Practical Magic (1998)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Griffin Dunne

Writers (WGA):

Alice Hoffman (based on the novel by)
Robin Swicord (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

16 October 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

There's a little witch in every woman.

Plot:

Sally and Gillian Owens have always known they were different. Raised by their aunts after their parents' death...

Plot Keywords:

Sister | Magic | Curse | Love | Family Curse

Awards:

1 win & 6 nominations

Cast

Sandra Bullock	...	Sally Owens
Nicole Kidman	...	Gillian Owens
Stockard Channing	...	Aunt Frances 'Fran' Owens
Dianne Wiest	...	Aunt Bridget 'Jet' Owens
Goran Visnjic	...	Jimmy Angelov
Aidan Quinn	...	Officer Gary Hallet
Evan Rachel Wood	...	Kylie Owens
Alexandra Artrip	...	Antonia Owens
Mark Feuerstein	...	Michael
Caprice Benedetti	...	Maria Owens
Annabella Price	...	Lovelorn Lady
Camilla Belle	...	Sally Owens @ Age 11
Lora Anne Criswell	...	Gillian Owens @ Age 10
Margo Martindale	...	Linda Bennett
Chloe Webb	...	Carla
Martha Gehman	...	Patty
Lucinda Jenney	...	Sara (Adult)
Cordelia Richards	...	Nan
Mary Gross	...	Debbie
Jack Kirschke	...	Old Man Wilkes
Herta Ware	...	Old Lady Wilkes
Ellen Geer	...	Pharmacist
Courtney Dettrich	...	Young Sara
John McLeod	...	Puritan Minister
Trevor Duncan	...	Sara's Boy
Colby Cochran	...	Ice Cream Boy
Caitlyn Holley	...	Ice Cream Girl
Ken Serratt Jr.	...	Lovelorn's Lover
Rich Sickler	...	Dwight
Jeanne Robinson	...	PTC Mom #1
Deborah Kancher	...	PTC Mom #2
Peter Shaw	...	Jack, the Aunts' Father
Caralyn Kozlowski	...	Regina Owens

Directed by
Griffin Dunne

Writing credits (WGA)
Alice Hoffman		(based on the novel by)
Robin Swicord		(screenplay) and
Akiva Goldsman		(screenplay) and
Adam Brooks		(screenplay)

Produced by
Bruce Berman	....	executive producer
Denise Di Novi	....	producer
Mary McLaglen	....	executive producer
Robin Swicord	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Alan Silvestri

Cinematography by
Andrew Dunn		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Elizabeth Kling

Casting by
Amanda Mackey Johnson
Cathy Sandrich

Production Design by
Robin Standefer

Set Decoration by
Claire Jenora Bowin

Costume Design by
Judianna Makovsky

Makeup Department
Robin Beauchesne	....	makeup artist
Alan D'Angerio	....	hair stylist: Ms. Kidman
Naomi Donne	....	makeup artist: Ms. Kidman
Lee Harman	....	makeup artist (as Lee C. Harman)
Janine Rath	....	key hair stylist
Jason Joseph Sica	....	hair stylist (as Jasen Joseph Sica)
Pamela S. Westmore	....	key makeup artist (as Pamela Westmore)
Teresa M. Austin	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Mary McLaglen	....	unit production manager
Tom Proper	....	post production supervisor
Mark Scoon	....	executive in charge of production (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Josh McLaglen	....	first assistant director
Michael J. Moore	....	second assistant director (as Michael Moore)
Rich Sickler	....	second second assistant director (as Rich T. Sickler)
W. Scott Wolf	....	additional second assistant director

