Mr. Saturday Night (1992)

Director:

Billy Crystal

Writers (WGA):

Billy Crystal (written by) and
Lowell Ganz (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

23 September 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

He loved his family. He loved his friends. But he loved his audience even more.

Plot:

The life of Buddy Young, a comic legend in flashbacks but an old man looking for work in the present.

Plot Keywords:

Brother Brother Relationship | Directed By Star | Written And Directed By Cast Member | Day In Title | Real TV Show Shown In Fictional Situation

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 5 nominations

Cast

Billy Crystal	...	Buddy Young Jr.
David Paymer	...	Stan
Julie Warner	...	Elaine
Helen Hunt	...	Annie Wells
Mary Mara	...	Susan
Jerry Orbach	...	Phil Gussman
Ron Silver	...	Larry Meyerson
Sage Allen	...	Mom
Jason Marsden	...	Buddy - Age 15
Michael Weiner	...	Stan - Age 18
Larry Gelman	...	Mr. Gimbel
Kay Freeman	...	Mrs. Gimbel
Howard Mann	...	Stage Manager
Julius Branca	...	Stage Manager
Liz Georges	...	Script Girl
Bill Wendell	...	Announcer (as William Wendell)
Hartley Haverty	...	Susan - Age 6
Will Jordan	...	Ed Sullivan
Josh Byrne	...	Buddy - Age 6
Ben Diskin	...	Stan - Age 9
Irving Wasserman	...	Uncle Moe
Phil Forman	...	Uncle Julius
Joe Shea	...	MC
Michael Ben-Edward	...	Fat Guy in Audience
Carl Ballantine	...	Freddie
Slappy White	...	Joey
Richard Mehana	...	Sidney
Mark Lonow	...	Producer
Conrad Janis	...	Director
Tim Russ	...	A.D.
Marc Shaiman	...	Lucky Zindberg
Chayim Frenkel	...	Cantor at Funeral (as Cantor Chayim Frenkel)
Jan Lucas	...	Karen - Casting Director
Daniel Tisman	...	Reece
Peter Kim	...	Maitre d'
Greg Paik	...	Owner
Eugene Kaufmann	...	Old Man
Miranda Garrison	...	Apache Dancer
Alberto Toledano	...	Apache Dancer
Richard Kind	...	Reporter
Jerry Lewis	...	Jerry Lewis
Edith Fields	...	Woman in Commercial
Adam Goldberg	...	Eugene Gimbel
Maria A. Ferrari Olivo	...	Fat Guy's Wife
Talbot Perry Simons	...	Man at Catskills
Lonnie Burr	...	TV Show Dancer
Randy Doney	...	TV Show Dancer
Joe A. Giamalva	...	TV Show Dancer
Birl Jonns	...	TV Show Dancer
Shadoe Stevens	...	Fred
Bert Copello	...	Sullivan A.D.
Lindsay Crystal	...	Screaming Girl
Dana Lipsic	...	Other Screaming Girl
Jerry Gadette	...	Stage Hand
William T. Yamadera	...	Japanese Client (as William Yamadera)
Lowell Ganz	...	Writer #1
Babaloo Mandel	...	Writer #2
Gary Grossman	...	Backstage Man
Bob Yerkes	...	Acrobat
Marinela Cimpoeru	...	Acrobat
Costin Csizmas	...	Acrobat
Voinea Dumitru	...	Acrobat
Adrian Smertcov	...	Acrobat
Steven Kravitz	...	Young Comic
Randy Crenshaw	...	'Buddy Buddy' Singer
Geoff Koch	...	'Buddy Buddy' Singer
Steve Lively	...	'Buddy Buddy' Singer
Rick Logan	...	'Buddy Buddy' Singer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jackie Gayle	...	Gene
Joe Mays
Rene Beard	...	NYC Cabbie (uncredited)
Nicole Brandon	...	Extra (uncredited)
Walton Goggins	...	Shaky Kid (uncredited)
Michael Pasby	...	Cameraman at Game Show (uncredited)
David Pires	...	Young Woody Allen (uncredited)
Steven Rozic	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Cari Shayne	...	(uncredited)
Marc Ian Sklar	...	Family Member (uncredited)
Barry Squitieri	...	Cab Driver (uncredited)
Tami Zweig	...	Woman in Catskills Audience (uncredited)

