Happy Gilmore (1996)

Director:

Dennis Dugan

Writers (WGA):

Tim Herlihy (written by) &
Adam Sandler (written by)

Release Date:

16 February 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance | Sport

Tagline:

He doesn't play golf... he destroys it.

Plot:

A rejected hockey player puts his skills to the golf course to save his grandmother's house.

Plot Keywords:

Golf | Grandmother's House | Golf Ball | Golf Course | Golfer

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Adam Sandler	...	Happy Gilmore
Christopher McDonald	...	Shooter McGavin
Julie Bowen	...	Virginia Venit
Frances Bay	...	Grandma
Allen Covert	...	Otto
Robert Smigel	...	IRS Agent
Bob Barker	...	Himself
Richard Kiel	...	Mr. Larson
Dennis Dugan	...	Doug Thompson
Joe Flaherty	...	Jeering Fan
Lee Trevino	...	Himself
Kevin Nealon	...	Potter
Verne Lundquist	...	Announcer
Jared Van Snellenberg	...	Happy's Waterbury Caddy
Ken Camroux	...	Coach
Rich Elwood	...	Assistant Coach
Carl Weathers	...	Chubbs
Nancy McClure	...	Terry
Helena Yea	...	Chinese Lady
Will Sasso	...	Mover (as William Sasso)
Dee Jay Jackson	...	Mover
Ellie Harvie	...	Registrar
Ian Boothby	...	Guy on Green
Andrew Johnston	...	Crowd Guy - Waterbury
Kim Restell	...	Crowd Girl - Waterbury (as Kimberley Restell)
Fred Perron	...	Waterbury Heckler
Helen Honeywell	...	Crazy Old Lady
Paul Raskin	...	Starter #1 - Waterbury
William Samples	...	Starter #2 - AT&T
John Shaw	...	Daniel Lafferty
Ted Deekan	...	Auctioneer (as Ted Deeken)
John B. Destry	...	Zamboni Driver (as John Destry)
James Crescenzo	...	Shooters AT&T Caddy (as Jim Crescenzo)
Brett Armstrong	...	Shooters Tournament Caddy
Peter Kelamis	...	Potter's Caddy
Stephen Tibbetts	...	Pro Golfer
Edward Lieberman	...	Pro Golfer
Donnie MacMillan	...	Young Happy
Louis O'Donoghue	...	Happy's Dad
Lisanne Collett	...	Happy's Mom
Stephen Dimopoulos	...	Italian Guy
Douglas Newell	...	Starter #4 - Pro-Am
Frank L. Frazier	...	Blue Collar Fan
David Kaye	...	Reporter
Zachary Webb	...	Batting Kid
Simon Webb	...	Doctor
Mark Lye	...	Mark Lye
Betty Linde	...	Elderly Woman
Dave Cameron	...	Reporter #2
Lou Kliman	...	Reporter #3
Brent Chapman	...	Official
Jessica Gunn	...	Signed Chest Woman
Phillip Beer	...	Cowboy Joe
Fat Jack	...	Jack Beard
Michelle Holdsworth	...	Babe on Green
Charles L. Brame	...	Abe Lincoln
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Carrie Fleming	...	Donna (uncredited)
Brennan Kotowich	...	Boy (uncredited)
Joe Sakic	...	Player at Hockey Tryouts (uncredited)
Ben Stiller	...	Hal L. - Orderly in Nursing Home (uncredited)

Directed by
Dennis Dugan

Writing credits (WGA)
Tim Herlihy		(written by) &
Adam Sandler		(written by)

Produced by
Bernie Brillstein	....	executive producer
Warren Carr	....	co-producer
Jack Giarraputo	....	co-producer
Brad Grey	....	executive producer
Robert Simonds	....	producer
Sandy Wernick	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Mark Mothersbaugh		(music by)

Cinematography by
Arthur Albert		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jeff Gourson
Steve R. Moore

Casting by
Joanna Colbert

Production Design by
Perry Andelin Blake
William Heslup		(co-production designer)

