Mystic Pizza (1988)

Director:

Donald Petrie

Writers (WGA):

Amy Holden Jones (story)
Amy Holden Jones (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

21 October 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A romantic comedy with the works.

Plot:

Three teenage girls come of age while working at a pizza parlor in Mystic Connecticut.

Plot Keywords:

Pizza | Commitment | Marriage | Sister Sister Relationship | Summer

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Annabeth Gish	...	Kat Arujo
Julia Roberts	...	Daisy Arujo
Lili Taylor	...	Jojo
Vincent D'Onofrio	...	Bill (as Vincent Phillip D'Onofrio)
William R. Moses	...	Tim Travers
Adam Storke	...	Charles Gordon Windsor, Jr.
Conchata Ferrell	...	Leona
Joanna Merlin	...	Mrs. Arujo
Porscha Radcliffe	...	Phoebe Travers
John Fiore	...	Jake
Gene Amoroso	...	Mr. Barboza
Sheila Ferrini	...	Mrs. Barboza
Janet Zarish	...	Nicole Travers
Louis Turenne	...	Hector Freshette
Lauren O'Brien	...	Serena
John Cunningham	...	Mr. Charles Gordon Windsor, Sr.
Ann Flood	...	Mrs. Polly Windsor
Suzanne Shepherd	...	Aunt Tweedy (as Suzanne Sheperd)
Matt Damon	...	Steamer
Jack Ringstad	...	Uncle Ned
Jody Raymond	...	Teresa
Jim O'Connor	...	George (as James O'Connor)
Jeri Leer	...	Lorna
Robin Joss	...	Carrie
Ray Zuppa	...	Mitch
Paul Timothy Burke	...	Ray
Nikki Bruno	...	Woman Customer
Bill Devany	...	Ralph
Christina Fadala	...	Tourist #1
Keith Jochim	...	Tourist #2
June Sjostrom	...	Tourist Date
John Garry	...	Car Guy (as John Gary)
Rita M. Herbert	...	Whiny Customer
John Klater	...	Bartender
Wiley Moore	...	Newscaster
Lew Resseguie	...	Maitre D'
Ingrid Sonnichsen	...	Lobster Woman (as Inilip Sonnichsen)
Dennis Paiva	...	Singer at Wedding
Robert Vanaria	...	Baritone
Marc A. Vitale	...	Rocky
Al Hodgkins	...	Priest
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Philip M. Gardiner	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Hans Hartman	...	Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Al Magliochetti	...	Patron at Pegleg Pub (uncredited)
Joe Monaco	...	Fisherman (uncredited)

Directed by
Donald Petrie

Writing credits (WGA)
Amy Holden Jones		(story) (as Amy Jones)
Amy Holden Jones		(screenplay) (as Amy Jones) and
Perry Howze		(screenplay) &
Randy Howze		(screenplay) and
Alfred Uhry		(screenplay)

Produced by
Samuel Goldwyn Jr.	....	executive producer
Mark Levinson	....	producer
Scott M. Rosenfelt	....	producer (as Scott Rosenfelt)
Susan Vogelfang	....	line producer

Original Music by
David McHugh

Cinematography by
Tim Suhrstedt		(director of photography) (as Timothy Suhrstedt)

Film Editing by
Don Brochu
Marion Rothman

Casting by
Janet Hirshenson
Jane Jenkins

Production Design by
David Chapman

Art Direction by
Mark Haack

Set Decoration by
Clay A. Griffith		(as Clay Griffith)

Costume Design by
Jennifer von Mayrhauser		(as Jennifer Von Meyerhausen)

Makeup Department
Katherine Beltran	....	assistant makeup artist
Steven Frank	....	key hair stylist
Nan Plasick	....	assistant makeup artist
Robert Rivers	....	assistant hair stylist
Vera Yurtchuk	....	key makeup assistant

Production Management
Scott M. Rosenfelt	....	production manager (as Scot Rosenfelt)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Martha M. Elcan	....	second assistant director
Mark Radcliffe	....	first assistant director
Carla Zackson	....	dga trainee

