Small Soldiers (1998)

Director:

Joe Dante

Writers (WGA):

Gavin Scott (written by) and
Adam Rifkin (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

10 July 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Family | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

The few, the proud, and the small.

Plot:

When missile technology is used to enhance toy action figures, the toys soon begin to take their battle programming too seriously.

Plot Keywords:

Toy | Computer | Action Figure | Military | Battle

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

David Cross	...	Irwin Wayfair
Jay Mohr	...	Larry Benson
Alexandra Wilson	...	Ms. Kegel
Denis Leary	...	Gil Mars
Gregory Smith	...	Alan Abernathy
Dick Miller	...	Joe
Kirsten Dunst	...	Christy Fimple
Jacob Smith	...	Timmy Fimple
Jonathan Bouck	...	Brad (as Jonathan David Bouck)
Kevin Dunn	...	Stuart Abernathy
Ann Magnuson	...	Irene Abernathy
Wendy Schaal	...	Marion Fimple
Phil Hartman	...	Phil Fimple
Archie Hahn	...	Satellite Dish Installer
Robert Picardo	...	Ralph, Clean Room Technician
Julius Tennon	...	Toy World Supervisor
Belinda Balaski	...	Neighbor
Rance Howard	...	Husband
Jackie Joseph	...	Wife
Tommy Lee Jones	...	Chip Hazard (voice)
Frank Langella	...	Archer (voice)
Ernest Borgnine	...	Kip Killagin (voice)
Jim Brown	...	Butch Meathook (voice)
Bruce Dern	...	Link Static (voice)
George Kennedy	...	Brick Bazooka (voice)
Clint Walker	...	Nick Nitro (voice)
Christopher Guest	...	Slamfist / Scratch-It (voice)
Michael McKean	...	Insaniac / Freakenstein (voice)
Harry Shearer	...	Punch-It (voice)
Sarah Michelle Gellar	...	Gwendy Doll (voice)
Christina Ricci	...	Gwendy Doll (voice)
Marcia Mitzman Gaven	...	Globotech Announcer (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rennie Cowan	...	Passerby (uncredited)
Jim Cummings	...	Ocula (voice) (uncredited)
Anthony Genovese	...	F.B.I. agent (uncredited)
Cheri Oteri	...	Globotech Telephone Operator (uncredited)

Directed by
Joe Dante

Writing credits (WGA)
Gavin Scott		(written by) and
Adam Rifkin		(written by) and
Ted Elliott		(written by) &
Terry Rossio		(written by)

Produced by
Paul Deason	....	co-producer
Michael Finnell	....	producer
Walter F. Parkes	....	executive producer (as Walter Parkes)
Colin Wilson	....	producer

Original Music by
Jerry Goldsmith

Cinematography by
Jamie Anderson

Film Editing by
Marshall Harvey
Michael Thau

Casting by
Denise Chamian

Production Design by
William Sandell

Art Direction by
Mark W. Mansbridge		(supervising art director)
Brad Ricker		(as Bradford Ricker)

Set Decoration by
Rosemary Brandenburg

Costume Design by
Carole Brown-James

Makeup Department
Cynthia Barr	....	assistant makeup artist (as Cynthia Barr-Bright)
Judith A. Cory	....	hair department head
Karyn Huston	....	assistant hair stylist
Christina Smith	....	makeup department head
Brian Stiver	....	mold department