Art Department
Tom Altobello	....	assistant property master
Adam J. Braff	....	lead (as Adam Braff)
Dennis Butterworth	....	greens
David Elliott	....	construction coordinator
Aric Lasher	....	set designer (as Aric Lashee)
Chris Ubick	....	property master
Tomas Voth	....	assistant art director (as Tomás Voth)
Stephanie Waldron	....	greens
Chris Alvarez	....	welding foreman (uncredited)
Adam L. Barker	....	plaster foreman (uncredited)
Chris Barnes	....	paint foreman (uncredited)
Jenny Baum	....	on-set dresser (uncredited)
Melanie S. Chretin	....	second assistant props (uncredited)
Brady J. Condit	....	set dresser: Washington (uncredited)
Curtis Coyote	....	painter (uncredited)
Jeffrey DeBell	....	greens foreman (uncredited)
Patricio M. Farrell	....	art assistant (uncredited)
Tony Gardner	....	special props (uncredited)
Mark David Kersey	....	stand-by greens (uncredited)
Ken Milford	....	swing gang (uncredited)
Kenneth Milfred	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Raymond Prado	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)
Natalie Richards	....	illustrator (uncredited)
Greg Sanger	....	second lead man (uncredited)
John Snow	....	head painter (uncredited)
Robin Standefer	....	set designer (uncredited)
Gerald Sullivan	....	set designer (uncredited)
Jana Treadwell	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Kathleen Walker	....	art department coordinator (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gina Alfano	....	adr editor
David Boulton	....	adr mixer
Kam Chan	....	foley editor
Benjamin Cheah	....	supervising foley editor (as Ben Cheah)
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist (as Marco Costanza)
Kate Eales	....	assistant sound editor
Tom Fleischman	....	re-recording mixer
Eugene Gearty	....	sound effects design
Richard Bryce Goodman	....	production mixer (as Richard B. Goodman)
Robert Hein	....	supervising sound editor
Jeffrey A. Humphreys	....	boom operator
Frank Kern	....	foley editor
Dan Korintus	....	dialogue editor
Hal Levinsohn	....	adr editor
Debora Lilavois	....	assistant adr editor
Marissa Littlefield	....	supervising adr editor
Thomas J. O'Connell	....	adr mixer
Glenfield Payne	....	dialogue editor
Bruce Pross	....	foley mixer
Jennifer Ralston	....	foley editor
Jac Rubenstein	....	dialogue editor
Melanie Ryder	....	assistant sound editor
Robert Schaper	....	re-recording mixer
Wyatt Sprague	....	assistant sound effects editor
Peter Waggoner	....	re-recording mixer
David Wahnon	....	assistant sound editor (as David A. Wahnon)
Gregory H. Watkins	....	re-recording mixer (as Greg Watkins)
Tom Condon	....	cable person (uncredited)
Tom Condon	....	second boom operator (uncredited)
Hal Levinsohn	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)
Jay Peck	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Troy Porter	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Rodney M. Byrd	....	special effects foreman
Burt Dalton	....	special effects supervisor
Albert Delgado	....	special effects foreman
Donald Myers	....	special effects foreman (as Donald E. Myers Jr.)
Ray Brown	....	special effects (uncredited)
Jaime Galindo	....	special effects laborer (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Rod Basham	....	visual effects editor: Cinesite
Fernando Benítez	....	CG supervisor: Cinesite
Greg Butler	....	CG animator: Cinesite
Derrick Carlin	....	CG animator: Cinesite
Michael L. Castillo	....	compositor: Cinesite
Tim T. Cunningham	....	vfx production assistant: Cinesite (as Timothy T. Cunningham)
C. Marie Davis	....	executive producer: CIS Hollywood
Scott Dougherty	....	visual effects producer: Cinesite
Lance Hammer	....	visual effects art director
Gokhan Kisacikoglu	....	CG animator: Cinesite
Karen Klein	....	rotoscope supervisor: Cinesite
Mark Tait Lewis	....	compositor: Cinesite (as Mark Lewis)
Gregory D. Liegey	....	visual effects composite supervisor: Cinesite (as Gregory Liegey)
Jason MacLeod	....	CG animator: Cinesite
Marcel Martinez	....	compositor: Cinesite
Craig Mathieson	....	compositor: Cinesite
Sean O'Connor	....	compositor: Cinesite
Jason Piccioni	....	compositor: Cinesite
Corinne Pooler	....	paint supervisor: Cinesite
David Rey	....	compositor: Cinesite
Jay Riddle	....	visual effects supervisor: Cinesite
Christopher Sanger	....	visual effects production supervisor
John Scheele	....	visual effects supervisor
Tiffany Smith	....	vfx production assistant: Cinesite
Serge Sretschinsky	....	CGI supervisor: Cinesite
Jessica Trento	....	vfx production coordinator: Cinesite
Pat Tubach	....	compositor: Cinesite (as Patrick Tubach)
Cesar Velazquez	....	CG animator: Cinesite
Tom Zils	....	compositor: Cinesite
Jonathan Alvord	....	Avid editor (uncredited)
Constance Bracewell	....	CGI animator (uncredited)
Aimee Campbell	....	matchmover: Cinesite (uncredited)
Don Canfield	....	motion control operator (uncredited)
Jeff Chung	....	CG animator: Cinesite (uncredited)
Charles Darby	....	matte paintings (uncredited)
Brennan Doyle	....	co-visual effects supervisor (uncredited)
Douglas Epps	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Page Frakes	....	digital color correction: Tippett Studio (uncredited)
Nicole Herr	....	CGI animator: Cinesite (uncredited)
Marty Holthaus	....	production assistant: Tippett Studio (uncredited)
Jeb Johenning	....	digital video assist (uncredited)
Karin Joy	....	bidding producer: visual effects (uncredited)
Gokhan Kisacikoglu	....	technical director (uncredited)
Ken Kokka	....	visual effects producer: Tippett Studio (uncredited)
Kevin LaNeave	....	digital asset coordinator (uncredited)
Vincent Lavares	....	technical assistant supervisor: Cinesite Hollywood (uncredited)
Dan Levitan	....	compositor (uncredited)
Alex MacDonald	....	motion control camera (uncredited)
Valerie McMahon	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Jim McVay	....	digital compositor: Tippett Studio (uncredited)
Mark Michaels	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Eric Person	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Cristin Pescosolido	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Frank Petzold	....	technical director: Tippett Studio (uncredited)
Thomas Schelesny	....	CG animation supervisor (uncredited)
Craig A. Simms	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Tristan Tom	....	technical support: Cinesite (uncredited)
Vincent E. Toto	....	visual effects director of photography (uncredited)
Ronnie E. Williams Jr.	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Vicki Wong	....	film I/O coordinator: Tippett Studio (uncredited)

