Bob Roberts (1992)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Tim Robbins

Writer:

Tim Robbins (written by)

Release Date:

4 September 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

More amazing than Watergate.

Plot:

A corrupt rightwing folksinger runs a crooked election campaign while only one independent muck-raking reporter is trying to stop him.

Plot Keywords:

Reporter | News Anchor | Song | Satire | Political

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 3 wins

Cast

Tim Robbins	...	Bob Roberts
Giancarlo Esposito	...	Bugs Raplin
Alan Rickman	...	Lukas Hart III
Ray Wise	...	Chet MacGregor
Brian Murray	...	Terry Manchester
Gore Vidal	...	Senator Brickley Paiste
Rebecca Jenkins	...	Delores Perrigrew
Harry Lennix	...	Franklin Dockett
John Ottavino	...	Clark Anderson
Robert Stanton	...	Bart Macklerooney
Kelly Willis	...	Clarissa Flan
Merrilee Dale	...	Polly Roberts
Tom Atkins	...	Dr. Caleb Menck
David Strathairn	...	Mack Laflin
James Spader	...	Chuck Marlin
Pamela Reed	...	Carol Cruise
Helen Hunt	...	Rose Pondell
Eva Amurri	...	Child in Hospital
Jim West	...	Bus Driver
Peter Gallagher	...	Dan Riley
Lynne Thigpen	...	Kelly Noble
Bingo O'Malley	...	Robert Roberts, Sr.
Kathleen Chalfant	...	Constance Roberts
Ruth Lesko	...	School Teacher
Jack Black	...	Roger Davis
Matthew Faber	...	Calvin
Matt McGrath	...	Burt
Anita Gillette	...	Mrs. Davis
Susan Sarandon	...	Tawna Titan
Fred Ward	...	Chip Daley
Charles R. Altman	...	Debate Moderator (as Charles Altman)
Shannon Holt	...	Rita
Staci Marie Marcum	...	Miss Philadelphia (as Staci Marcum)
Shira Piven	...	Penn State Protester
Steve Pink	...	Penn State Protester
Fisher Stevens	...	Rock Bork
Gil Robbins	...	Reverend Best
Angela Hall	...	Choir Soloist
Lee Robbins	...	Organ Player
John Cusack	...	Cutting Edge Host
Bob Balaban	...	Michael Janes
Allan F. Nicholls	...	Cutting Edge Director (as Allan Nicholls)
June Stein	...	Cutting Edge Assistant Carol
Adam Simon	...	Cutting Edge Head Writer
Ned Bellamy	...	Uzi Kornhauser
Natalie Strong	...	Kala Kornhauser
Burnice Brourman	...	Nurse
Pat Logan	...	Frank Ryan, Policeman
Larry John Meyers	...	Police Spokesman (as Larry John Myers)
Robert Hegyes	...	Ernesto Galleano
Tom Tully	...	New York Reporter
Anthony Dileo Jr.	...	New York Reporter
Jane Crawford	...	New York Reporter
Ann Talman	...	New York Reporter
Lamont Arnold	...	New York Reporter
Gabrielle Robbins	...	Singing Vigilante
Adele Robbins	...	Vigilante
Brian Powell	...	Vigilante
Paul Quinn	...	Vigilante
Dean Robinson	...	Vigilante
Jeff Foster	...	Vigilante
Jeremy Piven	...	Candle Seller
Lee Arenberg	...	Religious Zealot
David Sinaiko	...	Liberal
Brent Hinkley	...	Bif, the Patriot
Hal O'Leary	...	Senator Haydn
Don Brockett	...	Chairman
Linda King	...	Washington D.C. Reporter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tracy Generalovich	...	Miss Three Mile Island
Aaron Jackson
Julie Matthews	...	News Reporter
Stephen Halbert	...	Nigel the Soundman (uncredited)
Dave Petti	...	Debate Spectator (uncredited)
Jeff Tackett	...	Himself (Orioles Catcher) (uncredited)

Directed by
Tim Robbins

Writing credits
Tim Robbins		(written by)

