The Man in the Moon (1991)

Director:

Robert Mulligan

Writer (WGA):

Jenny Wingfield (written by)

Release Date:

4 October 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Remember when you couldn't wait for your life to begin... and then, one day, it did?

Plot:

Rural Louisiana, summer of 1957, Elvis is King. At 14, Dani is coming of age. Her older sister is beautiful...

Plot Keywords:

Farm | Love | Louisiana | Swimming | Skinny Dipping

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Sam Waterston	...	Matthew Trant
Tess Harper	...	Abigail Trant
Gail Strickland	...	Marie Foster
Reese Witherspoon	...	Dani Trant
Jason London	...	Court Foster
Emily Warfield	...	Maureen Trant
Bentley Mitchum	...	Billy Sanders
Ernie Lively	...	Will Sanders
Dennis Letts	...	Doc White
Earleen Bergeron	...	Mrs. Sanders
Anna Chappell	...	Mrs. Taylor
Brandi Smith	...	Missy Trant
Sandi Smith	...	Missy Trant
Derek Ball	...	Foster Twin
Spencer Ball	...	Foster Twin

Directed by
Robert Mulligan

Writing credits (WGA)
Jenny Wingfield		(written by)

Produced by
Bill Borden	....	associate producer
William S. Gilmore	....	executive producer
Jerry Grandey	....	associate producer
Shari Rhodes	....	executive producer
Mark Rydell	....	producer

Original Music by
James Newton Howard

Cinematography by
Freddie Francis

Film Editing by
Trudy Ship

Casting by
Shari Rhodes

Production Design by
Gene Callahan

Art Direction by
Fredda Slavin

Set Decoration by
Daril Alder

Costume Design by
Dawni Saldutti
Peter V. Saldutti		(as Peter Saldutti)

Makeup Department
Lynne Brooks	....	makeup artist
Lynn Del Kail	....	key hair stylist
Jeaneen Muckerman	....	hair stylist
Christina Smith	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
William M. Elvin	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bill Borden	....	second unit director
William M. Elvin	....	first assistant director: second unit
Grant Gilmore	....	second assistant director: second unit
Jerry Grandey	....	first assistant director
Melanie L. Knox	....	dga trainee (as Melanie Knox)
Eric Wall	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Dan Dupre	....	greensman
Emily Ferry	....	property master
John Hinkle	....	stand-by painter
Bill Iiams	....	construction coordinator
Dallas Jones	....	construction foreman
Dennis Jones	....	stand-by carpenter
John Rasmussen	....	property production assistant
Sharon Reed	....	lead person (as Sharon A. Reed)
George Stuart Jr.	....	set painter
Joy Taylor	....	assistant property master

Sound Department
Peter Bentley	....	sound mixer
Elisha Birnbaum	....	foley artist
Anthony J. Ciccolini III	....	supervising sound editor (as Anthony [Chic] Ciccolini III)
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist
Pam DeMetruis-Thomas	....	foley editor (as Pam Demetruis)
Lee Dichter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Thomas A. Gulino	....	sound editor (as Thomas Alphonso Gulino)
Scott Jacobs	....	boom operator (as Scotty Jacobs)
Richard King	....	sound editor (as Richard Q. King)
George A. Lara	....	foley recordist
Jac Rubenstein	....	first assistant sound editor
Benno Schoberth	....	assistant sound editor
Shari Schwartz	....	assistant sound editor
Rick Tison	....	cable person

Special Effects by
LaVonne Doane	....	special effects
Neil Stockstill	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
John Alagna	....	opticals: The Effects House Corp.

Stunts
Eurlyne Epper	....	stunt player
Corey Michael Eubanks	....	stunt player (as Corey Eubanks)
Larry Holt	....	stunt coordinator
Jeremy London	....	stunt player
John Moio	....	stunt coordinator
Paula Marie Moody	....	stunt player
Al Wyatt Jr.	....	stunt player (as Allan Wyatt Jr.)

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Alcala	....	electrician
Maurice Beesley	....	electrician
George Berrios	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Keith Bunting	....	dolly grip (as Keith M. Bunting)
Don Cerrone	....	key grip
Mark Colicci	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Scott Drinon	....	grip
Gene Engels	....	chief lighting technician
Bill Greenberg	....	electrician
Gordon Hayman	....	camera operator
Steven Mann	....	first assistant camera (as Steven 'Manny' Mann)
Elliott Marks	....	still photographer
Robert W. Moreno	....	electrician
Peter Norman	....	director of photography: second unit
Michael Pagan	....	electrician (as Michael M. Pagan)
Charles Quinlivan	....	best boy grip (as Charlie Quinlivan)
Juan Romero	....	electrician (as Juan M. Romero Jr.)
John Sheeren	....	second assistant camera
John E. Smith	....	best boy electric
Johnny Smith	....	grip
Josh Spring	....	grip
Carl D. Stitt	....	grip (as Carl Stitt)
Greg Williams	....	grip

Casting Department
Alex Avelino	....	location extra casting
Beverlee Dean	....	casting associate
Tanya Sullivan	....	location extra casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Patsy Chaney	....	costumer (as Patsy A. Chaney)
Ruth Hall	....	seamstress

Editorial Department
Amy Jennings	....	apprentice editor
Marty Levenstein	....	first assistant editor
Nick Smith	....	apprentice editor (as Nicholas J. Smith)

