Vice Versa (1988)

Director:

Brian Gilbert

Writers:

F. Anstey (novel)
Dick Clement (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

11 March 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

The Comedy For The Kid In All Of Us.

Plot:

A mysterious oriental skull transforms a father into his son, and vice versa.

Plot Keywords:

Skull | Switching Bodies | Soul Transference | Child As Adult | Father Son Relationship

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Judge Reinhold	...	Marshall Seymour / Charlie Seymour
Fred Savage	...	Charlie Seymour / Marshall Seymour
Corinne Bohrer	...	Sam
Swoosie Kurtz	...	Tina Brooks
Jane Kaczmarek	...	Robyn Seymour
David Proval	...	Turk
William Prince	...	Stratford Avery
Gloria Gifford	...	Marcie
Beverly Archer	...	Mrs. Jane Luttrell
Harry Murphy	...	Larry
Kevin O'Rourke	...	Brad
Richard Kind	...	Floyd
Charles Lucia	...	Cliff (as Chip Lucia)
Ajay Naidu	...	Dale Ferriera
Raymond Rosario	...	Dooley
Elya Baskin	...	Prof. Kerschner
James Hong	...	Kwo
Jane Lynch	...	Ms. Lindstrom
Anuwat Tiernate	...	Tomb Robber
Surasri Klangsuwan	...	Tomb Robber
Penjit Prembudd	...	Thai Interpreter
Ram Waratum	...	Government Spokesman
Sulaleewan Suwanatat	...	Old Thai Lady
Tuantone Kammesri	...	Man in Warehouse
Danielle Kohl	...	Lori
Jason Late	...	Erlc
Tom Crawford	...	Judd
Christian Fitzpatrick	...	Clipper
Joe Guastaferro	...	George Ferriera
Martyn St. David	...	Rich Customer
Peggy Roeder	...	Principal's Secretary
Paul Greatbatch	...	Teacher
Robert Bundy	...	Coleman, Music Salesman
Jeff Kahn	...	Guitar Playing Kid
P.J. Brown	...	Hockey Coach
Robert Petkoff	...	Sporting Goods Salesman
Alan Shearman	...	Security Salesman
Michelle Philpot	...	Cosmetic Salesgirl
Harry Yorku	...	Guru
Mike Bacarella	...	Limo Driver
Bettina Wendt	...	Babysitter
Bernie Landis	...	Santa Claus
Ralph Foody	...	Doorman
Steve Assad	...	Waiter
Danny Goldring	...	Motorcycle Cop
Rick Hall	...	Shotgun Cop
Garrett Hohimer	...	Kid Playing Football
Steve Cohen	...	Burly Kid
Dayna O'Brien	...	Receptionist
Albert Fields	...	Band Singer
John T. Stibich	...	Police Commander
Stella Vaicik	...	Cafeteria Worker
Garrick Paul Axelrod	...	Window Dresser
Darlene Anderson	...	Salesperson
Linda Jaffe	...	Salesperson
Cindy Legler	...	Salesperson
Kathleen B. Scott	...	Salesperson
Mark Behn	...	Malice
Cliff Carothers	...	Malice
Michael Landauer	...	Malice
James Neal	...	Malice
Jay Reynolds	...	Malice
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Minkoff	...	Bit (uncredited)

Directed by
Brian Gilbert

Writing credits
F. Anstey		(novel)
Dick Clement		(written by) &
Ian La Frenais		(written by)

Produced by
Dick Clement	....	producer
Ian La Frenais	....	producer
Alan Ladd Jr.	....	executive producer
Dean O'Brien	....	associate producer

Original Music by
David Shire

Cinematography by
King Baggot		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
David Garfield

Casting by
Penny Perry

Production Design by
James L. Schoppe		(as Jim Schoppe)

Art Direction by
Eva Anna Andry		(as Eva Anna Bohn)

Set Decoration by
Karen O'Hara

Costume Design by
Jay Hurley

Makeup Department
Kimberly Phillips	....	makeup artist
Kathe Swanson	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Dean O'Brien	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jerry Ballew	....	first assistant director
Steve Danton	....	second assistant director
Max Kleven	....	second unit director

Art Department
Robert J. Carlyle	....	construction foreman
D. Kelly Cummins	....	property master
Gerald Gates Jr.	....	paint foreman
Robert E. Knight	....	paint foreman
Thomas W. Lay Jr.	....	illustrator
Amie McCarthy	....	assistant props
Karen O'Hara	....	set designer
Clarence Lynn Price	....	construction coordinator
Ray Rarick	....	construction foreman (as Raymond S. Rarick)
Edward J. Rinkevicius	....	swing gang
Robert H. Sexton	....	labor foreman
Kenneth Turek	....	lead man

Sound Department
Rick Alexander	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Dick Alexander)
Dino Dimuro	....	sound editor
Les Fresholtz	....	sound re-recording mixer
Richard Friedman	....	adr editor (as Dick Friedman)
Mark Gordon	....	sound editor (as Mark S. Gordon)
Dale R. Janus	....	boom operator
William L. Manger	....	supervising sound editor
Tom C. McCarthy	....	supervising sound editor
Vern Poore	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steven Ramirez	....	sound editor
Scott D. Smith	....	production sound mixer

Special Effects by
Dennis Dion	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Dennis Michelson	....	visual effects: Boss Film
George Muhs	....	visual effects
Randall Rudd	....	visual effects director
Louis Schwartzberg	....	visual effects supervisor

