Phenomenon (1996)

Director:

Jon Turteltaub

Writer (WGA):

Gerald Di Pego (written by)

Release Date:

3 July 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | Romance | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Some things in life just can't be explained.

Plot:

An ordinary man sees a bright light descend from the sky, and discovers he now has super-intelligence and telekinesis.

Plot Keywords:

Light | Birthday | Telekinesis | Bar | Beer

Awards:

7 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

John Travolta	...	George Malley
Kyra Sedgwick	...	Lace Pennamin
Forest Whitaker	...	Nate Pope
Robert Duvall	...	Doc Brunder
Jeffrey DeMunn	...	Prof. John Ringold
Richard Kiley	...	Dr. Wellin
David Gallagher	...	Al Pennamin
Ashley Buccille	...	Glory Pennamin
Tony Genaro	...	Tito
Sean O'Bryan	...	Banes
Michael Milhoan	...	Jimmy
Troy Evans	...	Roger
Bruce A. Young	...	FBI Agent Jack Hatch (as Bruce Young)
Vyto Ruginis	...	Ted Rhome
Brent Spiner	...	Dr. Bob Niedorf
Elisabeth Nunziato	...	Ella
Ellen Geer	...	Bonnie
James Keane	...	Pete the Cop
Susan Merson	...	Nurse
James Anthony Cotton	...	Cal, Hospital Orderly (as James Cotton)
Justin DiPego	...	UFO Man
Mark Soper	...	KCUD-TV Reporter
Daniel Zacapa	...	Father at Book Fair
Cab Covay	...	Book Fair Heckler
Tony A. Mattos	...	Ella's Father
Mark Valim	...	Alberto
Carl D. Parker	...	Man in Orchard (as Carl Parker)
Beth Kennedy	...	Female FBI Agent
Tom Fridley	...	Male FBI Agent
Richard Gross	...	Customer at Malley's
Jack Chouchanian	...	MRI Technician
Michael Forner	...	Charlie Shipper
Sage Callaway	...	Female Officer
Jewel Benedict	...	Townswoman (May)
Betsy Berryhill	...	Townswoman (at bar)
Mariann V. Carothers	...	Townswoman (furniture store owner)
Claudia Crespin	...	Townswoman (in crowd)
Joseph A. Nicosia	...	Townsman (man #2 at bar)
Dan Partain	...	Townsman (man #3 at bar)
Isaac Reiswig	...	Townsman (in crowd)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joseph Amey	...	Book fair spectator (uncredited)
Mike Justice	...	College student (uncredited)
Noah Michael Levine	...	FBI Agent (uncredited)
Anni Long	...	Maj. Benz (uncredited)
Scott Mullin	...	Agent (uncredited)
Will Prater	...	Helicopter Pilot (uncredited)
Anthony Snow	...	Interrogation Recorder (uncredited)
Sandy Stoltz	...	Duck Carnie (uncredited)
Eric Tignini	...	Agent (uncredited)
Derek Zemrak	...	FBI Investigator (uncredited)

Directed by
Jon Turteltaub

Writing credits (WGA)
Gerald Di Pego		(written by) (as Gerald Dipego)

Produced by
Barbara Boyle	....	producer
Jonathan D. Krane	....	executive producer (as Jonathan Krane)
Charles Newirth	....	executive producer
Michael Taylor	....	producer

Original Music by
Thomas Newman

Cinematography by
Phedon Papamichael		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Bruce Green

Casting by
Renee Rousselot

Production Design by
Garreth Stover

Art Direction by
Bruce Alan Miller

Set Decoration by
Jay Hart

Costume Design by
Betsy Cox

Makeup Department
Fríða Aradóttir	....	key hair stylist (as Frida Aradottier)
Michelle Bühler	....	makeup artist: Mr. Travolta (as Michelle Buhler)
Hallie D'Amore	....	key makeup artist
Susan V. Kalinowski	....	hair stylist: Mr. Travolta