Directed by
Billy Crystal

Writing credits (WGA)
Billy Crystal		(written by) and
Lowell Ganz		(written by) &
Babaloo Mandel		(written by)

Produced by
Billy Crystal	....	producer
Lowell Ganz	....	executive producer
Babaloo Mandel	....	executive producer
Peter Schindler	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Marc Shaiman

Cinematography by
Donald Peterman		(director of photography) (as Don Peterman)

Film Editing by
Kent Beyda

Casting by
Pam Dixon

Production Design by
Albert Brenner

Art Direction by
Carol Winstead Wood

Set Decoration by
Kathe Klopp

Costume Design by
Ruth Myers

Makeup Department
Kim Adrissi	....	makeup artist
Richard Alonzo	....	makeup artist
Audrey L. Anzures	....	hair stylist
Margot Boccia	....	makeup assistant: New York (as Margo Boccia)
Joseph A. Campayno	....	makeup artist: New York (as Joe Campayno)
Hazel Catmull	....	hair stylist
William A. Farley	....	hair designs creator (as Bill Farley)
William A. Farley	....	makeup creator (as Bill Farley)
Todd Kleitsch	....	makeup assistant: New York
Steve LaPorte	....	hair designs creator
Steve LaPorte	....	makeup creator
Michael Laudati	....	makeup artist: New York
Christine Leiter	....	makeup assistant: New York
Neal Martz	....	makeup artist: New York
Todd McIntosh	....	makeup artist
Peter Montagna	....	hair designs creator
Peter Montagna	....	makeup creator
John Quaglia	....	hairstylist: New York
Richard Sabre	....	hair stylist
Mike Smithson	....	fabrication
Dayne Johnson	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)
Louis Lazzara	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Michael Maddi	....	prosthetics designer (uncredited)

Production Management
Kelly Van Horn	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Julie A. Bloom	....	second assistant director: New York (as Julie Bloom)
David Cass Jr.	....	second assistant director
Jim Chory	....	first assistant director
Brent Clark	....	third assistant director
Harvey Epstein	....	dga trainee: New York
John E. Gallagher	....	second second assistant director: New York (as John Gallagher)
Sean Hobin	....	second second assistant director
Jono Oliver	....	dga trainee (as Jono)
Peter Schindler	....	second unit director

Art Department
Jess Anscott	....	set dresser
Bonnie Bennetts	....	set dresser
Nick Bridwell	....	painter
Frank L. Brown	....	assistant property master (as Frank Brown)
Daren Cornell	....	painter
Ed Cornell	....	painter
Kevin Coyle	....	set dresser
Brad Curry	....	drapery foreman
Richard Bryan Douglas	....	construction foreman (as Richard Douglas)
Amy Feldman	....	production buyer
Wayne Fisher	....	set dresser
Frank Flores	....	set dresser
Harold Fuhrman	....	set designer
Matt Furginson	....	set dresser (as Mat Furginson)
Arthur Gelb	....	graphic artist
Raymond Ginther	....	plaster foreman
Steve A. Hagberg	....	construction coordinator (as Steve Hagberg)
Hugh Hanna	....	construction foreman
Ross Harpold	....	set dresser
Leon Harris	....	illustrator
Augustin Hernandez Jr.	....	laborer (as Gus Hernandez)
Roberta J. Holinko	....	set decorator: New York (as Roberta Holinko)
John Kasarda	....	art director: New York
Michael Kohan	....	assistant property master
Randlett King Lawrence	....	general foreman (as Randy Lawrence)
Loren Levy	....	property: New York
David B. Long	....	construction foreman (as David Long)
C.J. Maguire	....	property master
Ben Massi	....	painter
Douglas E. Maxwell	....	leadman (as Doug Maxwell)
John Hammer Maxwell	....	set dresser (as John Maxwell)
Tony Miller	....	set plasterer
Gerard H. Pineo	....	leadman: New York (as Gerard Pineo)
Rudy Reachi	....	assistant property master
Bruce Richter	....	gang boss
Anthony Samuel Saso	....	labor foreman (as Anthony Saso)
Paul Stanwyck	....	lead painter (as Paul Stanwyck)
Dalia Taft	....	art department coordinator
Alan Trumpler	....	standby painter: New York (as Allan Trumpler)
Bobby L. Vaughn	....	construction foreman (as Bobby Vaughn)
Kenneth Weinberg	....	property assistant: New York
Gary Stel	....	laborer (uncredited)

