Life Stinks (1991)

Director:

Mel Brooks

Writers (WGA):

Mel Brooks (story) &
Ron Clark (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

26 July 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot:

A filthy rich businessman bets a corporate rival that he can live on the streets of L.A. without the comforts of home or money, which proves to be tougher than he thought.

Plot Keywords:

Bet | Written And Directed By Cast Member | Betrayal | Homelessness | Poverty

Cast

Mel Brooks	...	Goddard Bolt
Lesley Ann Warren	...	Molly
Jeffrey Tambor	...	Vance Crasswell
Stuart Pankin	...	Pritchard
Howard Morris	...	Sailor
Rudy De Luca	...	J. Paul Getty
Teddy Wilson	...	Fumes
Michael Ensign	...	Knowles
Matthew Faison	...	Stevens
Billy Barty	...	Willy
Brian Thompson	...	Mean Victor
Raymond O'Connor	...	Yo
Carmine Caridi	...	Flophouse Owner
Sammy Shore	...	Reverend at Wedding
Frank Roman	...	Spanish Interpreter
Marvin Braverman	...	Dr. Kahahn
Robert Ridgely	...	Fergueson
John Welsh	...	Dodd
Stanley Brock	...	Store Owner
James Van Patten	...	Wheelchair Attendant
Mike Pniewski	...	Male Nurse (as Michael Pniewski)
Marianne Muellerleile	...	Head Nurse
Anne Betancourt	...	Nurse
Kathryn Skatula	...	Nurse
Robin Shepard	...	Nurse
Angela Gordon	...	Capacity Nurse
Mary Watson	...	Newscaster
Saida Pagan	...	Newscaster
Tamara Taylor	...	Newscaster
Henry Kaiser	...	Newscaster
Danny Wells	...	Mercedes Driver
Larry Cedar	...	Paramedic
Christopher Birt	...	Paramedic
Brad Grunberg	...	Burrito-Eating Bum (as Johnny Cocktails)
Clifton Wells	...	Taco Stand Owner
Paul Brinegar	...	Old Bellboy
George Berkeley	...	Derelict Outside Flophouse
Anthony Messina	...	Policeman
David Correia	...	Policeman
Helene Winston	...	Society Patron
Terrence Williams	...	Boy Dancing in Doorway
Joan Crosby	...	Woman at Fire
Ira Miller	...	Man at Fire
Jim Mapp	...	Blind Man (as James Mapp)
Sam Menning	...	Old Wino
Ralph Ahn	...	Chinese Cook
Stu Gilliam	...	Desmond
Darrow Igus	...	Maynard
James Martinez	...	Dancing Vagrant at Party
Rose DuCaine	...	Dancing Dowager at Party
Raf Mauro	...	Hors d'Oeuvres Vagrant at Party (as Ralph Mauro)
Danny Dayton	...	Dirty Bum at Party
Jack DeLeon	...	Pompous Party Guest (as Christopher Weeks)
S. Scott Bullock	...	Outraged Party Guest
Martin Charles Warner	...	Dirty-Faced Vagrant at Party
Anthony Thomas Mitchell	...	Nibbler Driver
Patrick Valenzuela	...	Street Person at Fight
Carmen Filpi	...	Pops (elevens-up)
Casey King	...	Shopping Cart Chauffeur
Ronny Graham	...	Priest (voice)
Jere Laird	...	Stock Market Reporter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Eugene Jackson	...	Office Janitor (uncredited)
Jennifer Warren	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Mel Brooks

Writing credits (WGA)
Mel Brooks		(story) &
Ron Clark		(story) &
Rudy De Luca		(story) (as Rudy DeLuca) &
Steve Haberman		(story)
Mel Brooks		(screenplay) &
Rudy De Luca		(screenplay) (as Rudy DeLuca) &
Steve Haberman		(screenplay)

Produced by
Mel Brooks	....	producer
Kim Kurumada	....	associate producer
Ezra Swerdlow	....	executive producer

Original Music by
John Morris

Cinematography by
Steven Poster		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Michael Mulconery
David Rawlins
Anthony Redman

Casting by
Bill Shepard
Todd M. Thaler		(as Todd Thaler)

Production Design by
Peter S. Larkin		(as Peter Larkin)

Art Direction by
Josan F. Russo		(as Josan Russo)

Set Decoration by
Marvin March

Costume Design by
Mary Malin

Makeup Department
Fred C. Blau Jr.	....	head makeup artist (as Fred Blau)
Mark Bussan	....	makeup artist
Carolyn Elias	....	hair stylist
Barbara Lorenz	....	hair stylist: Ms. Warren
Dianne Roberson	....	hair stylist
Eugenia Weston	....	makeup artist: Ms. Warren

