The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)

Director:

Steve Kloves

Writer (WGA):

Steve Kloves (written by)

Release Date:

13 October 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Music | Romance

Tagline:

For 31 years it's been just the Fabulous Baker Boys... but times change.

Plot:

Frank and Jack Baker are professional musicians who play small clubs. They play schmaltzy music and have never needed a day job...

Plot Keywords:

Piano | Song | Singer | Audition | Piano Player

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 14 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Jeff Bridges	...	Jack Baker
Michelle Pfeiffer	...	Susie Diamond
Beau Bridges	...	Frank Baker
Ellie Raab	...	Nina
Xander Berkeley	...	Lloyd
Dakin Matthews	...	Charlie
Ken Lerner	...	Ray
Albert Hall	...	Henry
Terri Treas	...	Girl in Bed
Gregory Itzin	...	Vince Nancy
Bradford English	...	Earl
David Coburn	...	Kid at Vet
Todd Jeffries	...	Theo
Gregory James	...	Hotel Masseuse (as Jeffrey J. Nowinski)
Nancy Fish	...	Laughing Bar Patron
Beege Barkette	...	Waitress
Del Zamora	...	Man with Cleaver
Howard Matthew Johnson	...	Bathroom Attendant
Stuart Nisbet	...	Veterinarian
Robert Henry	...	Doorman
Drake	...	Eddie
Martina Finch	...	Bad Singer
Winifred Freedman	...	Bad Singer
Wendy Goldman	...	Bad Singer
Karen Hartman	...	Bad Singer
D.D. Howard	...	Bad Singer
Lisa Raggio	...	Bad Singer
Vickilyn Reynolds	...	Bad Singer
Krisie Spear	...	Bad Singer
Carole Ita White	...	Bad Singer
Steve Alterman	...	Background Voice (voice)
August Bach	...	Background Voice (voice) (as Bach August)
Greg Finley	...	Background Voice (voice)
J.D. Hall	...	Background Voice (voice)
Doris Hess	...	Background Voice (voice)
Rosanna Huffman	...	Background Voice (voice)
John Lafayette	...	Background Voice (voice) (as John La Fayette)
Tina Lifford	...	Background Voice (voice)
Arlin Miller	...	Background Voice (voice)
Paige Pollack	...	Background Voice (voice) (as Paige Nan Pollack)
David Randolph	...	Background Voice (voice) (as David J. Randolph)
Susan Napoli	...	Background Voice (voice) (as Stephani Ryan)
Jennifer Tilly	...	Monica Moran
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kirsten Ashley	...	(uncredited)
Helen Kelly	...	Piano Bar Patron (uncredited)

Directed by
Steve Kloves

Writing credits (WGA)
Steve Kloves		(written by)

Produced by
Julie Bergman Sender	....	associate producer (as Julie Bergman)
Bill Finnegan	....	co-producer
Robin Forman	....	associate producer
Sydney Pollack	....	executive producer
Mark Rosenberg	....	producer
Paula Weinstein	....	producer
Courtney Silberberg	....	producer: VP Production (uncredited)

Original Music by
Dave Grusin

Cinematography by
Michael Ballhaus		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
William Steinkamp

Casting by
Wallis Nicita

Production Design by
Jeffrey Townsend

Set Decoration by
Anne H. Ahrens

Costume Design by
Lisa Jensen

Makeup Department
Tammy Kusian	....	assistant makeup artist
Ronnie Specter	....	makeup artist
Jeanne Van Phue	....	hairdresser

Production Management
Bill Finnegan	....	unit production manager (as William Finnegan)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Cherylanne Martin	....	second second assistant director
Charles Myers	....	first assistant director (as Myers)
Tracy Rosenthal-Newsom	....	second assistant director (as Tracy Rosenthal)

