Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1993)

Director:

Gus Van Sant

Writers (WGA):

Tom Robbins (novel)
Gus Van Sant (screenplay)

Release Date:

20 May 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance | Western

Tagline:

There have been many great drivers but only one great passenger.

Plot:

Sissy Hankshaw is born with enormous thumbs that help her hitchhiking through the US from a young age...

Plot Keywords:

Ranch | Cowgirl | Whooping Crane | Thumb | Peyote

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Uma Thurman	...	Sissy Hankshaw
Lorraine Bracco	...	Delores Del Ruby
Pat Morita	...	The Chink (as Noriyuki 'Pat' Morita)
Angie Dickinson	...	Miss Adrian
Keanu Reeves	...	Julian Gitche
John Hurt	...	The Countess
Rain Phoenix	...	Bonanza Jellybean
Ed Begley Jr.	...	Rupert
Carol Kane	...	Carla
Sean Young	...	Marie Barth
Crispin Glover	...	Howard Barth
Roseanne Barr	...	Madame Zoe (as Roseanne Arnold)
Buck Henry	...	Dr. Dreyfus
Grace Zabriskie	...	Mrs. Hankshaw
Treva Jeffryes	...	Young Sissy
Ken Kesey	...	Sissy's Daddy
Ken Babbs	...	Sissy's Uncle
Allen Arnold	...	Lionel
Victoria Williams	...	Cowgirl Debbie
Heather Graham	...	Cowgirl Heather
Judy Robinson	...	Cowgirl Gloria
Betsy Roth	...	Cowgirl Mary
Arlene Wewa	...	Big Red
Heather Hershey	...	Cowgirl Donna
Dee Fowler	...	Cowgirl Kym
Udo Kier	...	Commercial Director
Wade Evans	...	Cameraman
Tom Peterson	...	Crewman
Alexa D'Avalon	...	Rubber Rose Bird Expert
Eric Hull	...	White House Undersecretary
Oliver Kirk	...	Sheriff
Joe Ivy	...	FBI Director
Greg McMickle	...	FBI Agent
Lin Shaye	...	Rubber Rose Maid
Chel White	...	Brain Surgeon
Molly Little	...	Salsa Singer
Scott Patrick Green	...	Pilgrim Man
Suzanne Solgot	...	Pilgrim Woman
Michael Parker	...	Pilgrim Driver
William S. Burroughs	...	Himself (as William Burroughs)
Sherry Alps	...	Cowgirl
Eliza Butterfly	...	Cowgirl
Boo Connolly	...	Cowgirl
Christie Flenniken	...	Cowgirl
Stacey Hyder	...	Cowgirl
Tina Knaggs	...	Cowgirl
Tom Robbins	...	Narrator (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Roger Bowen	...	Naturalist filming whooping cranes from aircraft (uncredited)
Doug Cooeyate	...	Native American extra (uncredited)
Edward James Olmos	...	Musician at Barbecue (uncredited)
River Phoenix	...	Pilgrim (uncredited)

Directed by
Gus Van Sant		(as Gus Van Sant Jr.)

Writing credits (WGA)
Tom Robbins		(novel)
Gus Van Sant		(screenplay)

Produced by
Mary Ann Marino	....	associate producer
Eric McLeod	....	line producer
Laurie Parker	....	producer
Lucy Phillips	....	producer (segment "Cupid and Psyche")
Gus Van Sant	....	executive producer (as Gus Van Sant Jr.)

Original Music by
k.d. lang
Ben Mink

Cinematography by
John J. Campbell		(director of photography) (as John Campbell)
Eric Alan Edwards		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Curtiss Clayton
Gus Van Sant		(as Gus Van Sant Jr.)

