Coneheads (1993)

Director:

Steve Barron

Writers (WGA):

Tom Davis (written by) &
Dan Aykroyd (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

23 July 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Heading your way

Plot:

Aliens with cone shaped craniums come to Earth to observe everyday life.

Plot Keywords:

Alien | Teenager | Mission | The Coneheads | Teen Angst

Cast

Robert Knott	...	Air Traffic Controller
Jonathan Penner	...	Captain Air Traffic
Whip Hubley	...	F-16 Pilot
Dan Aykroyd	...	Beldar Conehead / Donald R. DeCicco
Jane Curtin	...	Prymatt Conehead / Mary Margaret DeCicco
Howard Napper	...	Ang Pilot
Michael Richards	...	Motel Clerk
Eddie Griffin	...	Customer
Sinbad	...	Otto
Phil Hartman	...	Marlax
Adam Sandler	...	Carmine
Grant Martell	...	Hispanic Man #1
Art Bonilla	...	Hispanic Man #2
David Spade	...	Eli Turnbull, INS Agent
Rosa Maria Briz	...	Hispanic Woman (as Rosa Briz)
Michael McKean	...	Gorman Seedling, INS Deputy Commissioner
Cooper Layne	...	Engineer
Sarah Anne Levy	...	Hygenist
Drew Carey	...	Taxi Passenger
Shishir Kurup	...	Khoudri
Sydney Coberly	...	Nurse
Barry Kivel	...	Doctor
Terry Turner	...	Sketch Artist
McNally Sagal	...	Female Agent
Richard Comar	...	Agent
Danielle Aykroyd	...	3 Year Old Connie
Nicolette Harnish	...	10 Year Old Connie
Jason Alexander	...	Larry Farber
Lisa Jane Persky	...	Lisa Farber
Michelle Burke	...	Connie Conehead
Joey Lauren Adams	...	Christina
Parker Posey	...	Stephanie
Chris Farley	...	Ronnie the Mechanic
Kevin Nealon	...	Senator
Jan Hooks	...	Gladys Johnson, Driving Student
Julia Sweeney	...	Principal
Ellen DeGeneres	...	Coach
Walter Robles	...	Fire Marshall
Todd Susman	...	Ron
James Keane	...	Harv
Sam Freed	...	Master of Ceremonies
Garrett Morris	...	Captain Orecruiser
Tom Davis	...	Supplicant
Dave Thomas	...	Highmaster
Peter Aykroyd	...	Highmaster Mentot
Laraine Newman	...	Laarta
Nils Allen Stewart	...	Guard
Tim Meadows	...	Athletic Cone
Mitchell Bobrow	...	Garthok Combatant
Laurence Bilzerian	...	Cone Battle Commander
Topper Lilien	...	Cone Pilot
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tom Arnold	...	Golfer (uncredited)
Oliver Barron	...	Boy Following Beldar (uncredited)
Cameron	...	Conehead (uncredited)
Jon Lovitz	...	Dr. Rudolph, Dentist (uncredited)
Leonard Nimoy	...	Spock (archive footage) (uncredited)
William Shatner	...	Captain Kirk (archive footage) (uncredited)
Jeanne Stawiarski	...	Dignitary (uncredited)

Directed by
Steve Barron

Writing credits (WGA)
Tom Davis		(written by) &
Dan Aykroyd		(written by) and
Bonnie Turner		(written by) &
Terry Turner		(written by)

Produced by
Kevin Marcy	....	associate producer
Lorne Michaels	....	producer
Michael I. Rachmil	....	executive producer
Barnaby Thompson	....	co-producer

Original Music by
David Newman

Cinematography by
Francis Kenny

Film Editing by
Paul Trejo

Casting by
Lora Kennedy

Production Design by
Gregg Fonseca

Art Direction by
Bruce Alan Miller

Set Decoration by
Jay Hart

Costume Design by
Marie France

Makeup Department
David Abbott	....	makeup artist
Allan A. Apone	....	makeup artist: prosthetics
Michelle Bühler	....	makeup artist
Zoltan Elek	....	makeup artist (as Zoltan)
Jane Galli	....	special makeup effects artist
Tina Hoffman	....	makeup artist
Starr Jones	....	special makeup effects artist
Michael Key	....	makeup artist
Toby Lamm	....	special makeup effects artist
Steve LaPorte	....	prosthetic makeup artist (as Steve La Porte)
David B. Miller	....	makeup supervisor
Gary Pawlowski	....	moldmaker
Greg Solomon	....	makeup effects technician
Adam Brandy	....	special makeup effects laboratory technician: special costuming (uncredited)
Dean Gates	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Nina Kent	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Bill Myer	....	prosthetic makeup artist (uncredited)
Rick Stratton	....	makeup artist: Dave Thomas (uncredited)

