Short Cuts (1993)

Director:

Robert Altman

Writers (WGA):

Raymond Carver (writings)
Robert Altman (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

1 October 1993 (Italy)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Short Cuts raises the roof on America

Plot:

The day-to-day lives of a number of suburban Los Angeles residents.

Plot Keywords:

Medfly | Concert | Fishing | Drink | Lie

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 23 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Andie MacDowell	...	Ann Finnigan
Bruce Davison	...	Howard Finnigan
Jack Lemmon	...	Paul Finnigan
Zane Cassidy	...	Casey Finnigan
Julianne Moore	...	Marian Wyman
Matthew Modine	...	Dr. Ralph Wyman
Anne Archer	...	Claire Kane
Fred Ward	...	Stuart Kane
Jennifer Jason Leigh	...	Lois Kaiser
Chris Penn	...	Jerry Kaiser
Joseph C. Hopkins	...	Joe Kaiser
Josette Maccario	...	Josette Kaiser
Lili Taylor	...	Honey Bush
Robert Downey Jr.	...	Bill Bush
Madeleine Stowe	...	Sherri Shepard
Tim Robbins	...	Gene Shepard
Cassie Friel	...	Sandy Shepard
Dustin Friel	...	Will Shepard
Austin Friel	...	Austin Shepard
Lily Tomlin	...	Doreen Piggot
Tom Waits	...	Earl Piggot
Frances McDormand	...	Betty Weathers
Peter Gallagher	...	Stormy Weathers
Jarrett Lennon	...	Chad Weathers
Annie Ross	...	Tess Trainer / Vocals - Annie Ross & The Low Note Quintet
Lori Singer	...	Zoe Trainer / Cello - The Trout Quintet
Lyle Lovett	...	Andy Bitkower
Buck Henry	...	Gordon Johnson
Huey Lewis	...	Vern Miller
Danny Darst	...	Aubrey Bell
Margery Bond	...	Dora Willis (as Margerie Bond)
Robert DoQui	...	Knute Willis (as Robert Do'Qui)
Darnell Williams	...	Joe Robbins
Michael Beach	...	Jim Stone
Andi Chapman	...	Harriet Stone
Deborah Falconer	...	Barbara
Susie Cusack	...	Nancy
Charles Rocket	...	Wally Littleton
Jane Alden	...	Mrs. Schwartzmeier
Christian Altman	...	Jimmy Miller
William H.D. Marlett	...	Jimmy's Friend (as Willie Marlett)
Dirk Blocker	...	Diner Customer
Suzanne Calvert	...	Tarmac Secretary
Natalie Strong	...	Mourner
Jay Della	...	Bartender
Jeri Gray	...	Club Owner (as Jeruth Persson)
Derek Webster	...	Joe Robbins' Pal
Nathaniel Harris	...	Joe Robbins' Pal (as Nathaniel H. Harris III)
Alex Trebek	...	Himself
Jerry Dunphy	...	Himself
Terry Adams	...	Piano - Annie Ross & The Low Note Quintet
Bobby Previte	...	Drums - Annie Ross & The Low Note Quintet
Greg Cohen	...	Bass - Annie Ross & The Low Note Quintet
Gene Estes	...	Vibes - Annie Ross & The Low Note Quintet
Bruce Fowler	...	Trombone - Annie Ross & The Low Note Quintet
Stuart Canin	...	1st Violin - The Trout Quintet
Anatoly Rosinsky	...	Violin - The Trout Quintet
Roland Kato	...	Viola - The Trout Quintet
Armen Guzelimian	...	Piano - The Trout Quintet
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Damon Charles	...	Makeup Teacher (uncredited)
Andrew Levinson	...	Bill Bush's Model (uncredited)
Ron McPherson	...	Makeup Artist (uncredited)
Derek Raser	...	Helicopter Pilot (uncredited)
Pamela Roth	...	Makeup Model (uncredited)
Dani Shear	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Ken Twohy	...	The Cook (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Altman

Writing credits (WGA)
Raymond Carver		(writings)
Robert Altman		(screenplay) &
Frank Barhydt		(screenplay)

Produced by
Cary Brokaw	....	producer
Scott Bushnell	....	executive producer
Mike Kaplan	....	associate producer
David Levy	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Mark Isham

Cinematography by
Walt Lloyd		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Suzy Elmiger
Geraldine Peroni