Production Management
Paul Deason	....	unit production manager
Brad Goodman	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Benita Allen	....	first assistant director (as Benita Allen-Honess)
M. James Arnett	....	second unit director (as Jim Arnett)
C.C. Barnes	....	first assistant director: second unit
Dieter 'Dietman' Busch	....	second assistant director (as Dieter Busch)
Marisa Ferrey	....	dga trainee
Rebecca Strickland	....	second assistant director
Nancy L. Ventura	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Tony Allard	....	propmaker
Charlie Araki	....	construction accountant
Jim Bandsuh	....	illustrator
Jeff Brown	....	greensman
Mark W. Brown	....	property assistant: second unit
Molly Click	....	art department coordinator
David Gabrielli	....	general foreman
Neil Garland	....	propmaker gangboss
Travis Huffman	....	propmaker
Stuart John	....	construction foreman
Kent Jones	....	paint foreman
David Lowery	....	storyboard artist
Glenn Matayoshi	....	set dresser
Frank McEldowney	....	greensperson
Robert Misetich	....	paint foreman
Jerry Moss	....	property master (as Gerald Moss)
Maura Moss	....	prop coordinator
Arthur Nichols	....	character designer
Harry E. Otto	....	lead set designer
Andrew Petrotta	....	assistant property master
Paul S. Power	....	storyboard artist
Edward J. Protiva	....	set dresser
Robin Richesson	....	illustrator
Marvin Salsberg	....	construction coordinator
Liam Sharp	....	concept art
Shana Sigmond	....	buyer
Brett C. Smith	....	lead person
Bruce G. Smith	....	paint foreman
Jay Smith	....	drapery foreman
Bill Taliaferro	....	set designer
Stan Tropp	....	set designer
Tracey Wilson	....	storyboard artist
Bryan McBrien	....	greensman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Petra Bach	....	adr supervisor
Nancy Barker	....	assistant sound editor
Ron Bartlett	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
Thom Brennan	....	foley supervisor
Norval D. Crutcher III	....	sound editor (USA/Canada TV conform)
Susan Dudeck	....	sound effects editor
Julia Evershade	....	supervising dialogue editor
Donald Flick	....	sound effects editor
Michael Geisler	....	sound effects editor
Mark C. Grech	....	sound technician
David Grimaldi	....	sound effects editor
Michael Herbick	....	sound re-recording mixer
Hilda Hodges	....	foley artist
Randall L. Johnson	....	boom operator (as Randy Johnson)
Jack Keller	....	machine room recordist
Ken King	....	production sound mixer
Elliott Koretz	....	sound effects editor
John Kwiatkowski	....	sound effects editor
Mary Jo Lang	....	foley mixer
Steve Lee	....	sound effects wrangler
Eric Lindemann	....	supervising sound editor
Robert J. Litt	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mark A. Mangini	....	co-supervising sound editor
Michael Miller	....	adr recordist
John Pospisil	....	sound designer
John Roesch	....	foley artist
Elijah Schkeiban	....	assistant sound editor
Marsha Sorce	....	machine room recordist
Carolyn Tapp	....	foley recordist
Elliot Tyson	....	sound re-recording mixer

Special Effects by
Larz Anderson	....	special effects leadman
Felix Balbas	....	special effects technical director/animator
Darin Bouyssou	....	key technician: Stan Winston Studio
William Butler	....	special effects technician
John Calpin	....	special effects crew
Jim Charmatz	....	character design: Stan Winston Studio
David Covarrubias	....	special effects technician
Glenn Derry	....	electronics designer: Stan Winston Studio
Kim Derry	....	special effects
Lance Gilmer	....	special effects technician
Grady Holder	....	lab technician: Stan Winston Studio
Timothy Huizing	....	puppet painter
Mark Lilienthal	....	special effects
Lindsay MacGowan	....	art department: Stan Winston Studio
Bob Mano	....	key animatronic designer: Stan Winston Studio
Keith Marbory	....	special effects supervisor
Paul Mejias	....	special effects artist and puppeteer
Daniel P. Murphy	....	special effects: second unit
Tim Nordella	....	fabricator
Jane E. Pepiot	....	special effects office coordinator
Jeff Pepiot	....	special effects
Ken Pepiot	....	special effects coordinator
Gintar Repecka	....	special effects foreman
John Rosengrant	....	makeup effects supervisor
Joseph C. Sasgen	....	special effects
Frank Schepler	....	special effects foreman
Kirk Skodis	....	animatronic designer: Stan Winston Studio
Laura Stella	....	mechanical department: Stan Winston Studio
Douglas J. Stewart	....	puppet painter
Thomas R. Ward	....	special effects
Stan Winston	....	animatronic design and effects

