Henry Fool (1997)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Hal Hartley

Writers:

(more)

Release Date:

19 June 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

Socially inept garbage man Simon is befriended by Henry Fool, a witty roguish, but talent-less novelist...

Plot Keywords:

Fame | Poetry | Alcohol | Independent Film | Character Name In Title

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Thomas Jay Ryan	...	Henry Fool
James Urbaniak	...	Simon Grim
Parker Posey	...	Fay Grim
Maria Porter	...	Mary
James Saito	...	Mr. Deng
Kevin Corrigan	...	Warren
Liam Aiken	...	Ned
Miho Nikaido	...	Gnoc Deng
Gene Ruffini	...	Officer Buñuel
Nicholas Hope	...	Father Hawkes
Diana Ruppe	...	Amy
Veanne Cox	...	Laura
Jan Leslie Harding	...	Vicky
Chaylee Worrall	...	Pearl (age 7)
Christy Carlson Romano	...	Pearl - Age 14 (as Christy Romano)
Chuck Montgomery	...	Angus James
Melanie Vesey	...	Go-Go Dancer #1
Denise Morgan	...	Go-Go Dancer #2
Jill Morley	...	Afternoon Table Dancer
Paul Boocock	...	Steve
David Latham	...	Barry
Marissa Chibas	...	Newspaper Reporter
Julie Anderson	...	Woman Outside Store
Reggie Harris	...	Anchorman
Don Creech	...	Owen Feer
Camille Paglia	...	Herself
Maraya Chase	...	TV Reporter
Shoshana Ami	...	Young Woman in Library
Karen DiConcetto	...	Girl in Library #1
Tiffany Sampson	...	Girl in Library #2
Rachel Miner	...	Girl in Library #3
Paul Lazar	...	Doctor
Gretchen Krich	...	Nurse
Valorie Hubbard	...	Patty The Bartender
Dave Simonds	...	Bill
Fay Ann Lee	...	Lawyer
Paul Greco	...	Concierge
Blake Willett	...	Cop #1
Raymond Cassar	...	Cop #2
Katreen Hardt	...	Airline Ticket Clerk
Merritt Nelson	...	Flight Attendant Lucy (as Rebecca Nelson)
Paul Albe	...	Angry Customer
Vivian Bang	...	Teenager at World of Donuts
Brandon Boey	...	Teenager at World of Donuts
Claire Ritchie	...	Teenager at World of Donuts
Herbie Duarte	...	Teenager at World of Donuts
Toy Connor	...	Teenager at World of Donuts

Directed by
Hal Hartley

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Hal Hartley		uncredited

Produced by
Keith Abell	....	executive producer
Jerome Brownstein	....	associate producer
Thierry Cagianut	....	associate producer
Hal Hartley	....	producer
Larry Meistrich	....	executive producer
Daniel J. Victor	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Hal Hartley

Cinematography by
Michael Spiller

Film Editing by
Steve Hamilton

Production Design by
Steve Rosenzweig

Set Decoration by
Melissa P. Lohman

Costume Design by
Jocelyn Joson

Makeup Department
Sophia Jackson	....	assistant makeup artist
Claus Lulla	....	key hair stylist
Claus Lulla	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Matthew Myers	....	post-production supervisor
Matthew Myers	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dena Gittelman	....	second assistant director
Richard Greenberg	....	assistant director
Michael Lerman	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Andy Biscontini	....	property assistant
Ben Telford	....	art production assistant
Constance Van Flandern	....	property master
Michael Zadresny	....	property master

Sound Department
Daniel McIntosh	....	sound mixer
David Paterson	....	dialogue editor
David Paterson	....	sound effects editor
David Raphael	....	sound utility
Reilly Steele	....	sound re-recording mixer
Karl Wasserman	....	boom operator

Camera and Electrical Department
Bart Blaise	....	second assistant camera
Terrence C. Burke	....	best boy grip
Tim Kelly	....	key grip
Storn Peterson	....	first assistant camera
Nick Phillips	....	grip intern
Frank Stubblefield	....	gaffer (as W.F. Stubblefield)
Richard Sylvarnes	....	still photographer
Pamela Weese	....	best boy electric

Casting Department
Chelsea Fuhrer	....	casting coordinator

Editorial Department
Seth Anderson	....	assistant editor
Justine Halliday	....	second assistant editor

Music Department
Jim Coleman	....	music arranger
Jim Coleman	....	musician
Hal Hartley	....	music arranger
Hal Hartley	....	musician
Lydia Kavanagh	....	additional songs
David Paterson	....	music editor
Ryful	....	additional songs

Other crew
Elizabeth Ann Chae	....	production office coordinator
Andy Clark	....	location manager
Jennie Dorosh	....	production assistant
Paul Echeverria	....	production assistant
Joyce Hsieh	....	production accountant
Dan Huber	....	additional production assistant
Susan Leber	....	office production assistant
Kendall McCarthy	....	production office liaison: True Fiction
John McNulty	....	production assistant
Christie Mullen	....	location scout
Wayne Petrucelli	....	security coordinator
Brandon Rosser	....	production executive
Adrienne Tien	....	script supervisor
Curtis Tsui	....	office intern

Production Companies

• Shooting Gallery
• True Fiction Pictures

Distributors

• Sony Pictures Classics (1998) (USA) (theatrical)
• Lolafilms Distribución (1998) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film Distributors (1998) (UK) (theatrical)
• Dendy Films (1998) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Polyfilm Verleih (1999) (Austria) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (1999) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Budapest Film (1999) (Hungary) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (1999) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Atalanta Filmes (2000) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• RCV Film Distribution (Luxembourg)

Other Companies

• Spin Ciclo Post Inc.  post-production services

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality, violence and language.

Runtime:

137 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Australia:MA | Belgium:KT | France:U | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Elmhurst Hospital, Elmhurst, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Shooting Gallery

Quotes:

Henry Fool: An honest man is always in trouble, remember that Simon.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Lonesome Jim (2005)

Hal Hartley is just too smart for most movie-goers.

Hal Hartley is just too smart for most movie-goers. He's got a lot to say--and he actually makes his characters say ALL of it; in tiny, impotent little phrases that never astound so much as when you find yourself understanding something large about them.

And Henry Fool is a fount of these emerging insights: one test is not enough to know the heart of a would-be hero, one giant failure is not enough to know the soul of a would-be romantic, love isn't always as deep as it is strong, poetry comes and goes, art is in the understanding...

Despite dispensing so many ideas, Henry Fool has amazing comic timing, some high drama, a little sex, death, and even a romantic ending. Not enough comedy, drama, sex, death, and romance for a big box-office turnout; but just enough to make the Hartley fans want more.