Casting by
Sharon Bialy		(as Bialy)
Debi Manwiller		(as Manwiller)
Richard Pagano		(as Pagano)

Production Design by
Missy Stewart

Art Direction by
Dan Self

Set Decoration by
Nina Bradford

Costume Design by
Beatrix Aruna Pasztor

Makeup Department
Jaqueline Bordeaux	....	hair assistant (as Jacqueline Bordeaux)
Jaqueline Bordeaux	....	makeup assistant (as Jacqueline Bordeaux)
Caryn Brostoff	....	hair assistant
Caryn Brostoff	....	makeup assistant
Jackie Caydam	....	prosthetics assistant
Bill Corso	....	prosthetics assistant
Diane Duncan	....	prosthetics assistant
Bernhard Eichholz	....	prosthetics assistant
Eric Fiedler	....	prosthetics assistant
Leon Laderach	....	prosthetics assistant
Johnine Lake	....	hair assistant
Johnine Lake	....	makeup assistant
Cathy MacDonald	....	makeup assistant
Leonard MacDonald	....	key makeup artist
Gina Monaci	....	hair designer
Gina Monaci	....	makeup designer
Anne Morgan	....	hair stylist (segment "Cupid and Psyche")
Anne Morgan	....	key hair stylist
Anne Morgan	....	makeup artist (segment "Cupid and Psyche")
Shaun Smith	....	prosthetics assistant

Production Management
Susan J. Dupre	....	post-production supervisor (as Susan Dupre)
Leslie A. Leitner	....	post-production supervisor (as Leslie Leitner)
Eric McLeod	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Phillip Christon	....	first assistant director
Shiho Ito	....	second assistant director
David Minkowski	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Casa Babbs	....	scenic artist
Colin Bardon	....	carpenter
Tom Bonauro	....	art director: "Cupid and Psyche" sequence
Chas Bruce	....	graphic artist
David P. Clemens	....	construction lead (as David Clemens)
Jane Clugston	....	sculptor: snake and bat
Tom Cramer	....	artist: pilgrim van
Norbert 'Reno' Demaline	....	carpenter
Tawny Duel	....	carpenter
Sean Fong	....	set dresser (as Sean Robert Fong)
Robbie Freed	....	swing gang (as Robert Freed)
Ed Grecious	....	carpenter
Benjamin Hayden	....	leadman (as Benjamin Titus Hayden)
Sue Hutchins	....	scenic artist
Jube Hyman	....	art department intern
Anne Hyvarinen	....	scenic charge
Malia Jensen	....	scenic artist
Cynthia Lahti	....	swing gang
Phred Palmer	....	on-set dresser
Ryan Plucknett	....	construction coordinator (as Ryan Jay Plucknett)
Jennifer Pray	....	set dresser
Robie Price	....	construction: "Cupid and Psyche" sequence (as Robi Price)
Charles T. Riggs	....	carpenter (as Charles Riggs)
Rudjen Roldan	....	assistant painter: backdrop, "Cupid and Psyche" sequence
Patrick Michael Ryan	....	props: New York (as Patrick M. Ryan)
David Saltzman	....	assistant property master
Jim Simard	....	carpenter (as James Simard)
Blanche Sindelar	....	property master (as Blanche C. Sindelar)
Gregg Smith	....	stuffed squirrel: Elder Taxidermy
Damon Sullivan	....	set dresser (as Damon Baird Sullivan)
Teresa Tamiyasu	....	swing gang (as Teresa J. Tamiyasu)
Cathy Young	....	scenic artist
Ken Erck	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Bill Telfer	....	additional scenic art (uncredited)

Sound Department
Peter Appleton	....	sound editor
Kelley Baker	....	sound designer
Kelley Baker	....	supervising sound editor
Mary Bauer	....	sound editor
Scot Charles	....	adr recordist
David A. Cohen	....	sound editor
Chris Douthit	....	walla recordist
Malcolm Fife	....	sound editor
Bill Gramaglia	....	boom operator: New York
Charlene Hamer	....	boom operator (as Char Hamer)
Jon Huck	....	sound mixer
Parker Logan	....	assistant sound editor
Richard Moore	....	additional sound effects
Jennifer Myers	....	foley artist
Margie O'Malley	....	foley artist
Larry Oatfield	....	sound editor (as E. Larry Oatfield)
David Parker	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jim Pasque	....	foley recordist
Philip Rogers	....	sound recordist (as W. Phillip Rogers)
Leslie Shatz	....	sound re-recording mixer
Greg Simon	....	sound recordist
Concha Solano	....	assistant sound editor
Patti Tauscher	....	assistant sound editor
Eric Thompson	....	foley mixer
John Verbeck	....	sound editor
Don White	....	sound re-recording mixer
Wayne Woods	....	adr recordist (as W. Wayne Woods)
Scott Purdy	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jim Doyle	....	special effects coordinator
Morgan Guynes	....	special effects
Troy Turpin	....	special effects assistant

