Speechless (1994)

Director:

Ron Underwood

Writer (WGA):

Robert King (written by)

Release Date:

16 December 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

There are two sides to every relationship... Don't trust either of them.

Plot:

Two political speechwriters fall in love before they find out they are working for candidates on opposite sides. |

Plot Keywords:

Politician | Love | Urban | Battle Of The Sexes | Campaign

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Michael Keaton	...	Kevin Vallick
Geena Davis	...	Julia Mann
Christopher Reeve	...	Bob 'Bagdad' Freed
Bonnie Bedelia	...	Annette
Ernie Hudson	...	Ventura
Charles Martin Smith	...	Kratz
Gailard Sartain	...	Cutler
Ray Baker	...	Garvin
Mitch Ryan	...	Wannamaker
Willie Garson	...	Dick
Paul Lazar	...	Harry
Richard Poe	...	Tom
Harry Shearer	...	Chuck
Steven Wright	...	Eddie
Jodi Carlisle	...	Doris Wind
Cynthia Mace	...	Michelle Kortz
Steve Gonzales	...	Jim Rodriguez
Robin Pearson Rose	...	Teacher
David Cromwell	...	Pete
Marques Johnson	...	Hartford
Frank DiElsi	...	Kip
Peter Mackenzie	...	Andy
Timothy Paul Perez	...	Robert Gonzalez (as Tim Perez)
John Link Graney	...	Fresh-faced Kid
Yasmine Abdul-Wahid	...	Female Student
Mickey Cottrell	...	Debate Moderator
Cris Franco	...	Messenger
Brad Blaisdell	...	Bartender
Richard McGonagle	...	Dignitary
Michelle Holden	...	Beth Yeats
Tony Genaro	...	Truck Driver
Loyda Ramos	...	Maid
Brendon Chad	...	Truck Driver's Son
Joan Stuart Morris	...	Waitress
Brian John McMillan	...	Bear Man
Mary Pat Gleason	...	Desk Clerk
Rob LaBelle	...	Security Guard
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Khris Kaneff	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Tanit Lee Lascelles	...	Student (uncredited)
Heather Medway	...	Make-Up Girl (uncredited)
James 'JR' Pollard	...	Man at Hotel entrance (uncredited)

Directed by
Ron Underwood

Writing credits (WGA)
Robert King		(written by)

Produced by
Harry Colomby	....	executive producer
Geena Davis	....	producer
Renny Harlin	....	producer
Mary Kane	....	line producer
Terry Miller	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Marc Shaiman

Cinematography by
Donald Peterman		(as Don Peterman)

Film Editing by
Richard Francis-Bruce

Casting by
Howard Feuer

Production Design by
J. Dennis Washington		(as Dennis Washington)

Art Direction by
Thomas T. Taylor		(as Tom Targownik)

Set Decoration by
Marvin March

Costume Design by
Jane Robinson

Makeup Department
Beatrice De Alba	....	hair stylist (as Beatrice DeAlba)
Bonita DeHaven	....	key makeup artist
Nadia DiPaulo	....	makeup artist
Robert Hallowell II	....	key hair stylist (as Robert L. Hallowell II)
Bob Mills	....	makeup artist: Mr. Keaton
Marlene D. Williams	....	hair stylist: Mr. Keaton (as Marlene Williams)

Production Management
Jane Bartelme	....	production supervisor
Mary Kane	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Howell Caldwell	....	second assistant director
Terry Miller	....	first assistant director
Roger Senders	....	second second assistant director
Michael Viglietta	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Daril Alder	....	lead man
Bryan Belair	....	propmaker foreman
Tracy Bousman	....	art director: New Mexico
Dave Brown	....	construction coordinator (as David Brown)
James Buckley	....	on-set dresser
Christopher Carlson	....	assistant property master
Don Cooke	....	labor foreman (as Don 'D.C.' Cooke)
Steven Fuller	....	propmaker foreman
Trish Gallaher Glenn	....	property master
Sara Gardner-Gail	....	on-set dresser
Dick Girod	....	paint foreman
Richard Girod Jr.	....	stand-by painter
Ted Harms	....	propmaker foreman
Glen E. Hawbecker	....	propmaker foreman
Kathleen Hughes	....	assistant property master (as Kathleen Devlin Hughes)
Richard McKenzie	....	set designer
J. Craig Morrison	....	general foreman (as Craig Morrison)
Margo F. Newman	....	art department coordinator (as Margo Fisher)
Eric Orbom	....	set designer
Carrie Perzan	....	buyer
Carrie Perzan	....	set dresser
Chris Revuelta	....	labor foreman
Kenneth Robertson	....	head paint foreman (as Kenneth H. Robertson)
Tom Southwell	....	conceptual artist
David Napoli	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Billy Ray	....	set dresser: New Mexico (uncredited)

