Ulee's Gold (1997)

Director:

Victor Nunez

Writer:

Victor Nunez (written by)

Release Date:

13 June 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The story of a family on the edge, and a man who brought them back.

Plot:

A reclusive beekeeper slowly pulls his dysfunctional family back together, but not without having to fight his son's previous dastardly cohorts.

Plot Keywords:

Dysfunctional Family | Beekeeper | Nurse | Bee | Hospital

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 7 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Peter Fonda	...	Ulee Jackson
Patricia Richardson	...	Connie Hope
Christine Dunford	...	Helen Jackson
Tom Wood	...	Jimmy Jackson
Jessica Biel	...	Casey Jackson
Vanessa Zima	...	Penny Jackson
Steven Flynn	...	Eddie Flowers
Dewey Weber	...	Ferris Dooley
J. Kenneth Campbell	...	Sheriff Bill Floyd
Traber Burns	...	Chance Barrow
Ryan Marshall	...	Charley Myers
Chad Fish	...	Markie
Will Sexton	...	Child at Rest Stop
Dale C. Marshall	...	Beekeeper Assistant
James T. Whitehurst	...	Beekeeper Assistant
Charles Branner	...	Beekeeper Assistant
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jim Flanagan	...	Pool Player (uncredited)

Directed by
Victor Nunez

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Victor Nunez		written by

Produced by
Sam Gowan	....	co-producer
Stewart Lippe	....	line producer
Peter Saraf	....	co-producer
Edward Saxon	....	executive producer
John Sloss	....	executive producer
Valerie Thomas	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Charles Engstrom

Cinematography by
Virgil Mirano		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Victor Nunez

Casting by
Judy Courtney

Production Design by
Pat Garner

Art Direction by
Debbie DeVilla

Set Decoration by
Charles Kulsziski

Costume Design by
Marilyn Wall-Asse

Makeup Department
Jimmy Jay	....	assistant hair stylist
Jimmy Jay	....	assistant makeup artist
Marilyn Wall-Asse	....	supervising hair stylist
Marilyn Wall-Asse	....	supervising makeup artist
Hope Sky White	....	makeup production assistant
Danica Winter	....	makeup production assistant

Production Management
Jennifer Fong	....	unit production manager
Melissa Shepard Sykes	....	production manager: Bee World

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Aloura Melissa Charles	....	second assistant director
Gus Holzer	....	assistant director
Tim Lewis	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Scott R. Ashley	....	art department production assistant
Joan Bernier	....	scenic
Michael Caparelli	....	carpenter
Chris DesMarais	....	property master
Russell D. DeYoung	....	scenic
Patrick Edward Fatica	....	art department production assistant
Greg Garner	....	carpenter
Linda Hall	....	art department production assistant
Chris Hierholzer	....	carpenter
David Kahler	....	assistant art director
Ritch Klein	....	art department production assistant
Laura Lerner	....	art department production assistant
Dean Lowry	....	construction supervisor
Ryan Marshall	....	assistant property master
Eric Perez	....	art department production assistant
Jerry Roberts	....	carpenter
Linda Seyfert	....	art department production assistant
Todd A. Stuart	....	art department production assistant

Sound Department
Tim J. Carroll	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Alberto García	....	sound effects designer
Alberto García	....	sound effects editor
Gus Holzer	....	foley supervisor
Andy Malcolm	....	foley artist
Jon Oh	....	adr recordist
Dominick Tavella	....	sound re-recording engineer
Pete Winter	....	dialogue editor
Pete Winter	....	production sound mixer
Pete Winter	....	sound designer

Camera and Electrical Department
John Bramley	....	photographer
Michael Caparelli	....	second assistant camera
Robert Consentino	....	gaffer
Sean Coyne	....	key dolly grip
Jim Flanagan	....	second grip
Greg Garner	....	first assistant camera
Raymond Vincent Hinst	....	third grip
Victor Nunez	....	camera operator
Vincent Nunez	....	video assist operator
Joel Stirnkorb	....	key lighting grip
Albert Tablanza	....	best boy electric
Marek Wojciechowski	....	swing electrician (as Mark Wojciechowski)
Joachim Hellenes	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Lisa Essary	....	casting associate
Bill Ingram	....	casting assistant
Melissa Rapack	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Lisa Martin	....	costume co-designer (as Lisa Martin-Stuart)
Hope Sky White	....	wardrobe production assistant
Danica Winter	....	wardrobe production assistant

