Monkey Shines (1988)

Director:

George A. Romero

Writers (WGA):

Michael Stewart (novel)
George A. Romero (screenplay)

Release Date:

29 July 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil...

Plot:

A quadriplegic man has a trained monkey help him with his paralysis, until the little monkey begins to develop feelings, and rage, against its new master.

Plot Keywords:

Monkey | Rage | Quadriplegic | Face Slap | Murder

Awards:

7 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Jason Beghe	...	Allan Mann
John Pankow	...	Geoffrey Fisher
Kate McNeil	...	Melanie Parker
Joyce Van Patten	...	Dorothy Mann
Christine Forrest	...	Maryanne Hodges
Stephen Root	...	Dean Burbage
Stanley Tucci	...	Dr. John Wiseman
Boo	...	Ella
Janine Turner	...	Linda Aikman
William Newman	...	Doc Williams
Tudi Wiggins	...	Esther Fry
Tom Quinn	...	Charlie Cunningham
Chuck Baker	...	Ambulance Driver
Patricia Tallman	...	Party Guest
David Early	...	Anesthetist
Michael Naft	...	Young Allan
Tina Romero	...	Child Playing
Mitchell Baseman	...	Child Playing
Lia Savini	...	Child Playing
Anthony Dileo Jr.	...	Vandal (as Tim DiLeo)
Melanie Verlin	...	Vandal
Dan Fallon	...	Allan's Friend
Alice Shure	...	Nurse
Leslie Dane Shapiro	...	Nurse
Christina Galesi	...	Nurse
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Heidi Hinzman	...	(uncredited)
Eric Morgan Stuart	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
George A. Romero

Writing credits (WGA)
Michael Stewart		(novel "Monkey Shines")
George A. Romero		(screenplay)

Produced by
Charles Evans	....	producer
Peter Grunwald	....	executive producer
Peter R. McIntosh	....	associate producer (as Peter McIntosh)
Gerald S. Paonessa	....	executive producer

Original Music by
David Shire

Cinematography by
James A. Contner		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Pasquale Buba

Casting by
Dianne Crittenden

Production Design by
Cletus Anderson

Art Direction by
James C. Feng		(as Jim Feng)
J. Mark Harrington

Set Decoration by
Diana Stoughton

Costume Design by
Barbara Anderson

Makeup Department
Everett Burrell	....	special makeup effects assistant
Jeannee Josefczyk	....	hair artist (as Jeanee Josefczyk)
Jeannee Josefczyk	....	makeup artist (as Jeanee Josefczyk)
Gregory Nicotero	....	special makeup effects assistant (as Greg Nicotero)
Tom Savini	....	special makeup effects
Mike Trcic	....	special makeup effects assistant (as Michael Trcic)
Karyn Wagner	....	hair assistant (as Karin Wagner)
Karyn Wagner	....	makeup assistant (as Karin Wagner)

Production Management
Nicholas Mastandrea	....	production supervisor
Todd Pinsky	....	post-production supervisor
Chaim 'Hank' Sprei	....	production manager (as Chaim Sprei)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charles Evans Jr.	....	second assistant director
Nicholas Mastandrea	....	assistant director (as Nick Mastandrea)
Grace Prinzi	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Norman Beck	....	carpenter
William H. Franko	....	foreman
Marty Garrigan	....	leadman
L. Paul Gratz	....	property assistant (as Paul Gratz)
Frederika Gray	....	scenic artist (as Fredericka Gray)
Michael Hissrich	....	carpenter
Susan Hudak	....	set dresser
Howard Jones	....	head carpenter (as Howard L. Jones)
Gary Kosko	....	property master
Celeste Parrendo	....	scenic artist
Paula Payne	....	scenic artist
Michael G. Richer	....	carpenter (as Mike Richer)
Jim Schneider	....	set dresser
Gary W. Self Jr.	....	carpenter (as Gary W. Self)
Judy Stagg	....	set dresser
Louis P. Taylor	....	construction coordinator
Natalie Wilvers	....	head scenic artist
Beth Zamborsky	....	scenic artist