Sound Department
James Ashwill	....	foley mixer (as Jim Ashwill)
Bob Balzarini	....	cableman: New York (as Bobby Balzarini)
Stu Bernstein	....	sound editor
Steve Bowerman	....	boom operator
Robert Deschaine	....	adr mixer (as Rob Deschaine)
Michael Dressel	....	sound editor
Jessica Gallavan	....	supervising adr editor
Nerses Gezalyan	....	foley recordist
Robert Grieve	....	supervising sound editor
Bob Hile	....	machine operator
Gary Holland	....	cableman
David Jobe	....	adr recordist
John Keating	....	sound transfer
Jonathan Klein	....	adr editor
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steve Mann	....	sound editor
John Murray	....	supervising foley editor
Dan O'Connell	....	foley walker
Kevin O'Connell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Matt Patterson	....	sound recordist
Jennifer Portman	....	apprentice sound editor
Jim Quinn	....	machine operator
Daniel Rosenblum	....	boom operator: New York (as Danny Rosenblum)
Jeanine Schaack	....	first assistant sound editor
Roy Seeger	....	assistant sound editor
Robert L. Sephton	....	sound editor (as Robert Sephton)
Gary L.G. Simpson	....	stage engineer (as Gary Simpson)
Rich Steven	....	dialogue editor
Alicia Stevenson	....	foley artist
Alicia Stevenson	....	foley walker
Madeleine Swift	....	assistant sound editor
Sherman Waze	....	dialogue editor
Jeff Wexler	....	production sound mixer
John Roesch	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
David P. Kelsey	....	special effects supervisor (as Dave Kelsey)
Steven Kirshoff	....	special effects: New York (as Steve Kirshoff)
John Ottesen	....	special effects: New York

Stunts
Brian Burrows	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Phil Abraham	....	first camera assistant: New York
Michael Anderson	....	grip (as Mike Anderson)
Steve Austin	....	24 frame video operator
Randy Burgess	....	rigging grip
Armando Contreras	....	best boy grip
Brian S. Cooper	....	electrician
Scott Crabbe	....	video assist operator
Jerry DeBlau	....	gaffer: New York (as Jerry De Blau)
Ken Fisher	....	assistant camera
Larry Freeman	....	electrician
Donald L. Hartley	....	dolly grip (as Don Hartley)
Richard Hartley	....	electrician (as Rich Hartley)
Tyrone Jackson	....	grip
Lee Johnson	....	lighting technician
Gábor Kövér	....	cinematographer: second unit, New York (as Gabor Kover)
Norman Lang	....	electrician
Traci Lashbrook	....	camera loader
Kal Manning	....	gaffer
Bruce McBroom	....	still photographer
Peter Morello	....	second camera assistant: New York
Randy Nolen	....	Steadicam operator
Billy Patsos	....	best boy: New York (as William Patsos)
George Patsos	....	key grip: New York
Jay Michael Pearce	....	grip (as Jay Pearce)
Brad Peterman	....	second camera assistant
Jay Peterman	....	first camera assistant
Keith Peterman	....	camera operator
Peter John Petraglia	....	best boy: New York
James Pollard	....	dolly grip: New York (as Jim Pollard)
Katherine Ruppe	....	additional camera assistant: New York
Andrew D. Schwartz	....	still photographer: New York (as Andy Schwartz)
Calvin Sterry	....	key grip (as Cal Sterry)
Ken M. Suzuki	....	best boy electric (as Ken Suzuki)
Francis X. Valdez III	....	rigging gaffer (as Frankie Valdez)
Rick Wilhoit	....	electrician (as Ricky Wilhoit)
Steven Zuch	....	video assist: New York

