Radioland Murders (1994)

Director:

Mel Smith

Writers (WGA):

George Lucas (story)
Willard Huyck (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

21 October 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Musical | Mystery | Romance

Tagline:

At station WBN, the hits just keep on coming.

Plot:

In 1939, WBN, a fourth radio network, is about to take to America's airwaves. As if the confusion of the premiere night wasn't enough...

Plot Keywords:

Radio | Radio Network | Sponsor | Writer | Director

Cast

Brian Benben	...	Roger Henderson
Mary Stuart Masterson	...	Penny Henderson
Ned Beatty	...	General Walt Whalen
George Burns	...	Milt Lackey
Scott Michael Campbell	...	Billy
Brion James	...	Bernie King
Michael Lerner	...	Lieutenant Cross
Michael McKean	...	Rick Rochester
Jeffrey Tambor	...	Walt Whalen, Jr.
Stephen Tobolowsky	...	Max Applewhite
Christopher Lloyd	...	Zoltan
Larry Miller	...	Herman Katzenback
Anita Morris	...	Claudette Katsenback
Corbin Bernsen	...	Dexter Morris
Rosemary Clooney	...	Anna
Bobcat Goldthwait	...	Wild Writer
Robert Walden	...	Tommy
Dylan Baker	...	Jasper
Billy Barty	...	Himself
Tracy Byrd	...	Himself
Candy Clark	...	Billy's Mother
Anne De Salvo	...	Female Writer
Jennifer Dundas	...	Deirdre
Bo Hopkins	...	Billly's Father
Robert Klein	...	Father Writer
Harvey Korman	...	Jules Cogley
Joseph Lawrence	...	Frankie Marshall (as Joey Lawrence)
Peter MacNicol	...	Son Writer
Bridgett Newton	...	Member, The Miller Sisters
Amy Parrish	...	Member, The Miller Sisters
Nina Repeta	...	Member, The Miller Sisters
Frank Trimble	...	Member, The Dead Tones
Kevin Scott Warner	...	Member, The Dead Tones
Frank J. Aard	...	Rollerskating Penguin
Ellen Albertini Dow	...	Organist
Mary Boucher	...	Soapbox Girl
Doug Chambers	...	Drummer
Tina Corsini	...	Betty Boop
Jim David	...	Biff Blaster
Deacon Dawson	...	Happy, Peter Lorre Villain
Hadley Eure	...	'Paprika' Actress
J. Don Ferguson	...	Johnny Ace, Hard Boiled Dick (as Don Ferguson)
Wilbur Fitzgerald	...	'Tortured' Actor
Keith Flippen	...	Space Cadet Jimmy
Paul 'Mousie' Garner	...	Double bass performer (as Mousie Garner)
Randell Haynes	...	Difficult Actor / Interrogator
Mark Joy	...	Jack Granite, Man's Man
Rebecca Koon	...	Ma, Mildred's Mother
Gary Kroeger	...	Gork, Son of Fire
Tammy Lauren	...	In the Mood Bandleader
Marguerite MacIntyre	...	Bubble Bath Announcer
Lori Anne Mahl	...	Mildred, Johnny Ace Secretary (as Lori Mahl)
Charles Marsh	...	Upside-Down Yodeler
Jim McKeny	...	Tom McCallum
Madison McKoy	...	Cab Calloway
Rod McLachlan	...	Black Whip, Granite's Dog
Marc McPherson	...	Maynard
Patt Noday	...	Sherwood Smith
Richard K. Olsen	...	Pa, Lt. Cross Actor
Donna Peters	...	'Gork' Actress
Robert D. Raiford	...	Ben Butter (as Robert Raiford)
Robin Dale Robertson	...	Temperamental Actor
Jack Sheldon	...	Ruffles Reed
Frank Terrio	...	Duck
Gary Anthony Williams	...	Dr. Ashton-Reeves
Brad Moranz	...	Dancer #1
Jennifer Hammond-Moranz	...	Dancer #2 (as Jennifer Moranz)
Deborah DeFrancisco	...	Dancer #3 (as Deborah De Francisco)
Lynn Raley	...	Dancer #4
Leanne Reese	...	Dancer #5
Crystal Williams	...	Dancer #6
Dixie Wilson	...	Dancer #7
Barry Bell	...	Cop #1
Gabe Caggiano	...	Cop #2
Anthony Christian	...	Cop #3
Lou Criscuolo	...	Cop #4
Michael Harding	...	Cop #5 (as Mike Harding)
John Keenan	...	Cop #6
Mark Marshall	...	Cop #7
Mark Jeffrey Miller	...	Cop #8
Michael P. Moran	...	Cop #9
Mike O'Brien	...	Cop #10
Bob Sayer	...	Cop #11
Rock Taulbee	...	Cop #12
Robert C. Treveiler	...	Cop #13 (as Robert Treveiler)
Hank Troscianiec	...	Cop #14
Harold Bergman	...	Affiliate
Rita Butler	...	Affiliate's Wife
Dave Hager	...	Laughing Man
Kim Head	...	Waitress
Scott Hilley	...	Drunk Affiliate
Ed Lillard	...	Loud Affiliate
Leighann Lord	...	Morgana
Joann Luzzatto	...	P.A.
Eric Paisley	...	Enthusiastic Affiliate
D. Anthony Pender	...	Operator, Revolving Stage (as Anthony Pender)
Jeffrey Pillars	...	Nerdy Stagehand
Steve Rassin	...	Page
Pam Stone	...	Dottie
Leslie Truman	...	Woman in Audience
Norm Woodel	...	Announcer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jamison Jones	...	Pilot (uncredited)
Michele Seidman	...	Radio Actress 5-B (uncredited)

