Green Card (1990)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Peter Weir

Writer:

Peter Weir (written by)

Release Date:

11 January 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance | Drama

Tagline:

An irresistibly charming comedy!

Plot:

A man wanting to stay in the US enters into a marriage of convenience, but it turns into more than that.

Plot Keywords:

Love | Greenhouse | Immigration | Green Card | Drum

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Gérard Depardieu	...	Georges
Andie MacDowell	...	Brontë
Bebe Neuwirth	...	Lauren
Gregg Edelman	...	Phil
Robert Prosky	...	Brontë's Lawyer
Jessie Keosian	...	Mrs. Bird
Ethan Phillips	...	Gorsky
Mary Louise Wilson	...	Mrs. Sheehan
Lois Smith	...	Brontë's Parent (Mother)
Conrad McLaren	...	Brontë's Parent (Father)
Ronald Guttman	...	Anton
Danny Dennis	...	Oscar
Stephen Pearlman	...	Mr. Adler
Victoria Boothby	...	Mrs. Adler
Ann Wedgeworth	...	Party Guest
Stefan Schnabel	...	Party Guest
Anne Shropshire	...	Party Guest
Simon Jones	...	Party Guest
Malachy McCourt	...	Party Guest
Emily Cho	...	Party Guest
John Spencer	...	Harry
Ann Dowd	...	Peggy
Novella Nelson	...	Marriage Celebrant
John Scanlan	...	House Committee
Arthur Anderson	...	House Committee
Vasek Simek	...	Maitre D'
Christian Mulot	...	Waiter
Francis Dumaurier	...	Waiter
Ernesto Gasco	...	Butler
Jeb Handwerger	...	Oscar's Child
Michael David Tanney	...	Oscar's Child
Conrad Roberts	...	Taxi Driver
Ed Feldman	...	Taxi Driver
Chris Odo	...	Immigration Supervisor
Michele Nevirs	...	Immigration Clerk
Rick Aviles	...	Vincent
Abdoulaye NGom	...	Street Beggar (as Abdoulaye N'Gom)
Clint Chin	...	Flower Seller
Larry Wright	...	Drummer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Timothy Stickney	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Peter Weir

Writing credits
Peter Weir		(written by)

Produced by
Edward S. Feldman	....	executive producer
Jean Gontier	....	co-producer
Ira Halberstadt	....	associate producer
Duncan Henderson	....	co-producer
Peter Weir	....	producer

Original Music by
Hans Zimmer

Cinematography by
Geoffrey Simpson		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
William M. Anderson		(as William Anderson)

Casting by
Dianne Crittenden

Production Design by
Wendy Stites

Art Direction by
Christopher Nowak

Set Decoration by
John H. Anderson		(as John Anderson)
Ted Glass

Makeup Department
Marie-Hélène Bugnet	....	additional makeup artist (as Marie-Helene Bugnet)
Sharon Ilson	....	makeup supervisor
Bette Iverson	....	hair stylist (as Bette L. Iverson)
Marie-France Vassel	....	makeup artist: Mr. Depardieu

Production Management
Ira Halberstadt	....	unit production manager
Daniel J. Heffner	....	executive in charge of production (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alan B. Curtiss	....	first assistant director
John Rusk	....	second second assistant director
Liz Ryan	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Tommy Allen	....	property master
Anthony Baldasare	....	set dresser
Joan Brockschmidt	....	greenperson (as Joni Brockschmidt)
Jem Cohen	....	assistant property master
June DeCamp	....	chargeman scenic artist
Anthony Dunne	....	construction coordinator
Peter Hackman	....	camera stand-by scenic artist (as Peter G. Hackman)
Jeff Naparstek	....	set dresser
Ken Nelson	....	key set builder (as Kenneth D. Nelson)
Jack Ranson	....	key set builder
Jon Ringbom	....	chargeman scenic artist (as John Ringbom)
Scott Rosenstock	....	lead man
Lindsey Smith	....	art department coordinator
Michele Sommer	....	assistant property master (as Michele M. Sommer)
Zack Tobin	....	construction assistant
Peter von Bartheld	....	set dresser (as Peter Von Bartheld)
Keith Wall	....	set dresser
Elise Bennett	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Beth Kuhn	....	assistant art director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Steve Burgess	....	foley: Australia
Julius Chan	....	multi-track engineer: Australia
Bernard Chaumeil	....	boom operator
Jeanine Chiavlo	....	dialogue editor: Australia (as Jeanine Chialvo)
Pierre Gamet	....	post-production sound mixer: Australia
Phil Judd	....	re-recording mixer: Australia
Gerry Long	....	foley: Australia
Paula Lourie	....	assistant sound editor: Australia
Ian McLoughlin	....	soundfirm technical coordinator: Australia
Wayne Pashley	....	sound effects editor: Australia
Livia Ruzic	....	dialogue editor: Australia
Lee Smith	....	sound designer: Australia
Peter Townend	....	sound effects editor: Australia
Karin Whittington	....	dialogue editor: Australia

