The First Wives Club (1996)

Director:

Hugh Wilson

Writers (WGA):

Olivia Goldsmith (novel)
Robert Harling (screenplay)

Release Date:

20 September 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Getting even... this fall.

Plot:

Reunited by the death of a college friend, three divorced women seek revenge on the husbands who left them for younger women.

Plot Keywords:

Revenge | Lesbian Daughter | Blackmail | 1960s | Reference To Shelley Winters

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Bette Midler	...	Brenda Cushman
Goldie Hawn	...	Elise Elliot
Diane Keaton	...	Annie Paradis
Maggie Smith	...	Gunilla Garson Goldberg
Dan Hedaya	...	Morton Cushman
Sarah Jessica Parker	...	Shelly Stewart
Stockard Channing	...	Cynthia Swann Griffin
Victor Garber	...	Bill Atchison
Stephen Collins	...	Aaron Paradis
Elizabeth Berkley	...	Phoebe LaVelle
Marcia Gay Harden	...	Dr. Leslie Rosen
Bronson Pinchot	...	Duarto Feliz
Jennifer Dundas	...	Chris Paradis
Eileen Heckart	...	Catherine MacDuggan
Philip Bosco	...	Uncle Carmine Morelli
Rob Reiner	...	Dr. Morris Packman
James Naughton	...	Gilbert Griffin
Ari Greenberg	...	Jason Cushman
Aida Linares	...	Theresa
Ivana Trump	...	Ivana Trump
Kathie Lee Gifford	...	Kathie Lee Gifford
Gloria Steinem	...	Gloria Steinem
Ed Koch	...	Ed Koch
Lea DeLaria	...	Elise's Fan (as Lea De Laria)
Debra Monk	...	Jilted Lover
Jennfer Lam	...	Chris' Friend
Christopher Burge	...	Auctioneer
Stephen Pearlman	...	Mr. Christian
J. Smith-Cameron	...	Miss Sullivan
Walter Bobbie	...	Man in Bed
Kate Burton	...	Woman in Bed
Gregg Edelman	...	Mark Loest
Mark Nelson	...	Eric Loest
Harsh Nayyar	...	Mohammed
Sue Simmons	...	Newscaster
Timothy Olyphant	...	Brett Artounian
Edward Hibbert	...	Maurice (the Bartender)
Teresa DePriest	...	Hostess
Johnny Sanchez	...	Busboy
J.K. Simmons	...	Federal Marshal
Stephen Mendillo	...	Federal Marshal
Robin Morse	...	Karen
Peter Frechette	...	Broadway Director
Mark Perman	...	The Cantor
George Vlachos	...	Waiter
Armand Dahan	...	Contractor
Michele Brilliant	...	Young Brenda
Dina Waters	...	Young Elise (as Dina Spybey)
Adria Tennor	...	Young Annie
Juliehera Destefano	...	Youth Cynthia (as Juliehera DeStefano)
Marla Sucharetza	...	Exercising Woman
Paul Hecht	...	'A Certain Age' Cast Member
Anne Shropshire	...	'A Certain Age' Cast Member
Chelsea Altman	...	'A Certain Age' Cast Member
Eric Martin Brown	...	'A Certain Age' Cast Member
Nancy Ticotin	...	Dancer
Roxane Barlow	...	Dancer
Amy Heggins	...	Dancer
Elizabeth Bracco	...	Dancer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jon Stewart	...	(scenes deleted)
Richard Council	...	Security Guard (uncredited)
Olivia Goldsmith	...	Cameo Appearance (uncredited)
Heather Locklear	...	Gil Griffin's New Wife (uncredited)
Matilda Szydagis	...	Graduating Student (uncredited)
Hugh Wilson	...	Commercial Director (uncredited)

Directed by
Hugh Wilson

Writing credits (WGA)
Olivia Goldsmith		(novel)
Robert Harling		(screenplay)

Produced by
Noah Ackerman	....	associate producer
Tod Scott Brody	....	line producer: additional photograhy
Thomas A. Imperato	....	co-producer (as Thomas Imperato)
Heather McQuarrie	....	associate producer (as Heather Neely)
Craig Perry	....	associate producer
Scott Rudin	....	producer
Adam Schroeder	....	executive producer
Ezra Swerdlow	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Marc Shaiman

Cinematography by
Donald E. Thorin		(as Donald Thorin)

Film Editing by
John Bloom

Casting by
Ilene Starger

Production Design by
Peter S. Larkin		(as Peter Larkin)

