Rain Man (1988)

Director:

Barry Levinson

Writers (WGA):

Barry Morrow (story)
Ronald Bass (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

16 December 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Selfish yuppie Charlie Babbitt's father left a fortune to his savant brother Raymond and a pittance to Charlie; they travel cross-country.

Plot Keywords:

Savant | Convertible | Autistic Savant | Inheritance | Autism

Awards:

Won 4 Oscars. Another 21 wins & 17 nominations

Cast

Dustin Hoffman	...	Raymond Babbitt
Tom Cruise	...	Charlie Babbitt
Valeria Golino	...	Susanna
Gerald R. Molen	...	Dr. Bruner (as Jerry Molen)
Jack Murdock	...	John Mooney
Michael D. Roberts	...	Vern
Ralph Seymour	...	Lenny
Lucinda Jenney	...	Iris
Bonnie Hunt	...	Sally Dibbs
Kim Robillard	...	Small Town Doctor
Beth Grant	...	Mother at Farm House
Dolan Dougherty	...	Farm House Kid
Marshall Dougherty	...	Farm House Kid
Patrick Dougherty	...	Farm House Kid
John-Michael Dougherty	...	Farm House Kid
Peter Dougherty	...	Farm House Kid
Andrew Dougherty	...	Farm House Kid
Loretta Wendt Jolivette	...	Dr. Bruner's Secretary
Donald E. Jones	...	Minister at Funeral
Byron P. Cavnar	...	Man in Waiting Room
Donna J. Dickson	...	Nurse
Earl Roat	...	Man on Wallbrook Road
William Montgomery Jr.	...	Wallbrook Patient Entering TV Room
Elizabeth Lower	...	Bank Officer
Michael C. Hall	...	Police Officer at Accident
Robert W. Heckel	...	Police Officer at Accident
W. Todd Kenner	...	Police Officer at Accident
Kneeles Reeves	...	Amarillo Hotel Owner
Jack W. Cope	...	Irate Driver
Nick Mazzola	...	Blackjack Dealer
Ralph Tabakin	...	Shift Boss
Ray Baker	...	Mr. Kelso
Isadore Figler	...	Pit Boss
Ralph M. Cardinale	...	Pit Boss
Sam Roth	...	Floorman
Nanci M. Harvey	...	Lady at Blackjack Table
Kenneth E. Lowden	...	Guard in Video Room
Jocko Marcellino	...	Las Vegas Crooner
John Thorstensen	...	Train Conductor
Blanche Salter	...	Woman at Pancake Counter
Jake Hoffman	...	Boy at Pancake Counter
Royce D. Applegate	...	(voice)
June Christopher	...	(voice)
Anna Mathias	...	(voice)
Archie Hahn	...	(voice)
Luisa Leschin	...	(voice)
Ira Miller	...	(voice)
Chris Mulkey	...	(voice)
Tracy Newman	...	(voice)
Julie Payne	...	(voice)
Reni Santoni	...	(voice)
Bridget Sienna	...	(voice)
Ruth Silveira	...	(voice)
Jonathan Stark	...	(voice)
Lynne Marie Stewart	...	(voice)
Arnold F. Turner	...	(voice)
Gigi Vorgan	...	(voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard A. Buswell	...	Car Driver (uncredited)
Barry Levinson	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Matthew Mattingly	...	Autistic Pianist (uncredited)
Aaron Weiler	...	Airport Security Guard (uncredited)
Mark Winn	...	Restaurant Patron (uncredited)

Directed by
Barry Levinson

Writing credits (WGA)
Barry Morrow		(story)
Ronald Bass		(screenplay) and
Barry Morrow		(screenplay)

Produced by
Peter Guber	....	executive producer
Mark Johnson	....	producer
David McGiffert	....	associate producer
Gerald R. Molen	....	co-producer
Gail Mutrux	....	associate producer
Jon Peters	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Hans Zimmer

Cinematography by
John Seale		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Stu Linder

Casting by
Louis DiGiaimo

Production Design by
Ida Random

Art Direction by
William A. Elliott

Set Decoration by
Linda DeScenna

Costume Design by
Bernie Pollack

Makeup Department
Edwin Butterworth	....	makeup artist (as Ed Butterworth)
Rick Sharp	....	key makeup artist
Joy Zapata	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Gerald R. Molen	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Cara Giallanza	....	second assistant director
Cherylanne Martin	....	second second assistant director
David McGiffert	....	first assistant director
B. Scott Senechal	....	dga trainee (as Scott Senechal)