Production Management
Michael Tadross	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Doug Corring	....	additional assistant director
Elena Santaballa	....	dga trainee
John G. Scotti	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Fred Apolito	....	propmaker
Gae S. Buckley	....	set designer
Lloyd A. Buswell	....	construction foreman
Robert J. Carlyle	....	construction coordinator
Clete Cetrone	....	construction foreman
Richard Crain	....	gangboss
Brad Einhorn	....	property master
Edward Eyth	....	concept designer
Elizabeth Flaherty	....	art department coordinator
Donald S. Foster	....	set dresser
Brian J. Geary	....	propmaker foreman
Mark Knapton	....	foreman
Lori Mazuer	....	assistant art department coordinator
Christopher E. Schmid	....	greens foreman
Doug Sieck	....	set dresser
Gary Stel	....	labor foreman
Todd Warfield	....	set designer
G. Roger Abell	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Jack White	....	food stylist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Randle Akerson	....	supervising sound editor
Richard Burton	....	sound editor
Kevin E. Carpenter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Greg Curda	....	foley mixer
Gloria D'Alessandro	....	dialogue editor
Ken Dufva	....	foley artist
Gary Friedman	....	assistant sound editor
Mark C. Grech	....	utility sound technician
Jeffrey J. Haboush	....	sound re-recording mixer
Scott G.G. Haller	....	assistant sound editor
Rick Hart	....	sound re-recording mixer
Joseph A. Ippolito	....	supervising sound editor
Steve Mann	....	sound editor
Lisa Morlas	....	assistant sound editor
Terry Rodman	....	sound editor
Timothy P. Salmon	....	boom operator
David Wolowic	....	assistant sound editor
Linda Yeaney	....	first assistant sound editor

Special Effects by
Ken Brilliant	....	special effects makeup
Robert DeVine	....	special effects
Mike Elizalde	....	special effects makeup
Carol Koch	....	cosmetic finish
Alan E. Lorimer	....	special effects coordinator
Carolyn Oros	....	special effects technician
Thomas Quinn	....	mechanical effects
Tom von Badinski	....	special effects technician
Robert Cole	....	special effects (uncredited)
Steve Cotroneo	....	key artist: prop fabricator (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Bela Brozsek	....	digital artist
Karen deJong	....	matte painter
Tim Donahue	....	visual effects art director: Video Image
Douglas Epps	....	visual effects
Lisa Foster	....	digital artist
Bruno George	....	digital supervisor: Cinesite
Christian Guillon	....	visual effects
Amy Harrington	....	visual effects coordinator
Simon Holden	....	digital compositor
Chris Hummel	....	visual effects
Nancy Hyland	....	digital compositor
Joni Jacobson	....	visual effects supervisor: Composite Image Systems
Brian Jennings	....	visual effects animator
Dave Kervinan	....	visual effects
Peter Konig	....	sculptor
Tim Landry	....	visual effects: Motion Pixel Corp.
Don Lee	....	digital compositor
Peter Lonsdale	....	visual effects editor
Derrick Mitchell	....	visual effects editor
Erik Nash	....	motion control cameraman
Patrick Phillips	....	visual effects
Jeff Pyle	....	visual effects
Liz Radley	....	video supervisor
Michael Rivero	....	digital effects
Martin Rosenberg	....	visual effects camera operator
Olivier Sarda	....	digital artist
John Scheele	....	visual effects supervisor
Frederic Schmidt	....	digital artist
Scott Schneider	....	model maker
Chris B. Schnitzer	....	motion control technician
Steven J. Scott	....	digital compositor
Jesse Silver	....	matte artist
Jesse Silver	....	matte painting supervisor
Doyle Smith	....	digital artist
Michele C. Vallillo	....	visual effects coordinator: Cinesite
Peter Webb	....	digital animator
Steve Wright	....	digital effects supervisor: Sidley Wright & Assoc.
Adam Howard	....	digital effects compositor (uncredited)
Mark Stetson	....	miniatures: Stetson Visual Services, Inc. (uncredited)
Diane Wright	....	digital visual effects coordinator: Sidley Wright & Associates (uncredited)

Stunts
Michael Adams	....	stunt performer
Joey Box	....	stunts
Annie Ellis	....	stunt double
Richie Gaona	....	stunt performer
F. Pierre Gatling	....	utility stunts
Gene Hartline	....	stunts
Terry Jackson	....	stunts
Pat Romano	....	stunts
Jim Stephan	....	stunts
Jim Stephen	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Patric J. Abaravich	....	electrician
Murray Close	....	still photographer
Bob Gorelick	....	Steadicam operator
Kirk Hunsicker	....	lighting technician
Gregory Irwin	....	assistant camera
Ian Kelly	....	video assist operator
Dan Kneece	....	Steadicam operator
John Newby	....	director of photography: second unit
Ron Kunecke	....	night light operator (uncredited)