Music Department
Brad Dechter	....	orchestrator
Sandy DeCrescent	....	music contractor (as Sandy De Crescent)
Joachim H. Hansch	....	music supervisor
Blake Lewin	....	music coordinator
Michael Mason	....	scoring coordinator
Shawn Murphy	....	music recording mixer
Marty Paich	....	conductor: orchestra
Robert Schaper	....	music recording mixer
Steven L. Smith	....	music preparation
Ted Whitfield	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Eugene B. Arthur	....	driver
Joann Evans	....	driver
Terry Hester	....	driver
Freda Howard	....	driver (as Freda Lou Howard)
Robert Hunter Jr.	....	driver (as Robert Hunter)
Michael C. McEntyre	....	driver (as Michael McEntyre)
Russell McEntyre	....	transportation coordinator (as Russ McEntyre)
Frank Neel	....	driver
Charles W. Rice	....	driver (as Charlie Rice)
Wayne Stone	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Marlene Canfield	....	production assistant
Roy Ceaser	....	first aid
Mark Cottrell	....	location manager
Dan David DeBlieux	....	production assistant
Al Ebner	....	publicist
Paula Gilmore	....	assistant: Mr. Gilmore
Sydney Gilner	....	script supervisor
Clay Goodwin	....	film runner
Jim Hale	....	production accountant
Allen Heil	....	security supervisor
Jim Jaffe	....	product placement
Stacy Kay	....	production assistant
Joseph Kittrell	....	stand-in
Bob Lankin	....	catering assistant
Debbie Leonard	....	assistant: Mr. Rydell
Terry Lewis	....	catering assistant
Elizabeth Lindner	....	craft service
Denise Marciel	....	catering assistant (as Denise A. Marciel)
Lori Martin	....	production assistant
Jon C. Maynard	....	projectionist
Steven McCormick	....	production assistant (as Steven R. McCormick)
Harold W. Melder	....	production assistant
Phil Minsky	....	caterer
Keith Patterson	....	craft service
Frankie Rogers	....	production assistant
Fran Roy	....	production administrator
Joice Stewart	....	assistant production accountant
Gwen Taylor-Stacy	....	payroll (as Gwen Taylor Stacy)
Peggy Tison	....	production secretary
Leonard A. Williams	....	production assistant
David Youngblood	....	first aid
David H. Kramer	....	adr loop group (uncredited)

Thanks
Ann Brittain	....	the producers wish to thank
Jack Brittain	....	the producers wish to thank (as Jack)
Gene Callahan	....	in memory
Tom Fair	....	the producers wish to thank: The U.S. Forest Service
Luther Lee	....	the producers wish to thank
Jerry Pierce	....	the producers wish to thank
Bob Welch	....	the producers wish to thank
Tom Whitehead	....	the producers wish to thank

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (presents) (as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)
• Pathé Entertainment

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1991) (USA) (theatrical)
• Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI) (1991) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1991) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (Canada) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (Spain)

Other Companies

• Balsmeyer and Everett  main and end titles designed and produced by
• Capitol Studios  music recorded at (as Capitol Studios, Hollywood)
• City of Natchitoches, Louisiana, The  the producers wish to thank
• Columbia Pictures Scoring Stage  music recorded at (as Columbia Pictures Scoring Stage, Culver City)
• Eastman Film  originated on (as Eastman Color Film)
• Effects House, The  opticals (as The Effects House Corp.)
• For Stars Catering  location catering
• J.G. Films  negative matching
• Kodak  film stock
• Northwestern State University of Louisiana  the producers wish to thank
• Panavision  camera & lenses (as Panavision®)
• Sound One Corporation  post-production facilities (as Sound One Corporation, New York)
• U.S. Forest Service  the producers wish to thank (as The U. S. Forest Service)
• Victor Duncan  production equipment provided by (as Victor Duncan, Inc., Dallas)

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Canada:R (Canadian Home Video rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Chile:14 | Germany:6 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG-13 (No. 30935) | Canada:G (Nova Scotia) | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Kisatchie, Louisiana, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Reese Witherspoon's film debut.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the last scene of movie, where Dani and Maureen are sitting on her bed. Maureen is braiding Dani's hair, Dani's hair is completely braided all the way down to the end. Then in the very next shot, Dani's hair is all brushed out and sectioned into three parts as though Maureen is just beginning to braid her hair.

Quotes:

Court Foster: You know you don't have to come along.
Dani: Are you sure you can find your way, it's an awful big town.
Court Foster: Are you always in the habit of going where you're not wanted or is this a new thing with you?
Dani: Are you always this nice to people you just met or are you practicin' up to be a horse's butt?

Soundtrack:

Loving You

Little Big Movie

It's a generic coming-of-age story -- think "The Member of the Wedding," "Summer of '42," "A Summer Place," even "Little Women" -- and there are moments where Mulligan might have omitted the soupy music, not used slow-motion, or played down the golden-lit prettiness of the setting. Otherwise, it's done with rare emotional perfect-pitch. Nothing's forced, every line has feeling, and the pacing is just right. Even the below-A-list casting helps: Bigger movie stars with more recognizable personalities might have overwhelmed the material. In particular, Witherspoon is excellent: Her line readings are fresh and original, and her body language is just right for a gawky, hoydenish 14-year-old on the eve of womanhood. Waterston is also very fine, even if he has to spend much of the movie climbing in and out of the family truck.

One senses that the film's makers were aware of its unpromising commercial prospects -- no big stars, no big car crashes, no special effects -- and consciously decided to make the best possible movie, box office be damned. It's intimate and honest, and it sticks to the ribs. If you find yourself misting up at the end, you don't have to feel you've been duped.