White Sands (1992)

Director:

Roger Donaldson

Writer (WGA):

Daniel Pyne (written by)

Release Date:

24 April 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The most dangerous way to solve a murder... Become the victim.

Plot:

A small southwestern town sheriff finds a body in the desert with a suitcase and $500,000. He impersonates...

Plot Keywords:

FBI | Desert | Sheriff | Shower | Forensic Evidence

Cast

Willem Dafoe	...	Deputy Sheriff Ray Dolezal
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio	...	Lane Bodine
Mickey Rourke	...	Gorman Lennox
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Greg Meeker (as Sam Jackson)
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Bert Gibson
James Rebhorn	...	FBI Agent Flynn
Maura Tierney	...	Noreen
Beth Grant	...	Roz Kincaid
Alexander Nicksay	...	Ben Dolezal
Fredrick Lopez	...	Delmar Blackwater
Miguel Sandoval	...	FBI Agent Ruiz
John Lafayette	...	FBI Agent Demott
Ken Thorley	...	Harold Kleinman
Jack Kehler	...	Casanov
Royce D. Applegate	...	Peterson
Megan Butler	...	Goodman
Lisa Cloud	...	Redhead
Steve Cormier	...	Artie O'Brien / Bob Spencer
J.D. Garfield	...	FBI Agent #2 (as John David Garfield)
Steve Tyler	...	Blonde FBI Agent (as Steven Tyler)
William P. Bennet	...	Rodeo Clown
Tom Conner	...	La Fonda Desk Clerk
Joy Bouton	...	Sue
Meredith Marshall	...	Rodeo Singer
Doc Phillips	...	Rodeo Announcer
Ben Zeller	...	Drifter
Karen Breeding	...	Cowgirl
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bo Greigh	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Tanit Lee Lascelles	...	Rodeo Crowd (uncredited)
Mimi Rogers	...	Molly Dolezal (uncredited)
John P. Ryan	...	Arms Dealer (uncredited)
Fred Dalton Thompson	...	Arms Dealer (uncredited)

Directed by
Roger Donaldson

Writing credits (WGA)
Daniel Pyne		(written by)

Produced by
Gary Barber	....	executive producer
David Nicksay	....	executive producer
James G. Robinson	....	executive producer
Scott Rudin	....	producer
William Sackheim	....	producer
David Wisnievitz	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Patrick O'Hearn

Cinematography by
Peter Menzies Jr.		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Nicholas Beauman

Casting by
David Rubin

Production Design by
John Graysmark

Art Direction by
Michael Rizzo

Set Decoration by
Michael Seirton

Costume Design by
Deborah Everton

Makeup Department
Tamara Guthrie	....	hair stylist (as Tamara Muro)
Deborah K. Larsen	....	makeup artist
Heather Matisoff	....	assistant hair stylist
Heather Matisoff	....	assistant makeup artist
Edward Ternes	....	makeup artist: Mr. Rourke

Production Management
Jody Levin	....	post-production supervisor
David Wisnievitz	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Greg Babcock	....	second assistant director
Dirk Craft	....	second second assistant director
Joel Segal	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Jamie Archer	....	construction coordinator
Bob Baker	....	draperyman (as Bobby Baker)
Joe Barton	....	propmaker
Robin Blagg	....	construction gang boss
Lou Boggs	....	propmaker
Bill Harkrider	....	propmaker
Paul Arthur Hartman	....	lead person
Arlen Johnson	....	construction foreman
Steve Kahn	....	propmaker
Brick Mason	....	production illustrator
Joanie Montoya	....	propmaker (as Joan Montoya)
Amy Morrison	....	art department assistant
Peggy Parker	....	property master
Gabrielle Petrissans	....	art department buyer
David Phillips	....	lead carpenter
Mark Purtill	....	propmaker
Ed Sauer	....	propmaker
Peter Tosti Stephenson	....	set dresser (as Peter Stephenson)
Ed Vega	....	key scenic artist
Ron Vega	....	propmaker
Terry Welden	....	scenic artist
Tim Y. Wetzel	....	property assistant (as Tim Wetzel)
Catherine Butler	....	art department (uncredited)