Directed by
Mel Smith

Writing credits (WGA)
George Lucas		(story)
Willard Huyck		(screenplay) &
Gloria Katz		(screenplay) and
Jeff Reno		(screenplay) &
Ron Osborn		(screenplay)

Produced by
George Lucas	....	executive producer
Rick McCallum	....	producer
Fred Roos	....	producer

Original Music by
Joel McNeely

Cinematography by
David Tattersall

Film Editing by
Paul Trejo

Casting by
Mark Fincannon
Rosalie Joseph
Linda Phillips-Palo

Production Design by
Gavin Bocquet

Art Direction by
Peter Russell

Set Decoration by
James Edward Ferrell Jr.		(as Jim Ferrell)

Costume Design by
Peggy Farrell

Makeup Department
Stacey K. Black	....	additional assistant hair stylist
Rudolph Eavy III	....	key makeup artist
Louisa Gore Hamn	....	assistant makeup artist
Shelly Hutchins	....	assistant hair stylist
Kelly Jefferson	....	key makeup artist (as Kelley Raye Gore)
Michelle Johnson	....	key hair stylist
Barbara Olvera	....	hair department head
Sandra S. Orsolyak	....	makeup artist
Patty York	....	makeup artist
Coni Andress	....	assistant hair stylist (uncredited)
Jeff Swan	....	additional on-set makeup (uncredited)

Production Management
Chris Bromley	....	production supervisor: second unit
David Hartley	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Vic Armstrong	....	second unit director
Callum McDougall	....	key second assistant director
Waldo Roeg	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Kip Bartlett	....	lead man
John Blanchard	....	propmaker
Tim Eckel	....	assistant art director
Thurston Edwards	....	art department coordinator
John Greaves	....	production illustrator
John Greaves	....	storyboard artist
Beejay Grob	....	graphic artist
Vernon Harrell	....	property assistant
Carl Hector	....	set dresser
Cynthia La Jeunesse	....	assistant set decorator
Thomas Lenz	....	painter
Thomas Lenz	....	scenic artist
Edward 'Tantar' LeViseur	....	property master (as Tantar LeViseur)
Stephanie Macomber	....	scenic (as Stephanie Macomber Kern)
Joe McGuire	....	set dresser
Thomas C. Mentzer	....	carpenter
Daniel Samppala	....	on-set dresser
Bruce S. Seymour	....	set dresser
Eric 'Skip' Skipper	....	set dresser
Leonard M. Smith Jr.	....	set dresser
Jeffrey A. Hughes	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Randy Kenan	....	gang boss (uncredited)

Sound Department
Tom Bellfort	....	supervising sound editor
Sara Bolder	....	adr editor
Christopher Boyes	....	foley recordist
Bob Edwards	....	sound re-recording mixer
Carl Fischer	....	boom operator
Robin Harlan	....	foley artist
Sarah Jacobs	....	foley artist
Larry Long	....	cable person
Barbara McBane	....	dialogue editor
Cheryl Nardi	....	assistant sound editor
Larry Oatfield	....	sound editor
Carl Rudisill	....	production sound mixer
Susan Sanford	....	assistant sound editor
Christopher Scarabosio	....	sound effects editor
Matthew Wood	....	assistant supervising sound editor
Gwendolyn Yates Whittle	....	dialog editor
Cory Coken	....	additional adr artist (uncredited)
David E. Turner	....	sound re-recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
David Beavis	....	special effects coordinator
Lorenzo Hall	....	special effects assistant
William Purcell	....	special effects assistant
David H. Watkins	....	special effects assistant
John Weeks	....	special effects technician
Harold Weed	....	model maker (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Karen Ansel	....	technical director: ILM
Don Bies	....	model maker: ILM
Ronn Brown	....	computer graphics assistant
Brian Gernand	....	chief model maker: ILM
Howard Gersh	....	computer graphics artist
Paul Huston	....	matte artist
Joey Jarman	....	3D computer visualization artist
Tom Kennedy	....	visual effects producer: ILM Effects Crew
Stewart Lew	....	CG modeler
Tia L. Marshall	....	digital matte technical assistant
Dan McNamara	....	editorial manager
Jim Morris	....	president: ILM
Michael Olague	....	visual effects gaffer
Martin Rosenberg	....	visual effects cameraman
Scott Squires	....	visual effects supervisor
John Stillman	....	computer graphics resource assistant
Heidi Zabit	....	digital artist

