness. I've seen a lot of ghost-movies but only a few come close to the beautiful weirdness of this independent movie. Over 4000 people gave their pennies to make this movie come true and it was really worth it. Just like Taboada's "Hasta el viento tiene miedo", LaLoggia's "Lady in White" is an absolutely astonishing movie in every part of it, starting from the visual style to the plot. Of course, like in every movie made on low budget it has pretty bad special effects, sometimes so bad that you want the movie to be remade, but in fact, this is the kind of movie that's totally impossible to be remade without ruining its incomprehensible glamor. Once finished watching, someone would think that it's the plot that makes this movie so unique, but for a movie-lover it's not too hard to remember at least a couple of other flicks with similar plots but miles weaker than "Lady in White", so it's obvious that everything: acting, direction, music, design, photography; so well fit together so they create a potion of pure imagination incredibly interknit with an almost touchable reality. It's the best movie that can be called a screen version of a Christmas story told by the fire by your grand. More than worth watching.

Unfortunately this movie has not been released on DVD in Russia (just as "Hasta el viento..." and many other amazing fantasy movies), so I can share my admiration with only a few people.