Production Management
Allegra Clegg	....	production supervisor
Charles Newirth	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
George Bamber	....	second assistant director
Geoffrey Hansen	....	first assistant director (as Geoff Hansen)
Eric Tignini	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
James Burke	....	greensman
Victoria Carlson	....	stand-by painter
Chris Cornwell	....	assistant art director
Gary Deaton	....	construction coordinator
Richard Fernandez	....	set designer
Bobby Joe Garren	....	greensman (as Bobby J. Garren)
Michael Gastaldo	....	assistant property master
Gerald Lehtola	....	art department coordinator (as Gerald R. Lehtola)
Kimberlee Lucas	....	set estimator (as Kimberlee R. Lucas)
Robert Lucas	....	leadman
Doni McMillan	....	assistant property master (as Donald A. McMillan)
Robin L. Miller	....	property master
Kenny Montante	....	leadman (as Kenneth Montante)
Troy Alan Peters	....	on-set dresser (as Troy Peters)
Lori Rowbotham	....	set designer
Dwight Williams	....	construction foreman
Craig B. Ayers Sr.	....	greensman (uncredited)
William Boyd	....	general foreman (uncredited)
Elixandro Diaz Jr.	....	plaster foreman (uncredited)
Mary Locatell	....	illustrator (uncredited)
Nanci Noblett	....	set designer (uncredited)
Tom Richardson	....	set painter (uncredited)
Doug Sieck	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
David Behle	....	sound re-recordist
Michael J. Broomberg	....	foley artist (as Michael Broomberg)
Gary Dowling	....	cableman
Julia Evershade	....	sound editor
Howell Gibbens	....	sound editor
Michael Herbick	....	re-recording mixer
Robert Jackson	....	boom operator (as Robert C. Jackson)
Ron Judkins	....	sound mixer (as Ronald Judkins)
Doc Kane	....	adr mixer
Jack Keller	....	sound re-recordist
Robert J. Litt	....	re-recording mixer
Mark A. Mangini	....	supervising sound editor (as Mark Mangini)
Jeena M. Phelps	....	assistant sound editor (as Jeena Phelps)
Joan Rowe	....	foley artist
Elliot Tyson	....	re-recording mixer
Scott Weber	....	foley mixer
Donald C. Rogers	....	technical director of sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
David Blitstein	....	special effects coordinator
Rod M. Janusch	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Nikki Bell	....	production assistant: SPI
Mageara Cameron	....	visual effects coordinator: SPI
Louis Cetorelli	....	CG supervisor: SPI
Jerome Chen	....	senior technical designer: SPI
Heather Davis Baker	....	lead digital compositor: SPI (as Heather Davis)
Mark Holmes	....	Flame artist: SPI
Ivo Horvat	....	conceptual illustrator: SPI
Martin A. Kline	....	visual effects art director: SPI (as Marty Kline)
Christopher Leone	....	lead film recordist: SPI (as Chris Leone)
Raquel Morales	....	digital matte painter: SPI
Mike Perry	....	particle animator: SPI
Ken Ralston	....	visual effects supervisor: SPI
Jody Rogers	....	visual effects editor: SPI
Aileen Timmers	....	visual effects producer: SPI
Ian Wosiski	....	technical assistant: SPI
Michael Curtis	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Audrea Topps Harjo	....	production software coordinator (uncredited)

Stunts
David Cadiente	....	stunts
Jeff Cadiente	....	stunt coordinator
Anita Hart	....	stunts
Mark Riccardi	....	stunts
Erik Stabenau	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Audie Aragon	....	dolly grip
Jack Chouchanian	....	grip
Joseph Emanuele	....	electrician (as Joseph G. Emanuele)
Robert Gray	....	key grip
Khan Griffith	....	electrician
Mark Hadland	....	best boy electric
Bob Hall	....	first assistant camera
D.J. Harder	....	second assistant camera
Philip Ho	....	grip (as Phil Ho)
Scott Howell	....	best boy grip (as Scott A. Howell)
Doug Hunt	....	video assist (as Douglas W. Hunt)
Ian Kincaid	....	gaffer (as Ian R. Kincaid)
Cindy Lagerstrom	....	electrician (as Cynthia K. Lagerstrom)
Robert 'Boomer' McCann	....	grip (as Robert J. 'Boomer' McCann)
Thomas Nead	....	rigging gaffer (as Thomas G. Nead)
Wally Pfister	....	camera operator
Boris Price	....	camera loader
Zade Rosenthal	....	still photographer
Terry Sullivan	....	electrician
John T. Connor	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Glenn Fishel	....	grip (uncredited)
Chris Hood	....	additional second assistant camera (uncredited)
Gregory Lundsgaard	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)
Dale Myrand	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Beau Bonneau	....	casting: San Francisco
Barbara Harris	....	voice casting
Michele Juskowitz	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
James P. Cullen	....	costumer: Mr. Travolta
Lori DeLapp	....	costumes (as Lori McClellen)
Kimberly Guenther Durkin	....	costume supervisor (as Kimberly Guenther)
Elaine Perlmann	....	costumes (as Elaine Davis)