Stunts
Charlie Brewer	....	stunt double
John Copeman	....	utility stunts
Ralph Corley	....	stunt double: George Burns
Tracey Cuesta	....	stunt double: Mary Stuart Masterson
Leon Delaney	....	stunt coordinator
Steve Hart	....	stunts
Kevin Johnson	....	utility stunts
Johnny Martin	....	stunts
Dean Mumford	....	utility stunts
Charles Page	....	stunt double
Gregg Smrz	....	utility stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Alan Aldridge	....	first assistant second camera
Timothy Brown	....	grip
Scott Canfield	....	electrician
Bart Durkin	....	electrician
Donna Fewell	....	clapper loader
Mark Graves	....	best boy
Chip Hackler	....	camera operator: 2nd unit
Keith Hamshere	....	still photographer
W.D. Hill	....	rigging grip
Charles 'Tom' Hinson	....	key grip
Richard Lacy	....	first assistant camera (as Richard Lacey)
Malcolm MacIntosh	....	camera operator first unit
Bob Newcomb	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Bob Newcomb	....	director of photography: second unit
Keegan O'Neill	....	clapper loader
William Papp	....	Steadicam operator
Alan Pickelsimer	....	electrician
Carlton Prickett	....	video assist operator
Mike Smallwood	....	electrician
Scott Stuart	....	best boy grip
Paige Thomas	....	second assistant camera
Stephen Thompson	....	gaffer (as Steve Thompson)
James Tomaro	....	rigging gaffer
Mark Vogel	....	electrician
Michael J. Walsh	....	key grip: second unit
Mike Walsh	....	grip
Marc Wostak	....	electrician

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tammy Adams	....	costumer
Jeff Hockett	....	costumer
Carla Lewis	....	wardrobe assistant
Rhea Lowenthal	....	set wardrobe
Patsy Rainey	....	costume supervisor
Ella Vickers	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Todd Busch	....	first assistant editor
Steve Johnson	....	colorist
Cheryl Nardi	....	assistant film editor
Jason Wheeler	....	negative cutter
Jonathan Bresman	....	post-production intern (uncredited)

Music Department
David Slonaker	....	orchestrator
Dan Wallin	....	scoring mixer: remixed score
John Kurlander	....	music recording engineer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Ronald F. Debranski II	....	transportation captain
Bill Pitts	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Jo Donaldson	....	researcher
Jennifer Hammond-Moranz	....	choreographer (as Jennifer Moranz)
E. Michael Hewett	....	location manager
Dione Kirby	....	on set medic
Rick Mobbs	....	scenic/special projects
Hilary Momberger	....	script supervisor: second unit
Brad Moranz	....	choreographer
Carole Peterman	....	production office coordinator (as Carole J. Sanders)
Chuck Potter	....	second assistant prop
Sholto J. Roeg	....	key set production assistant
Catherine Roehl	....	post-production accountant
Anne Wilson	....	production accountant
Andrew L. Lanier	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Jay Tobias	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures (presents)
• Lucasfilm

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1994) (USA) (theatrical)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1995) (USA) (VHS) (pan-and-scan)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1995) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Argentina Video Home (1995) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Image Entertainment (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (2010) (USA) (TV)
• Starz! Network (1995) (USA) (TV)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (199?) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2006) (Canada) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM)

Other Companies

• Joe Dunton & Company  camera equipment provided by
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• Locations...+  location scouting and management
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild language, some farcical violence and brief nudity

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS

Certification:

USA:PG | Argentina:13 | UK:PG | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Carolco Studios - 1223 North 23rd Street, Wilmington, North Carolina, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The musician who does all the music for WKB is based on Spike Jones, including his trademark checkered suit. The film's credits thank the Estate of Spike Jones.

Goofs:

Continuity: The amount of papers in Penny's hand after being given the script suggestions and when she talks to Junior then the writers.

Quotes:

Katzenback:[the mechanical stage is breaking down] No! What the hell is wrong with my stage? This can't be happening, not to my baby!
Max Applewhite:Looks like your baby needs a good whack in the axle.

Movie Connections:

References King Kong (1933)

Soundtrack:

Flight of the Bumblebee

could see this one many many times!

Radioland Murders is a movie that should be seen more than once because it is so fast-paced and contains lots of inside jokes....it helps to have worked in radio (i've been a control board operator for 6 yrs) to catch some of the adsurdity. In my opinion, it's mostly about "timing" because in radio "dead air" is a no-no....one program must flow into another (with commercials in between, of course)....the audience has no idea of the confusion going on behind the scenes! Watch the contrast of the writers' hectic schedule and the actors performing whatever they are given so smoothly...this script is well-written, I think. Dissect the lines and they work, like when Billy tells Mr. Henderson, "that's quite a reach, Mr. H". Just say it out loud and it has a rhyme to it. I love the part where the cops are staring at the TV test pattern!! Some of the silly parts were a bit too long for my taste, but the movie works on many humorous levels. I also enjoyed the 1930 popular lingo as dialog in places. And the last script Mr. Henderson delivers IS a pip and pulls it all together!