Art Department
Ayenne J. Applebaum	....	lead scenic painter
Rebecca Baxter	....	painting assistant
Tara V. Brennan	....	art department assistant
Rick Clark	....	carpenter
Robbie Goodman	....	carpenter
Nancy Horowitz	....	scenic
Joni Indursky	....	property master
John S. Kilner III	....	construction coordinator
Michael McGarty	....	carpenter
Joe Monaco	....	swing gang
Alec Owen	....	assistant property master
John K. Quinn III	....	lead carpenter
Robert Schleinig	....	carpenter (as Bob Schlenig)
Wayne Shepherd	....	set dresser
Mark Sposato	....	painting assistant
John Stephanov	....	swing gang (as John Stephanou)
Eric Tetrault	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Gregg Baxter	....	sound effects editor
Norval D. Crutcher	....	co-supervising sound effects editor (as Norval Crutcher)
Samuel C. Crutcher	....	co-supervising sound effects editor
G.W. Davis	....	sound effects editor
Russell C. Fager	....	sound mixer
Wayne Heitman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Charles R. Hunt	....	boom operator (as Charles Hunt)
Matthew Iadarola	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Paul Jones	....	sound effects editor
Mark 'Frito' Long	....	sound recordist
Bob O'Brien	....	assistant sound effects editor (as Robert O'Brien)
David W. Alstadter	....	foley mixer (uncredited)
Norval D. Crutcher III	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)
Richard Dwan Jr.	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Robert Glenn	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Ken Levin	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Ted Rae	....	visual effects

Stunts
Sandy Richman	....	stunt driver
Warren A. Stevens	....	stunt double (as Warren Stevens)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bob Becchio	....	electrician: second unit
Bob Becchio	....	grip: second unit
Monté Black	....	grip (as Monte Black)
Shunil Borpujari	....	dolly grip
Shunil Borpujari	....	key grip
Bob Field	....	gaffer (as Robert N. Field Jr.)
Rachel A. Flores	....	best boy grip
Joey Forsyte	....	second camera operator
Marko Karen	....	focus puller
Jeff King	....	electrician: second unit
Jeff King	....	grip: second unit
Adrian Licciardi	....	second assistant camera
Thomas Loizeaux	....	photography: second unit
James G. Moriarty	....	grip
James Neilan	....	electrician
Frank Perl	....	assistant camera: second unit
Michael Pizzuto	....	grip: load truck
John Preston	....	electrician
Robert A. Preston	....	best boy electric
Paul Reuter	....	assistant camera: second unit (as Paul S. Reuter)
Geoffrey Rockwell	....	electrician: second unit (as Jeff Rockwell)
Geoffrey Rockwell	....	grip: second unit (as Jeff Rockwell)
Hanne Schaefer	....	assistant camera: second unit (as Hanne Schaefer Kemp)
Ron Schlaeger	....	assistant camera: second unit
Paul Slaughter	....	still photographer
Rick Spears	....	electrician
Jeff Crivello	....	grip (uncredited)
Thomas Loizeaux	....	camera operator (uncredited)
William M. Weberg	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Denise Chamian	....	casting associate
Patty Collinge	....	local casting
Mickie McGowan	....	additional dialogue casting (as Mickey McGowin)
Carolyn Pickman	....	local casting
Jodi Purdy-Quinlan	....	extras casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gail A. Fitzgibbons	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Gail Fitzgibbons)
Thomas Lee Keller	....	assistant costume designer (as Thomas L. Keller)

Editorial Department
Dorre Koeser	....	assistant film editor (as Dorre Koesser)
Ted Pryor	....	apprentice film editor
Lewis Schoenbrun	....	assistant editor
Marypat Plottner	....	synching editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Terry Becker	....	source music engineering
David Hines	....	source music engineering
Armin Steiner	....	music scoring mixer
Steve Tyrell	....	music supervisor
Tom Villano	....	supervising music editor (as Tom Vilano)
Tom Boyd	....	musician: oboe soloist (uncredited)
Tom Boyd	....	musician: oboe soloist (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Cindy Adams	....	driver
Elmo Adams	....	transportation captain
John Adams	....	driver
Tom Adams	....	transportation coordinator
Thomas J. Arscott	....	driver
Lynn Brouillette	....	driver
Jeffery Epperson	....	driver
Edward Getty	....	driver
Dave Hannah	....	driver
Don Hannah	....	driver: honeywagon
Douglas E. Harmon	....	driver
Richard Lasnier	....	driver
Tony Mercier	....	driver
Bob Mills	....	driver
Bonnie Murallo	....	driver
Rinaldo D. Orifice	....	driver
Pete Rousseau	....	driver
Randal Wendt	....	driver