Production Management
Kim Kurumada	....	production manager
Leah Zappy	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mitchell Bock	....	first assistant director
Albert Cho	....	second assistant director
Bryan Dresden	....	dga trainee
Martha M. Elcan	....	second assistant director (as Martha Elcan)
Catherine Schlesinger	....	second assistant director
David R. Ellis	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Kevin Constant	....	art department coordinator
Jack Eberhart	....	lead man
Carroll Johnston	....	set designer
Roger Knight	....	assistant properties
Basil Lombardo	....	standby painter
Jack M. Marino	....	property master
Steve Willis	....	construction foreman
S. Bruce Wineinger	....	construction coordinator
Keith A. Kropf	....	head painter (uncredited)
Luigi Mugavero	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Randy Severino	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Dwayne Avery	....	sound editor
Willie D. Burton	....	sound mixer
Joe Campana	....	assistant sound editor
Mike Goodman	....	adr supervisor (as Michael Goodman)
Robert W. Harris	....	sound utility (as Robert Harris)
Edward Hirsch	....	sound editor
Bess Hopper	....	foley artist
Adam Johnston	....	sound editor
Marvin E. Lewis	....	boom operator
Andy Nelson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steve Pederson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tom Perry	....	sound re-recording mixer
Allan Schultz	....	sound editor (as Alan Schultz)
Greg Stacy	....	sound editor
Casey Troutman	....	foley artist
James Troutman	....	supervising sound editor (as Jim Troutman)
James Bailey	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Kenneth R. Burton	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Michael P. Cook	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Al Gomez	....	foley mixer (uncredited)
Ted Johnston	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Clancy T. Troutman	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Curtis Decker	....	special effects
David P. Kelsey	....	special effects (as Dave Kelsey)
Raymond Robinson	....	special effects (as Ray Robinson)
Yarek Alfer	....	sculptor (uncredited)
David Fletcher	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Robert Spurlock	....	special effects model maker
Mark Stetson	....	special effects model maker
Syd Dutton	....	matte painter (uncredited)
Leslie Ekker	....	model shop crew chief (uncredited)
Laurel Schneider	....	miniature effects production coordinator (uncredited)
Scott Schneider	....	model maker (uncredited)
Bill Taylor	....	matte painter (uncredited)

Stunts
Steve Boyum	....	stunts
Steve M. Davison	....	stunts (as Steve Davison)
Justin De Rosa	....	stunts
David R. Ellis	....	stunt coordinator (as David Richard Ellis)
Richard M. Ellis	....	stunts
Larry Frazier	....	stunts
Dennis Frick	....	stunts
Billy Hank Hooker	....	stunts (as Bill Hooker)
Gary McLarty	....	stunts
Don Pulford	....	stunts
Denise Lynne Roberts	....	stunts
Jesse Wayne	....	stunts
Dick Ziker	....	stunts
Jesse Wayne	....	stunt double: Mel Brooks (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Todd Braden	....	musco lighting technician
David Burnett	....	best boy electric (as Dave Burnett)
Brad Chelesvig	....	musco lighting technician
Robert Gray	....	key grip (as Bob Gray)
Lindsay P. Hill	....	video playback operator
John Koester	....	additional camera operator (as John C. Koester)
George Kohut	....	camera operator
Mike Moyer	....	chief lighting technician (as Mike G. Moyer)
Norman Parker	....	first assistant camera
Brian T. Pitts	....	second assistant camera
Paul Plannette	....	film loader
Rick Rader	....	best boy grip
Peter Sorel	....	still photographer
John Armstrong	....	generator operator (uncredited)
Alicia Brauns	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Gary Stark	....	lighting technician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Barbara Harris	....	voice casting
Daren Hicks	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Roberto Carneiro	....	costumer
Carlane Passman	....	costumer
Lori Stilson	....	set costumer
Paki Wolfe	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Albert Coleman	....	assistant editor
Phil Hetos	....	color timer
Darren T. Holmes	....	assistant editor
Dennis Newman	....	assistant editor
Ben Williams	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Ralph Burns	....	dance orchestrator
Jack Hayes	....	orchestrator
Eugene Marks	....	music editor
John Richards	....	scoring mixer

Transportation Department
Jim Chesney	....	transportation coordinator
Charles Renfroe	....	transportation captain