Editorial Department
Theron Alford	....	editorial intern
Tzarina V. Edillon	....	assistant editor (as Tzarina V. Edillon Burrell)
Mark V. Phillips	....	assistant editor
Bob Putynkowski	....	color timer (as Robert Putynkowski)
David Rennie	....	associate editor
Theresa Repola Mohammed	....	negative cutter
Amy Tompkins	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Bill Bernstein	....	music editor
Julian Bratolyubov	....	music preparation
Jordan Corngold	....	assistant music editor
Norman Dlugatch	....	technical score engineer (as Norm Dlugatch)
George Doering	....	musician
Art Ford	....	music consultant
Dominic Gonzales	....	score floor person
Leslie Morris	....	music contractor
Stephanie Murray	....	scoring stage administrator
Kathy Nelson	....	music supervisor
Thomas Pasatieri	....	orchestrator
Spencer Proffer	....	music consultant
John Richards	....	music recordist
Robbie Robertson	....	executive soundtrack producer
Dennis S. Sands	....	music mixed by (as Dennis Sands)
Dennis S. Sands	....	music recorded by (as Dennis Sands)
Allen Sides	....	music mixer
Allen Sides	....	music recordist
James Thatcher	....	musician: french horn
Paul Wertheimer	....	score recordist
Tom Winslow	....	additional music engineer
Tom Winslow	....	additional music mixer
Brian Benison	....	music preparation (uncredited)
Brad Gilderman	....	music mixer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Randy Cantor	....	transportation captain
Joel Marrow	....	transportation coordinator
Tony Brazas	....	driver: Mr. Travolta (uncredited)
Joseph Sullivan	....	driver (uncredited)
Mike H. Wilson	....	picture car production assistant (uncredited)

Other crew
Alicia Accardo	....	script supervisor
Matt Adler	....	adr voice
Tony Alda	....	adr voice
Michael Alexander	....	animal trainer
Charles Bazaldua	....	adr voice
Dale Becker	....	production assistant
Tiger Bela	....	assistant: Mr. Taylor/Ms. Boyle
Gray Beverley	....	assistant: Mr. Whitaker (as John 'Gray' Beverly)
Mauro Blanco	....	dubbing artist
Christine Bloomingdale	....	studio teacher
Paul Boyle	....	production assistant
George A. Cassell III	....	production assistant (as George Cassell)
Denise Collins	....	production assistant
Sheigh Crabtree	....	production assistant
Robert Dawson	....	main title sequence designed by
Sara Dee	....	assistant: Mr. Newirth (as Sara B. Dee)
David Denison	....	production assistant (as David C. Denison)
Michael Dermer	....	production assistant (as Michael B. Dermer)
Holly Dorff	....	adr voice
Peter Evangelatos	....	craft service
Efrain Figueroa	....	adr voice
Greg Finley	....	adr voice
Vivian Gosnell	....	assistant location manager
Barbara Harris	....	adr voice (as Barbara Iley)
Debra James	....	production coordinator
Michael R. Kern	....	assistant accountant
Mara Kerum	....	catering: Tony's Food Service
Jennie Latham	....	production assistant (as Jennie Marie Latham)
Paul LaZebnik	....	assistant production coordinator
Amy Leigh Johnson	....	unit publicist
Kamala Lopez	....	adr voice (as Kamala Dawson)
Kimberlyn Lucken	....	assistant: Mr. Krane (as Kimberlyn M. Lucken)
Maria Helena Martins	....	adr voice
Liz Matthews	....	location manager
Susan Mieras	....	assistant: Ms. Sedgwick
Mary Mooney	....	assistant: Jon Turteltaub
Robert J. Morton	....	on-set assistant: Mr. Travolta
Kathleen M. Murray	....	assistant: Mr. Duvall
Diana Leigh Myers	....	assistant location manager (as Diana Myers)
Christine Pawlowski	....	assistant accountant
Randol Perelman-Taylor	....	production assistant
Jolanta Piwowarczyk	....	assistant accountant
David Randolph	....	adr voice
Dale Raoul	....	adr voice
Noreen Reardon	....	adr voice
Douglas V.R. Shellow	....	production secretary
Guy J. Snow	....	production assistant
Rebecca Stefan	....	production assistant
Cheryl A. Stone	....	production accountant (as Cheryl Stone)
Susan Such	....	executive assistant: Mr. Travolta
Philip Wood	....	travel services: World Travel
David Zyler	....	adr voice (as David Kramer)
Tony Brazas	....	assistant: Mr. Travolta (uncredited)
Dylan J. Hay Chapman	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Michael Higham	....	programmer (uncredited)
Edward Hodges	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Tony Kerum	....	caterer: Tony's Food Service (uncredited)
Staci Marengo	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Sheree Green	....	special thanks: commissioner, Sonoma County Film Office
Bill Hollibaugh	....	special thanks
Jennifer Jasper	....	special thanks: commissioner, Placer County Film Office