Visual Effects by
Roger Cowland	....	optical

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Adams	....	grip (as Bob Adams)
Arthur Blum	....	dolly grip
Lynn Breschel	....	electrician
Andy Day	....	best boy electric (as Andrew Day)
François Duhamel	....	still photographer
Robert K. Feldmann	....	key grip (as Robert Feldman)
Ken Ferris	....	camera operator
Morris Flam	....	gaffer
Jonathan Graham	....	best boy grip
Bruno Guillochon	....	additional assistant camera
Hugues de Haeck	....	additional camera operator (as Hughes De Haeck)
Andy Harris	....	second assistant camera
Bob Marshak	....	still photographer
Brian P. Regan	....	electrician
Eric Swanek	....	first assistant camera
David S. Tuttman	....	second assistant camera

Casting Department
Joy Dickson	....	casting associate
Judie Fixler	....	extras casting: Todd Thaler Casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jennifer Ingram	....	wardrobe supervisor
Marilyn Matthews	....	associate costume designer
Roseann Milano	....	wardrobe supervisor
Ingrid Price	....	wardrobe supervisor
Rosie Zingalis	....	seamstress

Editorial Department
Nick Breslin	....	assistant film editor: Australia (as Nicholas Breslin)
Arthur Cambridge	....	color timer
Nick Cole	....	assistant film editor: Australia (as Nicholas Cole)
Rosemary Dority	....	post-production coordinator: Australia
Louise Innes	....	additional film editor: Australia
Robin Judge	....	assistant film editor: Australia
Rick Lisle	....	assistant film editor: Australia
Julian MacDonald	....	apprentice film editor: Australia
Armen Minasian	....	assistant film editor: USA
Emily Paine	....	assistant film editor: USA
Michelle Pazer	....	assistant film editor: USA
Karen Psaltis	....	negative matcher
Marie-Pierre Renaud	....	assistant film editor: USA
Lee Smith	....	additional film editor: Australia
Plummy Tucker	....	apprentice film editor: USA

Music Department
Brendan Morley	....	music engineer: Australia

Transportation Department
Kevin Keefe	....	transportation captain
Edward O'Donnell	....	transportation coordinator
Judy Garland	....	transportation (uncredited)

Other crew
Todd Arnow	....	production controller
Glenn Athaide	....	adr loop group: David Kramer's Looping Group
Carol Bawer	....	production assistant
Dana Belcastro	....	assistant: Mr. Halberstadt
Maria T. Bierniak	....	location assistant
Maimouna Bodian	....	adr loop group: David Kramer's Looping Group
Richard Bossbady	....	adr loop group: David Kramer's Looping Group
Beth Boyd	....	office assistant (as Beth A. Boyd)
Fran Burke	....	title designer
Eva Z. Cabrera	....	script supervisor
Pierre Caillieriac	....	production assistant
Geneviève Château-Mabire	....	continuity (as Genevieve Chateau)
Gilbert Cruz	....	adr loop group: David Kramer's Looping Group
Katharine Ann Curtiss	....	production coordinator (as Kathy Curtiss)
Carla Demolfetto	....	craft service
David Dreishpoon	....	craft service
Christian Fuin	....	second unit supervisor
Sean Fuller	....	electric assistant
Gina Gallagher	....	adr loop group: David Kramer's Looping Group
Jay Gibson	....	production assistant
Gary Goodrow	....	adr loop group: David Kramer's Looping Group
Sondra James	....	adr loop group: David Kramer's Looping Group
Tanya Johnson	....	production assistant
Paul Kijzer	....	financial consultant
David H. Kramer	....	adr loop group: David Kramer's Looping Group (as David Kramer)
Joan LaFontaine	....	assistant: Mr. Feldman
Enzo Linardi	....	adr loop group: David Kramer's Looping Group
Michelle Lucien	....	adr loop group: David Kramer's Looping Group
Dominick Marcus	....	adr loop group: David Kramer's Looping Group
Heather McGrath	....	office assistant
Felix Morales	....	adr loop group: David Kramer's Looping Group
Kelly Muse	....	office assistant
Jerry Ng	....	adr loop group: David Kramer's Looping Group
Jan Nizen	....	assistant auditor
Jayne Marla Nozik	....	office assistant
Megan O'Brien	....	production assistant
Aaron Payne	....	adr loop group: David Kramer's Looping Group
Janice Pendarvis	....	adr loop group: David Kramer's Looping Group
Jane Rosenberg	....	production office coordinator
Maurice Schell	....	adr loop group: David Kramer's Looping Group
Craig Sechler	....	adr loop group: David Kramer's Looping Group
Lauren Beth Strogoff	....	unit publicist
Daniel Strol	....	location coordinator
Meher Tatna	....	adr loop group: David Kramer's Looping Group
Susan Telcher	....	adr loop group: David Kramer's Looping Group
Sinclair Tenenbaum	....	legal service
Marcia Lappin Themelis	....	location manager
Irene Velázquez	....	adr loop group: David Kramer's Looping Group
Andy Weltman	....	assistant: Mr. Weir
Marcia L. Lappin	....	location manager (uncredited)
Thomas Patrick Petrilla	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Will Cressler	....	special thanks
John Ptak	....	special appreciation