Stunts
Robin Lynn Bonaccorsi	....	stunts (as Robin Bonaccorsi)
Joe Bucaro III	....	stunts (as Joey Bucaro)
William H. Burton	....	stunts
Clarke Coleman	....	stunts (as Clarke C. Coleman)
Lori Crowder	....	stunts (as Lori Ann Crowder)
George Dashnaw	....	stunts
Jeffrey J. Dashnaw	....	stunt coordinator (as Jeff Dashnaw)
Tim A. Davison	....	stunts (as Tim Davison)
Lisa Dempsey	....	stunts
Donna Evans	....	stunts (as Donna Evans Merlo)
Roy Farfel	....	stunts
James M. Halty	....	stunt coordinator (as Jim Halty)
Dana Hee	....	stunts
Donald John Hewitt	....	stunts (as Donald John Hewitt Jr.)
Don Hewitt	....	stunts (as Don Hewitt Sr.)
Jery Hewitt	....	stunts
Josh Kemble	....	stunts
Clint Lilley	....	stunts
Mike Massa	....	stunts
Dustin Meier	....	stunts (as Dustin J. Meier)
John Meier	....	stunts (as John C. Meier)
Lee Poppie	....	stunts
Tyler Quigley	....	stunts
Chad Randall	....	stunts
Larry Rippenkroeger	....	stunts
Jimmy N. Roberts	....	stunts
Troy Robinson	....	stunts
Erik Rondell	....	stunts
Misty Rosas	....	stunts
Keith Siglinger	....	stunts
Dana Hee	....	stunt double: Nicole Kidman (uncredited)
Donald John Hewitt	....	stunt double: Goran Visnjic (uncredited)
Nancy Young	....	stunt double: Sandra Bullock (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Mathias Aschkynazo	....	video assist
Stuart Campbell	....	second assistant camera: Washington (as Stuart D. Campbell)
Mitch Dubin	....	camera operator
Patrick James Grosswendt	....	chief lighting technician (as Pat Grosswendt)
Chris Haarhoff	....	Steadicam operator
Chris Haarhoff	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Stephen V. Isbell	....	best boy grip
Roger C. Johnson	....	video assist
Marcos O. Lopez	....	second assistant: "b" camera, Washington (as Marcus O. Lopez)
John R. Manocchia	....	rigging gaffer
William R. Mayberry	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Terry Ruffner	....	key grip
Suzanne Tenner	....	still photographer
Paul Threlkeld	....	dolly grip
Kristopher Van Over	....	second assistant camera (as Kristopher L. Vanover)
Patricia Van Over	....	first assistant camera (as Patricia Vanover)
Jimmy E. Jensen	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Jimmy E. Jensen	....	camera operator: "b" camera (uncredited)
Aaron King	....	electrician (uncredited)
David R. Kohn	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Tim Merrill	....	grip (uncredited)
Gregory D. Smith	....	grip (uncredited)
Henry Tirl	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)
Henry Tirl	....	camera operator: "b" camera (uncredited)
Patricia Van Over	....	cinematographer: second unit (uncredited)