Production Companies

• Touchstone Pictures (presents)

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures (1996) (USA) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (1996) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Gaumont Buena Vista International (GBVI) (1996) (France) (theatrical)
• Laurenfilm (1996) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Falcon (1996) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Gativideo (1996) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Buena Vista Home Video (1997) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Encore Entertainment (1997) (UK) (video) (laserdisc)
• Touchstone Home Video (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• Touchstone Home Video (1997) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Walt Disney Home Video (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• Walt Disney Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Abril Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1999) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Audio Visual Enterprises (1997) (Greece) (VHS)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
• Net5 (2003-) (Netherlands) (TV) (airing rights)
• RTL Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (TV) (RTL4) (RTL5)
• Yorin (2001) (Netherlands) (TV)

Special Effects

• Sony Pictures Imageworks (SPI) (special visual effects)

Other Companies

• Warner Hollywood Studios  sound re-recorded at
• Paramount Pictures Scoring Stage M  score recorded at (as Paramount Scoring Stage M)
• Village Recorder, The  score recorded at (as Village Recorder)
• Tony's Food Service  catering
• Birds & Animals Unlimited  animals (as Birds and Animals)
• Buena Vista Imaging  titles and opticals
• West Coast Helicopters  helicopter provided by
• World Travel Partners  travel services (as World Travel)
• Leonetti Company  lighting equipment (as The Leonetti Company)
• Reprise Records  soundtrack available on
• Beau Bonneau Casting  extras casting (uncredited)
• Beau Bonneau Casting  location casting (uncredited)
• Chapman Fisher Dollies  camera cranes and dollies (as Chapman J.L. Fisher)
• City of Auburn  special thanks
• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables
• Old Town Auburn Merchant Association  special thanks
• Placer County Film Commission  special thanks (as Placer County Film Office)
• Walt Disney Pictures and Television  for purposes of copyright law in the United Kingdom this picture was created by

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG for language and mild sensuality

Runtime:

123 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (FotoKem)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Austria:12 | Finland:S | Germany:12 | Peru:PT | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:PG | USA:PG | Netherlands:6 | Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | Philippines:G

Filming Locations:

Auburn, California, USA

Company:

Touchstone Pictures

Trivia:

Nate Pope (Forest Whitaker) is an Amateur Radio operator with the call sign WB6QLF. QLF is amateur shorthand for "I am sending with my left foot", a reference to someone whose Morse Code sending skill is very bad. This is normally sent as a question "QLF?" meaning "Are you sending with your left foot?" to an operator who is very difficult to understand in Morse.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The signals George intercepts are not high speed Morse signals as he pretended but simple old-fashioned telex transmissions.

Quotes:

Lace Pennamin:So, let me ask you something, George. When a man comes over with a basket full of tomatoes, what is he expecting? Dinner?
George Malley:Nah, no, no. Just hoping.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "My Name Is Earl: Monkeys in Space (#1.14)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Come See About Me

A Phenomenal Experience.

An ordinary small-town man (John Travolta) sees a flash of light in the sky one night and then starts to experience super-intelligence and telekinesis. Soon he is changing everyone's life for the better (most notably love interest Kyra Sedgwick, town doctor Robert Duvall and best friend Forest Whitaker). Slyly funny and innovative at first and then impressively dramatic and thought-provoking, "Phenomenon" is an effective picture that comes through because of good performances across the board and smart screen-writing. Travolta and Duvall are excellent together and they share the spotlight in the venture. Under-rated production that should be given a try. It is one of those films that will cause your emotions to come shining through. 4 stars out of 5.