Production Design by
Stephen Altman

Art Direction by
Jerry Fleming

Set Decoration by
Susan Emshwiller		(as Susan J. Emshwiller)

Costume Design by
John Hay

Makeup Department
Dee Dee Altamura	....	hair stylist
Dee Dee Altamura	....	makeup artist
Theo Mayes	....	hair supervisor
Theo Mayes	....	makeup supervisor
Damon Charles	....	prosthetic makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Diana Pokorny	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Allan F. Nicholls	....	first assistant director (as Allan Nicholls)
Jeff Rafner	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Peter Borck	....	leadman
Randall M. Boyd	....	swing gang
John Bucklin	....	construction coordinator (as John E. Bucklin)
Kelly Deco	....	scenic paint foreman
Stoney Emshwiller	....	swing gang (as Peter R. Emshwiller)
James Foley	....	second assistant props
Meg Freeman	....	artist: Marian's paintings
Joseph W. Grafmuller	....	swing gang (as Joseph Grafmuller)
Michelle Guastello	....	art department coordinator
Gordon E. Holmes	....	carpenter (as Gordon Holmes)
Kate Long	....	swing gang
Josh Lusby	....	art department assistant (as Joshua Lusby)
Anthony Maccario	....	property master
William Maccario	....	assistant property master
Ronald Price	....	swing gang (as Ronald D. Price Jr.)
David Ronan	....	on set dresser
Daniel C. Rothenberg	....	swing gang (as Daniel Rothenberg)
Jay Schmidt	....	assistant painter (as Jay G. Schmidt)
Wayne Springfield	....	construction foreman
Dan Whifler	....	carpenter (as Daniel Whifler)

Sound Department
Michael Barry	....	sound re-recording mixer
Miriam Biderman	....	foley editor
Elisha Birnbaum	....	foley artist
Marko A. Costanzo	....	additional foley
Margaret Crimmins	....	sound effects editor
Elliot Deitch	....	dialogue editor (as Elliot Dietch)
Lee Dichter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Geeta Gandbhir	....	apprentice sound editor
John Glaeser	....	cable puller
Frank Kern	....	additional foley
George A. Lara	....	foley recordist
Julie Lindner	....	assistant sound editor
Barry Malawski	....	apprentice sound editor
Eliza Paley	....	supervising sound editor
John Pritchett	....	production sound mixer
Bruce Pross	....	additional foley
Joel Shryack	....	boom operator
Paul P. Soucek	....	additional sound effects
Ira Spiegel	....	supervising dialogue editor
Jeffrey Stern	....	dialogue editor
Zeborah Tidwell	....	assistant sound editor

Special Effects by
John C. Hartigan	....	special effects
Chris Nelson	....	special effects

Stunts
Greg Walker	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Reed Altman	....	first assistant camera
James Babineaux	....	best boy electric
George M. Chappell	....	electrician
Beth Cotter	....	second assistant camera
James A. Earley	....	grip (as James Earley)
Jack English	....	gaffer
Kevin Fahey	....	grip (as Kevin J. Fahey)
Michael James Fahey	....	best boy grip (as Michael J. Fahey)
Scott Graves	....	electrician
Christopher Lyons	....	electrician
Anthony T. Marra II	....	key grip
Michael A. McFadden	....	grip
Daniel Murphy	....	electrician
Joyce Rudolph	....	still photographer
Wayne Stroud	....	dolly grip
Claire Sutherland	....	film loader (as Claire M. Sutherland)
Alexander Witt	....	helicopter camera operator
Steve Graves	....	rigger (uncredited)

Casting Department
Lesa Lotito	....	casting associate (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Angela Billows	....	wardrobe supervisor
Amy Endries	....	wardrobe assistant
Timothy A. Wonsik	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Jade Altman	....	apprentice editor
Charles Cooper	....	apprentice editor
Jeffrey Cranford	....	assistant editor
Sandra Kaufman	....	first assistant editor
David Leonard	....	first assistant editor
Mike Stanwick	....	color timer (as Michael Stanwick)
Dylan Tichenor	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Evan Greenspan	....	music clearances (as Evan M. Greenspan)
Mark Isham	....	performer: music score
Susan Jacobs	....	music coordinator
Stephen Krause	....	music score mixer
Stephen Krause	....	music score recordist
Eric Liljestrand	....	music mixer
Eric Liljestrand	....	music recordist
David Speltz	....	performer: music score
Hal Willner	....	music producer
Ladd McIntosh	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Alonzo Brown Jr.	....	driver
Bruce Callahan	....	driver
C. David Earle	....	driver
Steve Earle	....	driver
Don Feeney	....	driver
Scotty Goudreau	....	driver (as Scott Goudreau)
Gil Hayes	....	driver
David Joseph	....	driver
Derek Raser	....	transportation coordinator
William Mark Spencer	....	driver
J.T. Thayer	....	transportation captain (as J.T. Thayer II)
Earl Thielen	....	driver (as Earl V. Thielen)
Tracy Thielen	....	driver
Gregg Willis	....	driver (as Greg Willis)