Visual Effects by
Alexandra Altrocchi	....	visual effects coordinator
David Andrews	....	animation supervisor
Joel Aron	....	sequence supervisor
Christopher S. Baird	....	production visual effects editor (as Chris Baird)
Leslie Barnett	....	production visual effects coordinator
Stewart Birnam	....	software developer: ILM
Rob Blue	....	digital artist: main title
Scott Bonnenfant	....	texture artist
Kim Bromley	....	visual effects producer
Ken Bryan	....	digital modeler
Beth D'Amato	....	assistant concept artist
Natasha Devaud	....	digital artist
James Doherty	....	digital modeler
Selwyn Eddy	....	matchmove supervisor (as Selwyn Eddy III)
Stefen Fangmeier	....	visual effects supervisor
Debbie Fought	....	digital artist: ILM (as Deborah Fought)
Scott Frankel	....	compositing supervisor
Todd Fulford	....	digital artist
Frank Gravatt	....	modeller
Tony Hudson	....	digital model supervisor: ILM
George Hull	....	visual effects art director
Jason Ivimey	....	animator: ILM
Randy Jonsson	....	matchmover: ILM
Heather Knight	....	animator
Marshall Richard Krasser	....	lead digital compositor: ILM
Martin L'Heureux	....	animator
David Latour	....	animator: ILM
Mohen Leo	....	visual effects technical director
Dawn Martin	....	visual effects editorial
Terrence Masson	....	senior technical director
Jeff Matakovich	....	visual effects supervisor
Mark 'Crash' McCreery	....	character design
Jennifer McKnew	....	digital artist: ILM
David Meny	....	sequence supervisor
Marty Luigi Miramontez	....	computer systems engineering
Amanda K. Montgomery	....	visual effects coordinator: ILM
Jim Morris	....	senior staff: ILM
Michelle Motta	....	CG technical support: ILM
Michael Olague	....	visual effects gaffer
David Parsons	....	character animator
Aaron Pfau	....	technical director
Cary Phillips	....	software research and development
Ellen Poon	....	visual effects co-supervisor
Bruce Powell	....	digital artist
Liz Radley	....	computer graphics consultant
Ari Rapkin	....	production software engineer
Kevin Reuter	....	digital effects artist
Susan Ross	....	viewpaint supervisor
Jason Rosson	....	digital effects artist: ILM
Jeff Saltzman	....	matchmover: ILM
Sean Schur	....	sequence supervisor
Jeff Shank	....	digital effects: ILM
H.B. Siegel	....	senior staff: ILM
Jason H. Snell	....	digital plate restoration technician
John Stillman	....	digital artist
Marcus Stokes	....	visual effects
Joe Takai	....	production engineering supervisor
Edward Taylor IV	....	character modeller: ILM
Paul Theren	....	digital modeler
Michael Thompson	....	information systems
Si Duy Tran	....	character animator (as Si Tran)
Chi Chung Tse	....	digital character animator
Michael Van Eps	....	digital paint & rotoscope artist
Paul Vega	....	visual effects assistant editor
Tim Waddy	....	cg animator
Matt Wallin	....	digital artist
R.D. Wegener	....	3D camera matchmove artist: ILM
Ken Ziegler	....	digital effects compositor
Les Bernstien	....	title sequence director of photography (uncredited)
Mark Fiorenza	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Carl N. Frederick	....	computer graphics supervisor (uncredited)
Michael Meyers	....	CGI modeler: production plant (uncredited)

Stunts
M. James Arnett	....	stunt coordinator (as Jim Arnett)
Seth Arnett	....	utility stunts (as Seth James Arnett)
Jared S. Eddo	....	utility stunts
Bob Herron	....	stunts
Cinda-Lin James	....	stunt double: Kirsten Dunst
Cinda-Lin James	....	utility stunts
Shawn Kautz	....	stunts
Michael Owen	....	stunts
Shawn Robinson	....	utility stunts
Pat Romano	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Jill Brown	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mark Aaron Wagner	....	stunt double: Jay Mohr (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael J. Bailey	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Greg Banta	....	unit gaffer
John Bertram	....	grip
Mike Cerone	....	lighting technician
Paul Ciancetta	....	lighting technician: musco light
James Conroy	....	grip
Michael S. Endler	....	first assistant camera
Jimmy Ferguson	....	second assistant camera
Erica Froker	....	camera loader
Harry K. Garvin	....	Steadicam operator
Rick Harris	....	grip
Michael Ronald Heath	....	best boy grip
Mauriece Jacks Jr.	....	video assist operator: re-shoots
R. Scott Judge	....	dolly grip
Ian Kelly	....	24 frame video operator
Ian Kelly	....	video engineer
Robert LaBonge	....	camera operator (as Robert La Bonge)
Robert LaBonge	....	director of photography: second unit
Al LaVerde	....	key grip
Rexford L. Metz	....	director of photography: second unit
Darren Michaels	....	still photographer: second unit
Andrea Moraz	....	first assistant camera: second unit
David Morton	....	gaffer
Jacqueline J. Nivens	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Scott Rubin	....	grip
Gary Schillp	....	universal best boy grip
Mary F. Stankiewicz	....	second assistant camera: second unit
George Stephenson	....	additional camera operator (as George B. Stephenson)
Bruce W. Talamon	....	still photographer
Francis X. Valdez III	....	rigging gaffer
O'Shana Walker	....	best boy: Universal
David Youel	....	electrician
Shawn Ensign	....	best boy grip: second unit (uncredited)
Randy Nolen	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)
David Presley	....	video assist operator: second unit (uncredited)
Ron Veto	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Animation Department
Scott Benza	....	animator
Chuck Duke	....	animator
David Latour	....	animator
Steve Lee	....	animator
David Monzingo	....	character designer
Jacques Muller	....	animator