Sound Department
James Ashwill	....	foley mixer
George Baetz	....	boom operator
Kevin Bartnof	....	foley walker
Andrew Belanoff	....	apprentice sound editor
Odin Benitez	....	assistant sound editor
Jeff Courtie	....	adr mixer
Don Digirolamo	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert Glass	....	sound re-recording mixer
Richard Bryce Goodman	....	sound mixer
Jeremy J. Gordon	....	sound editor
Randall Guth	....	sound effects coordinator
Michael Hilkene	....	supervising sound editor
Hilda Hodges	....	foley walker
Victor B. Lackey	....	sound editor
Eric Lindemann	....	sound editor (as Eric W. Lindemann)
Paul Massey	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mark Rathaus	....	sound editor
Wolf Schmidt	....	assistant sound editor
Tom Thoms	....	cable person
Scott Warren	....	boom operator
John Soukup	....	sound transfer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Joe Heffernan	....	special effects technician
Kelly Kerby	....	special effects coordinator
Michael McCormick	....	special effects makeup
Randy Jonsson	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Stunts
Maria Barry	....	stunts
William P. Bennet	....	stunts
Tom Berto	....	stunts
Steve Boyum	....	stunt coordinator
Thomas Byrd	....	stunts
Tim Carroll	....	stunts
Steven Chambers	....	stunts
Steven Dismuke	....	stunts
Tony Epper	....	stunts
Frank Fierro	....	stunts
Jess Franks	....	stunts
Cory Gardner	....	stunts
Gilley Grey	....	stunts (as Gilbert J. Anderson)
Rusty Hamilton	....	stunts
Steve Hanna	....	stunts
Tommy J. Huff	....	stunts
Kent Mahoney	....	stunts
Rebecca Mahoney	....	stunts
Bennie Moore	....	stunts
Mike Ray	....	stunts
J.N. Roberts	....	stunts
Linda Scholtz	....	stunts
Richard Slaughter	....	stunts
Vickie Tyer	....	stunts
Gilbet Ulibarry	....	stunts
Russell Wallraven	....	stunts
William Washington	....	stunts
Dick Ziker	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Victor J. Anderberry	....	24 frame video operator (as Vic Anderbury)
Ron Armijo	....	electrician
Ron Armijo	....	swing grip
Robby Baumgartner	....	electrician (as Robert Baumgartner)
Timothy Beavers	....	second second assistant camera
Dan Berryman	....	grip
Bruce Birmelin	....	still photographer
Arthur Blum	....	grip
Erik L. Brown	....	first assistant camera
Cass Donaldson	....	video playback operator
Gregory J. Eichman	....	grip
Chris Espeset	....	dolly grip
Scott Forrester	....	key grip
Ron Goodman	....	aerial photographer
Sean Gray	....	best boy electric
Paul Grindrod	....	best boy grip
Dave Harris	....	key grip (as Colonel Dave Harris)
Dale Holmen	....	electrician
David James	....	still photographer
Scott Kidner	....	electrician
Tim McDonald	....	electrician
Peter Menzies Jr.	....	camera operator
Richard Mosier	....	first assistant camera
J. Michael Muro	....	Steadicam operator (as James Muro)
J. Michael Muro	....	camera operator (as James Muro)
Louis Nelson	....	electrician
David B. Nowell	....	aerial photographer
Ramon Ortega	....	electrician
Ray Ortega	....	electrician
Henry Shaw Rogerson	....	camera intern
Andrea Sachs	....	gaffer
Ernest M. Sanchez	....	electrician
Ernest M. Sanchez	....	swing grip
Richard Sobin	....	second second assistant camera
Leonard Vigil	....	electrician
Leonard Vigil	....	swing grip
Michael Warren	....	grip
Nancy Wray	....	grip
Eric Wycoff	....	electrician
Richard Brooks Burton	....	aerial first assistant camera (uncredited)
Dante Cardone	....	key rigging gaffer (uncredited)
Andrea Chesney	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (uncredited)
Alexander Pietrzak	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Sally Jackson	....	location casting
Amy Taksen	....	casting assistant (as Amy Tasken)
Debra Zane	....	casting associate (as Debbie Zane)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jessica Fasman	....	costume supervisor
Laurel Frushour	....	costumer: women
Sonya Ooten	....	wardrobe assistant
Hans Georg Struhar	....	costumer: men (as Hans Struhar)