Animation Department
Peter Konig	....	animator (uncredited)
Matt Logue	....	animator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Mercedes Kelso	....	casting associate: NY (as Mercedes Danforth)
Elizabeth Lang	....	casting associate: LA (as Elizabeth Lang Fedrick)
Steve Spiker	....	extras casting
Tina Kerr	....	extras casting: Seattle (uncredited)
David H. Kramer	....	adr voice casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Margo Baxley	....	costume supervisor
Cynthia Black	....	costumer
Celeste Cleveland	....	costumer: Washington
David Davenport	....	costumer
Kendall Errair	....	costumer
Jalene Murphy	....	costumer: Washington (as Jalene S. Murphy)
Lisa Tomczeszyn	....	assistant costume designer
Joel Voorhies	....	costumer (as Joel D. Voorhies)
Linda Booher-Ciarimboli	....	costume shop supervisor (uncredited)
Sally Roberts	....	set costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Sam Adelman	....	assistant editor
Andrew Blustain	....	assistant editor
Michelle Botticelli	....	assistant editor
Julie Carr	....	assistant editor
Naomi Geraghty	....	assistant editor
Michelle Harrison	....	first assistant editor
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Gary Levy	....	first assistant editor
Barry Malawski	....	assistant editor
Craig McKay	....	additional editing
Deirdre Slevin	....	assistant editor
Tony Solomons	....	assistant editor
Carolyn White	....	post production associate (as Carolyn Jean White)
Keith Croket	....	assistant editor (uncredited)
Bill Daly	....	post-production executive (uncredited)

Music Department
Bunny Andrews	....	music editor
David Bifano	....	music score programmer
Danny Bramson	....	music supervisor
Missy Cohen	....	assistant music editor
Dan DiPrima	....	additional music editor
Lynn Geller	....	music consultant
Carlton Kaller	....	assistant music supervisor (as Carl Kaller)
Kenneth Karman	....	music editor (as Kenneth Carmen)
Adam Kay	....	additional music editor
Lesley Langs	....	assistant music editor
Nic Ratner	....	music editor
William Ross	....	orchestrator
Dennis S. Sands	....	score mixer (as Dennis Sands)
Dennis S. Sands	....	score recordist (as Dennis Sands)
Alan Silvestri	....	conductor
Danny Bramson	....	soundtrack producer (uncredited)
Sandra Bullock	....	executive soundtrack producer (uncredited)
Gary Carpenter	....	orchestrator: rejected score (uncredited)
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor (uncredited)
Austin Ince	....	music engineer: rejected score (uncredited)
John Moses	....	musician: clarinetist (uncredited)
Robert Warby	....	assistant to composer: rejected score (uncredited)
Robert Warby	....	music programmer: rejected score (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Dusty Saunders	....	transportation coordinator
Samuel White	....	transportation captain
Ron Kunecke	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Julie Adams	....	dialect coach
Stephen Alesch	....	architectural consultant
Amanda Brand	....	unit publicist
Keri Bruno	....	staff assistant
Andrea Doven	....	assistant: Nicole Kidman
Dana Dubé	....	animal handler: Washington (as Dana Dube)
Scott Elias	....	production associate (as Scott A. Elias)
Timothy Falconer	....	assistant location manager
Maureen Poon Fear	....	assistant: Denise Di Novi
Kathleen Feeney	....	assistant: Denise Di Novi (as Kate Feeney)
Melissa Foley	....	staff assistant: Washington
Chris Furia	....	assistant accountant
Nicole Furia	....	production accountant
J.J. Geary	....	craft service (as John James Geary)
Anne Gordon	....	animal handler: Washington
Giselle Gurza	....	staff assistant (as Giselle Gurza Junco)
Elizabeth Himelstein	....	dialect coach
Jean Hodges	....	food stylist
Deborah Kancher	....	staff assistant
Richie Kawamoto	....	staff assistant: Washington
Cynthia Krall	....	assistant: Griffin Dunne
Lara Leonard	....	assistant: Sandra Bullock (as Lara L. Leonard)
Susan Malerstein	....	script supervisor (as Susan Malerstein-Watkins)
Liz Matthews	....	location manager (as Elizabeth Matthews)
Jadi McCurdy	....	staff assistant
Caroline McLaglen	....	staff assistant (as Caroline Ivanich)
Anna Mewbourne	....	assistant: Mary McLaglen (as Anna Mewboure-Elias)
Anne Marie Mustafa	....	staff assistant (as Annemarie Mustafa)
Paul 'Sled' Reynolds	....	animal handler (as Paul 'Sled' Reynolds)
Nina Saxon	....	main and end title design
Karen Shaw	....	production secretary
Angel Singleton	....	staff assistant
Trish 'The Dish' Stanard	....	staff assistant: Washington (as Trisha Stanard)
Rebecca Stefan	....	staff assistant
Traci Tateyama	....	assistant production secretary
Natalie Ungvari	....	staff assistant (as Natalie R. Ungvari)
Megan Usui	....	staff assistant: Washington
Renannah Weinstein	....	staff assistant (as Renannah Seliger)
Melissa Wiechmann	....	assistant production secretary: Washington
Bohnie Avanzino	....	title designer: New Wave Entertainment (uncredited)
Madeline Bell	....	assistant location manager (uncredited)
Alex Bowen	....	adr voice (uncredited)
Mark Brunetz	....	development executive (uncredited)
Robert Cable	....	second assistant accountant (uncredited)
Janette Evans	....	second assistant accountant (uncredited)
Elizabeth Lloyd	....	manager: Michael Nyman, UK (uncredited)
Peter J. Novak	....	location scout (uncredited)
Derek Powers	....	manager: Michael Nyman, USA (uncredited)
Rick Roesch	....	payroll accountant (uncredited)
Taylor Saxon	....	set medic (uncredited)