Stunts
G.A. Aguilar	....	stunts
Charles Croughwell	....	stunts (as Charlie Croughwell)
Corey Michael Eubanks	....	stunts (as Corey Eubanks)
Eddie J. Fernandez	....	stunts (as Eddie Fernandez)
Linda J. Gamboney	....	stunts (as Linda Gamboney)
Kanin Howell	....	stunts
Norman Howell	....	stunts
Max Kleven	....	stunt coordinator
Rick Le Fevour	....	stunts
Stacy Logan	....	stunts
Daniel K. Moore	....	stunts (as Daniel Moore)
John-Clay Scott	....	stunts
Daniel Maldonado	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Art Bartels	....	key grip
William Birch	....	director of photography: UK (as Bill Birch)
Kelly R. Borisy	....	grip
Frank Byrne	....	additional second assistant camera
Donald Carlson	....	first assistant camera (as Don Carlson)
Robert C. Carlson	....	second assistant camera (as Robert Carlson)
Brian Clare	....	gaffer: Chicago
James Coe	....	still photographer
George Holmes	....	chief lighting technician: New York (as George E. Holmes)
Jim Kwiatkowski	....	best boy (as James R. Kwiatkowski)
Frank Miller	....	camera operator
John S. Robertson	....	dolly grip
Robert P. Sanchez	....	first assistant camera: second camera (as Robert Sanchez)
Joe Tomko Jr.	....	best boy (as Joseph C. Tomko Jr.)

Casting Department
Donna B. Anderson	....	casting assistant
Sue Knutsen	....	extras casting: second unit

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mickey Antonetti	....	costume supervisor
Olga K. Cassells	....	seamstress
Jennifer Jobst	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Cari Coughlin	....	additional editor
Phil Hetos	....	color timer
Leon Moses	....	assistant editor
Ed O'Malley	....	assistant editor (as Edward M. O'Malley)
Pam Sharp	....	assistant editor
Steve Kraus	....	editing systems technician (uncredited)

Music Department
George Doering	....	musician

Transportation Department
Calvin Chin	....	transportation captain
Robert A. Hogan	....	transportation captain
Armand Paoletti	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Kate Amer	....	production secretary
Lorna J. Bessemer	....	production associate: second unit
Sian Clement	....	production associate: second unit
Al Ebner	....	publicist
Jan Garner	....	production accountant
Bill Haviland	....	production associate: second unit
Michael Hendrickson	....	assistant auditor (as T. Michael Hendrickson)
Mark Herzog	....	production associate: second unit
Mary K. Jones	....	production associate: second unit
Harriet Kehl	....	script supervisor (as Harriet E. Kehl)
Ross L. Kulma	....	first aid
Nina Leone	....	stand-in
Pat Lydon	....	location manager (as Patricia D. Lydon)
Eileen McCahill	....	location assistant
Jeanine Rohn	....	production associate: second unit
Gary Ryder	....	extras coordinator
Angela F. Silverstein	....	assistant to producers
Jacqueline Verdeven	....	extras coordinator: second unit (as Jackie Verdeven)
Susan Knox Wilson	....	production coordinator
Steve Kraus	....	dailies projectionist (uncredited)
Omar McClinton	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures of Canada (1988) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Columbia Pictures
• LK-TEL (Argentina) (video)

Other Companies

• Chicago Audio Works  production sound services
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• TAJ Soundworks  foley

Also Known As:

"viceVersa" - International (English title) (poster title)

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Iceland:L | Canada:G (Quebec) | Argentina:Atp | Sweden:7 | UK:PG | USA:PG (certificate #28998) | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Vice Versa is based on a novel written in 1882 by F. Anstey. Three previous adaptations were released in the UK in 1916, 1937 & 1948.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the two crooks get "switched" on the train. It cuts to an exterior showing a train with only 1 engine (F40PH), but when they boarded the train, the power consist was 2 engines (back to back F40PH's), and when the train stops at the station, it again has 2 engines.

Quotes:

Marshall:[about his ex-wife] This is the woman who I couldn't live with as a husband, and now I'm going to be her son.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Rotten Tomatoes Show: 17 Again/State of Play/Crank High Voltage (#1.8)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Crazy in the Night

I see a silohuett-a of a man!

Vice Versa, despite the trite plot, distinguishes itself from other 80s body-switching comedies, because of the age and personality difference between the two characters. To watch Judge Reinhold act like a wild ten year-old trapped in an adults body and Fred Savage to act like a short-tempered middle aged man trapped in a child's body, it makes fine family fun and hilarious comedy. I think, in fact, it is Judge Reinhold in one of his finest moments, being allowed to act like a wild kid, curiously handling adult responsibilities with a child's touch.

Marshall (Judge Reinhold) and his girlfriend take a business trip to Southeast Asia to order some cheap vases for their company's Christmas stock. The shipments get mixed up, and Marshall gets his hands on a strange looking sacred golden skull with mysterious powers that was supposed to be given to some bumbling theives who were going to sell it for a hefty price.

Meanwhile, Marshall's son, Charlie (Fred Savage) is miserable, having to spend the holidays with his dad, an uptight work-a-holic who never seems to have time for Charlie, and usually scoffs at Charlie's suggestions for a little adventure. Charlie was optimistic about the vacation, but it seems that the two just can't get along at all. During an argument about how the other doesn't understand what it's like to be a kid/adult, they get their hands on the skull, and one...two...switcheroo. Charlie becomes Marshall and Marshall becomes Charlie.

Like I said, the thing that makes this movie better than say, 'Like Father, Like Son' which is essentially the same deal (father and son switch), is the contrasting personalities and age differences of the two characters. Judge Reinhold goes from uptight middle-aged guy to a kid who's perpetually stoked about everything. He really turns things around in Marshall's life. And Charlie goes from regular little kid, to something of an arrogant smart-ass. Like 18 Again!, the characters are perfect for a story like this.