That Thing You Do! (1996)

A Pennsylvania band scores a hit in 1964 and rides the star-making machinery as long as it can, with lots of help from its manager.

Director:

Tom Hanks

Writer:

Tom Hanks

Stars:

Tom Everett Scott, Liv Tyler, Tom Hanks

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Everett Scott	...	Guy Patterson
Liv Tyler	...	Faye Dolan
Johnathon Schaech	...	Jimmy Mattingly
Steve Zahn	...	Lenny Haise
Ethan Embry	...	T. B. Player
Tom Hanks	...	Mr. White
Charlize Theron	...	Tina
Obba Babatundé	...	Lamarr
Giovanni Ribisi	...	Chad
Chris Ellis	...	Phil Horace
Alex Rocco	...	Sol Siler
Bill Cobbs	...	Del Paxton
Peter Scolari	...	Troy Chesterfield
Rita Wilson	...	Marguerite
Chris Isaak	...	Uncle Bob

Storyline

Recounts a fable of a pop rock band formed a year after the Beatles took America by storm in early 1964. Jazz aficionado Guy Patterson, unhappily toiling in the family appliance store, is recruited into the band the Oneders (later renamed the Wonders) after regular drummer Chad breaks his arm. After Guy injects a four/four rock beat into lead singer Jimmy's ballad, the song's undeniable pop power flings the Wonders into a brief whirlwind of success, telling the tale of many American bands who attempted to grab the brass ring of rock and roll in the wake of the British Invasion.

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Plot Keywords:

band | pennsylvania | song | appliance store | jazz | 

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Taglines:

In every life there comes a time when that dream you dream becomes that thing you do.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 October 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

¡Eso que tú haces!

Filming Locations:

490 Prospect Boulevard, Pasadena, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$26,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

ITL 107,230,000 (Italy) (30 May 1997)

Gross:

ITL 187,396,000 (Italy) (6 June 1997)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Clavius Base, Clinica Estetico, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min 149 min (Director's cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Tom Hanks is an Oakland Raiders fan and named the pizza place (out by the airport) where the band is the house band "Villapianos" after former Raider linebacker Phil Villapiano.

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Goofs

The TV show which seems to be Thunderbirds, is actually its predecessor Fireball XL5, which had its American premiere in October 1963, and fits in the 1964 setting.

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Quotes

Victor 'Boss Vic Koss' Kosslovich: Hello, Pittsburrrrrgh!
[crowd cheers as he dances across the stage]
Victor 'Boss Vic Koss' Kosslovich: Hello, Pittsburgh, hello!
Crowd: Boss Vic Koss!
Victor 'Boss Vic Koss' Kosslovich: Who am I?
Crowd: Boss Vic Koss!
Victor 'Boss Vic Koss' Kosslovich: Thanks for remembering, Pittsburgh, we've got a great show for you today, a big show, a king-sized show! Which reminds me, how're you sleepin'?

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Crazy Credits

The bass player has no character name, he is only referred to as "The Bass Player," (and listed in the credits as T.B. Player).

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Connections

Spoofs A Hard Day's Night (1964)

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Soundtracks

"Little Wild One"
Written by David Gibbs, Steve Hurley, Phil Hurley, and Fred Elringham

User Reviews

A great little film with cult movie ambitions

"That Thing You Do!" is a perfect film about a group of guys in the mid-1960's inspired by Thelonius Monk-type jazz and Beatles-esque pop music. With one hit single, they are catapulted to clean-shaven, teen idol stardom. The band "The Wonders" could easily have been the 60's pop group "The Turtles" or "The Beau Brummels." The film's plot is fairly simple, yet it doesn't veer off into the typical VH1 Behind The Music avenue of excessive sex and drugs. Matter of fact, they aren't even mentioned. Written, directed and starring Tom Hanks, "That Thing You Do!" is honest and easily palitable for younger audiences. It rarely strays away from its theme: The climax and downward slope of musical fame. Viewers can also appreciate several 60's pop culture bones, thrown by Hanks himself to a nostalgic audience of youngsters such as myself. Plot occassionally gives way to hype and music, but that's okay. I was sort of looking for that. I really appreciated the "The Wonders" drummer relationship to "Dell Paxton," a jazz musician that's obviously a Thelonius Monk reference. Check them out jamming together during the third act of the film. Now THAT'S what I call truly remarkable music. The song "that thing you do" could easily have been a number one single in 1965. It's a simple, hook-laden piece of popcorn that's catchy on a near paranormal level. It was written by members of the modern pop/rock group "Fountains of Wayne." One can only wish for more music such as this today. There's enough innocence in it to guarentee parents' wide-eyed approval ... and just a bit of angst to attract the attention of hormone-raging teenagers the world over. Definetly an excellent movie for your shelf ... right next to your DVD copies of "A Hard Day's Night" and "The Beatles Anthology." Also ... check out "The Beau Brummels." Rhino Records has issued a great best-of package. One has to wonder if Tom Hanks had them in mind while writing the script. They had a few hits, though none will be as remembered as the poppy "Laugh, Laugh." A true gem from 1960's rock 'n roll.