State and Main (2000)

A movie crew invades a small town whose residents are all too ready to give up their values for showbiz glitz.

Director:

David Mamet

Writer:

David Mamet

Stars:

Michael Higgins, Rebecca Pidgeon, William H. Macy

7 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Higgins	...	Doc Wilson
Michael Bradshaw	...	Priest
Morris Lamore	...	Bunky
Allen Soule	...	Spud
Clark Gregg	...	Doug Mackenzie
Rebecca Pidgeon	...	Ann
Ricky Jay	...	Jack
Julia Stiles	...	Carla
Matt Malloy	...	Hotel Clerk
Charles Durning	...	Mayor George Bailey
Tony V.	...	Water Delivery Man
Tony Mamet	...	Electrician
Jack Wallace	...	Bellhop
Michael James O'Boyle	...	Chuckie
Charlotte Potok	...	Maude

Storyline

Having left New Hampshire over excessive demands by the locals, the cast and crew of "The Old Mill" moves their movie shoot to a small town in Vermont. However, they soon discover that The Old Mill burned down in 1960, the star can't keep his pants zipped, the starlet won't take her top off, and the locals aren't quite as easily conned as they appear.

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Plot Keywords:

small town | film making | film in film | statutory rape | product placement | 

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Taglines:

When a film crew came to Waterford, Vermont - They Shot First And Asked Questions Later.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and brief sexual images

Details

Official Sites:

Fine Line

Country:

France USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

12 January 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Attention, on tourne!

Filming Locations:

Beverly, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£81,260 (UK) (16 February 2001)

Gross:

ESP 45,156,288 (Spain) (29 June 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Filmtown Entertainment, Green/Renzi, El Dorado Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Waterford Huskies logo is a replica of the University of Connecticut Huskies logo.

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Goofs

When Joseph and Annie are sitting in front of the statue towards the beginning, Joseph's coffee switches hands between shots.

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Quotes

Doc Wilson: It's the truth that you should never trust anybody who wears a bow tie. Cravat's supposed to point down to accentuate the genitals. Why'd you wanna trust somebody whose tie points out to accentuate his ears?

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Crazy Credits

During the closing credits, after the end of the song, "The Song of the Old Mill," a fictional interviewer speaks to Howie Gold (played by Jonathan Katz) about the song. Gold says the song can no longer be called "The Song of the Old Mill," since the movie's title has been changed from "The Old Mill" to "The Fires of Home."

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Connections

References Perry Mason (1957)

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Soundtracks

"The Song of the Old Mill"
Words by David Mamet
Music by Theodore Shapiro
Sung by Patti LuPone

User Reviews

I guess that Hollywood and small-town America just don't mix!

When Hollywood (with all its ruthlessness, immorality, and other R-rated-or-are-they characteristics) comes to an idealistic small town (with its farms, mom-and-pop stores, and other G-rated-or-are-they characteristics), what could possibly go wrong? The answer is, of course, everything. Director Walt Price (William H. Macy) is uptight, while star Bob Barrenger (Alec Baldwin) can't keep his zipper shut in the presence of local teenager Carla (Julia Stiles). Meanwhile, everyone in town wants a piece of the movie's action, and they won't easily be discouraged from getting it.

"State and Main" just might be David Mamet's funniest movie ever. Poking fun at both Tinseltown and the "ideal small town", he creates a story that's as biting as it is zany.

I have a question, though. Charles Durning plays Mayor George Bailey. Was that name a reference to Jimmy Stewart's character in "It's a Wonderful Life"?