Produced by
Tim Bevan	....	executive producer
James Bigwood	....	associate producer
Forrest Murray	....	producer
Allan F. Nicholls	....	associate producer
Ronna B. Wallace	....	executive producer
Paul Webster	....	executive producer

Original Music by
David Robbins

Cinematography by
Jean Lépine

Film Editing by
Lisa Zeno Churgin

Casting by
Douglas Aibel

Production Design by
Richard Hoover

Art Direction by
Gary Kosko

Set Decoration by
Brian Kasch

Costume Design by
Bridget Kelly

Makeup Department
Jeannee Josefczyk	....	makeup artist
Rachel Kick	....	makeup artist
Rosalee Riggle	....	hair stylist (as Rose Bologa)
Linda Williams	....	hair stylist

Production Management
James Bigwood	....	unit production manager
Susan Lazarus	....	post-production supervisor
Mark Seldis	....	unit manager
Rudd Simmons	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Fred 'Fredo' Donatelli	....	second assistant director
Maria L. Melograne	....	first assistant director (as Maria Melograne)

Art Department
Paul Bucciarelli	....	scenic artist
Robert Buncher	....	carpenter
Mary Buri	....	key set dresser
Chris Call	....	property master
Thomas J. Garrigan	....	assistant property master
John Lindsey McCormick	....	art department coordinator
Eugene Pope	....	carpenter
Eric 'Sprocket' Uporsky	....	props assistant

Sound Department
Nancy Cabrera	....	foley artist
Michael J. Cerone	....	sound re-recording mixer
Laura Civiello	....	dialogue editor
Rick Dior	....	sound re-recording mixer
Marshall Grupp	....	supervising sound editor
Peter Halbert	....	boom operator
Stephen Halbert	....	production sound mixer
Hal Levinsohn	....	adr editor (as Hal Levinson)
Branka Mrkic	....	dialogue editor
Bob Olari	....	sound recordist
Jac Rubenstein	....	adr editor
Paul J. Zydel	....	adr mixer

Visual Effects by
John Alagna	....	titles and opticals (as John Alagua)
Steidl Balzer	....	stage visual effects
Michael Ventresco	....	titles and opticals

Stunts
Don Hewitt	....	stunts
Jery Hewitt	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Rein Clabbers	....	grip
Jim Emswiller	....	video assist operator
Harry Greenberger	....	electrician
Larry Huston	....	first assistant camera Steadicam
Mark Jackson	....	first assistant camera (as Mark R. Jackson)
Sam J. Jones	....	still photographer
Chris Lugar	....	third electric
W. Russell McCormack	....	best boy
Don Muchoco	....	gaffer
Jean-Pierre Nutini	....	electrician
Joseph 'Bruno' Pelle	....	key grip
Rick Raphael	....	Steadicam operator
Rich Schutte	....	grip

Casting Department
Linda Carola	....	extras casting
Linda Carola	....	location casting assistant
Canice Kennedy	....	casting: Pittsburgh
Julie Matthews	....	casting
April Webster	....	casting: Los Angeles

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Monte Cholmeley-Jones	....	wardrobe assistant
Diane Collins	....	wardrobe supervisor
Erin Folsey	....	wardrobe assistant
Beth Levine	....	seamstress
Thomas A. Ritchotte	....	wardrobe assistant
Marlene Speranza	....	seamstress
Thomas Stokes	....	assistant wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Mark Ginsberg	....	color timer
Donna Stern	....	associate editor

Music Department
Henry Brewer	....	musician: keyboard
James Flatto	....	assistant music editor
Jeff Frickman	....	music mixer
Jeff Frickman	....	music recordist
James Gilmer	....	musician: percussion
John Hagen	....	musician: cello
Scott Jackson	....	musician: drums
Patrick Mullins	....	music editor
Novi Novog	....	musician: viola
David Robbins	....	background vocals
David Robbins	....	musician: guitars
Ernesto Salcedo	....	musician: percussion
Larry Tuttle	....	musician: bass

