My Own Private Idaho (1991)

Director:

Gus Van Sant

Writers:

William Shakespeare (play)
Gus Van Sant (written by)

Release Date:

29 September 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

This road will never end. It probably goes all around the world.

Plot:

Two best friends living on the streets of Portland as hustlers embark on a journey of self discovery and find their relationship stumbling along the way.

Plot Keywords:

Hustler | Oregon | Friend | Girl | Love

Awards:

12 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

River Phoenix	...	Mike Waters
Keanu Reeves	...	Scott Favor
James Russo	...	Richard Waters
William Richert	...	Bob Pigeon
Rodney Harvey	...	Gary
Chiara Caselli	...	Carmella
Michael Parker	...	Digger
Jessie Thomas	...	Denise
Flea	...	Budd
Grace Zabriskie	...	Alena
Tom Troupe	...	Jack Favor
Udo Kier	...	Hans
Sally Curtice	...	Jane Lightwork
Robert Lee Pitchlynn	...	Walt
Mickey Cottrell	...	Daddy Carroll
Wade Evans	...	Wade
Matthew Ebert	...	Coverboy (as Matt Ebert)
Scott Patrick Green	...	Coverboy / Cafe Kid
Tom Cramer	...	Coverboy
Vana O'Brien	...	Sharon Waters
Shaun Jordan	...	Cafe Kid
Shawn Wight	...	Cafe Kid (as Shawn Jones)
George Conner	...	Bad George
Oliver Kirk	...	Indian Cop
Stanley Hainsworth	...	Dirtman (as Stanley Hainesworth)
Joshua Halladay	...	Baby Mike
Douglas Tollenen	...	Little Richard
Steven Clark Pachosa	...	Hotel Manager (as Stephen Clark Pachosa)
Lannie Swerdlow	...	Disco Manager
Wally Gaarsland	...	Rock Promoter
Brian Wilson	...	Rock Promoter (as Bryan Wilson)
Mark Weaver	...	Rock Promoter
Conrad 'Bud' Montgomery	...	Rock Promoter
Pat Patterson	...	Cop
Steve Vernelson	...	Cop
Mike Cascadden	...	Cop
Eric Hull	...	Mayor's Aide
James A. Arling	...	Minister
Jim Caviezel	...	Airline Clerk
Ana Cavinato	...	Stewardess
Melanie Mosely	...	Lounge Hostess
Greg Murphy	...	Carl
David Reppinhagen	...	Yuppie at Jake's
Tiger Warren	...	Himself
Massimo Di Cataldo	...	Italian Street Boy
Pao Pei Andreoli	...	Italian Street Boy
Robert Egon	...	Italian Street Boy
Paolo Baiocco	...	Italian Street Boy
Mario Stracciarolo	...	Mike's Italian Client
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Heather J. Braden	...	Yuppie at Jake's (uncredited)
Kirsten Kuppenbender	...	Portland Street Girl (uncredited)
Jesse Merz	...	Mean Kid #2 (uncredited)
Tom Peterson	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Eli Swenson	...	Street Hustler - Seattle (uncredited)
Gus Van Sant	...	Man Behind Hotel Counter (uncredited)

Directed by
Gus Van Sant

Writing credits
William Shakespeare		(play "Henry IV")
Gus Van Sant		(written by)

Produced by
Anthony Brand	....	line producer (as Tony Brand)
Solomon J. LeFlore	....	consulting producer
Allan Mindel	....	co-executive producer
Laurie Parker	....	producer

Original Music by
Bill Stafford

Cinematography by
John J. Campbell		(as John Campbell)
Eric Alan Edwards

Film Editing by
Curtiss Clayton

Production Design by
David Brisbin

Art Direction by
Kenneth Hardy

Set Decoration by
Missy Stewart		(as Melissa Stewart)

Costume Design by
Beatrix Aruna Pasztor

Makeup Department
Gina Monaci	....	key hair stylist
Gina Monaci	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Paul Hellerman	....	unit production manager
Paolo Tinari	....	production manager: Italy

