Misery (1990)

Director:

Rob Reiner

Writers (WGA):

Stephen King (novel)
William Goldman (screenplay)

Release Date:

30 November 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller

Tagline:

This Christmas there will be... Misery.

Plot:

A famous novelist is "rescued" from a car crash by an obsessed fan.

Plot Keywords:

Fan | Blizzard | Obsessed Fan | Novel | Ceramic

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

James Caan	...	Paul Sheldon
Kathy Bates	...	Annie Wilkes
Richard Farnsworth	...	Buster
Frances Sternhagen	...	Virginia
Lauren Bacall	...	Marcia Sindell
Graham Jarvis	...	Libby
Jerry Potter	...	Pete
Jerry Potter	...	Pete
Thomas Brunelle	...	Anchorman (as Tom Brunelle)
June Christopher	...	Anchorwoman
Julie Payne	...	Reporter #1
Archie Hahn III	...	Reporter #2
Gregory Snegoff	...	Reporter #3
Wendy Bowers	...	Waitress
Misery the Pig	...	Herself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rob Reiner	...	Helicopter Pilot (uncredited)
J.T. Walsh	...	State Trooper Sherman Douglas (uncredited)

Directed by
Rob Reiner

Writing credits (WGA)
Stephen King		(novel "Misery")
William Goldman		(screenplay)

Produced by
Steve Nicolaides	....	co-producer
Rob Reiner	....	producer
Andrew Scheinman	....	producer
Jeffrey Stott	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Marc Shaiman

Cinematography by
Barry Sonnenfeld		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Robert Leighton

Casting by
Janet Hirshenson
Jane Jenkins

Production Design by
Norman Garwood

Art Direction by
Mark W. Mansbridge		(as Mark Mansbridge)

Set Decoration by
Garrett Lewis

Costume Design by
Gloria Gresham

Makeup Department
Howard Berger	....	special makeup effects artist
Judith A. Cory	....	hair stylist (as Judith Cory)
John M. Elliott Jr.	....	makeup artist (as John Elliott)
Margaret E. Elliott	....	makeup artist (as Margaret Elliott)
Bruce Spaulding Fuller	....	special makeup effects artist (as Bruce S. Fuller)
Robert Kurtzman	....	special makeup effects artist
Rick Lalonde	....	special makeup effects artist (as Rick LaLonde)
Gregory Nicotero	....	special makeup effects artist (as Greg Nicotero)

Production Management
Steve Nicolaides	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dennis Maguire	....	first assistant director
Artist W. Robinson	....	second second assistant director (as Artist Robinson)
Drew Ann Rosenberg	....	second assistant director (as Drew Rosenberg)
Barry Sonnenfeld	....	second unit director

Art Department
Charles A. Carlsen	....	propmaker
Charles A. Carlsen	....	set dresser
Carl Cassara	....	swing gang
John Hoskins	....	construction foreman
Gary Isbell	....	swing gang
Jonas Kirk	....	construction foreman (as C. Jonas Kirk)
Jody Levine	....	art department coordinator
Jerry Moss	....	property master (as Gerald Moss)
Ken Peterson	....	assistant property master
Curt Powley	....	stand-by painter
Andrew Precht	....	assistant art director
Ruth Pulido	....	stand-by painter
Rob Rupple	....	book cover illustrator
Marvin Salsberg	....	construction coordinator
Stan Tropp	....	set designer
Mark Woods	....	lead man
Robert Misetich	....	paint foreman (uncredited)
John Root	....	signwriter supervisor (uncredited)