Art Direction by
Richard Harrison

Set Decoration by
Mark Lane

Costume Design by
Tish Monaghan		(as Tish Monoghan)

Makeup Department
Anji Bemben	....	key hair stylist
Doug Morrow	....	special makeup effects artist
Lisa Taylor Roberts	....	key makeup artist (as Lisa Roberts)
Fay von Schroeder	....	makeup artist (as Fay Von Schroeder)
Jill Winston	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Warren Carr	....	unit production manager
Robert Hackl	....	post-production supervisor
Michelle Marx	....	unit production manager: second unit, Miami

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Arlene L. Arnold	....	third assistant director (as Arlene Arnold)
Wayne Bennett	....	second assistant director
Peter D. Marshall	....	first assistant director (as Peter Marshall)
David W. Rose	....	assistant director: second unit
Berengaria Tomkies	....	dgc trainee (as Beren Tomkies)

Art Department
George Cromartie	....	set dresser
Bernie Desfosses	....	on-set carpenter
Roger Dole	....	assistant set decorator
Dave Dyer	....	construction foreman
R.D. 'Luther' Fairbairn	....	assistant propsman (as Luther Fairbairn)
Nancy Ford	....	assistant art director
Arthur A. Green	....	on-set greensman (as Art Green)
Shannon Grover	....	on-set carpenter
Denise Hutniak	....	set dresser
Paul Jenkinson	....	lead man
John G. Kennedy	....	set dresser (as John Kennedy)
Avo Liva	....	head greensman
Cricket Price	....	art department assistant
Mark Prior	....	set buyer
Elmar Theissen	....	head painter
Bill Thumm	....	property master
Glenn Woodruff	....	construction coordinator
Wendy McAllister	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)
James Steuart	....	set designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Christopher Assells	....	dialogue editor (as Chris Assells)
Destiny Borden	....	assistant sound editor
Thom Brennan	....	sound effects editor
Jeff Courtie	....	adr mixer
Chris David	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dino Dimuro	....	dialogue editor
Sukey Fontelieu	....	dialogue editor
Richard C. Franklin	....	foley supervisor (as Rick Franklin)
Hilda Hodges	....	foley artist
Alan Holly	....	adr mixer
Doug Jackson	....	foley editor
Elizabeth Kenton	....	adr editor
James Kusan	....	boom operator
Mary Jo Lang	....	foley mixer
Brian D. Lucas	....	sound recordist (as Brian Lucas)
Paul Massey	....	sound re-recording mixer
James Moriana	....	foley artist (as Jim Moriana)
Tony Negrete	....	assistant sound editor
Bruce Nyznik	....	supervising sound editor
Patrick O'Sullivan	....	sound effects editor
Matt Patterson	....	sound recordist
Richard Patton	....	sound mixer (as Rick Patton)
Tom Perry	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Roesch	....	foley artist
Carolyn Tapp	....	foley recordist
Vanessa Theme Ament	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Scott Blynder	....	additional boom (uncredited)
Scott Blynder	....	cable (uncredited)
Jeff Hook	....	daily sound transferer (uncredited)
Mark Noda	....	sound assistant (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Tony Gardner	....	animatronics
Lars Lenander	....	special effects assistant
William H. Orr	....	special effects (as Bill Orr)
Clay Scheirer	....	special effects (as Clayton Scheirer)
Keith Wardlow	....	special effects
Doug Hudson	....	prosthetic effects (uncredited)
Vincent Niebla	....	sculptor and painter: Animal Makers, Inc. (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
William L. Arance	....	digital animator: Available Light Ltd. (as W.L. Arance)
Beverly Bernacki	....	optical: Available Light Ltd.
John Follmer	....	visual effects supervising producer: MetroLight Studios
Martin Hilke	....	visual effects production assistant: Available Light Ltd.
Cynthia Hyland	....	digital animator: Available Light Ltd.
Katherine Kean	....	visual effects producer: Available Light Ltd.
Laurel Klick	....	digital supervisor: Available Light Ltd.
Jennifer Law-Stump	....	digital artist: MetroLight Studios (as Jennifer Law)
Steve R. Moore	....	visual effects editor: Available Light Ltd. (as Steve Moore)
Larry Stanton	....	digital animator: Available Light Ltd.
Joseph Thomas	....	visual effects animation camera operator: Available Light Ltd.
John T. Van Vliet	....	visual effects supervisor: Available Light Ltd.
Tamara Watts Kent	....	visual effects line producer: MetroLight Studios (as Tami Watts)
James W. Kristoff	....	executive in charge of production: MetroLight Studios (uncredited)
Dobbie Schiff	....	visual effects executive producer: MetroLight Studios (uncredited)
Samrod Shenassa	....	technical assistant: MetroLight Studios (uncredited)

