Needful Things (1993)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Fraser Clarke Heston

Writers (WGA):

Stephen King (book)
W.D. Richter (screenplay)

Release Date:

27 August 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Now it's time to pay!

Plot:

Leland Gaunt comes to Sheriff Alan Pangborn's pleasant little New England town, and opens a store. What this kindly Satan sells is whatever you need...

Plot Keywords:

Prank | Sheriff | Devil | Satanism | Antique Shop

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Max von Sydow	...	Leland Gaunt (as Max Von Sydow)
Ed Harris	...	Sheriff Alan Pangborn
Bonnie Bedelia	...	Polly Chalmers
Amanda Plummer	...	Nettie Cobb
J.T. Walsh	...	Danforth Keeton III
Ray McKinnon	...	Deputy Norris Ridgewick
Duncan Fraser	...	Hugh Priest
Valri Bromfield	...	Wilma Jerzyck
Shane Meier	...	Brian Rusk
William Morgan Sheppard	...	Father Meehan (as W. Morgan Sheppard)
Don S. Davis	...	Reverend Rose
Campbell Lane	...	Frank Jewett
Eric Schneider	...	Henry Beaufort
Frank C. Turner	...	Pete Jerzyck
Gillian Barber	...	Myrtle Keeton
Deborah Wakeham	...	Myra
Tamsin Kelsey	...	Sheila Ratcliff
Lochlyn Munro	...	John LaPointe
Bill Croft	...	Andy Clutterbuck
Dee Jay Jackson	...	Eddie Warburton
Ann Warn Pegg	...	Ruth Roberts
Gary Paller	...	George Cobb
Sarah Sawatsky	...	14 Year Old Girl
Robert Easton	...	Lester Pratt
Mike Chute	...	Young Hugh
Mel Allen	...	Baseball Announcer
Trevor Denman	...	Race Track Announcer
K. Gin	...	Raider (as K-Gin)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lisa Blount	...	Cora Rusk (uncredited)

Directed by
Fraser Clarke Heston		(as Fraser C. Heston)

Writing credits (WGA)
Stephen King		(book)
W.D. Richter		(screenplay)

Produced by
Jack Cummins	....	producer
Gordon Mark	....	associate producer
Peter Yates	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Patrick Doyle

Cinematography by
Tony Westman		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Rob Kobrin

Casting by
Mary Gail Artz
Barbara Cohen

Production Design by
Douglas Higgins

Art Direction by
Sheila Haley

Set Decoration by
Dominique Fauquet-Lemaitre

Costume Design by
Monique Prudhomme

Makeup Department
Imelda Bain-Partin	....	assistant makeup artist
Ian C. Ballard	....	hair stylist (as Ian Ballard)
Sandy Cooper	....	makeup artist
Brian Dott	....	assistant special effects makeup artist (as Bryan Dott)
Tibor Farkas	....	special makeup effects artist
Melanie Hughes	....	makeup artist: Ms. Bedelia
Kandace Loewen	....	assistant hair stylist
Roxanne Wightman	....	hair stylist: Ms. Bedelia (as Roxanne Yahyavi)
David B. Miller	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Stewart Bethune	....	unit manager
Gordon Mark	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bonnie Benwick	....	third assistant director
Matthew Blecha	....	trainee assistant director
Anthony Brand	....	first assistant director
Sandra Mayo	....	second assistant director