Sound Department
James Ashwill	....	foley mixer
George Baetz	....	boom operator
Peter C. Barbour	....	assistant sound editor
Kevin Bartnof	....	foley artist
Charles L. Campbell	....	supervising sound editor
Robert Eber	....	sound mixer
Louis L. Edemann	....	sound editor
Ellen Decker Franklin	....	apprentice sound editor
Richard C. Franklin	....	sound editor
Leigh French	....	adr group coordinator
Robin Harlan	....	foley artist
Nils C. Jensen	....	sound editor
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer
Gregg Landaker	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Gregg W. Landaker)
Mary Jo Lang	....	foley recordist
Mark 'Frito' Long	....	sound recordist
Donald J. Malouf	....	supervising sound editor
Christian P. Minkler	....	machine operator (as Chris Minkler)
Gary Mundheim	....	sound editor
Chuck Neely	....	sound editor
Kevin O'Connell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jim Quinn	....	machine operator (as James Quinn)
Rod Rogers	....	adr assistant
Larry Singer	....	adr supervisor
Roger V. Stevenson	....	cable person (as Roger Stevenson)
Paul Timothy Carden	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Tim Song Jones	....	sound transferer (uncredited)
John Roesch	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Phil Cory	....	special effects supervisor
Hans Metz	....	special effects
Ray Svedin	....	special effects
Charles E. Dolan	....	special effects (uncredited)
Paul Mejias	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Sandy Berumen	....	stunts
David R. Ellis	....	stunt coordinator (as David Ellis)
Steve Hart	....	stunts
R.A. Rondell	....	stunts
Sammy Thurman	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Brian W. Armstrong	....	assistant camera (as Brian Armstrong)
Dennis Gamiello	....	key grip
M. Todd Henry	....	camera operator
Steele Hunter	....	grip
Kevin Kelley	....	chief lighting technician
Gary B. Kibbe	....	photography: second unit (as Gary Kibbe)
John Lowry	....	grip
Thomas Miligan	....	assistant camera
Merrick Morton	....	still photographer
Walter Nichols	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Dwayne Redlin	....	best boy grip
Howard Rose	....	additional assistant camera
Michele Singer	....	special photography
Daryl Smith	....	lamp operator
Chris Squires	....	additional camera operator
Mark Streapy	....	additional assistant camera (as Mark R. Streapy)
Michael 'Dutch' Van Woert	....	lamp operator (as Mike Van Woert)
Don Yamasaki	....	lamp operator
Vincent Contarino	....	dimmer board operator (uncredited)
Ken Fisher	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Jon L. Kunkel	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Frank Montoya	....	rigging key grip (uncredited)
Brennan L. Price	....	lighting technician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Michael Hirshenson	....	casting associate
Jacqueline King	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Oda Groeschel	....	costumer
G. Tony Scarano	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Alan Edward Bell	....	first assistant editor
Christy Dimmig	....	post-production coordinator
Mary Morrisey	....	assistant editor
Steven Nevius	....	associate film editor (as Steve Nevius)
Arthur Tostado	....	color timer (as Art Tostado)
Lois Trent-Bring	....	negative cutter

Music Department
John Bruno	....	scoring crew
Sandy DeCrescent	....	music contractor
Dennis Dreith	....	conductor
Dennis Dreith	....	orchestrator
Bruce Fowler	....	additional orchestrator
Chuck Garsha	....	scoring crew
Hummie Mann	....	additional orchestrator
Mo Morrisey	....	assistant music editor
Scott Stambler	....	supervising music editor
Armin Steiner	....	music scoring mixer

Transportation Department
James R. Brown	....	production driver (as James Brown)
Russ Buckens	....	production driver
Gary Cruise	....	production driver
Brick Graham	....	production driver
Kirk A. Holland	....	transportation captain (as Kirk Holland)
Robert Hunter Jr.	....	production driver (as Bob Hunter)
Ken Lubin	....	production driver
Dennis McLaughlin	....	production driver
Edward A. Powell	....	production driver (as Ed Powell)
Tom Roberts	....	production driver
Tim Roslan	....	transportation coordinator
Timothy Sheehan	....	production driver (as Tim Sheehan)
Troy Flynn	....	transportation (uncredited)

Other crew
Wolfgang Bodison	....	assistant: Rob Reiner
John Christensen	....	production assistant
Gwen Clancy	....	production assistant
Norris Coit	....	production assistant
Leslie Cornyn	....	post-production accountant
Pamela Cruise	....	first aid (as Pam Cruise)
James Dean	....	stand-in
James Deeth	....	helicopter pilot (as Jim Deeth)
Iddo Lampton Enochs Jr.	....	location manager
Linda Folsom	....	production coordinator (as Linda Allan-Folsom)
Lou Anne Harrison	....	production assistant
Alison Harstedt	....	assistant accountant
Pam Jones	....	assistant: Rob Reiner
K. Lenna Katich	....	production accountant (as K. Lenna Kunkel)
David Keane	....	assistant: James Caan
Madeline Kline	....	animal trainer
Suzanne Lutz	....	production secretary
Jim Maguire	....	production assistant
Alystar McKenneh	....	stand-in
Kerry Lyn McKissick	....	script supervisor
Karen M. Murphy	....	production assistant (as Karen Murphy)
Joseph Popelka	....	production assistant (as Joseph G. Popelka)
Richard W. Scarpone	....	craft service (as Rich Scarpone)
Michelle Selleck	....	production assistant
Barbara W. Turman	....	payroll clerk (as Barbara Turman)
Zelig Walters	....	caterer (as Wally Walters)
Robin Warren	....	production assistant
Katherine T. Wilson	....	production secretary
Scott Mislan	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
William James Calder	....	thanks (as James Calder)
David Morgan	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Castle Rock Entertainment (as Castle Rock) (presents)
• Nelson Entertainment (in association with)