Art Department
Bruce Bellamy	....	on-set dresser
Tom Bleckov	....	laborer: Seattle
James Doug Burch	....	propmaker (as J. Douglas Burch)
David T. Cannon	....	propmaker (as David Cannon)
Joseph H. Catmull	....	construction foreman
Ronald Cox	....	propmaker (as Ronald Wayne Cox)
Ed Dupra	....	set dresser: Seattle
Amy Feldman	....	set dresser
Mark Fite	....	propmaker
Eugene Freiburger	....	construction laborer
Don Gibbin Jr.	....	senior set designer
Chris Gibbin	....	painter
Charles T. Gray	....	swing gang
Clay A. Griffith	....	art coordinator
Jonathan Hackett	....	propmaker: Seattle
Kenneth Hardy	....	painter
Ross Harpold	....	set dresser
Eric Hice	....	swing gang
Suzanne Joffe	....	painter
Scott Anthony Lynk	....	propmaker
Michael Muhlfriedel	....	lead man (as Michael Mulhfriedel)
Joshua Ott	....	propmaker (as Joshua J. Ott)
Paul Pembrook	....	propmaker: Seattle
Michael Perry	....	assistant art director
Korey Scott Pollard	....	swing gang (as Korey Pollard)
Renee Prince	....	painter
Paul Rylander	....	assistant props
Randy Sanchez	....	painter
Wayne Shepherd	....	painter (as Wayne Shephard)
David Stawecki	....	propmaker
Peter Sykes	....	swing gang
Walter Wall	....	property master
Rick Welden	....	propmaker
Chris L. Winslow	....	scenic artist (as Chris Winslow)
Gary Wortman	....	propmaker
Curtis Yomtob	....	construction coordinator
John Alvin	....	poster artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gary Alexander	....	sound re-recording mixer
Glenn Aulepp	....	cable person (as Glen Aulepp)
Kevin Bartnof	....	foley artist
Gregg Baxter	....	adr editor
Wallace R. Bearden	....	adr mixer
Susan Dudeck	....	foley editor
Patrick English	....	sound assistant
John Haeny	....	sound effects editor
Robin Harlan	....	foley artist
Doug Hemphill	....	sound re-recording mixer (as D.M. Hemphill)
J. Paul Huntsman	....	supervising sound editor
Chris Jenkins	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert Mackston	....	dialogue editor (as Robert Macksten)
Efraim Reuveni	....	foley editor
Carolann Sanchez-Shapiro	....	sound assistant (as Carolann S. Sanchez)
Matt Sawelson	....	dialogue editor (as Matthew G. Sawelson)
Stephan von Hase	....	sound mixer
Ian Wright	....	boom operator (as Ian C. Wright)
Brad Sherman	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Robert E. Worthington	....	special effects

Stunts
Jon Conrad Pochron	....	stunt coordinator (as Jon Pochron)
Paul E. Short	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Florian Ballhaus	....	first assistant camera
Arthur Blum	....	dolly grip
Branch M. Brunson	....	electrician
Bruce Byall	....	best boy grip
Tim Collins	....	grip (as Timothy P. Collins)
John L. Demps Jr.	....	electrician
John Doherty	....	pre-rig rigging gaffer (as John J. Doherty)
David M. Dunlap	....	camera operator (as David Dunlap)
Chris Feringer	....	grip: Seattle
Todd Griffith	....	grip
William D. Harris	....	grip
Pamela Katz	....	second assistant camera
Zeph R. Makgetla	....	additional camera assistant
Bruce Martin	....	electrician: Seattle
Don McDonald Jr.	....	electrician: Seattle (as Don McConald Jr.)
Charlie McIntyre	....	electrician (as Charles H. McIntyre III)
Robert W. Meckler	....	grip (as Robert Meckler)
Karen Miller	....	special photographer
John Murphy	....	key rigging grip (as John W. Murphy)
Ronald J. Pure Jr.	....	electrician (as R. Joe Pure Jr.)
John 'Fest' Sandau	....	best boy electric
Mark Sannes	....	grip
Steve Schwaer	....	pre-rig rigging gaffer
Lorey Sebastian	....	still photographer
William A. Shea	....	grip
Steve Smith	....	key grip
Mike Steward	....	grip: Seattle
Woogie Thomas	....	electrician
James R. Tynes	....	gaffer (as Jim Tynes)