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
D-J Haanraadts	....	assistant director: Italy
Kris Krengel	....	first assistant director
David Minkowski	....	second assistant director
Phred Palmer	....	assistant director: Italy
John O. Brown III	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Charles Armstrong	....	construction coordinator
J. Adam Bogle	....	painter (as Adam Bogle)
Nina Bradford	....	swing gang
Chistine Chapman	....	assistant scenic
Sean Fong	....	swing gang
Benjamin Hayden	....	lead man
Anne Hyvarinen	....	lead scenic artist
Anton Kimball	....	paintings: Richard Waters
Ed Kuchar	....	wall covering specialist
Kevin Lindeman	....	art department assistant
Arnold Pander	....	storyboard artist
Dan Self	....	set dresser (as Daniel Self)
Dan Self	....	swing (as Daniel Self)
Cary Shafer	....	construction foreman
Vittorio Troiani	....	property master: Italy
Ken Erck	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Ellen Freund	....	property master (uncredited)

Sound Department
Peter Appleton	....	sound editor
Kelley Baker	....	supervising sound editor
Forrest Brakeman	....	adr recordist
Kelly Cannon	....	sound intern
Jan Cyr	....	sound mixer: Seattle
Dean Giammarco	....	mixing assistant
Mark Goodermote	....	boom operator: Seattle
Jon Huck	....	sound mixer: Italy
Karen Karbo	....	foley walker
Parker Logan	....	dialogue continuity
Robert Marts	....	sound mixer: Seattle
Steve Miller	....	foley walker
Michael F. Newman	....	sound editor
Robert Polich	....	boom operator
Paul A. Sharpe	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Paul Sharpe)
Tom Sheft	....	sound editing assistant
Bill Sheppard	....	sound re-recording mixer
Concha Solano	....	sound editing assistant
Reinhard Stergar	....	sound mixer
Peter Weiss	....	boom operator: Italy
Patrick Winters	....	sound editor
Wayne Woods	....	adr recording engineer (as W. Wayne Woods)
Wayne Woods	....	foley recording engineer (as W. Wayne Woods)
David Abrahamsen	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Bruce Murphy	....	stereo sound consultant: Ultra (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Venora Dobrowolski	....	mechanical effects: The Illusion Works
John H. Schmeer	....	mechanical effects: The Illusion Works (as Jon Henry Schmeer)

Visual Effects by
Tom Arndt	....	visual effects coordinator (as Thomas Arndt)
Laura Di Trapani	....	visual effects crew
Karen Hout	....	visual effects crew (as Karen E. Hout)
Janet Karecki	....	visual effects crew
Kathleen Nichols	....	visual effects crew
Steve Warner	....	visual effects crew
Chel White	....	visual effects crew