Visual Effects by
Maureen Claypool	....	visual effects assistant
Michael Hinton	....	creator: opticals and titles
Peter Nye	....	backdrop creator (segment "Cupid and Psyche")
Chel White	....	visual effects supervisor

Stunts
Jake Crawford	....	stunt coordinator
Susie Flenniken	....	stunts
Bart Heimburger	....	stunt pilot
Jeff Imada	....	stunts (as Jeffrey Imada)
Mike Johnson	....	stunts
Jamie Jo Medearis	....	stunts
Lynn Salvatori	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Kyle Accardi	....	set electrician
Robert M. Andres	....	key grip: New York (as Bob Andres)
Roy R. Bellows	....	set electrician
Nils Benson	....	second second assistant camera
Alec Boehm	....	second assistant camera: New York
James Childers	....	best boy grip: "Cupid and Psyche" segment
Steve Condiotti	....	gaffer: "Cupid and Psyche" segment
Dino Corti	....	grip: "Cupid and Psyche" segment
Daniel Ehrenbard	....	gaffer: New York
Kevin Fletcher	....	grip
Michael Fradianni	....	electrician: New York
Michael Gall	....	best boy
Gary Gatewood	....	second assistant camera (as Gary D. Gatewood)
Mike Hanauska	....	grip (as Michael Hanauska)
Gary Hildebrand	....	electrician: New York
Brent Lawson	....	best boy grip (as Brent T. Lawson)
Bruce Lawson	....	key grip
Thomas D. Mangerlsen	....	special photographer: whooping cranes, Images of Nature (as Thomas D. Mangelsen)
Mark McGinnis	....	first assistant camera
Derek McKane	....	generator operator: New York
Bruce Moore	....	set electrician
Robie Price	....	key grip: "Cupid and Psyche" segment (as Robi Price)
Richard Rutkowski	....	first assistant camera: New York
Jamie Silverstein	....	generator operator: New York
David Skutch	....	best boy: New York
Abigayle Tarsches	....	still photographer
Jani Vournas	....	best boy electric: "Cupid and Psyche" segment
Paul Wachter	....	grip: New York
Michael L. Williams	....	gaffer

Animation Department
Hal T. Hickel	....	animator: maps (as Hal Hickel)
Schell Hickel	....	animator: snake

Casting Department
Susan Booker	....	casting assistant
Mindy Leek	....	extras casting
Lance Marrs	....	extras casting assistant
Taft Richards	....	extras casting assistant
Laverne Springer	....	extras casting
Todd M. Thaler	....	extras casting: New York (as Todd Thaler)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Natasia Chan	....	wardrobe assistant
Rainer Judd	....	set costumer
Alexis Lecach	....	stylist: "Cupid and Psyche" segment
Pamela Smith	....	assistant costume designer
Pierre Trudeaux	....	creator: wings, "Cupid and Psyche" segment
Vanessa Vogel	....	key costumer

