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:

On the rooftop when Mike is waking up and Bob is returning to the city with Budd, Matt Dillon's voice can be heard on a television in the distance. The scene which can be heard is from Drugstore Cowboy (1989), an earlier film by Gus Van Sant.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Scott is spotted exiting his limo, Bob says, "If it isn't Scottie Favor... dressed in a three-piece suit..." In the next frame Scott walks towards the camera with his Italian wife wearing a double-breasted two-piece suit.

Quotes:

[last lines]
Mike Waters:I'm a connoisseur of roads. I've been tasting roads my whole life. This road will never end. It probably goes all around the world.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Blue Eyes

A triumph of pathos and bitter poetry

I adore this movie, have owned it on VHS long before there was anything else and have seen it an insane number of times. It isn't perfect, but with me personally, though I'm a European female and thus have no personal life experience that could resemble anything the main characters go through, it struck a chord of universality that made it heart-breaking. The pathos in it, the bitter poetry, the warped magic is just unbelievably beautiful... and painful. It is visually inventive and the casting - even Keanu Reeves's, which has been so often criticised - is top-notch. Reeves's character is a flippant, spoilt young man who goes through life acting in his own self-glorifying drama: what better actor to cast in that role than someone whose acting is so contrived? And Phoenix... well, what can I say... to me, this is THE River Phoenix role, the one that can single-handedly turn him into an immortal, a legend. The Shakespearian quotations I adored: the relationship between Prince Hal and Falstaff from Henry IV, Part II is among the most mesmerising of the Bard's dramatic repertoire - that play was like an emotional earthquake to me. My Own Private Idaho caught its spirit perfectly, and translated it into a context that was original in its own right yet more faithful to Shakespeare in feeling than a more literal transposition might have been. Also, I found the portrayal of Rome in the part in which River's character goes out there to search for his mother, refreshingly true to life and totally cliché-free. As an Italian from Rome, it's very rare that I see a non-Italian film portraying my city of origin with so much authenticity. The FEEL of the place at a given time - the late 80s - was spot-on. In conclusion: to me, not only was My Own Private Idaho one of the best adaptations of (at least parts) of a Shakespeare play that I've seen, but also a tragedy of almost Shakespearian intensity in its own right. It had it all: the unhealthy, consuming passion (the fatal flaw), the power struggles, the young heir in his reckless, youthful days eventually maturing into the arrogance of the privileged (Keanu), the parental ghost that one of the protagonists looks to as his prophetic voice, the voice that may give his life a meaning (River's search for and the flashbacks to the memory of his mother), the intense pathos throughout, the tragic deaths at the end... that film is just pure magic to me! Just writing about it makes me want to see it again - what, for the 20th time or something?! And the tragedy at My Own Private Idaho's core is so universal, it really becomes completely secondary whether it's about and between men, women, homosexuals or heterosexuals.