Sound Department
James Ashwill	....	foley mixer (as Jim Ashwill)
Robert Batha	....	assistant sound editor
Gregg Baxter	....	supervising sound editor
Mike Boudry	....	adr recordist
Rick Canelli	....	adr recordist
Michael P. Cook	....	dialogue editor (as Michael Cook)
Dino Dimuro	....	dialogue editor (as Dino DiMuro)
Todd Egan	....	assistant sound editor
Nerses Gezalyan	....	foley recordist
Sarah Goldsmith	....	dialogue editor (as Sarah Rothenberg Goldsmith)
Richard Bryce Goodman	....	production sound mixer
Laura Graham	....	adr editor
Gary A. Hecker	....	foley artist (as Gary 'Wrecker' Hecker)
Dan Hegeman	....	foley editor
Andrea Horta	....	adr editor
Holly Huckins	....	adr editor
Mauriece Jacks Jr.	....	cable person
Doc Kane	....	adr mixer
Randy Kelley	....	sound effects editor
Lou Kleinman	....	foley editor
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer
Peter J. Lehman	....	sound effects editor
Brian McPherson	....	sound effects editor
Glenn T. Morgan	....	foley editor
Philip D. Morrill	....	assistant sound editor
Rick Morris	....	sound effects editor
Dan O'Connell	....	foley artist
Kevin O'Connell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Thomas J. O'Connell	....	adr mixer
Mark Ormandy	....	assistant sound editor
Rudy Pi	....	additional sound (as Rudi Pi)
Sean Rush	....	boom operator
David Stanke	....	additional sound
Wylie Stateman	....	supervising sound editor
Gregory H. Watkins	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Greg Watkins)
Kim Waugh	....	additional sound

Special Effects by
Robert D. Bowers	....	special effects assistant: New Mexico
Frank Toro	....	special effects coordinator (as Frank L. Toro)

Visual Effects by
Rod G. Bogart	....	research and development: PDI (as Rod Bogart)
Audrey Chang	....	visual effects editor: PDI
Daniel Chuba	....	visual effects producer: PDI
Jamie Dixon	....	visual effects supervisor: PDI
Syd Dutton	....	special visual effects: Illusion Arts
Betsy Asher Hall	....	animator: PDI
Lynn Ledgerwood	....	matte effects: Illusion Arts
Barb Meier	....	technical supervisor: PDI (as Barbara Meier)
Richard Patterson	....	digital supervisor: Illusion Arts
Alonzo Ruvalcaba	....	production coordinator: PDI
Mark Sawicki	....	matte photography: Illusion Arts
Larry Shuler	....	grip: Illusion Arts
Robert Stromberg	....	matte artist: Illusion Arts
Catherine Sudolcan	....	production coordinator: Illusion Arts
Bill Taylor	....	special visual effects: Illusion Arts
David S. Williams Jr.	....	optical photography: Illusion Arts
Sean Dever	....	2D digital effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Michael Cassidy	....	stunt coordinator
Michael Cassidy	....	stunt double: Michael Keaton
Monty L. Simons	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bret Acquistapace	....	electrician
Andy Anderson	....	grip
Michael Anderson	....	second company grip (as Mike Anderson)
Audie Aragon	....	dolly grip
Keith Bunting	....	grip: New Mexico
Don Cerrone	....	rigging key grip: New Mexico
Ian Christenberry	....	electrician
Lowell Crisp	....	assistant lighting technician (as Lowell E. Crisp)
Donald D. Davidson	....	electrician (as Donald Dean Davidson)
Marisa Davis	....	electrician
Jonathan Edelman	....	electrician: New Mexico
Ellis Hark	....	grip
Kenji Inouye	....	rigging grip
David James	....	still photographer
William T. Jones	....	rigging key grip (as Wm. T. Jake Jones)
Dan Kerns	....	rigging best boy electric
Michael Krueger	....	chief lighting technician
Jeffrey Laszlo	....	camera operator (as Jeff Laszlo)
Trevor Loomis	....	camera loader
Brett Mabry	....	rigging electrician
Ed Maloney	....	rigging electrician
Charles May II	....	video playback operator (as Charles May)
Tim McDonald	....	electrician: New Mexico (as Timothy P. McDonald)
Brian Mills	....	grip (as Brian D. Mills)
Jeff Murrell	....	rigging gaffer
Ray Ortega	....	electrician: New Mexico
Brad Peterman	....	second assistant camera
Jay Peterman	....	first assistant camera
Keith Peterman	....	camera operator
Bradford Ralston	....	video assist operator (as Bradford S. Ralston)
Michael Schuyler	....	electrician
Calvin Sterry	....	key grip
Ty Suehiro	....	rigging grip
Monte Swann	....	video playback operator
Ignacio Woolfolk	....	rigging best boy grip (as Ignacio 'Nacho' Woolfolk)
Kyle T. MacDowell	....	grip (uncredited)
Larissa Supplitt	....	second assistant camera: re-shoots (uncredited)
Tony Varuola	....	lighting technician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Sally Jackson	....	extras casting: New Mexico
Rich King	....	extras casting (as Richard King)
Meredith Tucker	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jerry Bono	....	costumer
Diane Crooke	....	costume supervisor
Marie Kaderback	....	costumer (as Marie A. Kaderback)
P. Kay Morris	....	assistant costume designer
Ernest M. Sanchez	....	dresser (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Howard Davis	....	apprentice editor
Patricia A. Galvin	....	first assistant editor
Robert C. Lusted	....	assistant editor
Dean Wright	....	post-production coordinator
Rob Sciarratta	....	video color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
Jeff Atmajian	....	orchestrator
Larry Blank	....	orchestrator
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor
Robert W. Hedland	....	assistant music editor (as Bob Hedland)
Mark Herman	....	assistant music editor
Artie Kane	....	conductor
Jo Ann Kane	....	music preparation (as Joann Kane)
Hummie Mann	....	orchestrator
Jill Meyers	....	music clearances
Shawn Murphy	....	music scoring mixer (as Shaun Murphy)
Scott Stambler	....	music editor
Nick Vidar	....	music programmer
Sherry Whitfield	....	additional music editor
Jack Sheldon	....	musician: trumpet (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Jonathan A. Rosenfeld	....	transportation co-captain
David Siegel	....	transportation coordinator (as David A. Siegel)
Dwight Wood	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Tammy Apana	....	assistant production coordinator (as Tammy Apana-Dianda)
John Beauchamp	....	assistant production coordinator: New Mexico
John Behring	....	news design supervisor
Tiffany Bowne	....	assistant: Ms. Davis
Courtney Campbell	....	assistant: Mr. Underwood
Christian Clarke	....	production assistant
Stuart Fink	....	unit publicist
Nina Foch	....	consultant: Mr. Underwood
Timothy Foster	....	production assistant (as Tim Foster)
Ken Garcia	....	first aid: New Mexico (as Ken P. Garcia)
Katy Genovese	....	assistant accountant (as Katy Tatian-Genovese)
Nansea Lee Goldberg	....	assistant: Mr. Keaton (as Nansea Goldberg)
Michael Hamm	....	production assistant
Don Hansard	....	projection scenes
Susannah Julien	....	assistant: Ms. Kane
David Kaufman	....	location manager
Jennifer Keohane	....	assistant: Mr. Colomby
Eric Klosterman	....	location manager: New Mexico
David R. Lawson	....	first aid
Marc Lazard	....	production assistant (as Marc T. Lazard)
Lauren Lustig	....	location scout: New Mexico
Stephanie Maislen	....	production assistant
Rick Marcena	....	assistant accountant
Keira March	....	production assistant
Peter Martorano	....	production assistant
Don Miller	....	accountant
Dimitri Moraitis	....	stand-in: Mr. Keaton
Jeffrey D. Nelson	....	production assistant
Michelle Noren	....	stand-in: Ms. Davis
Deborah Ricketts	....	stock footage researcher
Sol Rivera	....	craft service: New Mexico
Barbara Simpson	....	location scout: New Mexico
Rebecca Spikings	....	associate: Mr. Harlin
Christopher Starr	....	craft service assistant
Lisa W. Strout	....	location coordinator
Bernadette Tanchauco	....	assistant accountant
Marion Tumen	....	script supervisor
Brad Wilson	....	craft service
Dean Wright	....	production coordinator
H. Spencer Young	....	production assistant
Leslie Erganian	....	assistant location manager (uncredited)
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer (uncredited)
David Manzanares	....	location liaison (uncredited)
Brian McMillan	....	head animal trainer (uncredited)
Billy Pittard	....	title designer (uncredited)
Tom Sweeney	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Danny Bramson	....	special thanks
Bob Fukuyama	....	thanks
Nancy Roberts	....	thanks
Maribel Schumacher	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Forge
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (VHS)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Illusion Arts
• Pacific Data Images (PDI)