Stunts
Guy Bews	....	stunts
Corry Glass	....	stunts (as Corry Glass-Lowry)
Jason Glass	....	stunts
Tom Glass	....	stunts
Alex Green	....	stunts
David Jacox	....	stunts (as David Jacox Jr.)
Ken Kirzinger	....	stunts
Michael Langlois	....	stunts
Mike Mitchell	....	stunts (as Mike A. Mitchell)
Fred Perron	....	stunts
Fiona Roeske	....	stunts
Greg Schlosser	....	stunts
Dawn Stofer-Rupp	....	stunts (as Dawn Stofer)
Melissa R. Stubbs	....	stunts
Mike Vézina	....	stunts (as Mike Vezina)
Brent Woolsey	....	stunt coordinator
Brent Woolsey	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Craig Aines	....	cablecam dolly operator
Dana Barnaby	....	second assistant camera
Gregg Campbell	....	grip (as Greg Campbell)
Chris Cochrane	....	generator operator
David Crone	....	camera operator
Barry Donlevy	....	gaffer
Chris Dyson	....	camera trainee
Derek Grieves	....	grip (as Derek Grieve)
Einar Hansen	....	electrician
Tim Hogan	....	key grip
Greg Johnson	....	camera operator: cablecam
Christina Kasperczyk	....	second assistant camera
Vince Laxton	....	electrician
Joseph Lederer	....	still photographer (as Joe Lederer)
Michael P.R. Lemmers	....	grip (as Michael Lemmers)
Blair McDonald	....	best boy electric
Terry McEwen	....	first assistant camera
Michael McLellan	....	cablecam rigger (as Mike McLelland)
Klaus Melchior	....	video playback operator
Mark Miller	....	grip
Rob Parisien	....	video playback operator
Joel Ransom	....	camera operator
Peter Reynolds	....	cablecam rigger
Thom Ryan	....	first assistant camera
John Sanderson	....	video playback operator
Aki Shigematsu	....	camera trainee
Chris Turner	....	playback operator
Chris Turner	....	video assist operator
Johnny Walker	....	grip
Jim Webber	....	cablecam engineer
Gary J. Williams	....	grip (as Gary Williams)
Ken Woznow	....	grip

Casting Department
Michelle Allen	....	casting: Vancouver
Sandra Couldwell	....	extras casting
Joan Ryan	....	adr voice casting
Toby Stone	....	adr voice casting
Jennifer Wilson	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Christine Coutts	....	assistant costume designer
Jennifer Grossman	....	costumer
Jean Murphy	....	costume set supervisor