Editorial Department
Sue Blainey	....	associate film editor
Andrew Cerino	....	editing intern
Kris Garfield	....	assistant film editor
Pilar Jennings	....	first assistant film editor
Bob Putynkowski	....	color timer
Noelleen Westcombe	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Tom Biner	....	music recordist
Jim Harrison	....	music editor
David Kershenbaum	....	music supervisor
Stephen Krause	....	music mixer (as Steve Krause)
Chrissie Wilson	....	music researcher

Transportation Department
J. Wesley Adams	....	transportation captain
James Denning	....	driver: honeywagon
Ron M. Field	....	driver: production van (as Ron Field)
Wayne Jones	....	transportation co-captain
Billy Kaundart	....	driver
Alex Keter	....	picture car coordinator
Anthony Lebow	....	driver
Tommy Leyba	....	driver
Sam Lucero	....	driver
Belarmino A. López	....	driver
Reggie Maestas	....	driver
Vianes Martinez	....	driver
Matthew Ortega	....	driver
Andrew Kino Quintana	....	driver
Billy Ray	....	driver
Jesse Romero	....	driver
Brian Steagall	....	transportation coordinator
Fred Steagall	....	driver
Chris Summerell	....	driver: insert car
Benji Vellarde	....	driver

Other crew
Don Ambabo	....	pilot
Steven Gary Banks	....	production assistant
John Beauchamp	....	production secretary
Donna Blau	....	accounting assistant
Kathy Breen	....	assistant: Mr. Nicksay
Thomas Byrd	....	wrangler (as Tom Byrd)
Tim Carroll	....	head wrangler
Gail Crosby	....	assistant: Mr. Sackheim
Michael Dellheim	....	location manager
Lee Dollar	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Anita Eades	....	production assistant
Erin Engelbrecht	....	location assistant
Cliff Fleming	....	pilot
Ira Friedlander	....	assistant auditor (as Ira J. Friedlander)
Florence Holihan	....	accounting assistant
Geffre Hurt	....	stand-in
Brenda Johns	....	assistant: Mr. Barber
Sheldon Katz	....	production auditor (as Sheldon M. Katz)
Marsha Langley-Reed	....	production assistant
David Mastron	....	post-production accountant
Brian McMillan	....	head animal trainer
Tish Meyers	....	stand-in
Michelle Minyon	....	production assistant
Rick Morrow	....	pilot
Jeanmarie Murphy-Burke	....	unit publicist
Charlie O'Dowd	....	production coordinator
Myles Reed	....	production assistant
Eric Rivera	....	production assistant
Sol Rivera	....	craft service
James G. Robinson	....	presenter
Katie Santore	....	production assistant (as Kate Santore)
John D. Sarviss	....	helicopter pilot
Darren L. Scott	....	stand-in
Ross Segal	....	production assistant
Todd P. Smith	....	production controller
Jilann Spitzmiller	....	assistant production coordinator
Joe Stargensky	....	production assistant
Wade Stevens	....	production assistant
Denise Strong	....	production assistant (as Denise G. Denver)
Charles A. Tamburro	....	pilot
Mike Thompson	....	production assistant
Shalini Waran	....	assistant: Mr. Donaldson
Donna Wells	....	production assistant
Janet M. West	....	assistant: Mr. Robinson
Kathryn Zatarga	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Morgan Creek Productions
• Warner Bros

Distributors

• Warner Bros (1992) (USA) (theatrical)
• TriPictures (1992) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1992) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1992) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• CNR Film & Video (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1994) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Nordisk Film (2008) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Sandrews (2002) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2002) (UK) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Inter Video  24 frame video playback
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, language, and a scene of sensuality

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Netherlands:12 (re-rating) | Netherlands:16 (original rating) | Portugal:M/16

Filming Locations:

Estancia, New Mexico, USA

Company:

Morgan Creek Productions

Trivia:

Cameo: [Mimi Rogers]the wife of Ray Dolezal (Willem Dafoe).

Movie Connections:

References "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960)

Misunderstood because it makes no sense......

Trying to figure out "White Sands" is like trying to put together a jigsaw puzzle with quite a few missing pieces. This overcomplicated movie challenges the viewer's understanding way too much, and eventually you will lose interest. It really is a shame because the cast gives their best effort with what is a severely disjointed script. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and the blue Corvette are easy on the eyes, but it's not enough to maintain momentum, and the whole thing derails twenty minutes in and never recovers. True there are a few strong scenes, but a plethora of dead material is unfortunately connecting them. Not recommended. - MERK