Camera and Electrical Department
Edward Barnes	....	best boy grip (as Ted Barnes)
Jeff Duffy	....	generator operator
Jeff Duffy	....	grip
Eric Alan Edwards	....	additional still photographer
Rolando Ferrario	....	first assistant camera: Italy
Massimo Galiano	....	best boy: Italy (as Massimo Galliano)
Gary Gatewood	....	second assistant camera
Tino Gorga	....	gaffer: Italy
Scott Patrick Green	....	additional still photographer
Antonio La Barbera	....	electrician: Italy (as Antonio Labarbera)
Matthew May	....	best boy electric
Giuliano Mazzoni	....	electrician: Italy
Mark McGinnis	....	dolly grip (as Mark Mc Ginnis)
Jeff Mishler	....	first assistant camera
Rebecca Revak	....	grip (as Rebecca M. Revak)
Giancarlo Rocchetti	....	key grip: Italy
Vincenzo Savino	....	still photographer: Italy
Dennis Sherwood	....	grip
Abigayle Tarsches	....	still photographer
Bruce Weber	....	special photography
T.J. Civis	....	grip (uncredited)
Mark Watson	....	key grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Don Campeau	....	extras casting: Central Extras Casting (as Donald Campeau)
Patti Carns Kalles	....	extras casting: Seattle (as Patti Kalles)
Sandy Collister	....	casting associate
Yvonne Couture	....	extras casting: Central Extras Casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Vanessa Vogel	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Nils Benson	....	apprentice film editor
Trevor Cable	....	editorial intern
Amy E. Duddleston	....	assistant film editor
Bill Scott	....	color timer
Jeff Smithwick	....	color timer
Teresa Tamiyasu	....	post-production assistant
Karen Thorndike	....	negative cutter
John Dowdell	....	hd colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Dean Baskerville	....	music recording technician
Kim Burton	....	musician: viola
Vernon Dunn	....	musician: banjo
Steve Einhorn	....	music assistant
Rob Farley	....	music engineer
Sandy Gernhart	....	musician: yodeling and accordion
Donald Granger	....	musician: whistler
Jamie Haggerty	....	additional music arranger
Jamie Haggerty	....	musician: dulcimer and synthesizer
Scott Hybl	....	music engineer
Richard Letcher	....	musician: banjo
Richard McNutt	....	musician: vibraphone (as Richard Mc Nutt)
Richard Meyers	....	musician: saw
Jean G. Poulot	....	additional music arranger (as Jean Poulot)
Jean G. Poulot	....	musician: hurdy gurdy and tar (as Jean Poulot)
Lori Presthus	....	musician: cello
Dorothy Rust	....	musician: french horn
Bill Stafford	....	music arranger
Bill Stafford	....	musician: pedal steel guitar
Elliot Sweetland	....	musician: banjo
Hollis Taylor	....	musician: violin
Bruce Van Buskirk	....	musician: recorders

Transportation Department
Robert Giasson	....	driver
Mark James	....	transportation coordinator
Carol Knotts	....	driver
J.R. Knotts	....	driver
Mark Knotts	....	transportation captain
Franco Moranti	....	driver: Italy
Katrina L. Sanders	....	driver (as Katrina Sanders-Payne)
Marvin LaRoy Sanders	....	driver (as Marvin Sanders)
Tom Scherer	....	driver

Other crew
Christina Ajalat	....	assistant to producer
Julianna Arenson	....	production accountant
Peter Barnett	....	production caterer: Premiere Catering
Vicky Berglund-Davenport	....	locations: Seattle (as Vicky Berglund)
Amanda Brand	....	production coordinator
Kelly Brooks	....	walla group
John Brown	....	production assistant
Chas Bruce	....	title designer (as Chas. Bruce)
Sara Burton	....	location manager
Aldo Cestini	....	caterer: Italy
Richard Cottrell	....	unit publicist
Jake Culver	....	research consultant
Matthew Ebert	....	production assistant (as Matt Ebert)
Wade Evans	....	walla group
Cam Galano	....	international sales
Shaun Gavin	....	set security
Jane Goldsmith	....	script supervisor
Jill Goldstein	....	legal services: Frankfurt, Garbus, Klein & Selz
Anne Gordon	....	animal handler
Scott Patrick Green	....	assistant to director
Scott Patrick Green	....	walla group
Eric Hull	....	walla group
Shaun Jordan	....	walla group
Arthur Klein	....	legal services: Frankfurt, Garbus, Klein & Selz
Chris Lowenstein	....	production assistant
Mary Ann Marino	....	production coordinator
Jeff Martin	....	assistant caterer
Rolf Mittweg	....	international sales
Vana O'Brien	....	walla group
Phred Palmer	....	assistant to producer
Mike Parker	....	walla group
Sally Parker	....	craft service
Allesandra Ravenna	....	production coordinator: Italy
Tom Scherer	....	cook
Ira Schreck	....	legal services: Frankfurt, Garbus, Klein & Selz
Jeff Selis	....	assistant location manager (as Jeffrey Selis)
Teresa Tamiyasu	....	production office manager
Jessie Thomas	....	walla group
Lorenzo Dalla Vedova	....	production assistant: Italy
Bryan Wilson	....	walla group
Bundy Chanock	....	set medic (uncredited)
Brad Stephens	....	publicist (uncredited)

