Citizen Ruth (1996)

Director:

Alexander Payne

Writers (WGA):

Alexander Payne (written by) &
Jim Taylor (written by)

Release Date:

13 December 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Life, liberty, money and the pursuit of happiness. She's gotta have it.

Plot:

An irresponsible, drug-addicted, recently impregnated woman finds herself in the middle of an abortion debate when both parties attempt to sway her to their respective sides.

Plot Keywords:

Abortion | Judge | Extremist | Activist | Propaganda

Awards:

3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Laura Dern	...	Ruth Stoops
Swoosie Kurtz	...	Diane Siegler
Kurtwood Smith	...	Norm Stoney
Mary Kay Place	...	Gail Stoney
Kelly Preston	...	Rachel
M.C. Gainey	...	Harlan
Kenneth Mars	...	Dr. Charlie Rollins
David Graf	...	Judge Richter
Kathleen Noone	...	Nurse Pat
Tippi Hedren	...	Jessica Weiss
Burt Reynolds	...	Blaine Gibbons
Lance Rome	...	Ricky, Ruth's Lover
Jim Kalal	...	Tony Stoops
Shea Degan	...	Arresting Officer
Vince Morelli	...	Dr. George
Marilyn Tipp	...	Kathleen
Lois Nemec	...	Sandy
Tim Vandeberghe	...	Bail Clerk
Sebastian Anzaldo III	...	Matthew Stoney
Alicia Witt	...	Cheryl Stoney
Mick McDonald	...	Party Dude
Okley Gibbs	...	Norm's Manager
Roberta Larson	...	Briana
Pam Carter	...	Fran
Steve Wheeldon	...	Kirk
Billie Barnhouse-Diekman	...	Concerned Woman
John La Puzza	...	Concerned Man
Susan Stern	...	Cindy Lindstrom
Jeffrey L. Goos	...	News Anchor
James Devney	...	Officer Iverson
Tim Driscoll	...	Officer Bundy
Caveh Zahedi	...	Peter
David Hirsch	...	Man #1
Gail Erwin	...	Woman
Tony Wike	...	Man #2
Sherry Josand Fletcher	...	Lobby Woman
Jim Delmont	...	Press Conference Reporter
Dennis Grant	...	Don Mattox
Will Jamieson	...	Surveillance Guy
Jeremy Sczepaniak	...	Eric
Delaney Driscoll	...	Ruth's 'Sister'
Robert O'Connell	...	Biker
Judith Hart	...	Sarah Schneider
Joan Pirkle	...	Dr. Milton
Lorie Obradovich	...	Desk Nurse
Joan Hennecke	...	Nurse
Michael Tourek	...	Volunteer Hit by Toilet Lid (as Mike Tourek)
Katrina Christensen	...	Jolene
John Bell	...	Micah
Jeffery Thomas Johnson	...	Harlan's Biker Friend (as Jeff Johnson)
Fred Lovelace	...	Harlan's Biker Friend
Ed Morehouse	...	Harlan's Biker Friend
Jim Reinken	...	Harlan's Biker Friend
Wm. J. Billy Bob Muddle III	...	Harlan's Biker Friend
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rocky Danners	...	Indigent Crackhead (scenes deleted)
Robert Dudley	...	Curious Man (uncredited)
Martha Gomez	...	Immigrant Woman (uncredited)
Diane Ladd	...	Ruth's Mother (uncredited)
Jeff Lewis	...	News Anchor (uncredited)
Sherman Monahan	...	Pro-life Man (uncredited)
Peg Sheldrick	...	Trial observer (uncredited)

Directed by
Alexander Payne

Writing credits (WGA)
Alexander Payne		(written by) &
Jim Taylor		(written by)

Produced by
Cathy Konrad	....	producer
Andrew Stone	....	co-producer
Cary Woods	....	producer
Michael Zimbrich	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Rolfe Kent

Cinematography by
James Glennon		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Kevin Tent

Casting by
Lisa Beach

Production Design by
Jane Ann Stewart

Set Decoration by
Lisa Denker

Costume Design by
Tom McKinley

Makeup Department
Lisa Fahrenkrug	....	additional makeup artist
Stacy Heatherly	....	additional hair stylist
Stacy Heatherly	....	additional makeup artist
Tammy Lema	....	additional makeup artist
Marsha Lewis	....	hair stylist
Brian McManus	....	hair stylist: Mr. Reynolds
Brian McManus	....	makeup artist: Mr. Reynolds
Angela Moos	....	makeup artist (as Angela Margolis-Moos)

Production Management
Scott Cohn	....	unit production manager
Pamela Winn-Barnett	....	post-production supervisor (as Pamela Winn Barnett)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Carla Bowen	....	second assistant director
Heather Kritzer	....	first assistant director
Jim Taylor	....	second unit director
Basti Van Der Woude	....	second assistant director
Lynn K. D'Angona	....	first assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Jack Clowers	....	leadman
Paula Clowers	....	swing gang
Fabio Fernandez	....	assistant property master
Preston Fisher	....	set dresser
Jeffrey M. O'Brien	....	property master (as Jeffrey O'Brien)
Dave Peterson	....	swing gang
Tracy Thies	....	art department coordinator

