It Could Happen to You (1994)

Director:

Andrew Bergman

Writer (WGA):

Jane Anderson (written by)

Release Date:

29 July 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A cop. A waitress. A lottery ticket.

Plot:

A police officer promises to share his lottery ticket with a waitress in lieu of a tip.

Plot Keywords:

Lottery | Waitress | Money | Police Officer | Ticket

Cast

Nicolas Cage	...	Charlie Lang
Bridget Fonda	...	Yvonne Biasi
Rosie Perez	...	Muriel Lang
Wendell Pierce	...	Bo Williams
Isaac Hayes	...	Angel Dupree
Víctor Rojas	...	Jesu
Seymour Cassel	...	Jack Gross
Stanley Tucci	...	Eddie Biasi
J.E. Freeman	...	Sal Bontempo
Red Buttons	...	Walter Zakuto
Richard Jenkins	...	C. Vernon Hale
Robert Dorfman	...	Walter
Charles Busch	...	Timothy
Beatrice Winde	...	Judge
Ginny Yang	...	Mrs. Sun
Rene Rivera	...	Julio
Angel David	...	Esteban
Anna Lobell	...	Korean Deli Customer
Claudia Shear	...	Muriel's Customer
Jimmy Sabater	...	Fry Cook
Merwin Goldsmith	...	Bankruptcy Judge
Vincent Pastore	...	Bowling Team Member #1
Barry Squitieri	...	Bowling Team Member #2
Phil Stein	...	Bowling Team Member #3
Jerome Turner	...	Bowling Team Member #4
George J. Manos	...	Loto Official
Edward Goldstein	...	Candy Store Owner
Emily Deschanel	...	Paint Throwing Fur-Activist
Willie Colón	...	Mayor
Ranjit Chowdhry	...	Mr. Patel
Pedro Pietri	...	Homeless Man in Coffee Shop (as Reverend Pedro Pietri)
Charles B. Lowlicht	...	Passersby at Subway Station #1
Jed Krascella	...	Passersby at Subway Station #2
Bob Sheppard	...	Yankee Stadium Announcer
Frank Pellegrino	...	Water's Edge Maitre D'
Kathleen McNenny	...	Plaza Desk Clerk
John Louis Fischer	...	Plaza Bellhop
Kaipo Schwab	...	Plaza Bellhop
Candece Tarpley	...	Bo's Wife
Emena C. Santiago	...	Bo's Daughter
Angela Pietropinto	...	Jury Foreperson
Mina Bern	...	Muriel's Neighbour
Feiga Martinez	...	Jesu's Mom
John Norman Thomas	...	Mr. Muktananda
John R. Russell	...	Blind Beggar
Ann Dowd	...	Carol
Kay Tong Lim	...	Sun
Jack Cafferty	...	Television Reporter
Budd Mishkin	...	Television Reporter
Carl White	...	Television Reporter
Cheryl Washington	...	Television Reporter
Peter Jacobson	...	Television Reporter
Douglas Bernstein	...	Television Reporter
Phil Parolisi	...	Television Reporter
Amy Atkins	...	Television Reporter
Alan Muraoka	...	Television Reporter
Laury Marker	...	Television Reporter
Felipe Luciano	...	Television Reporter
Brenda Pressley	...	Television Reporter
Ellen Lancaster	...	Television Reporter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Julia Campanelli	...	Bowler's Wife (uncredited)
Edward B. Goldstein	...	Candy Store Owner (uncredited)
Jos Laniado	...	Businessman (uncredited)
Alma Martinez	...	Juror (uncredited)
Nick Taylor	...	News Man (uncredited)
George Vincent	...	Cab Driver (uncredited)
Peter Yellen	...	Saxaphone Player (uncredited)

Directed by
Andrew Bergman

Writing credits (WGA)
Jane Anderson		(written by)

Produced by
Gary Adelson	....	executive producer
Craig Baumgarten	....	executive producer
Joseph Hartwick	....	executive producer
Mike Lobell	....	producer

Original Music by
Carter Burwell

Cinematography by
Caleb Deschanel		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Barry Malkin

Casting by
John S. Lyons		(as John Lyons)

Production Design by
Bill Groom

Art Direction by
Dennis Bradford

Set Decoration by
George DeTitta Jr.