Editorial Department
Adam Boome	....	lightworks consultant
Gus Holzer	....	first assistant editor
Jean Nakahara	....	post-production coordinator
Vincent Nunez	....	second assistant editor
Tom Salvatore	....	color timer
Pax Wassermann	....	first assistant film editor
Pete Winter	....	lightworks assistant

Music Department
Lamar Alsop	....	musician: viola
Abraham Appleman	....	musician: violin
Julien Barber	....	musician: viola
Bruce David Barth	....	musician: piano (as Bruce Barth)
John Beal	....	musician: bass
Paula Bing	....	musician: flute
Martha Caplin-Silverman	....	musician: violin
Emile Charlap	....	music preparation
Emile Charlap	....	orchestra contractor
Gary Chester	....	music recording engineer
Sonny Kompanek	....	conductor
Sonny Kompanek	....	orchestrator
Ann Leathers	....	musician: violin
Richard Locker	....	musician: cello
Emily Mitchell	....	musician: harp
David Murphy	....	music editor
Sandra Park	....	musician: violin
Paul Peabody	....	musician: violin
John Pintavalle	....	musician: violin
Joel Pitchon	....	musician: violin
Susan Pray	....	musician: viola (as Sue Pray)
Matthew Raimondi	....	musician: violin
Richard Rood	....	musician: violin
Richard Sortomme	....	musician: violin
Alex Steyermark	....	music supervisor
Maisie Weissman	....	assistant to music supervisor
Eric Wyrick	....	musician: violin

Transportation Department
Jim Flanagan	....	swing driver

Other crew
Rachel Aberly	....	unit publicist
Myra A. Berg	....	set tutor
Steve Bowen	....	post-production auditor
Bruce Brashear	....	additional legal assistance
Paul Brennan	....	legal services
Jonathan Demme	....	presenter
Terry Edinger	....	post-production auditor
Eric Faden	....	production office assistant
Clare Gushman	....	set production assistant
Josh Gutterman	....	key set production assistant (as Joshua Gutterman)
Janelle Johnson	....	bee consultant
Warren Johnson	....	bee consultant
Alan J. Lam	....	production auditor
Constance Lamboy	....	paramedic
Ben Lanier	....	bee consultant
Glynnis Lanier	....	bee consultant
L.L. Lanier	....	bee consultant
Martha Lanier	....	bee consultant
Stewart Lippe	....	dog wrangler
Byrd Lewis Mashburn	....	set production assistant
Susanna Orencia	....	set production assistant
Jodi Peikoff	....	legal services
John Sloss	....	legal services
Sherrill Smith	....	location manager
Bayard Stern	....	set production assistant
Joice Stewart	....	assistant production auditor
Cindy Thomas	....	set production assistant
Buddy Varner	....	location consultant
Marie-Jo Gausseres Vozza	....	production office coordinator
George Watkins	....	bee consultant
Neda Armian	....	assistant to producer (uncredited)
Miura Smith	....	assistant to producer (uncredited)