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1990) (USA) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (1991) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Gemini Film (1993) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Jugendfilm-Verleih (1991) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Transmundo Films (1991) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Union Générale Cinématographique (UGC) (1991) (France) (theatrical)
• Astro Distribution (1997) (Germany) (video) (laserdisc)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1993) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• ETD Home Video (1993) (USA) (VHS)
• Highlight Video (1992) (Germany) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (1994) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (199?) (UK) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2003) (UK) (DVD) (special edition)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD) (collector's edition)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Nelson Entertainment (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Pioneer (1994) (UK) (video) (laserdisc)
• PolyGram Video (1999) (Germany) (DVD)
• PolyGram Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• PolyGram Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Transmundo Home Video (THV) (199?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2000) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• USA Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)

Special Effects

• K.N.B. Effects Group (special makeup effects)

Other Companies

• 20th Century Fox Studios  music recorded at
• AVI Records Productions  additional Liberace dialogue courtesy of
• Chapman Equipment  cranes and dollies
• City of Genoa, Nevada, The  thanks
• Credit Lyonnais Bank (Nederland) N.V.  banking services
• Cynthia's Distinctive Catering  catering
• Eric Lieber Productions  clip from "Love Connection" provided by
• Jo Anne Kane Music Services  music preparation
• Mark Goodson Productions LLC  clip from "Family Feud" provided by
• Nancy Seltzer & Associates  publicity
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Sally Lear Casting  extras casting: Reno
• Sally Perle & Associates  extras casting: L.A.
• Skywalker Sound South  re-recording facilities
• TAJ Soundworks  foley by
• Unique Movie Cars  picture cars
• Variety Cinema Catering  catering
• Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, The  thanks

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Singapore:NC-16 (re-rating) | Singapore:PG (cut) | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 | Norway:15 | Peru:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company:

Castle Rock Entertainment

Trivia:

A video of When Harry Met Sally... (1989) (also directed by Rob Reiner) is visible in the general store.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Paul types "what else was there...?", it is on one line in the close-up but two separate lines when he writes "The End".

Quotes:

Annie Wilkes: When I was growing up in Bakersfield, my favourite thing in the whole world was to go to the movies on Saturday afternoons for the Chapter Plays.
Paul Sheldon: [nodding] Cliffhangers.
Annie Wilkes: [shouting] I know that, Mr. Man! They also called them serials. I'm not stupid ya know... Anyway, my favourite was Rocketman, and once it was a no breaks chapter. The bad guy stuck him in a car on a mountain road and knocked him out and welded the door shut and tore out the brakes and started him to his death...
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in Misery: Diagnosing Annie Wilkes (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

I'LL BE SEEING YOU

Gripping...

Misery is a dark, but witty venture into Stephen King territory. It's about a popular novelist who crashes his car on a snowy mountain road and is rescued by a nurse who claims she is his number one fan. As the time goes by, he realizes she has no intention of letting him leave.

The film moves with a brisk, taut pace thanks to director Rob Reiner, who helmed another excellent Stephen King film, Stand By Me. Tension is kept mostly throughout (there are some predictable moments...but who cares?) And the performances are also a major plus. James Caan is very easy to empathize with, and he manages to keep his cynical sense of humor. Richard Farnsworth, as a grizzled sheriff was a nice addition to the film since his character didn't exist in the book. He also has a nice sense of humor, and he's the kind of guy who you want to root for. But the most amazing performance is from Kathy Bates, who treads a fine line alternating between sweet and lovable to amazingly evil. She won an Oscar for this movie, and whole-heartedly deserved it.

Side note: This is one of the few films which took an Oscar, that you can actually say the Academy had the guts to give out. Can anyone name another horror film which won such a notable prize?

ANyway...by the end, the novelist and the viewer or put through some torturous activity. We sometimes feel his pain, and it is so much fun to hate this woman................the book is excellent.....the movie is just as good in about 1/6th of the time it would take to read. Either way, enjoy!