Costume Design by
Julie Weiss

Makeup Department
Alan D'Angerio	....	key hair stylist
Francesca Paris	....	hair stylist
Lizbeth Williamson	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Richard Baratta	....	assistant unit production manager
Joseph Hartwick	....	unit production manager
Paul A. Levin	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Julie A. Bloom	....	second second assistant director
Henry Bronchtein	....	first assistant director
Michael DeCasper	....	second assistant director
Christopher Surgent	....	trainee assistant director (as Chris Surgent)
Jeff Habberstad	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Martin Bernstein	....	construction coordinator
Roland Brooks	....	chargeman scenic artist
Donald Caruthers	....	storyboard artist
Gerald DeTitta	....	lead man (as Gerald A. DeTitta)
Kathleen Dolan	....	assistant property master (as Kathleen M. Dolan)
Laura Lambert	....	art department assistant
Nicholas Lundy	....	assistant art director
Ann Miller	....	property master
Maria Nay	....	art department coordinator
James Neill	....	shop manager
Christopher Nelson	....	set dresser
Joseph Alfieri	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Henry Antonacchio	....	carpenter foreman (uncredited)
Brick Mason	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)
John Ralbovsky	....	scenic foreman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Andy Aaron	....	sound effects recordist
Gary Alper	....	sound mixer
Laura Civiello	....	dialogue editor
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist (as Marko Costanzo)
Lee Dichter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Frank Kern	....	foley editor
Michael Kirchberger	....	supervising sound editor
Dan Korintus	....	dialogue editor
Tony Martinez	....	adr editor
Jane McCulley	....	adr editor
Michael W. Mitchell	....	apprentice sound editor
James H. Nau	....	assistant adr editor
Bitty O'Sullivan-Smith	....	dialogue editor
Eliza Paley	....	foley editor
Bruce Pross	....	foley supervisor
Mike Schmidt	....	cable person
Mike Schmidt	....	sound recordist
Warren Shaw	....	assistant sound editor
Paul P. Soucek	....	sound editor
Marc-Jon Sullivan	....	boom operator (as Marc Jon Sullivan)
Michael J. Wechsler	....	apprentice sound editor

Special Effects by
Al Griswold	....	special effects (as Albert Griswold)
Bill Traynor	....	special effects (as William Traynor)

Visual Effects by
Janos Pilenyi	....	opticals

Stunts
Steven Arvanites	....	stunts
Peter Bucossi	....	stunts
John Cenatiempo	....	stunts
Gary Cerveny	....	stunts
Michael Dane	....	stunts
Norman Douglass	....	stunts
Tim Gallin	....	stunts
Deborah Habberstad	....	stunts
Jeff Habberstad	....	stunt coordinator
Don Hewitt	....	stunts
Jeffrey H. Kaufman	....	stunts
Suzanne Klein	....	stunts
Mike Lisenco	....	stunts
Jim Lovelett	....	stunts
John Patrick McLaughlin	....	stunts (as Jack McLaughlin)
Michael Russo	....	stunts
Manny Siverio	....	stunts
Paul Sklar	....	stunts
Alex Stevens	....	stunts
Gary Tacon	....	stunts
Jeff Ward	....	stunts
Gregg Smrz	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Myles Aronowitz	....	still photographer
James R. Belletier	....	second assistant camera (as James Belletier)
Ted Churchill	....	Steadicam operator
Thomas Jirgal	....	best boy grip (as Casey Jirgal)
Henry Lynk	....	camera operator
Patrick McGrath	....	dolly grip
Mike Miller	....	key grip (as Michael Miller)
Greg Quinlan	....	best boy electric (as Gregory Quinlan)
Richard Quinlan	....	gaffer
Scott Rathner	....	assistant camera
Kurt E. Soderling	....	aerial assistant camera
Howard Weiner	....	video assistant
Joe Collins	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Raymond Fortune	....	electrician (uncredited)
Michael 'Flash' McDonald	....	electrician (uncredited)
David Norris	....	camera technician: Wescam camera (uncredited)
Andres L. Porras	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Leigh Rathner	....	camera production assistant (uncredited)
Frank Rinato	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)
Dustin Smith	....	grip (uncredited)
Phillip Todd	....	film loader (uncredited)