Sound Department
Larry Blake	....	sound effects editor
John J. Carr	....	foley editor
Mick D'Andrea	....	assistant sound effects editor
Carlos Delarios	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Carlos De Larios)
Robert Deschaine	....	adr mixer: Lion's Gate Studios
Carol Everson	....	boom operator
Donald Flick	....	supervising sound effects editor (as Donald S. Flick)
Michael J. Kohut	....	sound re-recording mixer
Aaron Rochin	....	sound re-recording mixer
George Simpson	....	dialogue editor
John Sutton	....	sound mixer
Christina Tucker	....	adr mixer: Directors Sound (as Chris Tucker)
Elliott Koretz	....	sound editor (uncredited)
David Williams	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Steven Kirshoff	....	special effects (as Steve Kirshoff)

Visual Effects by
Tony Venezia	....	visual effects technical director
David M. Garber	....	visual effects supervisor (uncredited)
Rob Menapace	....	motion control graphics (uncredited)

Stunts
David Meeks	....	stunts
Tom Savini	....	stunts
Patricia Tallman	....	stunts
Judy Zazula	....	stunts
David John Adamson	....	stunt player (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Phil Abraham	....	first assistant camera
Myles Aronowitz	....	still photographer
Inspector Beal	....	best boy electric
Steve Cohagan	....	additional electric
Vincent Galindez	....	second assistant camera (as Vinnie Galindez)
Joseph Grabowski	....	electrician (as Jose Grabowski)
Phil Hedley	....	generator operator
John Janusek	....	best boy grip (as Beef Janusek)
Stan Keitt	....	second assistant camera
Rango Kessler	....	electrician
Gábor Kövér	....	camera operator (as Gabor Kover)
Ed Letteri	....	gaffer (as Teddy Jack Letteri)
John S. Moyer	....	grip (as Buzz Moyer)
Pinky Rimmel	....	key grip
John Roman	....	camera trainee
Richard M. Sieg	....	dolly grip (as Mr. French Sieg)
Robert E. Stanley	....	first assistant camera
Nick Tallo	....	grip (as Bomba Tallo)
Frank McGough	....	grip (uncredited)
Frank A. Serrao	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Joy Dickson	....	casting assistant
Christine Forrest	....	local casting (as Chris Romero)
Barbara Harris	....	voice casting
Patricia Tallman	....	local casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kathy Borland	....	wardrobe assistant
Nancy A. Palmatier	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Nancy Palmatier)

Editorial Department
John Stuart Bick	....	assistant editor (as John Bick)
Ray Boniker	....	assistant editor (as Raymond Boniker)

Music Department
William David Brohn	....	orchestrator (as William D. Brohn)
Andrew Hermant	....	music recording engineer (as Andy Hermant)
Brenda Hoffert	....	musical supervisor
Paul Hoffert	....	musical supervisor
Stephen Kujala	....	musician: flute soloist
Erma E. Levin	....	music editor: Noteworthy Inc.
Emil Richards	....	musician: percussion soloist
Ric Jurgens	....	score assistant engineer (uncredited)
Lori Slomka	....	music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Anthony J. Yannone	....	transportation captain (as Anthony Yannone)
Frank A. Serrao	....	production driver (uncredited)