Other crew
Chris Armstrong	....	assistant locations (as Christopher Armstrong)
Nick Berreau	....	production assistant (as Nick Bereau)
Joshua Winfield Binder	....	set medic (as Joshua W. Binder)
Angie Bonner	....	production assistant
Paul D. Boydston	....	location manager
Leicia Chan	....	second assistant accountant
Celia Converse	....	representative: Sandcastle 5
Signe Corriere	....	researcher
Steve Day	....	production assistant (as Steven Day)
Kimberly Edwards	....	production accountant (as Kimberly Edwards Shapiro)
Shannon Fopeano	....	production assistant (as Sharon Dobson)
Meg Freeman	....	source: Marian's paintings
Judy Geletko	....	additional accounting services
Shelly Glasser	....	production coordinator
Sheri Halfon	....	financial representative: Avenue
Toya Hankins	....	production assistant
Kristy Herr	....	assistant coordinator
Michael Hubert	....	production assistant
Jack Kney	....	location manager
Danielle Knight	....	assistant: Cary Brokaw
Luca Kouimelis	....	script supervisor
Cheryl Kurk	....	assistant accountant
James McLindon	....	assistant: Robert Altman
Mario Ontal	....	intern
Robert Pollack	....	craft service
Tom Russ	....	production assistant
Brett Schlaman	....	production assistant
Cornelius Schultze-Kraft	....	production assistant
Carl Shimkin	....	production assistant
Danielle Sotet	....	post-production accountant
Terry Trebilcock	....	craft service
Barbara Wansbrough	....	production assistant
Randall Balsmeyer	....	title designer (uncredited)
Bundy Chanock	....	set medic (uncredited)
Debbie Nathanson	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Ken Twohy	....	intern (uncredited)

Thanks
Don Bachardy	....	special thanks
Ira Deutchman	....	special thanks
John Dorr	....	special thanks
Stephen P. Dunn	....	special thanks (as Steve Dunn)
Terry Ellis	....	special thanks
Marianne Faithfull	....	special thanks
Tess Gallagher	....	special thanks
Paul Hutchinson	....	special thanks
Kate Hyman	....	special thanks
Alice 'A.J. The Clown' Jones	....	special thanks
Michael Kirchberger	....	special thanks
Luzmarie 'Jellybean The Clown' Quintana	....	special thanks
Steve Trombatore	....	special thanks: All Payments Services

Production Companies

• Fine Line Features (presents)
• Spelling Films International (in association with)
• Avenue Pictures Productions (as Avenue Pictures)

Distributors

• Fine Line Features (1993) (USA) (theatrical) (as FineLine Features)
• Artificial Eye (1994) (UK) (theatrical)
• Bac Films (1994) (France) (theatrical)
• Laurenfilm (1994) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Monopole-Pathé (1994) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Nihon Herald Eiga (1994) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Senator Film (1994) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2005) (Canada) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (1994) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Criterion Collection, The (USA) (laserdisc)
• PlayArte Home Vídeo (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Senator Home Entertainment (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
• Wild Side Vidéo (2004) (France) (DVD) (special edition)