Editorial Department
Carolle Alain	....	first assistant editor: Vancouver
Sandy Brundage	....	negative cutter
Jonathan Cates	....	assistant film editor: Los Angeles
Richard Conkling	....	assistant editor: Los Angeles (as Richard H. Conkling)
Bonni Devlin	....	second assistant editor: Vancouver
Jason Gourson	....	second assistant editor: Los Angeles
Claudia Morgado Escanilla	....	trainee editor: AVID (as Claudia Morgado)
Jim Passon	....	color timer
Sharidan Sotelo	....	first assistant editor: Los Angeles
Ryan Hogan	....	dailies colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Tom Adams	....	composer: additional score
Tom Adams	....	orchestrator
Michael Baber	....	assistant music editor
Robert Casale	....	music mixer
Robert Casale	....	music producer
Larry G. Goldman	....	composer: additional score
Larry G. Goldman	....	orchestrator
Michelle Kuznetsky	....	music supervisor
Mutato Muzika	....	music recordist
Kim Naves	....	music editor
Jennifer Pyken	....	music supervisor
Mary Ramos	....	music supervisor
Bruce Young Berman	....	musician: guitar solos (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Gord Brennan	....	driver
Don Briscoe	....	driver
Jake Callihoo	....	transportation coordinator
Don Cox	....	driver
Robert Forsyth	....	driver (as Bob Forsyth)
Earl Fry	....	driver
Ed Gillis	....	driver
Clarence Horkey	....	driver
Dale Johnson	....	transportation captain
Keith Lapp	....	driver
Carol McDonald	....	driver
Red Murphy	....	driver
Phil Parker	....	driver
Mike Porohowski	....	driver
Derek Rama	....	driver
Doug Rama	....	driver
Robert Smith	....	driver
Rocky Zantolas	....	driver

Other crew
Michelle Allard	....	assistant: Dennis Dugan
George Austin	....	double: hand and body, Walters
Gina Brockett	....	alligator handler
Jim Brockett	....	alligator handler
Nancy Carrow	....	production coordinator
Dusty DaSilva	....	production assistant (as Dusty Dasilva)
Karen Day	....	production accountant
Wayne Fancher	....	security officer
Lara Fox	....	script supervisor
Fabian Galick	....	security officer
Rohry Galick	....	security officer
Russ Hamilton	....	production assistant
Carol Hocking	....	accounting clerk
Michelle Holdsworth	....	assistant: Adam Sandler
Greg Jackson	....	location manager
Philip Katsikas	....	production assistant (as Phil Katsikas)
Stephanie Keeler	....	production assistant
Wendi Laski	....	unit publicist
David Richard Lewis	....	stand-in
Drew Locke	....	safety coordinator
Mark Lye	....	golf consultant
Terry Mackay	....	production assistant
Jane McKernan	....	assistant accountant
Bob Miller	....	security officer
Melinda Misener	....	assistant: Dennis Dugan
Scott Pattullo	....	production assistant
Anna-Marie Plosz	....	assistant: Warren Carr
Robert Randall	....	production assistant
Katherine Roussos	....	craft service (as Katherine [Kat] Roussos)
Herman Silva	....	production assistant (as Hermann Silva)
Rita Smith	....	assistant: Bob Simonds
Glenn Thompson	....	production assistant
Stephen Tibbetts	....	stand-in
Brian Turko	....	security officer
Jonathan Walker	....	stand-in
Ally Warren	....	stand-in (as Allison Warren)
Anne Watt	....	assistant production coordinator
Kenneth W. Yanko	....	stand-in (as Kenneth Yanko)
Craig Young	....	assistant location manager
Rick Dallago	....	location scout (uncredited)
Dana Dubé	....	animal trainer (uncredited)
Joel Hurley	....	location scout (uncredited)
Todd Lester	....	security officer (uncredited)
Klaus Melchior	....	24 frame video coordinator (uncredited)
Steve Woodley	....	animal trainer (uncredited)
Lynnanne Zager	....	adr voice (uncredited)

Thanks
Grandma Anna	....	in memory of
Grandma Mollie	....	in memory of

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures (presents)
• Brillstein-Grey Entertainment
• Robert Simonds Productions

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1996) (USA) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1997) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1999) (USA) (TV)
• Argentina Video Home (1997) (Argentina) (VHS)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• CIC-Taft Home Video (199?) (Australia) (VHS)
• Cinema International (1997) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (199?) (Brazil) (DVD)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1997) (Argentina) (all media)
• Universal Pictures Canada (1999) (Canada) (DVD) (as Universal Studios Home Video Canada)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Special Effects

• Available Light Productions (special visual effects) (as Available Light Ltd.)
• MetroLight Studios (special visual effects)