Art Department
John G. Anderson	....	construction buyer (as John Anderson)
Chris Bartleman	....	storyboard artist
Wayne Berarducci	....	carpenter
Jim Burrage	....	set decoration buyer
Doug Carnegie	....	set dresser
Dave Conway	....	construction foreman
Ken Coulter	....	carpenter
Philip N. Day	....	carpenter (as Phil Day)
Ivar Dirikis	....	carpenter
Al Gunn	....	carpenter
Chris Hayward	....	stand-by painter
Erich Hepnar	....	lead greensman
Susan High	....	painter
Jennifer Hill	....	painter
Terry Jarretti	....	carpenter (as Terry Jarrette)
Philip Jean	....	carpenter (as Phil Jean)
Paul Jenkinson	....	set dresser
Della Johnston	....	set dresser (as Della Mae Johnston)
Herminio Kam	....	head scenic artist
John G. Kennedy	....	on-set dresser (as John Kennedy)
Mike Kruger	....	on-set props
Mark Lane	....	assistant set decorator
Charles Leitrants	....	construction coordinator
Philip Lunt	....	best boy greens (as Phil Lunt)
Philip Morgan	....	painter
Tony Moscovitch	....	carpenter
Vivian Nishi	....	art department trainee (as Vivien Nishi)
Rick Patterson	....	on-set dresser
Steve Pooley	....	painter
Mike Rennison	....	carpenter
Paul Rinaldi	....	carpenter
Ron Robinson	....	carpenter
David Rosychuk	....	property buyer
Mike Shoring	....	painter
Macleod Sinclaire	....	set dresser (as MacLeod Sinclaire)
Dan Sissons	....	property master
Nicholas Tattersfield	....	carpenter (as Nick Tattersfield)
Ray Taylor	....	carpenter
Elmar Theissen	....	lead hand painter
Marke K. Walker	....	carpenter (as Marke Walker)
Chris Wills	....	stand-by carpenter
Don Yanko	....	carpenter
Helen Jarvis	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Terry Weaver	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Richard L. Anderson	....	supervising sound editor
Dana Austin	....	foley recordist (as Dana A. Johnson)
Eric Batut	....	sound mixer
Matthew C. Beville	....	sound recordist
David E. Campbell	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Dave Campbell)
Mike Chock	....	dialogue editor (as Michael Chock)
Mike Chock	....	dialogue recordist (as Michael Chock)
Mike Chock	....	sound editor
Valerie Davidson	....	foley editor
Ezra Dweck	....	foley mixer
Chris Glyn-Jones	....	boom operator
John Hulsman	....	sound effects editor
Allen Hurd	....	dubbing recordist (as J. Allen Hurd)
Doc Kane	....	adr mixer (as 'Doc' Kane)
Eric Lindemann	....	sound effects editor
Nina McPeek	....	cableperson
Christopher Moriana	....	foley artist (as Chris Moreana)
Alan L. Nineberg	....	adr editor
John Pospisil	....	special sound effects
John T. Reitz	....	sound re-recording mixer (as John Reitz)
Joan Rowe	....	foley artist
Geoffrey G. Rubay	....	sound effects editor
Gregg Rudloff	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bill Sheppard	....	adr mixer
Charles Ewing Smith	....	dialogue editor (as Chuck Smith)
Charles Ewing Smith	....	dialogue recordist (as Chuck Smith)
Charles Ewing Smith	....	sound editor
Chris Sparkes	....	pdl
Ralph Stuart	....	first assistant sound editor
Norval D. Crutcher III	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jeffrey Butterworth	....	assistant special effects
Steve Davis	....	effectsman
Marty Huculiak	....	effectsman
Gary Paller	....	special effects coordinator
James Paradis	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
David Fuhrer	....	digital artist: CFC
Janek Sirrs	....	visual effects
Pete Hanson	....	studio manager: CFC (uncredited)

Stunts
Marc Akerstream	....	stunts
Brett Armstrong	....	stunts
Curt Bonn	....	stunts
Jim Broyden	....	stunts
Mike Crestejo	....	stunts
Garvin Cross	....	stunts
Jim Dunn	....	stunts
Bill Ferguson	....	stunt coordinator
Irene Ferguson	....	stunts
Yvette Ferguson	....	stunts
Delaina-Lu Ganiskin	....	stunts
Mike Godenir	....	stunts
Gene Heck	....	stunts
Marty Huculiak	....	stunts
Gary Lokken	....	stunts
David McKeown	....	stunts (as Dave McKeown)
Rick Pearce	....	stunts
Trish Schill	....	stunts
Bill Stewart	....	stunts
Rene Van Hullebush	....	stunts
Rob Wilton	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Bob Akester	....	still photographer
Kevin Black	....	grip
Ron Bowen	....	grip
Dillard Brinson	....	key grip
Richard Buckmaster	....	best boy electric (as Richard 'Bucky' Buckmaster)
Stephen S. Campanelli	....	Steadicam operator
Julian Chojnacki	....	Steadicam operator
Gavin B. Craig	....	grip (as Gavin Craig)
Robert Creese	....	focus puller
Paul Cunningham	....	generator operator
Bruce Fletcher	....	lamp operator
Gil Forrester	....	dolly grip
Tom Gregg	....	best boy grip
Einar Hansen	....	rigging gaffer
Simon Hunt	....	lamp operator
Carrie Laurin	....	camera trainee
Doug Lavender	....	camera loader
Duncan MacGregor	....	gaffer
Armin Matter	....	camera operator
James Alfred Menard	....	second camera operator (as Jim Menard)
Bruce Murray	....	lamp operator
Jeff Pentecost	....	lamp operator
Steve Ringwood	....	rigging grip
Michael Wrinch	....	focus puller: second camera (as Mike Wrinch)