Sound Department
Gregg Barbanell	....	foley artist
James Bolt	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Jim Bolt)
Ricardo Broadus	....	sound effects editor
Greg W. Carlson	....	stage engineer
Carrie Cashman	....	sound loader (as Carrie Minkler)
Harry Cohen	....	sound designer
Paul Curtis	....	dialogue assistant
Andrew DeCristofaro	....	adr editor
Andrew DeCristofaro	....	supervising sound editor
William Dotson	....	dialogue editor
Mark Elsebusch	....	sound effects editor
David Farmer	....	sound effects editor
Tim Gedemer	....	sound effects editor
Brian Geer	....	foley mixer (as Brian J. Geer)
Tim Gomillion	....	sound recordist
Dan Jensen	....	dialogue assistant
Jason King	....	dialogue editor
Michael Lyle	....	foley editor (as Mike Lyle)
Greg Meader	....	sound effects editor
Paul Menichini	....	sound effects editor
Mike Moser	....	sound effects editor (as Michael Moser)
Vince Nicastro	....	foley artist
Jay Patterson	....	sound mixer
Thomas Pinney	....	boom operator (as Tom Pinney)
Tina Raskin	....	adr recordist
Robert Reed	....	assistant sound engineer
Sergio Reyes	....	sound re-recording mixer
Paul Rodriguez	....	manager of sound services
Ann Scibelli	....	supervising sound effects editor
B. Tennyson Sebastian II	....	sound re-recording mixer
D. Chris Smith	....	sound effects editor
Cathie Speakman	....	sound editor
Gary Sula-Goff	....	foley assistant
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer
Jeff Vaughn	....	adr recordist
Marty Vites	....	dialogue editor
Brandon Walker	....	adr editor
Robert Webber	....	foley editor
Harry Woolway	....	sound effects editor
James Wright	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Mark Allen	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Jonathan Karp	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Wes Clowers	....	special effects supervisor

Stunts
Dean Raphael Ferrandini	....	stunts (as Dean Ferrandini)

Camera and Electrical Department
Steve Abariotes	....	swing electric grip (as Stephen Abariotes)
Andy Anderson	....	camera operator: second unit
Dan Auerbach	....	additional first assistant camera
Kevin Brennan	....	gaffer
Kenneth Estes	....	video playback operator
Gene Fisher	....	dolly grip
Mark Hoffmann	....	camera loader (as Mark Hoffman)
Barry Joyce	....	grip
David Kerr	....	grip
Craig Lagwig	....	key grip
Scott Lynam	....	swing grip
Kyle T. MacDowell	....	grip
Michael Meehan	....	grip
John D. Moody	....	electrician
Robert W. Morgenroth	....	video supervisor (as Robert Morgenroth)
Shawn Prouse	....	best boy grip
Joe Sanchez	....	first assistant camera
James Weyerman	....	electrician (as James 'Buck' Weyerman)
Paul Wiley	....	best boy electric
Steve Wolpa	....	second assistant camera
Kimberly Wright	....	still photographer

Casting Department
Barbara Harris	....	voice casting
John Jackson	....	casting: Omaha
Karen Meisels	....	casting assistant
Rebecca C. Crespi	....	casting assistant (uncredited)
B.J. Tobin	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Barbara Gibbons	....	swing wardrobe
Miriam Hoffman-Durand	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Miriam Hoffman)
Robyn Munger	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Damienne Caron	....	editing intern
Tom Dailey	....	assistant editor
Barney Limo	....	second assistant editor
Ron Radvinsky	....	third assistant editor
Susan K. Weiler	....	apprentice editor (as Susan Weiler)
Jim Williams	....	color timer
Barbara Riley	....	negative cutter (uncredited)

Music Department
Tony Blondal	....	conductor
Tony Blondal	....	orchestrator
Eddie King	....	music mixer
Eddie King	....	music recordist
Tom Kramer	....	music editor
Michelle Kuznetsky	....	music supervisor
Sid Page	....	concert master
Mary Ramos	....	music supervisor
Kerry Wikstrom	....	additional orchestrator (as Carry Wikstrom)

Transportation Department
Joe V. Blumbaugh	....	driver
John 'Bubba' Branch	....	driver
Gary Brotherton	....	driver
Angie Carraher	....	driver
Floyd Erwin	....	driver
Sherri Foust	....	driver
Lee Fowler	....	driver: honeywagon
Roy Hancock	....	driver
Kenneth Hansen	....	driver
Jerry Jackson	....	transportation consultant
Donald Jones	....	driver
Keith Kelly	....	driver
John Lybrand	....	transportation captain
Barney McCoy	....	driver
James B. Nance	....	driver
Justin Nance	....	driver
John Rice Sr.	....	transportation coordinator
Billy Scoles	....	driver
William Smallwood	....	driver: production van
Matt Swanson	....	driver
Paul Vecchio	....	driver
Doug Weaver	....	transportation co-captain
Timothy Williams	....	driver
Charlie Wright	....	driver