Animation Department
Phil Tippett	....	stop motion animation

Casting Department
Michael Bircumshaw	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marcie Olivi	....	costumer
James W. Tyson	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Vaune Kirby Frechette	....	assistant editor
Terry Hubbard	....	assistant editor
Steven Nevius	....	additional film editor (as Steve Nevius)
John M. Taylor	....	second assistant editor (as John Taylor)
Tom Barrett	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Bob Bornstein	....	music preparation
Tim Boyle	....	score mixer
William Ross	....	orchestrator
James Thatcher	....	musician: french horn
Tom Villano	....	music editor
Paul Wertheimer	....	score recordist

Transportation Department
Joe Richardson	....	driver

Other crew
Serena Baker	....	location assistant
Benita Brazier	....	script supervisor
Robert C. Campion	....	production accountant
Al Cerullo	....	helicopter pilot
Mark S. Constance	....	set production assistant
Dominick J. Daniels	....	marketing
Jonathan Flom	....	executive in charge of business affairs
Rock LeRoy	....	caterer
Joe Lotito	....	production assistant
David M. Robel	....	production assistant
David M. Rodriguez	....	assistant accountant
Ahmed Saker	....	key set medic
Bill H. Schwocho	....	stand-in
Lisbeth Siegel	....	production associate
Joice Stewart	....	payroll accountant
C. Ransom Walrod	....	marine coordinator
Gregory Alpert	....	assistant location manager: daily (uncredited)
Josh C. Kline	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Tom Lent	....	adr voice (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1993) (USA) (theatrical)
• Paramount Home Video (1993) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Films sans Frontières (1994) (France) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1994) (Argentina) (VHS)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1994) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Fox Network (1996) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Paramount Home Video (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (rental)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (retail)
• CIC Video (1995) (Greece) (VHS)
• CIC Vídeo (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• CIC-Taft Home Video (199?) (Australia) (VHS)
• Cinema International (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS) (rental)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS) (retail)

Special Effects

• Anatomorphex
• Composite Image Systems (CIS)
• David Miller Creations (conehead make-up design and creation)
• Digital Magic Company
• Image G
• Makeup Effects Laboratories
• Motion Pixel Corporation
• Sidley Wright & Associates
• Tippett Studio
• Visual Effects

Other Companies

• EFilm  digital film recording
• Movie Movers  cast trailers
• Movie Movers  star trailers
• Musco Light Inc.  musco lights
• Nina Saxon Film Design  title design
• Pacific Studios Inc.  chromatrans background
• Studio Sea  marine coordination
• Warner Bros. Records  soundtrack

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG for comic nudity and some double entendre humor

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Canada:PG | Chile:TE | Germany:6 | UK:PG | Singapore:PG | Australia:PG | Iceland:L | USA:PG (certificate #32543) | New Zealand:PG

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Dan Aykroyd took his daughter (Danielle) to see the film being made, and she was so fascinated by the conehead costumes she asked for one of her own. She was cast as Connie age 3 so she could get her own cone.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Beldar makes out he is lifting the back of Ronnie's car and when the wheel stops spinning, the sound of a dropped car is heard but the car clearly doesn't drop at all.

Quotes:

Connie:How can it take so long to do a simple alignment on an american sedan with standard rack-and-pinion steering and MacPherson struts When your garage is equipped with the proper Borg-Warner digital hydraulic radiometer?
Ronnie:Maybe because I was out back finishing a beer.

Movie Connections:

Features "Star Trek: Arena (#1.18)" (1967)

Soundtrack:

You Got the Right One Baby, Uh-Huh

A Pleasant Surprise

Coneheads is one of the best "Saturday Night Live" movies. I was expecting a light comedy but what I got was a whole lot more. Following a similar plot to the skit, Coneheads is the story about the Beldar Conehead family who crash on earth during a scouting mission for planet conquest. While here, they dodge the INS, have a child and discover that life on Earth is quite good.

This is where the movie shows its heart. It could have been a movie of comedy bits but by the end, it is about happiness in a stable family, which is quite refreshing in these days of depressing movies about divorces and unmarried couples. It is nice to see Beldar be a father figure to his daughter rather than the "Let Your Kids Be Who They Are" mentality of these days. The direction of the film in excellent, setting up many nice visual gags and shots that are very impressive for a comedy film. And at times, the film feels "epic" as you see the family on the run from the INS, to moving to the suburbs to returning to their planet.

There are great performances throughout the film and the many cameos are perfect. Look for funny scenes from Jan Hooks, Adam Sandler, Michael Richards, and Garrett Morris. Michelle Burke makes a nice debut as Connie Conehead and I expect to see more of her in the future.

On the surface, this seems like a dumb movie and it has received many poor reviews. But if you sit back and let it take you on an adventure (and if you can keep up with the way the Coneheads use different words for common items) you will be pleasantly surprised.