Other crew
John Armstrong	....	location manager
Paula Benson-Himes	....	production coordinator
Ron Chesney	....	production assistant
Dyan Conway	....	assistant: Mr. Brooks (as Dyan Austin Conway)
Robert L. Dohan	....	assistant location manager (as Robert Dohan)
Jan Garner	....	production accountant
Miranda Garrison	....	assistant choreographer
Victoria Halboth	....	production assistant
Daren Hicks	....	assistant: Mr. Swerdlow
Jeffrey Hornaday	....	choreographer
Jim Jaffe	....	product placement
Linden Johnson	....	assistant accountant (as Linden Wineland-Johnson)
Stephen Joubert	....	production assistant
Saul Kahan	....	publicist
Michael Kanter	....	production assistant
Sean King	....	production assistant
Barbara Lortie	....	first aid
Sarah McAnally	....	secretary to writers
Colleen O'Neill	....	production assistant
Scott Rosencrans	....	production assistant
Richard W. Scarpone	....	craft service
Kathi Scharer	....	assistant accountant
Gina E. Sforza	....	assistant: Ms. Warren
Christopher B. Stone	....	production assistant
J.T. Thayer	....	production assistant
Leslie A. Tokunaga	....	assistant production coordinator
Judi Townsend	....	script supervisor
Angel Trujillo	....	caterer
RaeAnn Emery	....	body double: Lesley Ann Warren (uncredited)
RaeAnn Emery	....	stand-in: Leslie Ann Warren (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Brooksfilms
• MGM-Pathé Communications Co.

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1991) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (1991) (France) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Home Video (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Video (1992) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Manuel Salvador (Spain)

Other Companies

• Brioni  the producer gives special thanks to (as Brioni Clothing)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies (as Chapman)
• Clancy's Sound Vibrations  sound supervision
• Cole Haan  the producer gives special thanks to (as Cole Haan Footwear)
• Culver Studios  lighting and grip equipment provided by (as Culver Studios Lighting and Grip Department)
• Evergreen Recording Studios  music recorded at
• Hollywood Rental Company  lighting and grip equipment provided by
• Los Angeles Mission  the producers wish to express their grateful appreciation to: for its help in the making of this motion picture
• MGM/UA Home Video  VHS package design
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Piper-Heidsieck  the producer gives special thanks to
• Ruff Hewn  the producer gives special thanks to
• Saxon/Ross Film Design  title design
• Todd-AO/Glen Glenn Studios  sound re-recorded at

Also Known As:

"Life Sucks" - USA (alternative title)

Runtime:

92 min | Finland:96 min (theatrical version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Norway:10 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 | Finland:K-3 (cinema release) (1991) | Finland:S (video rating) (1991) | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/12 | Brazil:12

Filming Locations:

Culver Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Brooksfilms

Trivia:

The final film for Stanley Brock.

Quotes:

[Bolt is in an over-medicated coma]
Molly:I know you wanna give up, but you're wrong. Even without money, life is good.
[Bolt shakes his head; he can hear her]
Molly:No? What about when-when you didn't eat for two days and then you had your first big meal at the mission? Wasn't that good?
[Bolt shakes his head]
Molly:Remember the other night? When we drank champagne and danced... and rolled around in rags?
[Bolt raises his eyebrows]
Molly:I know they're only moments, but that's all life is: Just a bunch of moments. Most of them are lousy... but once in a while, you steal a good one.
Molly:[holding back tears] Come on. Come on back to me. Don't be such a selfish bastard. You're the only person I can stand.
Molly:[now crying] Don't leave me. I love you. Please. Don't leave me.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Matrix Revolutions (2003)

Soundtrack:

Easy to Love

Adventures on the streets of Downtown LA

Growing up around downtown LA as a kid in the seventies didn't look much different than it does today as far as the kinds of odd characters you'll run into while passing through it and I think this movie really captures some of the authentic types of characters you meet when you really get to know them, but you also run into those other types that are always looking for trouble as also depicted in this Mel Brooks movie who brings a lighter and even comical side to this scenario that is so prevalent and filmed in downtown Los Angeles.

Mel Brooks also stars as Goddard Bolt, a ruthless billionaire who soon begins to experience how the other half lives by unintentionally making a bet with his conniving business associates, from there he goes from riches to rags and meets some strange, funny but good hearted souls on the streets as well as endless comical mishaps, but with the help of a bag lady (Lesley Ann Warren) he begins to discover what really matters most unlike his former business associates.

Although this is one of my favorite movies, I still think the ending could have been done much better, but the comedy throughout never ends.