Transportation Department
Marc Scott	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Rachel Aberly	....	publicist
Bob Applebaum	....	mandolin
Scott Balcerek	....	assistant production coordinator
Brian Campbell	....	video designer
George Cawthorne III	....	bodyguard: Mr. Roberts
Dennis Childer	....	bob's on-stage band
Gerard Cronin	....	bodyguard: Mr. Hart
Merrilee Dale	....	assistant accountant
Warren Davidson	....	bob's on-stage band
Peter Farquar	....	fencing master
Amy Grove	....	assistant location manager
Keith Jackson	....	production assistant
Charles Leavitt	....	fencing master
Linda H. Miller	....	post-production auditor
Kitty Olisky	....	production coordinator
Manuel Saunders	....	bodyguard: Mr. Roberts
Greg Sheen	....	bob's on-stage band
Leland Sklar	....	electric bass
Shawn Vashaw	....	production assistant
Brenda K. Wachel	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Miramax Films
• Live Entertainment
• PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
• Rank Organisation, The
• Working Title Films

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1992) (USA) (theatrical)
• Rank Film Organization (1992) (UK) (theatrical)
• Laurenfilm (1992) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Asmik Ace Entertainment (1993) (Japan) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Film de Mexico (199?) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Italia (199?) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (199?) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Artisan Entertainment (2000) (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (199?) (UK) (VHS)
• Live Entertainment
• Live Home Video (1993) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Live Home Video (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (199?) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (USA) (DVD)
• Pioneer Entertainment (1993) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Pioneer Entertainment (1994) (USA) (video) (laserdisc) (special edition)
• Polygram Filmed Entertainment
• Universal Home Entertainment (200?) (UK) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• Versátil Home Vídeo (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Versátil Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1994) (Finland) (TV)

Other Companies

• Actors Casting Network  extras casting
• Balsmeyer and Everett  additional opticals
• David Sharp's Totally Looped Group  vocal effects
• Earl Hays Cinema Inserts  newspapers
• Effects House, The  titles and opticals
• Juniper Post  Music recorded at
• Mobile One  catering
• Park Place Studios  set construction
• Performance Lighting Rentals Inc.  grip and lighting equipment
• Ronald James Gardner & Associates  security provided by
• Todd-AO East  sound post-production
• Westlake Studios  music mixed at
• Witalis Burke Associates  graphics

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:PG (Ontario) | Finland:K-18 (2004) (self applied) | Australia:M | Germany:12 | Spain:13 | UK:15 | USA:R | Singapore:PG | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Eisenhower Auditorium, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Miramax Films

Trivia:

When Tim Robbins approached his actor friends about doing the movie, he said most of them asked to play newscasters.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: In a scene where Bob gets off the bus in "Harrisburg" a police barrier clearly says "City of Philadelphia."

Quotes:

Bob Roberts: [singing] Some people will have / Some simply will not / But they'll complain and complain and complain and complain and complain / Some people will work / Some never will / But they'll complain and complain and complain and complain and complain / Like this: / It's society's fault I don't have a job / It's society's fault I'm a slob / I'm a drunk, I don't have a brain / Give me a pamplet while I complain / Hey pal you're living in the land of the free No-one's gonna hand you opportunity

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "The Simpsons: Sideshow Bob Roberts (#6.5)" (1994)

Soundtrack:

I Want To Live

hilarious political satire

"Bob Roberts" is the writing and directing debut of the very talented actor Tim Robbins. It is filmed in documentary style, telling the story of Bob Roberts, the conservative son of hippie parents who is running for the U.S. Senate seat from Pennsylvania. His message is conveyed through a series of folk songs. His albums and videos are reminiscent of Bob Dylan (The Freewheelin' Bob Roberts), but his songs have titles like "Drugs Stink" and "This Land Was Made For Me" and lyrics like "what's right is right, what's left is wrong".

It's funny to see the very liberal Robbins play a character like this. The songs, written by Robbins and his brother David, are very witty and biting and get his point across beautifully.

Bob pulls a crazy stunt near the end to try to sway voters in his direction which I'm surprised no real politician has done. James Spader does an absolute perfect parody of a news anchor. A very funny movie, particularly the songs Robbins sings. Brilliant satire. The final shot in this movie, like the one in Robbins' Cradle Will Rock, is very powerful.