Thanks
Veronica Armistead	....	special thanks: The Bucaneer Inn, St. George Island
Debbie Buchanan	....	special thanks: Florida Department of Corrections
Chris Burns	....	special thanks
Sergeant Ronald Carter	....	special thanks: Florida national guard armory, Apalachicola
Laurence P. Cutts	....	special thanks: assistant chief, Bureau of Apiary Inspections, Florida Dept. of Agriculture
Gill Dennis	....	special thanks
Wayne Dooley	....	special thanks: IGA, Apalachicola
Pat Dunnil	....	special thanks
Ken Dykes	....	special thanks: Emerald Coast Hospital, Apalachicola
Catherine Green	....	special thanks: The Lamar Hotel, Orlando
Jerry Hall	....	special thanks: The Grill, Apalachicola
Beverly Hewitt	....	special thanks: The Grill, Apalachicola
Betty Hicks	....	special thanks: The Bucaneer Inn, St. George Island
Holling C. Holling	....	acknowledgment: "Paddle-To-The-Sea" copyright by
Markus Janner	....	special thanks
Gerald Lewter	....	special thanks: Port St. Joe elemantary school principal
Ron McAndrew	....	special thanks: Gulf County correctional facility
William McCart	....	special thanks
Frank McKeithen	....	special thanks: Gulf County sheriff
Charles Meiner	....	special thanks: The Lamar Hotel, Orlando
Bill Nisselson	....	special thanks
Al Pierce	....	special thanks
Mary Proulx	....	special thanks: International House of Pancakes, Orlando
Warren Roddenberry	....	special thanks: Franklin County sheriff
Gary Salt	....	special thanks
Jennie Sanborn	....	special thanks: Carrabelle City commissioner
Harry K. Singletary	....	special thanks: secretary, Florida Department of Corrections
Richard Skeete	....	special thanks
Susan Solburg	....	special thanks: Possum Tracks Studio, Sopchoppy
Tim Spitzer	....	special thanks
Lynn Stephens	....	special thanks: Emerald Coast Hospital, Apalachicola
Billy Traylor	....	special thanks: Gulf County commissioner
Nancy Varner	....	special thanks
Ruth Varner	....	special thanks
Father Tom Weller	....	special thanks: Trinity Episcopal Church, Apalachicola
Walter Wilder	....	special thanks: Gulf County school board superintendent
Irwin Young	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Clinica Estetico
• Nunez-Gowan

Distributors

• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• Haut et Court (France)
• MGM Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• Movienet (Germany)
• Orion Pictures Corporation
• Vitória Filmes (Portugal)

Other Companies

• American Bee Journal  special thanks
• Axium Payroll Services  payroll services
• Bee Culture Magazine  special thanks
• Bridgestone/Firestone Inc.  special thanks
• Charleston Grip & Electric Inc.  electrical and grip equipment
• Citgo Petroleum Corp.  special thanks
• Community of Apalachicola, Florda  special thanks
• Community of Carrabelle, Florda  special thanks
• Community of Port St. Joe, Florda  special thanks
• Community of Wewahitchka, Florda  special thanks
• Du Art Digital  digital titles
• Du Art Digital  opticals
• Florida Department of Agriculture  special thanks
• Florida Department of Corrections  special thanks
• Florida Department of Transportation  special thanks
• Florida Entertainment Commission  special thanks
• Florida Turnpike Authority  special thanks
• Great Northern/Reiff & Associates  insurance
• Houghton Mifflin Company  "Paddle-To-The-Sea" excerpt courtesy of
• Merritt Apiaries  special thanks
• Metro Orlando Film and Television Office  special thanks
• N&D Film and Video  negative cutting
• Napa Auto Parts  special thanks
• National Edison Recording Studio  score recording
• On Location Education  set tutor
• Rossman Apiaries Inc.  special thanks
• Sloss Law Office  legal services
• Sound One Corporation  re-recording studio
• The Catering Production Company  catering
• Walter T. Kelley Company  special thanks
• Weld Rite Company  special thanks

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

South Korea:12 | Argentina:13 | France:U | Germany:6 | Netherlands:16 | Portugal:M/12 | UK:15 | USA:R | Australia:M | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Apalachicola, Florida, USA

Company:

Clinica Estetico

Trivia:

This was Jessica Biel's film debut.

Quotes:

Ulysses Ulee Jackson: There's all kinds of weakness in the world, not all of it is evil. I forget that from time to time.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Father of the Pride: Rehabilitation (#1.8)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Tupelo Honey

Good stuff. Slow, but that's OK.

A pretty good little movie. The pace is a little slow, and often not much seems to be happening. This is not a bad thing here. Hollywood is usually so formulaic that they must not be discouraged when they try something a little different. Everything worked well here, the acting, the photography, the direction. Yes, Peter Fonda turned in a fine performance. I wonder if as much would have been made of this if Fonda hadn't spent most of his career playing in total stinkers, though. The small-time crooks, Fonda must deal with (including his son) are such losers they seem directly imported from an Elmore Leonard novel. Special mention for the child actress Vanessa Zima (Penny Jackson). She performed wonderfully in her role, full of soulful and meaningful looks. Either she is a very good child actress, or the casting director did a great job finding a girl who looks the part.