Art Direction by
Charley Beal		(as Charles Beal)

Set Decoration by
Leslie E. Rollins

Costume Design by
Theoni V. Aldredge

Makeup Department
Ma Kalaadevi Ananda	....	makeup artist: Ms. Keaton (as Marilyn Carbone)
E. Thomas Case	....	makeup artist: Ms. Hawn
Alan D'Angerio	....	hair stylist
Felice Diamond	....	additional makeup artist
Angela Levin	....	makeup artist: Bette Midler
Frances Mathias	....	hair stylist: Ms. Keaton
Bernadette Mazur	....	makeup artist
Francesca Paris	....	additional hair stylist
Michele Paris	....	makeup artist (as Michele Paris-Catanzarite)
Robert Ramos	....	hair stylist: Bette Midler
Werner Sherer	....	hair stylist: Ms. Hawn (as Werner G. Sherer)

Production Management
Tod Scott Brody	....	post-production supervisor
Ezra Swerdlow	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Julie A. Bloom	....	second assistant director
Jose Gilberto Molinari-Rosaly	....	trainee assistant director (as Jose G. Molinari-Rosaly)
Michael E. Steele	....	first assistant director
Jack Gill	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Ed Check	....	assistant art director
Lorenzo Contessa	....	storyboard artist
Frank Didio	....	carpenter
Natalie N. Dorset	....	art department production assistant
Gilbert Gertsen	....	set dresser (as Gilbert H. Gertsen)
Wendy Goidell	....	floral designer
Vincent Guarriello	....	construction foreperson
Julia G. Hickman	....	art department coordinator
Lori Johnson	....	assistant property master
Paul D. Kelly	....	assistant art director
Gary Levitsky	....	set dresser
Brian Mannain	....	scenic artist
Brick Mason	....	storyboard artist
Matthew McCarthy	....	set dresser (as Matt McCarthy)
Octavio Molina	....	property master
Christine Moosher	....	assistant set decorator
John Oates Jr.	....	leadperson (as John Oates)
Jon Oshma	....	property person
Stanley Pasay	....	scenic artist
Ron Petagna	....	construction coordinator (as Ronald Petagna)
Joseph Proscia	....	set dresser
Richard Tenewitz	....	carpenter
Charlie Whitney	....	carpenter (as Charles Whitney)
Michael Zansky	....	scenic artist
Mick Rossman	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Joan Winters	....	graphic designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ed Barteski	....	assistant adr editor
Nancy Cabrera	....	foley artist
Richard P. Cirincione	....	sound editor (as Richard Cirincione)
Laura Civiello	....	sound editor
Lee Dichter	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Fundus	....	boom operator
Bradford L. Hohle	....	sound stereo consultant: Dolby (as Brad Hohle)
Kenton Jakub	....	adr editor
Jay Kessel	....	assistant sound editor
Bruce Kitzmeyer	....	foley editor
Peter F. Kurland	....	sound mixer (as Peter Kurland)
George A. Lara	....	foley engineer (as George Lara)
Tommy Louie	....	cable person
Jane McCulley	....	supervising adr editor
Eytan Mirsky	....	sound editor
Maurice Schell	....	supervising sound editor
Stuart Stanley	....	foley editor
Brian Vancho	....	foley artist
Tony Martinez	....	group adr editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Matt Vogel	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Earl Wiggins	....	Aerial Rigging Coordinator: Uncredited
Don Canfield	....	motion control specialist (uncredited)
Karen deJong	....	matte painter (uncredited)
Daniel Leung	....	digital compositing supervisor (uncredited)
Alex MacDonald	....	motion control camera (uncredited)
Matt McDonald	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Chris Ryan	....	digital compositor (uncredited)