Production Companies

• DiNovi Pictures
• Fortis Films
• Village Roadshow Pictures
• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1998) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (2002) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Warner Bros. (1998) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• Warner Bros. (Argentina)
• Warner Bros. (France)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1999) (Germany) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)
• Warner Sogefilms S.A.

Special Effects

• CIS Hollywood (additional visual effects)
• Cinesite Digital Studios (visual effects and animation)
• Hammerhead Productions (driving sequence)
• Tippett Studio (rose bush sequence)

Other Companies

• Caswell-Massey  antiques
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies (uncredited)
• Cineric  opticals
• Nina Saxon Film Design  title design (uncredited)
• PM Productions Pty. Ltd.  production services
• Pacific Title/Mirage  titles
• Panavision  lenses and Panaflex® Camera by
• Reprise Records  soundtrack
• Technicolor  color
• Tomkats Catering  catering (as Tomkats, Inc.)
• Toshiba  production assistance
• Warner Sunset Records  soundtrack

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some violence, intense thematic elements and sensuality.

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA | Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

Iceland:10 | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Canada:PA (Ontario) | South Korea:12 | Philippines:PG-13 | New Zealand:M | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:12 (f) (w) | Hungary:14 | Italy:VM14 | Netherlands:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 | Australia:PG (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Coupeville, Whidbey Island, Washington, USA

Company:

DiNovi Pictures

Trivia:

According to Sandra Bullock in the commentary, in the scene where Gillian and Sally get drunk with their aunts and they sling insults, the actresses actually got drunk. They were drinking some very bad tequila that Nicole Kidman brought.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Sally is outside cutting down the rose bush, her jeans have dirt marks on the knees. When she goes inside to get her sister, her jeans are clean.

Quotes:

Jimmy Angelov: I was just thinking about you.
Gillian Owens: You're always thinking about me.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Not Another Teen Movie (2001)

Soundtrack:

Got To Give It Up

In favor of this movie!

Reading the reviews of this movie is like being on a teeter-totter. One hates, the other loves, one hates... I LOVED THIS MOVIE.

Maybe it's because I come from a family of 6 sisters.... The bonding and care between the sisters and the Aunts, standing against the rest of the town's distrust and dislike shows family strength. When Sandra is weeping over her husband dying, I cried with her. I thought it was a fabulous moment for her in the movie.

If you want a movie about a woman getting revenge on an abusive husband, rent The Color Purple (ALSO a fave of mine) This movie was playful, at times slightly spooky... Hello? It's a Witch story... it should have SOME spooky stuff in it, and I don't feel the special effects were too over done.

As far as them inviting the women of the town in to help, I loved that whole sceen as well. The flash backs to the sisters as children and not wanting to let the other go... all of it. Each time that sceen pops into power mode, it makes me want to call every one of my sisters.

I haven't read the book, so I understand there might be some disappointment from those who HAVE read it. Movies rarely pack the punch of the written word they're based on. (Like EVERY King movie EVER put on film!)

But I adore Practical Magic. I saw it in the theater, and bought it as soon as I could.