Casting Department
Judie Fixler	....	extras casting: New York
Charlie Messenger	....	extras casting
Caryn Richmond	....	casting assistant
Trish Stuckey	....	extras casting
Jessica Roulston	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Robin Borman	....	costumer
Armand Coutu	....	costumer
Irene Ferrari	....	costume supervisor: New York
Linda Henrikson	....	costume supervisor
Marcie Olivi	....	costumer
Chuck Velasco	....	costume supervisor
Danna Edwards	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Thomas Calderon	....	assistant editor (as Thomas Calderón)
Susan Graef	....	second assistant editor: New York (as Sue Graef)
Dale E. Grahn	....	color timer (as Dale Grahn)
Wilt Henderson	....	assistant editor (as Wilton S. Henderson)
Avis Hope	....	apprentice editor
Janice Keuhnelian	....	assistant editor: New York
Mary Nelson-Duerrstein	....	negative cutter (as Mary Nelson Duerrstein)

Music Department
Tom Boyd	....	musician: oboe soloist
Brad Dechter	....	additional orchestrator
Sandy DeCrescent	....	music contractor
Alex Gibson	....	music editor
Artie Kane	....	orchestra conductor
Nina Lucia	....	assistant music editor
Hummie Mann	....	music supervisor
Hummie Mann	....	score producer
Mark McKenzie	....	orchestrator
Joel Moss	....	music mixer
Joel Moss	....	music recordist
Maria Newman	....	musician
Marc Shaiman	....	score producer
Thomas Richard Sharp	....	additional orchestrator (as Thom Sharp)
Jack Sheldon	....	musician: trumpet solos
Steven L. Smith	....	music preparation
Scott Stambler	....	music supervisor
James Thatcher	....	musician: french horn
Nick Vidar	....	music technical coordinator
Sherry Whitfield	....	additional music editor
Lester Wilson	....	choreographer: musical numbers

Transportation Department
George Alden	....	driver
Michael Avallon	....	driver
Ken Bellanca	....	transportation captain
Steven Chase	....	driver
Jim Chesney	....	driver
Craig T. Crowell	....	transportation captain (as Craig Crowell)
James M. Dunne	....	driver (as Jim 'Mongo' Dunne)
Jack Field	....	driver
Gary Grace	....	driver
Thomas Hetman	....	driver (as Tom Hetman)
Richard Holston	....	teamster co-captain: New York
Robert Hunter Jr.	....	transportation coordinator (as Bob Hunter)
Michael Hyde	....	teamster captain: New York
Chuck Jeglinski	....	driver
Gary J. Johnson	....	driver (as Gary Johnson)
Michael D. Kuljis	....	driver (as Mike Kuljis)
Lonnie Laxson	....	driver
Tim C. McHenry	....	driver (as Tim McHenry)
Jerry McMullan	....	driver
Bob Reidel	....	driver (as Bobby Riedell)
Greg Van Dyke	....	driver
Ron 'Rooster' Venegas	....	driver
Ted Visser	....	driver
Richard West	....	driver (as Dick West)
Jerry Sidwell	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Todd J. Adelman	....	set medic (as Todd Adelman)
Laurie Arnow-Epstein	....	set estimator (as Laurie Arnow)
Lacey Lee Ashley	....	assistant: Billy Crystal (as Lacey Ashley)
Elaine Bass	....	title designer
Saul Bass	....	title designer
Bonnie Belknap	....	food stylist
Donna E. Bloom	....	location manager: New York (as Donna Bloom)
Judith M. Brown	....	studio teacher (as Judy Brown)
Mitchell Cassel	....	contact lens optometrist: New York (as Dr. Mitch Cassell)
Justin Cooke	....	assistant location manager: New York
Huw Davies	....	location manager
Pam Ellington	....	assistant production accountant
Liam Finn	....	production assistant: New York
Cindy Franke	....	assistant production coordinator
Michele Giordano	....	assistant production coordinator: New York
Morton Greenspoon	....	contact lens consultant (as Morton K. Greenspoon O.D.)
Michael Greenwood	....	production assistant (as Mike Greenwood)
Denise Harrell	....	contact lens technician: New York
Bernie Hiller	....	dialogue coach: Yiddish (as Bernard Hiller)
Deborah Houtsma	....	post-production accountant
Lisa Lynn Kearsley	....	production coordinator
Joe Keeper	....	post-production accountant
Gilbert Kollin	....	consultant: rabbinical (as Rabbi Gilbert Kollin)
Eddee Kolos	....	production assistant: New York
Arnold Lipsman	....	unit publicist
Adam Lustig	....	property graphics
Gail Martin-Sheridan	....	production accountant (as Gail Martin)
Tricia Miles	....	production assistant
Cheryl Morehouse	....	set relaxer
Tracy Mosh	....	unit publicist
Daniel Nix	....	key set production assistant
Valerie O'Brien	....	assistant: Peter Schindler
Ramon Pahoyo	....	craft service
Jane Raab	....	production coordinator: New York
Gail Rose	....	assistant production accountant (as Gail Foreman)
Lauren Ross	....	location manager
Rick Rozzini	....	assistant choreographer
Ellen Russell	....	parking coordinator: New York (as Ellen Fitzgerald-Russell)
Jackie Short	....	accounting clerk
Richard L. Silver	....	contact lens consultant (as Richard I. Silver O.D.)
Craig Skrzypecki	....	production assistant
David W. Slodki	....	production assistant (as David Slodki)
Rose Topping	....	assistant to executive producers
Angel Trujillo	....	caterer
Marion Tumen	....	script supervisor
Christopher Waters	....	production assistant (as Darren Waters)
Andrea Wertheim	....	production assistant
David L. Yen	....	craft service: New York (as David Yen)
Larry Vigus	....	stand-in: Conrad Janis (uncredited)
William Woff	....	adr loop group (uncredited)
Lynnanne Zager	....	adr voice (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Castle Rock Entertainment
• Face Productions
• New Line Cinema