Thanks
Donna L. Bascom	....	thanks (as Donna Bascom)
James L. Brooks	....	special thanks
Cam Galano	....	thanks
Solomon J. LeFlore	....	special thanks
Scott Melloo Nall Jr.	....	dedicatee
Nick Wechsler	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• New Line Cinema

Distributors

• Fine Line Features (1991) (USA) (theatrical)
• Senator Film (1991) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Momentum Pictures (1992) (UK) (theatrical)
• McEntertainment S.A. (1992) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Finnkino (1993) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Acteurs Auteurs Associés (AAA) (1992) (France) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2005) (Canada) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2002) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2002) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-release)
• PlayArte Home Vídeo (2007) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (1993) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Vídeo Arte (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Albert G. Ruben and Company  insurance
• Completion Bond Company  completion bond
• Cottrell & Lindeman Associates  publicity
• Interformat  titles and opticals
• Northstar Studios Inc.  music recorded at
• Premiere Catering of Oregon  catering
• The Cine Companies Inc.  location services
• The Illusion Works  mechanical effects

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sensuality, language and drug use

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color (Alphacine)

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo | Dolby SR

Certification:

Argentina:16 (DVD rating) | Australia:M | Chile:18 | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Portugal:M/18 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:11 | UK:18 | USA:R | Canada:R | Germany:16 | Iceland:16 | UK:15 (DVD rating) | Netherlands:6 (DVD rating) | Singapore:(Banned) | New Zealand:M | Argentina:18 | Italy:VM14 (re-rated) | Italy:VM18 (original rating) | Brazil:18

Filming Locations:

Maupin, Oregon, USA

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

Many members of the cast (including River Phoenix, Keanu Reeves, Flea, and Michael Parker) moved into director Gus Van Sant's large old house in Portland, Oregon during filming. They apparently caused such a disturbance (staying up late, getting drunk, partying, and playing music) and overtook the house to such an extent that Van Sant eventually had to move out of his own house and stay with a friend in order to get some sleep.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Bob approaches Scott in the bar near the end of the film, two marks of black gaffer tape can be seen on the floor.

Quotes:

Scott Favor:Why, you wouldn't even look at a clock unless hours were lines of coke, dials looked like the signs of gay bars, or time itself was a fair hustler in black leather.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Brows Held High: The Doom Generation (#1.14)" (2011)

Soundtrack:

Ovoniam Ipse

You're getting sleepy...

I'm not quite sure what to make of 'My Own Private Idaho.' I am aware of it's huge cult following and that makes me want to like it more than I did, or at least give some thought as to why I didn't think as highly of it as many others did.

Gus Van Sant is a hit or miss director - Drugstore Cowboy, To Die For, and Good Will Hunting were all excellent, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues and his Psycho remake were horrendous - and I hate to say that I'm leaning more towards the miss column with 'My Own Private Idaho.' The best way I can put this film is that it seems like there are too many cooks making the soup and all the ingredients have been served better. Van Sant wants to make this a road movie, a comedy, a coming-of-age movie, a Shakespeare play, a surreal picture... I feel like he's taken the best elements of 'Easy Rider', 'Pixote', and 'Henry V' and mangled them.

River Phoenix is excellent though, he's the best part of the film and I give the credit solely to him. Why? Because ever other performance just isn't very good. Reeves seems uncomfortable in almost every scene whether it's quoting Shakespeare or lying shirtless in bed with Phoenix, he can't pull off what this movie wants. Neither can Richert as the leader of the band of hustlers - who comes across so over the top and theatrical that as a contrast to Phoenix's mellow/realistic hustler it just doesn't work. The problem with taking dialogue straight from Henry IV is for one it's awfully hard to top the Bard for writing. Two; you need actors who can deliver it well.

Van Sant has imagination and the visuals in the film are breathtaking. The movie starts off extremely well, but it's obvious that he had little control of the script or the actors and in the end that kills the movie.

Very surprising that Phoenix didn't pick up an Oscar nomination.