Casting Department
Reatha Grey	....	extras casting: Grey Images
Barbara Harris	....	voice casting
Christina Sanchez	....	casting coordinator
Joanne Zaluski	....	casting associate
Patti Carns Kalles	....	casting: Seattle (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marsha Perloff	....	wardrobe supervisor
Jill Sharaf	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Susan Alexander	....	apprentice editor
Dale E. Grahn	....	color timer
Karen Marmer	....	post-production coordinator
Michael T. Wilson	....	assistant editor (as Michael Wilson)
Scot Deer	....	telecine colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Bunny Andrews	....	music editor
Else Blangsted	....	music editorial consultant
Brian Bromberg	....	musician: bass
Sandy DeCrescent	....	musicians contractor
Dave Grusin	....	musician: keyboards and piano solo for Jeff Bridges
John Hammond	....	musician: piano solo for Beau Bridges (as John F. Hammond)
Sal Marquez	....	musician: trumpet
Harvey W. Mason	....	musician: drums (as Harvey Mason)
Jill Meyers	....	music clearance
Donald Murray	....	music recording engineer (as Don Murray)
Lee Ritenour	....	musician: guitar (as Lee Rittenour)
Joel Sill	....	executive music producer
Sally Stevens	....	vocal coach to Ms. Pfeiffer
Ernie Watts	....	musician: saxophone
Jon Charles	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Curt Sobel	....	music editor (uncredited)
Rick Winquest	....	score assistant engineer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Richard M. Brasic	....	driver
Anthony J. Brazas	....	driver
Robert T. Chestnut	....	driver: Seattle (as Bob Chestnut)
Lewis Cundiff	....	driver
George Evans	....	driver: Seattle
Jimmy Jones	....	driver: Seattle (as Jim Jones)
Thomas C. Kimmel	....	driver
George Kramer	....	driver: Seattle
Marc Lebeaune	....	driver (as Mike Labeaune)
Jon McCarthy	....	transportation captain: Seattle (as John McCarthy)
Eric W. Mizen	....	driver
Joseph Kelly Padovich	....	driver
Mike Padovich	....	driver
Marvin Palenske	....	driver
Don Penick	....	driver: Seattle
Olin Rushin	....	driver
Gary Shephard	....	driver: Seattle (as Gary Shepard)
Gary Small	....	driver (as Gary K. Small)
Howard A. Small	....	transportation coordinator (as Howard Small)
Anthony C. Steere	....	driver (as Anthony Charles Steere)
Robert Sullivan	....	driver: Seattle (as Bob Sullivan)
Bob White	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Frans J. Afman	....	financial consultant: Credit Lyonnais Bank Nederland N.V.
John Steven Agoglia	....	assistant location manager (as John S. Agoglia)
Jeffrey K. Ausmus	....	production secretary
Jan Sebastian Ballhaus	....	production assistant (as Sebastian Ballhaus)
Barbara Bass	....	studio teacher (as Barbara L. Bass)
Creed Bratton	....	stand-in: Beau Bridges
Bart Carpenter	....	production assistant
Loyd Catlett	....	assistant: Jeff Bridges (as Lloyd Catlett)
Robin Citrin	....	location manager
Joyce Collins	....	piano coach
Bryan Curry	....	production assistant
Margaret E. Fannin	....	production coordinator
Sandra Fear	....	stand-in: Michelle Pfeiffer
Lou Forestieri	....	piano coach (as Lou Foresteri)
Ashley R. Friedman	....	production assistant
Peter Gantt	....	craft service: Seattle (as Peter Gant)
Lynette Goto	....	office production assistant: Seattle
Dennis Grisco	....	dog trainer (as Dennis R. Grisco)
Tony Grob	....	location assistant: Seattle
Denny Hans	....	craft service
Peter E. Hirsch	....	production assistant: Seattle (as Peter Hirsch)
Peggy Holmes	....	choreographer: "Makin' Whoopee"
Jody Hummer	....	assistant location manager
Kay Jordan	....	accounting assistant
Linda Labov	....	assistant to producers
John E. Oliver	....	sideline piano supervisor
Donna Ostroff	....	assistant to producers
Laura Petticord	....	production assistant (as Laura Ann Petticord)
Clinton Pozzi Jr.	....	tutor: Seattle
Nancy Pyne-Hapke	....	studio teacher
Trudy Ramirez	....	script supervisor
Mayda Renizzi-Holt	....	production accountant
Valerie Ross	....	production coordinator: Seattle
Ken Ryan	....	production executive
Roberto Santana	....	production assistant
Suzanne Spangler	....	production assistant
Spooky Stevens	....	publicist
Alexandra Stone	....	assistant to producers
Jordan Stone	....	production assistant (as Jordan J. Stone)
Brad Stephens	....	publicist (uncredited)
Kieran Woo	....	assistant post-production auditor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Gladden Entertainment (presents)
• Mirage
• Tobis