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1992) (USA) (theatrical)
• New Line Home Video (1993) (USA) (VHS) (Pan and scan for Columbia/TriStar Home Video)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1996) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Aquarius TV (2000) (Greece) (TV)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1993) (Canada) (video)
• Image Entertainment (laserdisc)
• PolyGram Video (USA) (DVD)
• Starlight
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (1993) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Warner Bros. Television (1990s-) (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• Angel's Catering  caterer
• Big Screen Records  soundtrack
• Direct Travel of California  travel services provided by
• Inter Video  24 frame video services
• Jo Anne Kane Music Services  music preparation (as JoAnne Kane Music Service)
• Messenger Associates Casting  extras casting (as Messenger Associates)
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Panavision  photographic equipment (as Panavision®)
• Professional Vision Care Associates  contact lens consultant
• Rich Sound  digital dialogue editing
• ShowBiz Enterprises  draperies
• Skywalker Sound  re-recording facilities
• Sony Pictures Studios  music scored at
• Sounds Great!  adr group coordinator (as Sounds Great)
• Technocrane Ltd.  special equipment (as Technocrane)
• The Clearing House Ltd.  music clearance
• Todd M. Thaler Productions Inc.  extras casting: New York (as Todd Thaler Productions)
• Wilkinson/Lipman  unit publicist

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Australia:M | Germany:6 (f) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #32002) | Singapore:PG | Iceland:L | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:13 | Peru:14

Filming Locations:

Ambassador Hotel - 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Castle Rock Entertainment

Trivia:

There is one scene where Buddy Young, Jr. is watching "Your Show of Shows" (1950) starring Sid Caesar and wincing. Ironically, Billy Crystal has cited Sid Caesar for his reason wanting to get into comedy.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Stan explains that rating for Buddy's Saturday night TV show are sliding because the show is opposite Davy Crockett, a serial that actually ran midweek for three weeks on a TV's Disneyland show.

Quotes:

Buddy Young, Jr.:Who do you have to screw to get a vodka?
Sidney:Me.
Buddy Young, Jr.:Make it a ginger ale.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Saturday Night Fever (1977)

Soundtrack:

My Buddy

Billy Crystal's Masterpiece

I was surprised to see such a low rating on IMDB for this film, which I feel is Crystal's masterpiece. While watching it, it becomes clear quickly that making this movie is a real labour of love for Crystal. He really displays his entire range in this surprising drama about a rather complex Vaudeville-esque comedian (whose character Buddy Young Jr. was introduced years before during Crystal's unforgettable stint on the 1984-5 Saturday Night Live season). Perhaps I was just in the mood for a sentimental film while I was watching it, but I was really compelled by the film, which also featured an unbelievable performance by David Paymer as Crystal's brother. The flashback sequences were fabulous-- I just can't say enough good about this film. Just don't set your expectations for a comedy, remember this is a rather long, sentimental (yet never sappy) drama with comic elements and enjoy! (rating 9/10)