Art Department
Edward Aiona	....	property master (as Edward A. Aiona)
James Hegedus	....	production illustrator
Tom McCown	....	set dresser
Ric McElvin	....	leadman
James F. Orendorff	....	construction foreman (as Jamie Orendorff)
George Stokes	....	construction coordinator
John Alvin	....	poster artist (uncredited)
Nancy Gilmore	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Ron Yates	....	set designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Richard Beggs	....	sound designer
Richard Bryce Goodman	....	sound mixer
Craig Harris	....	special sound processor
Pieter Hubbard	....	sound editor (as Pieter S. Hubbard)
David J. Hudson	....	sound re-recording mixer (as David Hudson)
Bruce Lacey	....	sound editor
John A. Larsen	....	sound editor
Jimmy Ling	....	sound editor
Mel Metcalfe	....	sound re-recording mixer
Sarah Monat	....	foley effects
Bill Phillips	....	supervising sound editor
John Phillips	....	sound editor
Terry Porter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Hal Sanders	....	sound editor
Edward M. Steidele	....	foley effects (as Edward Steidele)
Marian Wilde	....	assistant sound designer
Jeffrey Wilhoit	....	sound editor (as Jeff Wilhoit)
Carl Fischer	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Jay Wilkinson	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Donald Myers	....	special effects supervisor (as Don Myers)

Visual Effects by
Mark Sullivan	....	matte painter

Stunts
Frank Abel	....	stunt performer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Brian W. Armstrong	....	first assistant cameraman (as Brian Armstrong)
David Canestro	....	best boy (as David M. Canestro)
John J. Ellingwood	....	second assistant cameraman (as Jack Ellingwood)
Norman Harris	....	lighting technician (as Norm Harris)
M. Todd Henry	....	camera operator
David Katz	....	video playback
Ron Kenyon	....	best boy
Robin P. Knight	....	key grip (as Robin Knight)
Nicholas S. McLean	....	second assistant cameraman
Howard Rose	....	first assistant cameraman
Stephen Vaughan	....	still photographer
Kenneth Zunder	....	camera operator
Robert McCarthy	....	rigging gaffer (uncredited)
Randy Nolen	....	panaglide operator (uncredited)
Peter Van Eynde	....	dolly grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Marie Rowe	....	additional casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sue Moore	....	costumer
James W. Tyson	....	costumer (as James Tyson)
Marie Boller	....	costume assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Blair Daily	....	assistant editor
Rhody Davis	....	post-production coordinator
Thomas R. Moore	....	additional editor
Dale E. Grahn	....	color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
Al Clay	....	music recordist
James Flamberg	....	music editor
Allan Mason	....	music supervisor
Jay Rifkin	....	music recordist

Transportation Department
Bill Gray	....	transportation coordinator
Bob Johnson	....	picture car coordinator (as Bob Johnson Sr.)
Steven R. Molen	....	transportation captain (as Steven Molen)
Tim Abbatoye	....	second transportation captain (uncredited)
Maxwell R. Johnson II	....	transportation captain (uncredited)
Roger Wooge	....	transportation (uncredited)

Other crew
Todd J. Adelman	....	first aid (as Todd Adelman)
Michael Frost Beckner	....	assistant: Mr. Levinson
Robin Citrin	....	location manager
Patricia Douglas	....	production assistant
Leigh French	....	adr group coordinator
Lee Gottsegen	....	production associate
Scott Harris	....	production assistant
Michael Helfand	....	production assistant
Keith Jones	....	production assistant
Jack Klette	....	production assistant
Bonnie Kurt	....	assistant: Mr. Hoffman
William Mapother	....	production assistant
Andrea Morse	....	assistant: Mr. Cruise
Ellen Pasternack	....	unit publicist
Bernard Rimland	....	consultant: autistic behavior, Institute of Child Behavior Research, San Diego, California (as Bernard Rimland Ph.D.)
Arnold M. Rosen	....	consultant: autistic behavior, Gracie Square Hospital, New York, New York (as Arnold M. Rosen M.D.)
Ken Ryan	....	production accountant
Lata Ryan	....	production coordinator
Marshall Schlom	....	script supervisor
Kas Self	....	stand-in: Mr. Hoffman
Bodil Sivertsen	....	consultant: autistic behavior, The Jay Nolan Center, Los Angeles, California (as Bodil Sivertsen Ph.D.)
Ruth C. Sullivan	....	consultant: autistic behavior, Autism Services Center, Huntington, West Virginia (as Ruth C. Sullivan Ph.D.)
Steven Talmy	....	production assistant
Peter E. Tanguay	....	consultant: autistic behavior, UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute, Los Angeles, California (as Peter E. Tanguay M.D.)
Darold A. Treffert	....	consultant: autistic behavior, Brookside Medical Center, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin (as Darold A. Treffert M.D.)
Dara Weintraub	....	assistant production coordinator
Diane Bass	....	technical consultant (uncredited)
Matt Casella	....	talent scout (uncredited)
Jody Hummer	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Lee Lanier	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Lance Mazmanian	....	assistant location scout: Las Vegas (uncredited)
Richard Murken	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Lare Roberts	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Neil Toussaint	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Ted Bafaloukos	....	special thanks
Roger Birnbaum	....	special thanks
Ken Friedman	....	special thanks
Kim Peek	....	special thanks
Peggy Siegal	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• United Artists (presents)
• Guber-Peters Company, The
• Star Partners II Ltd. (in association with)
• Mirage Entertainment (uncredited)