Casting Department
David Diamond	....	casting associate
Judie Fixler	....	extras casting
Christine Sheaks	....	casting associate
Todd M. Thaler	....	extras casting (as Todd Thaler)
David H. Kramer	....	adr voice casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Timothy Alberts	....	costumer (as Timothy J. Alberts)
Kevin P. Faherty	....	costume supervisor: men (as Kevin Faherty)
Sally Kruteck	....	wardrobe shopper
Suzanne Schwarzer	....	assistant costume designer
Melissa Stanton	....	costume supervisor: women

Editorial Department
Sam Adelman	....	first assistant editor
James Brown	....	post-production assistant
Marc Cohen	....	second assistant editor
David Orr	....	color timer
Joe Violante	....	dailies supervisor

Music Department
Peter Afterman	....	music supervisor
Thomas S. Drescher	....	music editor
Shari Johanson	....	assistant music editor (as Shari Schwartz)
Todd Kasow	....	music editor
Sonny Kompanek	....	orchestrator
Frank Macchia	....	music preparation
Joe Mulherin	....	composer: original source music
Jeffrey Pollack	....	music consultant
Nick Vidar	....	music programmer
John Moses	....	musician: clarinet (uncredited)
James Thatcher	....	musician: french horn (uncredited)
Elizabeth Wendel	....	associate music supervisor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Thomas Reilly	....	transportation captain
Patrick Hogan	....	transportation captain: second unit (uncredited)

Other crew
Alexis Alexanian	....	production coordinator
Jacob Bergman	....	production assistant
Kenneth G. Brown	....	production assistant
John Carrafa	....	choreographer
Betty Chin	....	assistant production coordinator
Mara Hade Connolly	....	assistant accountant
Drew Dillard	....	assistant location manager
Alston Geer	....	production assistant
Steve Herman	....	caterer
Jason Imber	....	production assistant
Jason Kasperski	....	production assistant
Diane L. Langone	....	post-production accountant (as Diane Langone)
Amy Lauritsen	....	production assistant
Jeff Levine	....	assistant: Mr. Cage
Peter Lombardi	....	production accountant
Thomas Meehan	....	production assistant (as Thomas A. Meehan)
Stuart Meltzer	....	assistant: Mr. Bergman
Cyril O'Neill	....	production assistant
David Penotti	....	production assistant
Jennifer Phillips	....	assistant: Mr. Lobell
Gregory Routt	....	location assistant
Lisa M. Rowe	....	production assistant (as Lisa Rowe)
Robin F. Samson	....	location scout (as Robin Samson)
Nina Saxon	....	title designer
Alysa Shwedel	....	production assistant
Betsy Sokolow	....	unit publicist
Robin Squibb	....	script supervisor
Pamela Thur	....	location manager
Douglas Tirola	....	location manager
Tom Yeager	....	production assistant
Joseph Zolfo	....	production assistant
John D. Bair	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Jodi Shapera	....	second assistant accountant (uncredited)
Zach Wolf	....	adr loop group (uncredited)

Production Companies

• TriStar Pictures (presents)

Distributors

• TriStar Pictures (1994) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film (1994) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (1994) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film Distributors (1994) (UK) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (1994) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (1995) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de España (1995) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1998) (USA) (TV)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (1999) (UK) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (1999) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1996) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1998) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1995) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1995) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (199?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Phonovision (1995) (UK) (video) (laserdisc)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2010) (Germany) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2012) (Australia) (DVD)