Production Companies

• Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC)
• DD Productions
• Greencard Productions
• Lam Ping
• Sédif Productions
• Touchstone Pictures
• Union Générale Cinématographique (UGC)

Distributors

• Abril Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Buena Vista Pictures
• Gativideo (Argentina) (video)
• Roadshow Home Video
• Warner Bros. (Germany)

Other Companies

• American Irish Historical Society  thanks
• Camera Mart  grip and lighting equipment
• Completion Bond Company  completion guarantee
• Du Art Film Laboratories  production dailies
• Guinness Mahon and Company  financial services
• Judy Garland & Associates  transportation
• New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theater & Broadcasting, The  thanks
• New York City Parks Department  thanks
• New York State Governor's Office for Motion Picture & Television Development  thanks
• Pierson, Heldring & Pierson N.V.  financial services
• Soundfirm  dubbing facilities
• Spectrum Films International  post-production facilities
• The Green Guerillas of New York  thanks
• Todd Thaler Casting  extras casting
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack

Also Known As:

Green Card (France)

Runtime:

103 min | UK:107 min | USA:107 min (TCM print) (dvd release)

Country:

Australia | France | USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:L | Netherlands:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M (cable rating) | Australia:PG (original rating) | Chile:14 | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:12 | Spain:13 | Sweden:Btl | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC)

Trivia:

First film in English for Gérard Depardieu.

Goofs:

Continuity: Georges is not carrying the photo album outside, after being interviewed by authorities.

Quotes:

Brontë Mitchell Faure: We don't have to like each other. We just have to get married.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Anus Magillicutty (2003)

Soundtrack:

Clarinet Concerto In A Major: Adagio

Worth Watching

Green Card is a good movie. Worth watching. The first time I saw it I wasn't impressed, but then watching it again I found it realistic and refreshingly charming, in that "simple/against the tide" sort of way that is so Peter Weir. He's also done The Witness, Dead Poets Society, and The Truman Show; and Green Card, most certainly, is another of his films about people who don't quite fit in their environment or in the world of their aspirations but are drawn into finding life where probably they were not looking for. The scene about finding the bathroom is both hilarious and very suspenseful. It's funny how in a house, or even in a small apartment, we're never quite sure where the bathroom is. Our first instinct is to ask, even though it probably wouldn't be a difficult move to find that on our own. Now imagine having to deal with that bathroom situation (something you only care about when you need it) pretending that the place where you're in is your house. It's almost like in those nightmares where there are so many doors but which one is the one that will take you to that next level you so much need but have not the slightest idea of what it might really be? I guess the metaphor here is that you keep on opening a chain of wrong doors until you find the right one for you. It's frustrating, but the door was always there, always, with the exception that you never noticed it. Just like in everyday life, love and spirituality might flash into your face as banal sight at first, but they're made of hopes and fears that are always bigger than us, unexplainable, maybe fate. We don't have control of it (the Greeks knew it), we're still the same but again we're not. And here we are, groping, surviving. How do you relate to people and to your present circumstances -- whatever they might be --that is what Green Card is about.