Editorial Department
Jane Pia Abramowitz	....	apprentice editor
Curtis Croeni	....	first assistant editor
John Dowdell	....	hd colorist
Amy E. Duddleston	....	associate editor
Barbara Geary	....	editorial intern
D-J Haanraadts	....	apprentice editor
Phred Palmer	....	post-production assistant
Lisa Rosen	....	post-production assistant
Pamela Smith	....	post-production assistant
Jeff Smithwick	....	color timer
Melinda Tackett	....	assistant negative cutter
Karen Thorndike	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Lincoln Adler	....	musician: alto sax
James Austin	....	music researcher
Teddy Borowiecki	....	musician: keyboards and accordion
Delwyn Brooks	....	second music engineer (as Delwin Brooks)
Matthew Cartsonia	....	music researcher
Steve Einhorn	....	music researcher
Toby Emmerich	....	executive music producer (as Toby Emmerick)
Les July	....	musician: bass
Anne King	....	musician: baritone sax
Stephen Kujala	....	musician: flute
k.d. lang	....	music producer
k.d. lang	....	musician: singer and guitars
Greg Leisz	....	musician: steel guitar
Mike Lent	....	musician: bass
Lee Manning	....	second music engineer
Dennis Marcenko	....	musician: bass
Ben Mink	....	music producer
Ben Mink	....	musician: guitars and strings
Dean Parks	....	musician: wah guitar
Ann Patterson	....	musician: trumpet
Tom Ralls	....	musician: trombone
Mark Ramaer	....	music mixer
Mark Ramaer	....	music recordist
Chris Stephens	....	musician: banjo
Randall Stoll	....	musician: drums
Larry Wanagas	....	music supervisor
Andy Warwick	....	second music engineer
Greg Wells	....	musician: percussion
Dick Bernstein	....	music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Pedro Amaya	....	driver
Henry Boyle	....	driver: New York
Thomas Buckman	....	driver: New York (as Tom Buckman)
Peter S. Cassella	....	driver: New York (as Peter Cassella Jr.)
Wojciech Debowski	....	parking coordinator: New York
Bryan Deck	....	driver
William 'Fleet' Eakland	....	transportation coordinator
James Giblin	....	transportation coordinator: New York
Tom Gohn	....	driver
Bart Heimburger	....	picture car coordinator
Doug Hiserodt	....	driver
James Holmes	....	transportation captain
Joe Mallon	....	driver: New York
Steve H. Pape	....	driver (as Steve Pape)
Vern Porter	....	driver
Marvin LaRoy Sanders	....	driver
Dana Schisler	....	driver
Bruce Simballa	....	driver (as Bruce Simbala)
Malgorzata Soja	....	parking assistant: New York
Eric Solmonson	....	driver
Clint Yoakum	....	driver (as Clingt Yoakam)

Other crew
Julie Ashby	....	caterer: 'Cupid and Psyche' segment
Simon Babbs	....	security
Andy del Barco	....	production assistant: New York
Peter Barnett	....	caterer: Premiere Catering
Kaj. Sören Benson	....	baby buddha
Tom Bonauro	....	title designer
Ruby Burns	....	choreographer
Sara Burton	....	location manager
John Choe	....	additional typesetter
Julian Cole	....	set production assistant
Mickey Cottrell	....	publicist: production company
Connie Crabtree	....	craft service
Bob Currie	....	production assistant: New York
Beth DePatie	....	production coordinator
Terry Desylvia	....	location legal services
Tom DeWolf	....	projectionist
Jann Dryer	....	choreographer
Ann Du Val	....	legal assistant
Matthew Ebert	....	talent wrangler
Gwen Everman	....	production accountant
Susie Flenniken	....	horse trainer
Susie Flenniken	....	trainer: cowgirl riding and roping
Tommye Flenniken	....	horse trainer
Tom Forrest	....	production coordinator: New York
T. Ganden	....	set production assistant
Kris Geier	....	production assistant: New York
Sarah Girgis	....	model: Psyche, 'Cupid and Psyche' segment
Jane Goldsmith	....	script supervisor
Anne Gordon	....	animal trainer
Jamie Haggerty	....	armatures
Mary Esther Hart	....	snake wrangler
Wayne Hashman	....	assistant chef
Roger B. Henry	....	assistant to director
Cindia Huppeler	....	dialogue coach
James R. Kelly Jr.	....	production office assistant
Chris King	....	projectionist
J.W. Koch	....	weapons consultant (as JW Koch)
Christopher McEnroe	....	production assistant: New York (as Chris McEnroe)
John Memering	....	chef
Janelle Moody	....	stand-in
Keiran O'Brien	....	projectionist
Brian Odo	....	production office assistant
Jamie Oliveri	....	assistant title designer
Steven Rafael	....	unit publicist
Mary Raimondo	....	assistant production coordinator: New York
Jeri Rossi	....	production assistant: New York
Patrick Michael Ryan	....	set production assistant (as Patrick M. Ryan)
Scott Samios	....	production assistant: New York
Jerry Sanderfer	....	security (as Jerry R. Sandefer)
Gus Van Sant Sr.	....	additional accounting services
Michael J. Santoro	....	assistant chef (as Mike Santoro)
Jeff Selis	....	assistant location manager (as Jeffrey Selis)
Samuel S. Selis	....	location assistant
Jade Semiprecious	....	model: Cupid, 'Cupid and Psyche' segment (as Jade Semi-Precious)
Dawn M. Severdia	....	assistant production coordinator (as Dawn Severdia)
Siobhan	....	craft service: New York
Robert Skarsten	....	first aid
Pamela Smith	....	assistant to producer
John V. Stuckmeyer	....	completion executive
Kristin Swanson	....	production office assistant
T. Thurman	....	set production assistant
Heidi Topper	....	production assistant: New York
Paulina Torres-Anker	....	first aid
Chandler Vinar	....	security
Jerome Waag	....	production assistant: 'Cupid and Psyche' segment
Whitney J. Willard	....	assistant production accountant