Stunts
Nancy Ellen Anzalone	....	utility stunts
Stracy Diaz	....	utility stunts
Jack Gill	....	stunt coordinator
Shelby Swatek	....	stunts
Mark Chapman	....	stunt rigger (uncredited)
Donald John Hewitt	....	utility stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Steven Blaho	....	grip (as Steven A. Blaho)
Michael Brown	....	electrician
Kenny Burke	....	dolly grip (as Kenneth J. Burke)
Ronald Burke	....	second company grip
Brian Carmichael	....	video assistant
Robert Carmichael	....	director of photography: second unit
Jerry DeBlau	....	chief lighting technician (as Jerry W. DeBlau)
James Edmiston	....	grip
John Ford	....	grip
Ralph Fratianni	....	second company grip
Jim Galvin	....	electrician
Peter Girolami	....	electrician
Rob Hahn	....	camera operator
Eric Hoivik	....	camera trainee
Todd Hotaling	....	assistant camera
Martin Jones	....	grip
Dave Lowry	....	dolly grip (as Dave Lowry Jr.)
Alan Mader	....	electrician
Bobby Mancuso	....	first assistant camera (as Robert Mancuso)
Jim McCullagh	....	electrician (as James McCullagh)
Peter A. Mian	....	video assistant
Fred Muller	....	electrician
Tim Norman	....	second assistant camera
John Panuccio	....	first company grip
Michael Papadapolous	....	electrician
Louis Petraglia	....	rigging electrician
Peter John Petraglia	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Tom Prate	....	first company grip (as Thomas Prate Jr.)
Noah Prince	....	electrician
Lowell Schulman	....	lamp operator
Andrew D. Schwartz	....	still photographer (as Andy Schwartz)
Howard Werner	....	video playback operator
David Landau	....	gaffer: behind-the-scenes (uncredited)
Sal Martorano	....	electrician (uncredited)
Sal Martorano	....	gaffer: second unit (uncredited)

Casting Department
Karen E. Etcoff	....	extras casting (as Karen Etcoff)
David H. Kramer	....	voice casting (as David Kramer)
Kim Miscia	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Michael Adkins	....	costume supervisor: men
Ronald J. Haney	....	wardrobe production assistant (as Ron Haney)
Wallace G. Lane Jr.	....	assistant costume designer (as Wallace G. 'Woody' Lane Jr.)
Mary Ann McAlpin	....	costume assistant
Hartsell Taylor	....	costume supervisor: women
Hartsell Taylor	....	wardrobe supervisor
Rose Wells	....	additional wardrobe (as Rosalie A. Wells)
Pamela Wise	....	dresser: Ms. Midler
Michael Anzalone	....	set wardrobe (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Armando Fente	....	second assistant film editor
Miles Ferguson	....	post-production coordinator
John Hill	....	first assistant film editor
Noëlle Penraat	....	negative cutter
Tom Salvatore	....	color timer
Antonia Van Drimmelen	....	associate editor
Rhonda L. Mitrani	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Jeff Atmajian	....	orchestrator
Frank Bennett	....	orchestrator
Bob Bornstein	....	music preparation
Brad Dechter	....	orchestrator
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor
Artie Kane	....	conductor
Jon Kull	....	orchestrator
Nicholas Meyers	....	music editor
Jeffrey Pollack	....	music consultant
Nic Ratner	....	music editor
Patrick Russ	....	orchestrator
Dennis S. Sands	....	music mixer (as Dennis Sands)
Dennis S. Sands	....	music recordist (as Dennis Sands)
Marc Shaiman	....	music supervisor
Nick Vidar	....	music programmer
Jimmy Vivino	....	orchestrator
Greg Arnold	....	musician: keyboards, programming (uncredited)
Tom Boyd	....	musician: oboe soloist (uncredited)
Joe Lisanti	....	assistant music editor (uncredited)
Sally Swisher	....	assistant music editor (uncredited)
James Thatcher	....	musician: french horn (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Steven R. Hammond	....	transportation captain (as Steve Hammond)
Tom Heilig	....	transportation co-captain (as Thomas Heilig)