Other crew
David John Adamson	....	production assistant (as David Adamson)
Paul Barlow	....	craft service
David Bender	....	unit publicist
Monica Bielawski	....	production assistant
Sanford Blatt	....	technical consultant
Janice Bourquin	....	assistant production accountant
Mark Chamlin	....	legal services: Loeb and Loeb (as Marc Chamlin)
Christine Forrest	....	assistant: Mr. Romero (as Chris Romero)
Katherine Frietsch	....	assistant: Mr. Grunwald and Mr. Paonessa
Robin Grey	....	production accountant
Christine Handlin	....	monkey trainer
Maria H. Hust	....	assistant production office coordinator
Ingrid Johanson	....	production coordinator
Alice Levee	....	owner and trainer: "Boo"
Richard Lorenzana	....	production accountant
Susan M. Lorenzana	....	assistant production accountant (as Susan Lorenzana)
Steve Macionsky	....	production assistant
David Meeks	....	monkey trainer
David Meyers	....	production assistant
High Millstein	....	production assistant
Nancy Musser	....	script supervisor
Phill Norman	....	title designer: main titles
Chris Noyes	....	production assistant
Alison Pascoe	....	monkey trainer
Donna Schrager	....	location scout
Marge Sperling	....	production assistant (as Margie Sperling)
Lee Steiner	....	legal services: Loeb and Loeb
George Walden	....	insurance supplier: Albert G. Ruben & Co.
Frank Welker	....	special animal voices
John 'Flash' Williams	....	location coordinator (as John Williams)
Judy Zazula	....	monkey trainer
George Cameron Romero	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Alice Shure	....	special thanks
M.J. Willard	....	special thanks
Jean Williams	....	special thanks (as Dr. Jean Williams)
Karen Wunch	....	special thanks
Judy Zazula	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Orion Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Orion Pictures Corporation (1988) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (1989) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Constantin-Filmverleih (1989) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Hoyts Distribution (19??) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Cecchi Gori Home Video (2004) (Italy) (DVD)
• Globo Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (1989) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Nordic Film Group (1989) (Finland) (VHS)
• Orion Home Video (1989) (USA) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video (1989) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Video (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video (19??) (Australia) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Garber / Green (special visual effects)

Other Companies

• Albert G. Ruben and Company  legal services (as Albert G. Ruben & Co.)
• Center for Rehabilitation at Northridge Hospital Medical Center, The  special thanks
• D. Bassett & Associates  negative cutting (as D. Bassett and Assoc.)
• DeLuxe Laboratories  prints (as Deluxe®)
• Directors Sound  adr mixer
• Helping Hands Program, The  special thanks
• Lion's Gate Studios  adr mixer
• Loeb & Loeb  legal services (as Loeb and Loeb)
• Lorimar Studios  re-recorded at
• Manta Sound Company  music recorded at (as Manta Sound, Toronto, Canada)
• Members of Nexus  percussion soloists
• Noteworthy  music editor (as Noteworthy Inc.)
• Weddington Productions  sound effects (as Weddington Prod.)

Also Known As:

"Monkey Shines: An Experiment in Fear" - USA (promotional title)

Runtime:

113 min | West Germany:105 min (cut version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:M | France:-12 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:18 (original rating) | Iceland:16 | Finland:K-16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | USA:TV-MA (cable rating) | New Zealand:R16 | Portugal:M/16 | Germany:16 (re-rating) (2012)

Filming Locations:

Carnegie Mellon University - 5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Orion Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

This was George A. Romero's first studio film. However, the studio he was working with, Orion Pictures, had re-cut the film against Romero's wishes which contributed to the box office failure of the film. Afterwards, Romero went back to independent filmmaking until The Dark Half (1993) (also from Orion).

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Ella urinates on Allan as a sign of mating, but it's actually the male capuchin who urinates on it's mate. This would suggest that Ella is in fact a male capuchin.

Quotes:

Geoffrey Fisher:[dazed] Sorry. She got me.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Cinemassacre's Monster Madness: Monkey Shines (#4.25)" (2010)

Soundtrack:

There'll Be Another Spring

A nice little Romero film

This movie's not going to have a fan base larger than Night of the Living Dead or Dawn of the Dead, but it is another example of Romero's uniqueness as s film maker. An original story with an original cast, Romero adds to the horror genre by going somewhere where no other film maker has gone before. Monkey Shines cast includes Christine Forrest who shows her finest performance as the nurse. Worth checking out, so check it out.