Thanks
Christopher Lee	....	special thanks
Annie Leibovitz	....	special thanks (as Annie Leibowitz)
River Phoenix	....	dedicatee (as River)
Tom Robbins	....	special thanks
Gus Van Sant Sr.	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• New Line Cinema
• Fourth Vision

Distributors

• Fine Line Features (1994) (USA) (theatrical)
• Image Entertainment (1994) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Laurenfilm (1995) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Cipa (1995) (France) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• New Line Home Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• New Line Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Total Film Home Entertainment (1998) (Netherlands) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Steve Johnson's XFX (prosthetic thumbs)

Other Companies

• Albert G. Ruben and Company  insurance
• Alpha Cine Service  color (as Alpha Cine)
• Cinema Research  titles and opticals
• Clein + White  release publicity
• Colossal Studios  production facility: 'Cupid and Psyche' segment
• Completion Bond Company  completion bond
• Elder Taxidermy  stuffed squirrel
• Film House  sound re-recording
• Images of Nature  special photography: whooping cranes
• Imperial Bank  financing
• Kodak  prints
• Lichter, Nichols & Grossman  legal services
• Monaco/Interformat  titles and opticals
• Oppenheimer Cameras  camera systems (as Oppenheimer Camera)
• Pacific Grip and Lighting  grip and lighting equipment
• Premiere Catering  catering
• Premiere Catering of Oregon  catering
• Rex Recording  walla recorded at
• Saul Zaentz Film Center  sound re-recording
• Teknifilm Labs  adr recorded at

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality and some language

Runtime:

USA:95 min (DVD)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby | Dolby SR

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:M | France:U | Netherlands:16 | Spain:13 | UK:15 | USA:R | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

Bend, Oregon, USA

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

Gary Oldman was originally cast as Julian Gitche.

Quotes:

The Countess:All of us are freaks in one way or another. Try being born a male Russian Countess into a white, middle class, Baptist family in Mississippi, and you'll see what I mean.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert: Maverick/Trading Mom/The Return of Jafar/Widows' Peak/Even Cowgirls Get the Blues" (1994)

Soundtrack:

Curious Soul Astray

a little unsatisfying, but good

I liked this movie more than the other previous users here... I liked the character of Sissy, I like movies about girls who go their own way, whether they be Good Girls or Bad Girls. And I like road trip movies that travel around a lot. I have never read the book, so I don't know how close the movie is to the story or characters. The acting was a bit stilted at times, and the story left me a little empty, but for the most part I liked it, the whole freedom and traveling and feminism thing really fascinates me, I guess that's what drew me into it.