Other crew
Linda Austin	....	craft service
Bonnie Billington	....	stand-in
Demetra Botseas	....	production assistant
Michael Brightbill	....	craft service
Dolores Buonanno	....	production assistant
Marshall Burling	....	production assistant
Kathy Choquette	....	teacher
Kathy Choquette	....	welfare worker
Justen Dardis	....	coordinator: Los Angeles
Skye Dicker	....	word processor
Chris Dixon	....	set production assistant
Mark A. Dixon	....	set production assistant
Karl Eubanks	....	production assistant: Los Angeles
Jan Evans	....	script supervisor
Edward Ferraro	....	projectionist
Diana Godomski	....	teacher
Diana Godomski	....	welfare worker
Lisa Howard	....	production auditor
Cha Cha Jago	....	assistant auditor
Ellen Lazerow	....	production assistant
Marc Levitt	....	location manager
Linnea Lindstrom-Walsh	....	production assistant
Cathy Miller	....	production coordinator
Jody K. Morris	....	office production assistant
Jennifer Oates	....	assistant production coordinator
Kristin Palmiter	....	assistant: Mr. Petrie
Dan Perri	....	title designer: main titles
Scott Peterson	....	craft service
Craig Pointes	....	location scout
Bailey Pryor	....	production assistant (as G. Bailey Pryor)
Ken Rosen	....	production assistant
R. Vincent Smith	....	production assistant: Los Angeles
John Stephanov	....	production assistant
David M. Stern	....	production assistant
Lauren Beth Strogoff	....	unit publicist
Lisa W. Strout	....	location manager (as Lisa Strout)
Christina Renee Thanstrom	....	assistant: Mr. Levinson & Mr. Rosenfeld
Caron Treger	....	production assistant
Richard H. Whelan	....	production assistant
Anna Ziss-Patton	....	production assistant
Mary A. DeBriae	....	stand-in: Julia Roberts (uncredited)
Michael Mendelsohn	....	production financing (uncredited)

Thanks
Angela Lavoie	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Night Life Inc.
• Samuel Goldwyn Company, The
• Virgin Vision (as Virgin)

Distributors

• Samuel Goldwyn Company, The (1988) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1989) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• CTV International (1991) (France) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• CNR Film & Video (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Cineplex-Odeon Home Video (1989) (Canada) (video)
• Look Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• MCA (1989) (Canada) (video)
• MGM/UA Distribution Company (video)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (VHS)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Video Treasures (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Virgin Vision (1989) (USA) (video)

Other Companies

• 5-Star Caterer  catering
• Cinema Research  main titles
• Directors Sound  adr and foley recorded at
• Du Art Sound  sound transfers
• Filmtrucks  production equipment
• J.G. Films  negative cutting
• JDH Sound  re-recording facility
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Rainbow Sound Inc.  sound transfers
• Segue Music  music editing
• Twentieth Century-Fox Studios, Hollywood  music recorded at
• Tyrell-Mann Studios  music recorded at

Also Known As:

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Sweden:Btl | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12 | Iceland:L | Singapore:NC-16 | Portugal:M/12 | New Zealand:PG

Filming Locations:

Connecticut, USA

Company:

Night Life Inc.

Trivia:

With the exception of a few exterior shots of downtown Mystic, most of the film was shot in nearby Rhode Island.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene where Charlie takes Daisy back to his parents' summer home for the first time, her hair goes from curly when they are outside to flat-ironed when they are indoors.

Quotes:

Daisy:[after Charles tries to make Daisy feel better about her thinking he was cheating on her and dumping fish water into his car] Daisy: You're weird!
Charles Gordon Windsor, Jr.:I'm weird?
[Looks at car filled with fish water]
Charles Gordon Windsor, Jr.:Can you give us a ride home?"

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Hatchet (2006)

Soundtrack:

THESE ARE THE TIMES TO REMEMBER

2 out of 3 ain't bad

Mystic Pizza is a pleasant-but-slow slice-of-life comedy-drama. It centers on the lives of 3 young waitresses in a Pizza Parlor in blue-collar Mystic, CT. The parlor's owner is a hard-scrabble-with-heart-of-gold Portuguese "princess" buoyantly portrayed by Conchata Farrell. She makes the scene where the food critic tastes her pizza the most memorable in the movie.

As for the girls, two of the three stories work well. Lili Taylor is a revelation as the fun-loving JoJo coming to terms with the cliche her life is and how to come to terms with the love she feels for stalwart-but-limited Bill, winningly portrayed by Vincent D'Onofrio (now of Law and Order: CI). These two light up the screen with humor and awkward aplomb. Julia Roberts puts her raw-but-winning talent on display as the blue-collar Daisy, a student-teacher in the school of hard-knocks.

The one unfortunate element is that the movie spends far too much time on a nowhere relationship between Annibelle Gish and preppy husband-away-from his wife portrayed by the affable but feckless William R. (aka Billy) Moses. This story just makes the movie drag.

But overall, Mystic Pizza is a kind of young-woman-oriented Diner, amiable, fun, and chock-full of young talent.