Distributors

• MGM/UA Distribution Company (1988) (USA) (theatrical) (as MGM/UA)
• United Artists (1988) (worldwide) (all media)
• MGM/UA Home Video (1988) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1989) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1989) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (1989) (West Germany) (VHS)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1992) (USA) (TV)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
• Warner Home Vidéo (1998) (France) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2000) (Argentina) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2000) (UK) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (Germany) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (France) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2004) (UK) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (France) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1989) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (19??) (Argentina) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• SF Home Entertainment (2003) (Sweden) (DVD)
• SF Home Entertainment (2004) (Sweden) (DVD)
• SF Home Entertainment (2011) (Sweden) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Varus Video
• Warner Home Video (199?) (Germany) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (199?) (Germany) (laserdisc)

Other Companies

• Andrea Jaffe  publicity (as Andrea Jaffe, Inc.)
• Buena Vista Visual Effects  titles and opticals (as Buena Vista Visual Effects Group)
• Caesar's Palace  special thanks to
• California Film Commission  the filmmakers gratefully acknowledge the support and assistance of the following film commissions (as The California Film Commission)
• Capitol Records  soundtrack published by (uncredited)
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production (uncredited)
• Indiana Film Commission  the filmmakers gratefully acknowledge the support and assistance of the following film commissions (as The Indiana Film Commission)
• Kentucky Film Office  the filmmakers gratefully acknowledge the support and assistance of the following film commissions
• Major League Baseball  special thanks to
• Nevada Motion Picture Division  the filmmakers gratefully acknowledge the support and assistance of the following film commissions (as The State of Nevada, Division of Motion Pictures)
• Oklahoma Film Commission  the filmmakers gratefully acknowledge the support and assistance of the following film commissions (as The Oklahoma Film Commission)
• Perseverance Records  soundtrack
• The Ohio Film Bureau  the filmmakers gratefully acknowledge the support and assistance of the following film commissions
• Unique Movie Cars  picture cars (uncredited)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

133 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | New Zealand:PG | Norway:10 (original rating) | Norway:11 (re-rating) | Peru:14 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R (No. 29501) | West Germany:12 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:12 | Iceland:L | Ireland:15 | Brazil:Livre | Australia:MA (DVD rating) | Japan:G (2009)

Filming Locations:

Caesars Palace - 3570 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Company:

United Artists

Trivia:

One of the comments written on a preview card that amused Barry Levinson during the film's initial previews was "I was hoping the little guy would snap out of it".

Goofs:

Continuity: When Susanna gets mad at Charlie and storms out of the tub, Charlie's sweats have a different pattern of water splashes than when she goes out the door.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Charlie:[on telephone] Now it's five and a half weeks and I'm still sitting on four Lamborghinis that can't meet spot emissions standards. Now, how many times you wash out with EPA?
Lenny:[on a separate line] Uh, yes sir, they're finally, uh, clearing EPA; uh, just one or two more days.
Charlie:Three times? You're really on a roll here, my friend; four cars, three times each - that's zip for twelve. What are you, a... mechanic, or a NASA engineer? Now listen, now, I told you I've never dealt with these Lamborghinis before, and yet you assured me that you can deliver these cars within that time frame. Don't, don't tell me that, 'cause I - I'm not even listening.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Friends: The One Where Ross Dates a Student (#6.18)" (2000)

Soundtrack:

They Can't Take That Away from Me

Shows the way forward for issue driven movies.

Tom Cruise stars as a used car salesman, who is angry when his father's inheritance is left to his older autistic brother (Dustin Hoffman), whose existence had not been revealed to him.

The film is built around its two assured central performances. Hoffman gives an excellent portrayal of a man with autism, totally unable to comprehend the real world around him. Cruise is no less impressive. While he is essentially playing to type, his character's attitude changes so gradually throughout the film that you barely notice, and without Cruise's subtle performance this transformation would be much less credible.

This is a highly commendable film, which, despite tackling a tricky subject, refuses to succumb to sentimentality. In giving autism such publicity, the film has hopefully helped to lessen the stigma brought on by ignorance of this condition.

Rain Man's great success is that it shows the way forward for issue driven movies in Hollywood. Its success at the box office demonstrates that taking a risk can pay off in spades, provided that the film is good enough.