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1989) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (1989) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• International Video Entertainment (IVE) (1989) (USA) (VHS)
• Union Générale Cinématographique (UGC) (1990) (France) (theatrical)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (1990) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Rank Film Organization (1990) (UK) (theatrical)
• Tobis (1990) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Image Entertainment (1990) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Live Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video (1992) (Germany) (video) (laserdisc)
• Fox Network (1993) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Live Home Video (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Live Home Video (1995) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Live Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Live Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Video Film Express (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Look Vídeo (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (The Michelle Pfeiffer Star Collection)
• Plus Video (2010) (Argentina) (DVD)

Other Companies

• ARRI Munich  cameras
• Albert G. Ruben and Company  insurance (as Albert G. Ruben & Co.)
• Cellular-One  special thanks (as Cellular One of Washington)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollys (as Chapman)
• Completion Bond Company  completion bond (as The Completion Bond Co.)
• Credit Lyonnais Bank (Nederland) N.V.  financial consultant
• D. Bassett & Associates  negative cutting (as Donah Bassett & Associates)
• DDA Public Relations (DDA)  public relations representatives: International (as Dennis Davidson Associates)
• FGV Panther  supplier: Panther dolly and crane arm (as FGV Panther Corporation of America)
• Finnegan/Pinchuk Productions  production services (as Finnegan-Pinchuk)
• GRP Records  original motion picture soundtrack available on (as GRP Records, Cassettes and Compact Discs)
• Grey Images  extras casting
• Jo Anne Kane Music Services  music preparation
• Owen Piano  special thanks
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• People of Seattle, The  special thanks
• Rogers & Cowan  public relations representatives: U.S. and Canada
• Sunset Sound Studios  music recorded at (as Sunset Sound)
• Todd-AO/Glen Glenn Studios  re-recorded by
• Todd-AO/Glen Glenn Studios  sound effects
• Washington State Film & Video Office  special thanks (as The Washington State Film and Video Office)
• Windswept Pacific Entertainment  music supervision

Also Known As:

Runtime:

114 min | Australia:110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | Sweden:7 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Ambassador Hotel - 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Gladden Entertainment

Trivia:

Although Dave Grusin recorded the songs for the movie soundtrack, Beau Bridges and Jeff Bridges both learned to play all the songs in the film. To make their playing appear realistic, the actors watched videotapes of Grusin's hands playing the music.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Frank, Jack and Susie get underway for the trip to the New Year's event at the resort hotel (a.k.a. Bill Gate's house), they are first shown driving southbound on the Mercer Street onramp to Interstate-5. Then the scene shifts to them driving near the Spokane Street exit southbound, five miles to the south. Then the scene shifts back to them driving emerging from a tunnel, which is actually the same southbound I-5 onramp, only a little farther past the initial shot.

Quotes:

Susie Diamond:[singing] It's really killing that he's so willing to make whoopee.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saved by the Bell: The Fabulous Belding Boys (#2.15)" (1990)

Soundtrack:

Feelings

Finest, most important film ever made on the subject of Music

I consider Baker Boys the best film on music because it is one of the finest noir stories ever written on the subject. It is an important film because of the subject matter: an expose of musical art married to entertainment. It is a subject rarely revealed in American media.

Most people think of "musical art" as something found at the classical music concert or the college music department. The other stuff we hear is entertainment, right? Well, sometimes it just isn't that simple. Baker Boys is a story based on those cases of mixed marriage when the talented artist finds himself locked into an employment situation that hampers his artistic ability. It may come as a surprise to Jazz and commercial music lovers that such music artists really do exist beneath the glamorous facade of their favorite music acts (not to mention films). The story of Jack Baker means to reveal this dark underbelly of the entertainment business.

It is well for the public to understand how and why such musicians exist. The distribution of a film such as Baker Boys is but one step toward this end. While most people saw the film as a romance involving the swing music genre, what they didn't seem to recognize is the more important underlying contextual theme. This issue - of undiscovered musical talent - is not popular. Unfortunately the average layperson is not familiar enough with music to understand or care about why a musician would be unhappy with his job. It is easy to see why most people avoided this, the main theme of the film - it's too dark - and instead focused on the romance and the style.

In the end, Baker Boys is a story of one Jack Baker, an entertainer who was finally bold enough to make the transition to Jazz artist. It is a story of passive resistance to what Blake Edwards immortalized as that "other" part of the entertainment industry known behind the scenes as S.O.B. (Standard Operating Bullshit). It is but one fictional story that represents many, many similar true-life cases of successful failure.