Other Companies

• Pittard Sullivan Fitzgerald  titles

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS

Certification:

South Korea:15 | Iceland:L | Philippines:PG-13 | Finland:S | Germany:6 (w) | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Singapore:PG | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

Company:

Forge

Trivia:

This movie was released the year before Christopher Reeve had his near-fatal riding accident.

Quotes:

[They are talking on the phone]
Julia: My old boyfriend had a tattoo, on the inside of his lip. Wanna guess what it said?
Kevin: Uh, "How am I driving? Call 1-800" and then a number? Did he have a really big lip? Was it Mick Jagger?

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 52nd Annual Golden Globe Awards (1995) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Wake 2 Life

Although it won't leave one speechless, this is an intelligent and humorous romcom

Julia (Geena Davis) is a longtime speechwriter, currently working on a senatorial campaign in New Mexico. Kevin (Michael Keaton) has just been hired to be the speechwriter for the opposing candidate. Both are insomniacs. Late one night, they connect at the hotel shop counter where they are both reaching for a bottle of sleeping pills. Sparks fly furiously. Neither knows the other's occupation. But, how long will it be before this big secret is revealed? And, isn't Julia engaged to a hotshot international correspondent anyway? This is a cute movie in a cactus setting. Davis and Keaton are funny and believable as the ace writers. A scene where they speak/duel before a group of school children is priceless. The supporting cast is nice, the script is quite good, and the costumes and scenery more than adequate. And, yes, the movie has some good messages about politics, wolves in sheeps clothing, and true believers. Although it won't leave anyone speechless, this intelligent, humorous love story delights its target audience very well.