Needful Things (1993)

Director:

Fraser Clarke Heston

Writers (WGA):

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

Release Date:

27 August 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Fantasy | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Now it's time to pay!

Plot:

A mysterious new shop opens in a small town which always seems to stock the deepest desires of each shopper, with a price far heavier than expected.

Plot Keywords:

Prank | Sheriff | Devil | Pain | Small Town

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 Mae Johnston	....	set dresser
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)
Margo Kaczynska McKenzie	....	scenic artist (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)
• ELKE (1995) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Filmayer (1996) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Les Films Number One (1994) (France) (theatrical)
• UGC Distribution (1994) (France) (theatrical)
• Asso Film (video)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1994) (USA) (VHS)
• Concorde Video (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Cosmos Home Entertainment (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• EuroVideo (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
• EuroVideo (2000) (Germany) (VHS)
• Home Video Hellas (HVH) (1996) (Greece) (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
• Digital Post Services  quality assurance and world-wide servicing
• 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  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)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and strong language

Runtime:

120 min | USA:183 min (TV version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

Gibsons Landing, Gibsons, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Castle Rock Entertainment

Trivia:

Brian Rusk's mother appears in the longer, 3 hours version. In her sidestory she purchases sun glasses worn by Elvis Presley. She can still be seen in the cut version of the movie at the end wearing the sun glasses.

Goofs:

Continuity: Brain Rusk throws apples at the windows of a house. There's a shot of the boy from inside the house and there are three small flowerpots visible on the window sill. When the apple smashes the window and knocks the pots off, the pots are different ones. One is much larger and the other is a glass jar.

Quotes:

Leland Gaunt:Don't be afraid of it, Hugh. Guns don't kill people. People kill people.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Cinemania: Stephen King: O vasilias tou tromou" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Great Balls Of Fire

Faust revisited

Despite the fact that this film is based on yet another Stephen King novel, it is worth watching -- especially for the performance by Max von Sydow as the "old boy himself."

I watched the "director's cut" once on TV that had many scenes in it which were cut from the theatrical version. None of the restored scenes was especially good. It is interesting to note that practically every moment of Max von Sydow's performance is in both versions. He holds the screen with every sly look, every smooth utterance. He is a true joy to watch in this retelling of the Fause legend. It proves what a wonderful actor he is -- he has played Jesus (THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD), Ming the Merciless (FLASH GORDON), and many other parts. Playing the Devil allows him to chew the scenery in grand style.