Other Companies

• All Payments Services  special thanks
• BMG Music  original soundtrack records (as BMG)
• Balsmeyer and Everett  titles (as Balsmeyer & Everett, Inc.)
• Bill Dance Casting  extras casting
• Completion Bond Company  completion bond (as The Completion Bond Company, Inc.)
• DDA Public Relations (DDA)  publicity (as Dennis Davidson Assoc., Inc.)
• DiC Enterprises  courtesy: Captain Planet and the Planeteers (as Dic Enterprises, Inc.)
• Frankfurt, Garbus, Kurnit, Klein & Selz  legal services
• Hometime Video Publicity  courtesy: Hometime clip
• Imago Records  original soundtrack record (as The Imago Recording Company)
• Imago Records  special thanks
• Inter Video  24 frame video services (uncredited)
• KCAL-TV  the producers would like to thank: for its kind cooperation during the production of this motion picture
• Kalish/Davidson Marketing Inc.  marketing
• Kim's Critters  animal trainer
• Kirby Vacuums  special thanks
• Le Mobile Remote Recording Studios  music recording
• Meibach Epstein and Regis  business affairs (as Meibach Epstein & Regis, Inc.)
• Multimedia Entertainment Inc.  courtesy: Donahue excerpts
• On Location Security  location security
• PMK Public Relations  publicity (as PMK, Inc.)
• QVC Network  courtesy: Yves Rocher and The Cook
• Rick Brainin Catering Inc.  caterer
• Sherman Clay Pianos  special thanks
• Sinclair, Tenenbaum & Co. Inc.  legal services (as Sinclair, Tenenbaum & Company)
• Slingerland  creator: Bobby Previte's drums
• Sound One Corporation  re-recording facilities (as Sound One Corp.)
• Sunrise Films  negative cutter (as Sunrise Film, Inc.)
• TBS Productions Inc.  courtesy: Captain Planet and the Planeteers
• The Daiwa Bank Ltd.  financing (as Daiwa Bank)
• Thomas Bros Maps  special thanks
• Troma Entertainment  courtesy: Monsters in the Closet clip (as Troma, Inc.)
• Vintage Books - Randomhouse  publisher: Short Cuts by Raymond Carver paperback (as Vintage Books)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for graphic sexual language, and for nudity

Runtime:

187 min | Argentina:190 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby (as Dolby Stereo) | 70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints)

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Finland:K-14 | France:U | Germany:16 | Israel:PG | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R (PCA #32910) | Portugal:M/16 | Norway:15 | Iceland:16 | New Zealand:M | Peru:14

Filming Locations:

Bronson Caves, Bronson Canyon, Griffith Park - 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Fine Line Features

Trivia:

The film was shot in 10 weeks. Each storyline was filmed in weekly divisions.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Honey and Gordon eye each other suspiciously after mixing up their photo envelopes, they try to find identifying information on each other. Gordon repeats the phone number he sees on Jerry Kaiser's car to remember it better, however the last 4 digits of number he is repeating differ from the actual phone number on Kaiser's car.

Quotes:

Sherri Shepard:Wouldn't it be a trip if Alex Trebek bought a nude painting of me?

Movie Connections:

References "Slimer! And the Real Ghostbusters" (1988)

Soundtrack:

I Don't Know You

This then, is a rare gem: A Hollywood movie of artistic enormity.

After watching this film one thing I was left with was a feeling of tremendous euphoria, a glowing feeling which lasted well into the next morning. I could not help but think that this collage of events in the lives of 22 people in sunny LA was realism. Not the harsh gritty realism of 'Taxi Driver', but a different realism. This movie is who we are, as people. This movie chronicles the emotions we may have when confronted with a persistent crank caller, or the lingering suspicion of a partner's affair. And the acerbic intelligence of the script is tempered with director Altman's stunning technical virtuosity.

The style is very pastiche, and one scene cuts to another, as the title suggests, with reckless abandon. This lends a very fresh and watchable quality to what is by any standards a long film. While most of the characters never meet, the movie is given shape by the connections between scenes. The connections are of two kinds: thematic connections for which the credit goes to the script, and also visual connections whereby the direction and editing employed by Altman allow him to create recurring imagery with which he weaves the sprawling, kicking constituent bits and pieces of this movie together. This style works very well indeed and at the end of the film, miraculously you are left not with the impression of having just watched a series of 'short cuts', but something entirely more holistic in nature.

There was not a false note in the acting and the star-studded cast did great justice to a remarkable script. The casting is flawless, from Tim Robbins' adulterous cop to Julianne Moore's adulterous painter. The camera-work is refreshing in its fluidity and control, transmitting an intense watchability. However many feelings there are in the human emotional vocabulary (and I am sure there are a fair few), it seems that 'Short Cuts' is somehow able, in the course of three hours, to display (in the actors) and evoke (in the audience), each and every one of them. For those who are of the belief that modern Hollywood is unable to produce films of artistic merit, watch this movie now or hold your peace forever.