Other Companies

• Alpha Cine Service  dailies by (as Alpha Cine, Vancouver)
• American Humane Association, The  animal action monitoring
• Animal Makers  prosthetic animals
• Cablecam International  special camera systems
• Clairmont Camera  camera systems by
• Deluxe  color by (as Deluxe®)
• Directors Sound  adr recorded at (as Directors Sound, Burbank)
• Eastman Film  film stock (as Eastman Color Film)
• Edible Planet Catering  catering (as Edible Planet)
• Howard Anderson Company, The  special thanks
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.)
• Mutato Muzika  music recorded at
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Todd-AO Studios  sound recording
• Universal Studios Sound Facilities  adr recorded at (as Universal Studios)
• Warner Hollywood Studios  foley recorded at
• William F. White International  grip and lighting equipment

Also Known As:

"Adam Sandler's Happy Gilmore" - USA (video title)
"Progolfer Gil" - Japan (English title) (video title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language and some comic sexuality

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-12 (video premiere) | Germany:6 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | UK:12 | Netherlands:MG6 (video premiere) | Iceland:L | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Sweden:11 | South Korea:12 | Canada:PG (British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) (Canadian Home Video rating) | USA:PG-13 (No. 34362) | Philippines:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The only two true PGA golfers in the movie are Mark Lye (the golfer who talks to Happy at the cocktail party) and Lee Trevino (the silent golfer who shakes his head in disbelief, only saying the lines "Grizzly Adams did have a beard.") Nick Faldo is mentioned, but never seen on screen.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Happy and the woman are at the hockey rink and she shots the puck. It crosses through the crease twice

Quotes:

[first lines]
[opening narration voice over]
Happy Gilmore:My name is Happy Gilmore. Ever since I was old enough to skate, I loved hockey. I wasn't really the greatest skater though. But that didn't stop my dad from teaching me the secret of smacking his greatest slap shot.
[Young Happy, hits a hard plastic ball into his father's forehead]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Conan: 2011: A Spanx Odyssey (#1.29)" (2011)

Soundtrack:

Kiss You All Over

It's not Caddyshack, but it's quality comedy

Happy Gilmore is Adam Sandler's only standout performance in a long list of half-assed, unfunny comedies. But this is it, the real deal. This is the film that all other Sandler films make references to, quote and celebrate, in case you ever wondered where phrases like "It's all in the hips" (as said in Little Nicky) and "You eat pieces of sh*t for breakfast?" (quoted everywhere) came from. Well, Happy Gilmore is the birth of these phrases as well as the birth of a comedic star. It is also just all-around solid comedic entertainment and a crash-course in golf. Or rather, 101 Things Not To Do On The Golf Course.

Adam Sandler is Happy. But this is only his character's ironic name, because Happy is really quite angry and extremely frustrated at getting nowhere in his amateur hockey career. He slips into golf by what can only be described as a fluke, and is able to take out his aggressions on the golf-court, setting records for longest drives ever as he aggressively hits the ball. The anger he has is advantageous here, but a big problem when it comes to putting - and an even bigger problem when it comes to dealing with smug competitors like Shooter McGavin (superbly played by Christopher McDonald).

Happy Gilmore thus follows Sandler on the golf-court, where 90% of the film takes place. Happy is one of those rare characters in films that you desperately pull for and end up hating all of his competitors and enemies. In this way, Happy Gilmore is a very effective film as it establishes a hero-feeling with its main character, in spite of his flaws. I can't think of many other films in which I've wanted the lead character to win as much as in this one. On top of that device, you have such gems like Adam Sandler beating up old man Bob Barker on the green, Adam Sandler screaming at a golf ball asking it "Are you too good for your home?", and Christopher McDonald in one of the most hilarious and subtlety comedic performances of the 1990s.

So Happy Gilmore is the Godfather of all Sandler films, as well as the only truly good one. It borrows somewhat from Caddyshack in the goofy golf sense so it can't be considered truly original, but it IS original when it comes to Happy Madison productions.

8/10