Casting Department
Barbara Harris	....	voice casting
Kara Katsoulis	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Michael Burnett	....	specialty costumes
Chris Burrows	....	key costumer
Danna Edwards	....	set costumer
Kent James	....	costume supervisor
Marcie Olivi	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Tracy Adams	....	second assistant editor
Dale Beldin	....	additional editor
Martin Cohen	....	post-production executive
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Gloria Kaiser	....	color timer
Jim Schulte	....	first assistant editor
Lisa Marie Serra	....	post-production coordinator

Music Department
Romeo Antonio	....	musician
Robert Bayless	....	assistant music editor
Bruce Botnick	....	music mixer
Alexander Courage	....	orchestrator
Sandy DeCrescent	....	music contractor
Jerry Goldsmith	....	conductor
Darrell Hall	....	music editor
Todd Homme	....	executive in charge of music
John Rodd	....	orchestral scoring recordist
John Rotondi	....	scoring engineer: Y4
Dennis Sager	....	scoring engineer
Steven L. Smith	....	music preparation
Nick Vidar	....	music programmer

Transportation Department
Denny Caira	....	transportation coordinator
Don Haggerty	....	production driver
Mike Shannon	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Kokayi Ampah	....	location manager
Rhonda Baer	....	assistant location manager
Bill Basso	....	puppeteer
Danny Bress	....	production assistant
Damon E. Burke	....	production assistant
Sebastien Caillabet	....	animatronics engineer
Kenleen Creech	....	stand-in
John Dawe	....	puppeteer
Robert Dawson	....	title designer: main titles
Maria DeVane	....	post-production accountant
Dale Dye	....	military advisor
Gary Gero	....	animal trainer
Tim Gonzales	....	craft service
René González	....	projectionist
Amie Griffith-Chiu	....	assistant: Stan Winston
Marc Haimes	....	studio executive
Rich Haugen	....	puppeteer
Kurt Herbel	....	electronics
Kurt Herbel	....	puppeteer
Elena Holden Tuens	....	production accountant (as Elena Holden Bress)
Pat Jackson	....	studio teacher
Judith Jennings	....	studio teacher
Keith Marbory	....	puppeteer
Bryan Jason Mathew	....	stand-in (as Bryan Mathews)
Geary McLeod	....	plate unit
Steven R. Molen	....	production executive
David Monzingo	....	puppeteer
Julius 'Butch' Naveira	....	payroll accountant
Joey Orosco	....	puppeteer
Lisa Perkins	....	assistant: Adam Rifkin
Joe Reader	....	key artist
John Rosengrant	....	puppeteer
Alan Scott	....	puppeteer (as J. Alan Scott)
Jennifer Scudder Trent	....	assistant: mr. wilson
Mary Anne Seward	....	additional script supervisor
Alfred Sousa	....	puppeteer
Jack Stern	....	studio teacher
Ian Stevenson	....	puppeteer (as Ian W. Stevenson)
Scott Stoddard	....	puppeteer
Christopher Swift	....	puppeteer
William Thompson	....	personal fitness trainer
Jim Turner	....	production controller
Andrew Ward	....	production assistant: second unit
Francis Meade Warner	....	production assistant
Robert West	....	production office coordinator
Paul Wilkowsky	....	grip second unit
Alex L. Worman	....	unit publicist
Donald E. Wygal	....	production secretary (as Don Wygal)
Kathryn Zatarga	....	project consultant
Terri Farley-Teruel	....	production services (uncredited)
Anthony Genovese	....	stand-in: Kevin Dunn (uncredited)
Darin Grimes	....	marketing (uncredited)
Matt Heimlich	....	puppeteer (uncredited)
Cory C. Myler	....	assistant: Mr. Parkes (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures (present)
• DreamWorks SKG (present) (as Dreamworks Pictures)
• Amblin Entertainment