Other crew
John Bates	....	stage projectionist
Richard Bernt	....	stand-in
Sarah Buchanan	....	stand-in
Nick Caguioa	....	craft service
Jolana Carlson	....	set teacher
Kaylene Carlson	....	assistant production coordinator
Eileen Church	....	stand-in
Colleen Cole	....	production coordinator
Catherine Cronin	....	body double & stand-in
J. Travis Fox	....	production assistant
Jim Foyt	....	projectionist
Lisa Hatch	....	production office assistant
Suzanne Kennedy	....	script supervisor
Kelly Klosterman	....	stand-in
Seth Kotok	....	production office assistant
Michael Krainak	....	production assistant (as Michael J. Krainak III)
John Latenser V	....	location manager (as John Latenser)
Jason A. Levine	....	runner
Heather Martin	....	medic
Megan McDonald	....	assistant: Mr. Woods
Mo Milligan	....	assistant: Ms. Konrad
Gina Mingacci	....	assistant: Ms. Konrad
Randa Rai Slack	....	script supervisor
Juan Ramirez	....	caterer: Mario's Catering
Laurie Richards	....	location manager
Thomas Schuckman	....	location manager (as Thomas Shuckman)
Lizzie Schwartz	....	assistant: Mr. Woods
Robert Sharman	....	video coordinator
Kaile Shilling	....	assistant: Mr. Payne
Debbie Tyler	....	craft service
Ron Wechsler	....	assistant: Mr. Woods
Tim Williams	....	animal trainer: Jungle Exotics
Mark Wolf	....	caterer: Mario's Catering
Matt Yarowsky	....	assistant production accountant
Victoria Vaus	....	title designer (uncredited)

Thanks
John C. Barnhart	....	thanks
Hal Daub	....	thanks: City of Omaha (as Mayor Hal Daub)
Julie Ginsburg	....	thanks
Tom Hanafin	....	thanks: City of Council Bluffs (as Mayor Tom Hanafin)
Louise Miller	....	thanks (as 'Grandma' Louise Miller)
Thomas Schuckman	....	in memoriam
Kathy Sheppard	....	thanks
Jodi Becker Vinci	....	thanks (as Jody Becker Vinci)

Production Companies

• Independent Pictures (II)
• Miramax Films

Distributors

• Kulturföreningen Kedjan (1997) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Triangelfilm (1997) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Laurenfilm (Spain)
• Lumière Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Miramax Films (video)
• New Films International
• Scanbox Entertainment (1997) (Sweden) (VHS)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2000) (Finland) (TV) (TV1)

Other Companies

• Barbara Riley Inc.  negative cutting
• Cinema Research  main titles and opticals
• Deroche Music  music preparation (as deRoche Music Inc.)
• E=mc²  24-frame video displays
• EFX Systems  sound design and editing
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• FotoKem Laboratory  as Fotokem
• Hill Production Services  camera package
• Jungle Exotics Inc.  animal trainer
• Leonetti Company  lighting and grip package
• Mad Hatter Studios  music recorded and mixed at
• Twentieth Century Fox Sound Department  sound re-recording facilities

Also Known As:

"Precious" - USA (review title)

MPAA:

Rated R for substance abuse, strong language and a sex scene

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (FotoKem)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:12 | New Zealand:R16 | Australia:MA | Spain:18 | Sweden:11 | USA:R | Singapore:M18

Filming Locations:

3216 1st Avenue, Council Bluffs, Iowa, USA

Company:

Independent Pictures (II)

Trivia:

The "ASK ME" pin worn by Kurtwood Smith in the hardware store shows up again in Alexander Payne's following film, Election (1999).

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Ruth is going out to party with her host family's daughter, she takes a hit from a bong, but does so incorrectly, not clearing the smoke from the chamber.

Quotes:

Clinic Nurse:Let me just ask you something, Ruth. Have you ever really taken the time to think about what it means to have an abortion?
Ruth:Yeah, um, it means that I don't have to go to jail and it means I don't have to have another baby and it means that I can start getting my life together ...
Clinic Nurse:I, I, I, I, I. Don't you think that's all just a little selfish?

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Citizen Kane (1941)

Underrated Gem

In the wake of the huge success "Sideways" is garnering lately, everyone should look back at this incredible film from Alexander Payne, which shows off everything he and writing partner Jim Taylor are best at- the dark skewering of small-town America, rich with satire and heart. I had seen all of Payne's films except this one, and although I really loved all of them, this may be his most fully realized. This is probably because his targets are hit exactly dead-on, and the absurdity of the situations are in fact, achingly real. Laura Dern gives a wonderful and unflinching portrayal of Ruth, and the rest of the cast, especially Swoosie Kurtz, Mary Kay Place, and in a small role, Burt Reynolds, are exceptional as the targets of Payne's satire. Payne fills his films with little details of small-town life, and here they add so much to the point of the story. Take for example the grace that Kurtwood Smith's character gives, which is barely heard because of the roaring plane overhead. It is these details that are the crux of a story like this. So as "Sideways" continues to claim many awards (and rightfully so), I urge you to check out this earlier film from Payne, and experience a brilliant little film, and one of the gutsiest movies you may ever see.