Other Companies

• CRM Group Inc.  wescam aerial services
• Columbia Records  soundtrack
• Nina Saxon Film Design  titles
• Pacific Studios Inc.  chromatrans background
• Sound One  post-production facilities (as Sound One Corporation)
• T.A.B. Inc.  negative cutting

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild language and a scene of cop action

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby | SDDS | Dolby SR

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:K-8 | Peru:PT | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | Norway:7 | Canada:PG | Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Germany:6 | Netherlands:6

Filming Locations:

Bethsheba Terrace, Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

TriStar Pictures

Trivia:

The movie is based on the true story of Phyllis Penzo and Officer Robert Cunningham. For twenty-four years, Penzo served as a waitress at Sal's Pizzeria in Yonkers, New York. Cunningham, a thirty-year veteran of the police force in nearby Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., was a regular customer at the restaurant, well-liked by the staff there. (His favorite dish was linguine with clams.) One day in March, 1984, Cunningham asked Penzo for help picking his weekly lottery numbers. Penzo suggested three numbers, and Cunningham came up with three more numbers on his own. Cunningham jokingly promised that if he won, he would split the winnings with Penzo as a tip. The next day, to Penzo's surprise, Cunningham and his wife came to the diner with the winning lottery ticket in hand. Cunningham's ticket had won $6 million, which he split with Penzo, giving her $3 million. In real life, however (as stated in a disclaimer at the end of the movie), Cunningham and Penzo were both happily married to other people for many years.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: At approximately 1:06 just after the scene when Eddy shows up in Yvonne's apartment, the scene switches to Charlie and Muriel's place. A microphone dips into the picture in the upper left corner and then again just to the right of the first appearance.

Quotes:

Charlie Lang:Meatball! That's what I want!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Critic: Siskel & Ebert & Jay & Alice (#2.2)" (1995)

Soundtrack:

Young at Heart

"Cop Gives Waitress $2 Million Tip!" was working title

I've read that,among other people,critic Roger Ebert liked the afore-mentioned title for this movie as opposed to the name it actually got. Am I alone in the only one who thinks that the original title was NOT a good idea? Think about it:how easily would the title of above roll of the tongue when discussing movies or going to the ticket window? Titles that have indirect subjects in their sentences to me,seem like they're trying to test the memory of the viewer wanting to see the film as much as they are trying to get his or her attention.

OK,'nuff said about that.

As for the movie: Unapologetically sweet,this is one part fairy-tale,one part morality lesson(like those two elements COULDN'T be one and the same thing!),using none other than the Big Apple as its backdrop.

Honest beat cop Charlie Lang(Nicolas Cage in possibly one of the least conflicted and cleanest character portrayals he's given)is short of change one day and,while stopping for coffee at a street diner,uses in lieu of a tip,part of his lottery ticket to the harried but pretty and good-natured waitress(Bridget Fonda,in a word:likable). When that ticket wins a large,metro-area jackpot,Charlie does the right thing and splits his portion of the winnings with the waitress,who needs that money desperately: she's in debt to her ears and has a mooch of an ex-husband(Stanley Tucci)who won't leave her alone. This act of generosity does not sit well at all with Charlie's vain wife Muriel(a screechy,believable Rosie Perez),who eventually acts to have Charlie--and in the process Yvonne the waitress--cut from the winnings entirely.

People who like to complain that movies these days have no sense of either morality or sentimentality would be wisely steered in the direction of this flick. Even though it's over a decade old,it's story is easily transferable and,while I am usually loathe to suggest remakes,would actually be receptive to a remake of this film(provided the screenwriter and director were willing to change some elements of the story,like location,circumstances or even genders). A film that seems to have been made by the ghost of Frank Capra,who would've been possessing Andrew Bergman(who successfully directed Mr.CAge in "HOneymoon in Vegas" a few years before). A good rent for anyone who likes a little sentimentality in their comedy.