Distributors

• DreamWorks Distribution (1998) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (2002) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• CIC Video I/S (1999) (Denmark) (VHS)
• CIC-Taft Home Video
• Filmes Lusomundo (Portugal)
• Red Feather Photoplays
• United International Pictures (UIP)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (Finland)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (Argentina)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (France)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (Germany)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (1999) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Videosonic Arts (2000) (Greece) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) (special visual effects and animation)
• Stan Winston Studio (action figures and animatronic design)

Other Companies

• Central Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes and dollies
• Digiscope  opticals
• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables
• Film Art  artwork
• Inter Video  24 frame equipment
• Jo Anne Kane Music Services  music preparation
• Movie Movers  cast trailers
• Movie Movers  star trailers
• Musco Mobile Lighting Ltd.  Musco light provided by
• Newman Scoring Stage, Twentieth Century Fox Studios, The  score recorded at
• Optical Illusions  opticals
• Pacific Title/Mirage  opticals
• Playback Technologies  video and computer graphics
• Rick Brainin Catering Inc.  catering
• Studio City Productions  marketing and promotion: syndication
• Warner Hollywood Studios  re-recorded at
• Weddington Productions  digital sound editing

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some menacing action/violence and brief drug references

Runtime:

108 min | USA:110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:K-12/9 | France:U | Germany:12 (w) | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:AL | Norway:11 | Portugal:M/12 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Philippines:G | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Iceland:L | South Korea:12

Filming Locations:

Columbia/Warner Bros. Ranch - 411 North Hollywood Way, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Richard Jaeckel, who had also been in The Dirty Dozen (1967), was originally cast to play the voice of Link Static. Jaeckel died during principal photography, and the role eventually went to Bruce Dern.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the Fimple's medicine cabinet there is a bottle for Phillip Fimple next to the Sleep Aid. The bottle has a label for a cough syrup with codeine, but the bottle is made for pills. Also, the word "teaspoons" is misspelled as "teaspons".

Quotes:

Major Chip Hazard:If it lacerates or detonates, I want it mobile and I want it lethal.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Apocalypse Now (1979)

Soundtrack:

Love Is A Battlefield (Kay Gee Remix)

Hey now, negative reception?

I had been aware of the gem, yes, gem, that is Small Soldiers ever since I was quite little. I had also always owned it, and had watched it on numerous occasions. Time went by without a watch for many, many years, as I lost interest in it for a awhile, and then later on, when I became more indulged in the film life, I saw it in my collection and decided it was time to freshen up on it. I popped it in and was ready to be overwhelmed with the memories of how great this film truly manages to hold up being over time.

I thought this movie was overall just a really great and enjoyable little film that even though it was just meant for entertainment, ended up being so lovable and cherished, much more than I thought I would love and cherish it. What was really that bad about it, folks? I have heard a lot of negativity directed at this film for being a weak Dreamworks animation with practically no depth or originality. Depth? Originality? You were honestly looking for those qualities with Small Soldiers? Maybe if you would lighten up on it, you'd enjoy it for the truly fun and enticing film it is. Some I bet were already even doubting it from the start, which that's no way to enter with a film as lighthearted and good-willed as Small Soldiers.

Most of the comedic antics were quite laughable, and that's laughable in the tasteful kind of way, especially the renovated Barbies and cowardliness of the Gorgonites. It completely entertains you, and it certainly keeps you interested through the whole movie with the fun characters and non-stop deliverance of toy warfare and excellent voice-overs. The fighting scenes were cool and amusing, and the script was pretty different and new, even though many think Dreamworks tries to silently and sneakily follow in the footsteps of previous Disney/Pixar films that are big hits, in this case, Toy Story.

I don't see why this movie has the rating it does, for I thought a lot more people would've liked it better than this, but I guess not everybody can spot a great film when they see one. If you haven't seen this movie yet, I completely recommend it, because it is a nice little movie that I am honored to own. It is getting too much harsh treatment. I had loads of fun watching it, always have, and I'm sure you will too, in the right mood. Plus, I love the usage of the song "Wannabe" at the right time in this film; forever a Spice Girl fan.