Other crew
Ray Angelic	....	production coordinator
Randall Balsmeyer	....	title designer
Patricia Birch	....	choreographer (as Pat Birch)
Terrence C. Burke	....	production assistant
Antonia Calzetti	....	craft service assistant
Marcus Canty	....	assistant auditor
Shari L. Carpenter	....	script supervisor (as Shari Carpenter)
Jonathan Cerullo	....	assistant choreographer
Cheryl Compton	....	production secretary (as Cheryl E. Compton)
Michael A. Connolly	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin (as Michael Connolly)
Kathleen Corgan	....	assistant location manager
Shirley Davis	....	production coordinator: additional photography, New York
Chadbyrne R. Dickens	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Natalie N. Dorset	....	production assistant (as Natalie Dorset)
Antoine Douaihy	....	location manager: re-shoots (as Antoine L. Douaihy)
Mimi Everett	....	title designer
Susan Fried	....	location assistant
Lauren Gale	....	craft service
AnaMarie C. Gonzaga	....	assistant auditor
Louis Guerra	....	production assistant (as Louis J. Guerra)
Jill Hattersley	....	assistant: Ms. Midler
Shell Hecht	....	production office coordinator: additional photography
George 'Skip' Henfling	....	location assistant
William Henry	....	lightwork assistant (as Bill Henry)
Elizabeth Holder	....	production assistant
Deloris Claris Horn	....	assistant: Ms. Hawn
Joseph E. Iberti	....	location manager
Carl I. Johnson	....	location assistant (as Carl Johnson)
Mick Kelly	....	production assistant
Buzz Koenig	....	assistant: Mr. Swerdlow (as Scott Koenig)
Maggie Kusik	....	production accountant
David B. Leener	....	product placement
Nancy Lefkowitz	....	production assistant
Steve McAuliff	....	animal trainer (as Steven McAuliff)
Carmen More	....	assistant: Mr. Wilson
Len Murach	....	location assistant
Eric Myers	....	unit publicist
Philip A. Ramos	....	production assistant
Justine Rendal	....	technical consultant
Bill Robinson	....	assistant: Ms. Keaton
Kristen Sampsell	....	craft service assistant
Suzanne Santry	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Jeffrey Seeds	....	production assistant
Michael Sibley	....	location assistant
Alex Singer	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Audrey Soodoo-Raphael	....	production assistant (as Audrey Soodoo Raphael)
Mark Sourian	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Robert T. Striem	....	location assistant
Yvette S. Taylor	....	assistant: Ms. Midler (as Yvette Taylor)
Susan Towner	....	production auditor
Patty Willett	....	assistant production coordinator
Brenda Yagmin	....	craft service assistant
Tricia Yano	....	assistant: Mr. Schroeder
Andrew Zolot	....	production assistant
Antonia Proscia	....	assistant accountant (uncredited)
Ron Rogers	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1996) (USA) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1996) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1996) (UK) (theatrical)
• Filmes Lusomundo (1997) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1996) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1997) (Spain) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1997) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1997) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Cinema International (1997) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1999) (USA) (TV)
• Argentina Video Home (2002) (Argentina) (DVD)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• CIC-Taft Home Video (199?) (Australia) (VHS)
• Paramount Filmes do Brasil (Brazil) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)

Other Companies

• Pacific Studios Inc.  chromatrans background
• Work Records  soundtrack

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements, some mild language and sensuality

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Chile:14 | Finland:K-8 | Germany:12 (w) | Ireland:12 | Norway:7 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:M18 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:PG | Canada:PG | Iceland:L | USA:PG (certificate #34443) | South Korea:15 | Peru:14

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

"The First Wives Club" is the second time that Diane Keaton and Jennifer Dundas (Lowe) have played mother and daughter. The first time was in Mrs. Soffel (1984), when Dundas was still being billed as Jennie Dundas.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the final musical number, Elise's shoes change.

Quotes:

Brenda:Morty! Well, look at you. You look prosperous.
Morty:Brenda, don't embarrass me.
Brenda:[Mocking Morty] Don't embarrass you.
Morty:Don't make a scene.
Brenda:Don't make a scene.
Morty:Do not make a scene.
Brenda:Don't embarrass you! You've got a *nerve*! I'll tell you what's embarrassing!
Morty:Keep your voice down.
Brenda:Being hassled by Mr. Zaworsky... because I'm behind in the rent, *that's* embarrassing. Worrying about how I'm gonna get my kid through college, *that's* embarrassing!
Morty:You know something? You *never* listen. For twenty years you never ever listened. Here,
[...]

Movie Connections:

References "Entertainment Tonight" (1981)

Soundtrack:

Over and Over

feel-good chick-flick

I really like this film. Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler, Diane Keaton, and Stockard Channing have been friends for years and all have something in common - cheating, flaky husbands. So far, so cliché.

But the 'First Wives Club' is an inspired bit of fluff, fun, perceptive, and full of high spirits. These forty-something ladies replaced by younger models aren't going to take their fate lying down, and what a hoot it is watching them set up their outfit to take fickle men to the cleaners.

OK, the film is a little sexist, with a one-dimensional view of both men and women; but it succeeds as entertainment. Some of the supporting caricatures are simply hideous, but work well. You can also spot stars of the future such as Sarah Jessica Parker in smaller roles.

If you take this film for what it is, you'll probably enjoy it. It's one of those films that you'll either love or hate - but with this calibre of cast it's worth a look.