Casting Department
Stuart Aikins	....	casting: Canada
Sandra Couldwell	....	extras casting
Jeff Geneau	....	extras casting assistant
Donna Lyn Greenbaum	....	casting associate: Los Angeles (as Donnalyn Greenbaum)
William Haines	....	casting associate: Vancouver (as Bill Haines)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Debbie Douglas	....	costume supervisor
Lori Kenny	....	costume cutter (as Lori Kenney)
Christina Petford	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Gloria Kaiser	....	color timer
Monique Klauer	....	assistant film editor: USA
Mark Lemmon	....	assistant film editor: Canada
Mark Solomon	....	first assistant editor: film

Music Department
Lawrence Ashmore	....	orchestrator
John Bell	....	orchestrator
Dean Beville	....	dubbing music editor
Tonia Davall	....	music contractor
Michael Dittrick	....	music editor
Gavin Greenaway	....	additional music arranger
Paul Hulme	....	score mixer (as Paul Hume)
Paul Hulme	....	score recordist (as Paul Hume)
Roy Prendergast	....	scoring music editor
Roy Prendergast	....	supervising music editor
Maggie Rodford	....	scoring coordinator
David Snell	....	conductor: orchestra
John Stronach	....	dubbing music editor
John Stronach	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Colin Banner	....	driver
Tom Evans	....	driver
Raymond Fairchild	....	transportation co-captain (as Ray Fairchild)
Dan Groseclose	....	transportation captain
Tim Jonsson	....	driver
Jack Lopatinsky	....	driver
Curt Martell	....	driver
John Martin	....	driver
Gord McMillan	....	driver
Sylvia Nablo	....	transportation coordinator
Terry Noble	....	driver
Bruce Scott	....	driver
Dale Shaben	....	driver
Sidney L. Tencarre	....	driver (as Sid Tencarre)
Steve Woods	....	driver

Other crew
Tony Angellotti	....	publicist (as Angellotti)
Paul Barry	....	location production assistant
Matt Bilski	....	assistant: Mr. Cummins
Heather Boyd	....	production coordinator
Alison Cannon	....	assistant accountant (as Alison Belanger-Cannon)
Marian Ciolfitto	....	assistant production coordinator
Christine Dore	....	production assistant
Mark Dumas	....	animal handler (as Mark Wiener)
Jamie Finn	....	accounting clerk
Elaine Fleming	....	production coordinator (as Elaine Flemming)
Gisele Fredette	....	craft service (as Giselle Fredette)
Gisele Fredette	....	first aid (as Giselle Fredette)
James Grant	....	stand-in
Dave Hardon	....	representative: Gastown Film Labs
Scott Harper	....	assistant location manager
Alison Harstedt	....	production accountant
Marilyn Heston	....	unit publicist
Jill Levy	....	assistant: Mr. Heston
Lori Lombardo	....	assistant: Mr. Cummins
Perry Marriott	....	security officer
Althea McAdam	....	stand-in
Lisa Meilen	....	production assistant
Amanda Richards	....	caterer
Heather Roscorla	....	accounting clerk
Lynda Smith	....	assistant production coordinator
Erik Strandgaard	....	caterer
Andy Thoma	....	stand-in
John Tucker	....	security officer
Jacqueline Wechselberger	....	assistant accountant (as Jacquie Wechselberger)
Murray Weissman	....	publicist (as Weissman)
Christine Wilson	....	script supervisor
Steve Wright	....	helicopter pilot

Thanks
Mark Isaac	....	the producers wish to thank

Production Companies

• Castle Rock Entertainment (presents)
• New Line Cinema (in association with)

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1993) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cipa (1994) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (1994) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Filmayer (1996) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Asso Film (video)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• EuroVideo (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
• EuroVideo (2000) (Germany) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (1994) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• LK-TEL (1994) (Argentina) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2002) (Canada) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• New Line Home Video (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• PolyGram Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• PolyGram Video (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• United Video (199?) (Germany) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Computer Film Company, The (CFC) (sky replacements, energy bursts)

Other Companies

• Air Studios  music scored at (as Air Studios, London)
• Arlene Fishbach Enterprises  music consultant
• Avid  edited on
• Buena Vista Sound  re-recorded by
• Computer Film Company, The (CFC)  opticals
• Critic's Choice  catering (as Critics Choice Caterers)
• D. Bassett & Associates  negative cutting (as D. Bassett & Associates)
• Deborah Ross Film Design  titles designed by
• Direct Travel of California  travel services provided by
• Film Finances Canada  completion bond provided by (as Film Finances, Inc.)
• Gastown Film Labs  film processing
• Gastown Post and Transfer  film-to-tape transfers by
• Loop Sex  group adr
• Major League Baseball Properties  licensed by (the Major League baseball trademarks depicted in this motion picture)
• Motion Picture Studio Production Technicians I.A.T.S.E. Local 891  sincere appreciation to (as the Motion Picture Studio Technicians, I.A.T.S.E. Local 891, Vancouver, Canada)
• North Shore Studios  producers wish to thank (as North Shore Studio)
• Pacific Title  opticals
• Pacific Title  titles produced by
• Panavision Canada  cameras and lenses (as Panavision®)
• People of Gibsons Landing, B.C., The  producers wish to thank
• Sharpe Sound Studios  additional re-recording at (as Sharpe Sound, Vancouver, B.C.)
• Technicolor  prints by (as Technicolor®, Inc.)
• Vancouver Helicopter  aerial photography (as Vancouver Helicopters)
• Varèse Sarabande  original soundtrack available on (as Varèse Sarabande Compact Discs and Cassettes)
• Weissman/Angelotti  publicity (as Weissman/Angellotti)

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Netherlands:16 (DVD rating) | Norway:15 | Spain:18 | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #32447)

Filming Locations:

Gibsons Landing, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Castle Rock Entertainment

Trivia:

The Spanish title of the film is "La Tienda de los deseos malignos", which translates to "The Shop of Malignant Desires."

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In the first scene with the Mercedes-Benz 300 old-timer, the (brake) lights of the filming car is visible in the chrome of the bumper.

Quotes:

Leland Gaunt: SHOOT THEM!
[Alan Pangborn fires his pistol in the air instead]
Leland Gaunt: OH YOU WUSSY!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Joe Bob's Drive-In Theater: Viki Williamson Night" (1995)

Soundtrack:

Achy Breaky Heart

Adaptation begging for more

Needful Things (the movie) revolves around the fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine. A businessman named Leland Gaunt played adequately by Max Von Sydow opens a small antiques type store called "Needful Things" and has some very unique and special items for certain folks in the town. His only purpose to be in town is to wreak havoc with the folks in Castle Rock. He does this by trading special goods for certain pranks from the city people turning everyone against each other and poisoning their town. I think it's important to try and separate a movie from it's source...in this case the unequaled Stephen King Novel. Unfortunately I finished the novel hours before watching the movie adaptation which must bring the inevitable comparisons. I do believe even on it's own, the movie lacks something...character development. We don't know anything about these people, and for being a Stephen King story this is unfathomable. King always spends hundreds and hundreds of pages getting us to delve into a town, it's people, each person and all their personalities. This film attempts to ignore all that and go straight to the root of the story which is an ancient evil (in this case made plainly out to be the devil) who wants to destroy this town. King created Needful Things in part to destroy elaborately his creation that is Castle Rock, the film simply wanted to take the so called best parts of that and recreate it. This film is not as good as it should be in part because of the fickle nature of movie goers who can't stand to sit in a theatre for longer than 1 hour 30 minutes. For justice this film would have to be a mini series of a MINIMUM of 4 hours. The plus sides were most definitely the cast. Ed Harris played a strong, and powerful Alan Pangborn and Bonnie Bedelia was an intriguing yet sadly underused Polly. Sydow played a decent Leland Gaunt although the script could have done so much more for him. The supporting cast including JT Walsh as the already off balance Danforth (Buster) Keaton was nicely done. The film just left me begging and crying for a full adaptation from the book. I understand the writer or writers attempted to pull together the best they could but they fell short from an incredible book that has too many important elements that were left out. The film is enjoyable and probably moreso if you haven't read the book. It just always feels like it's missing something. It's worth checking out especially if you enjoy King movies. 6/10