I Woke Up Early the Day I Died (1998)

Director:

Aris Iliopulos

Writer:

Edward D. Wood Jr. (writer)

Release Date:

10 September 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Thriller

Plot:

A mental patient escapes from the looney bin in drag, robs a bank, and goes on the lam! |

Plot Keywords:

Serial Killer | Funeral | Circus | Neo Noir | Syringe

Awards:

7 wins

Cast

Billy Zane	...	The Thief
Tippi Hedren	...	Maylinda Austed
Ron Perlman	...	Cemetery Caretaker
Michael Greene	...	Tom Harris
Christina Ricci	...	Teenage Hooker
Roberta Hanley	...	Housewife
Andrew McCarthy	...	Cemetery Cop
Ann Magnuson	...	Loan Secretary
Robert Musselman	...	Eartha Kitt's Escort
Marvin Lorence	...	Eartha Kitt's Piano Player (as Marvin Lorence)
Bud Cort	...	Shopkeeper (as Lord Hienrich 'Binky' Alcoa III)
Taylor Negron	...	Loan Office Cop
Megan Odebash	...	Wardrobe Mistress (as Megan Odabash)
Carel Struycken	...	Undertaker
Max Perlich	...	Assistant Undertaker
Patrick Painter	...	Assistant Undertaker #2
Will Patton	...	Preacher
Rain Phoenix	...	Bartender#1
Jonathan Taylor Thomas	...	Boy at Beach
Summer Phoenix	...	Bartender#2 / Girl at the Beach
Steven M. Porter	...	Detective #2 (as Steve Porter)
Jed Reghanti	...	Prom King
Tara Reid	...	Prom Queen / Nightclub Bartender
Joann Richter	...	Woman at Supermarket
John Ritter	...	Robert Forrest
Kathleen Robertson	...	Ticket Girl
Mark Rolston	...	Hot Dog Vendor
David Ward	...	Cruiser Cop #1
Ricky Schroder	...	Cruiser Cop #2 (as Rick Schroder)
Nicollette Sheridan	...	Ballroom Woman
Gregory Sporleder	...	Loan Manager
Steven Weber	...	Policeman in Alley
Kathy Wood	...	Woman at Carnival (as Kathleen O'Hara Wood)
Billie Worley	...	Fat Taxi Driver (as Billy Worley)
Lee Arenberg	...	Parking Lot Attendant
Abraham Benrubi	...	Bouncer
Sandra Bernhard	...	Sandy Sands
Karen Black	...	Whip Lady
Mark Boone Junior	...	Cop #3
Tilghman Branner	...	Policewoman in Alley / Snakewoman Circus
Conrad Brooks	...	Cruiser Cop #3
Joseph Darrell	...	Uniform Cop #1
Leif Garrett	...	Cruiser Cop #4 (as Leif Garret)
Dana Gould	...	Carnival Barker
Mike Hagerty	...	Flop House Manager (as Michael G. Hagerty)
Brent Hinkley	...	Detective #1
Jeff Horny	...	Smokey
Eartha Kitt	...	Cult Leader
Denice D. Lewis	...	Star Stripper
Blake Lindsley	...	Ticket Girl
Anna Austin	...	Nurse
Vampira	...	Woman in Hotel Lobby (as Maila Nurmi)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Donita Ganzon Gold	...	Savannah
Louise Ashby	...	Show Girl (uncredited)
Angella Kaye	...	Girl (uncredited)
Celeste Octavia	...	Ballerina (uncredited)
John Patrick Patti	...	Pimp (uncredited)
Roberto Santana	...	Conga Player (uncredited)

Directed by
Aris Iliopulos

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Edward D. Wood Jr.		writer

Produced by
Dody Dorn	....	associate producer
Jordan Gertner	....	executive producer
Oscar Gubernati	....	co-producer
Chris Hanley	....	producer
Anne McCarthy	....	co-producer
Jennifer Peckham	....	executive producer
Drew Phillips	....	line producer
Dan Sales	....	executive producer
Mary Vernieu	....	co-producer
Billy Zane	....	producer

Original Music by
Larry Groupé

Cinematography by
Michael F. Barrow

Film Editing by
Dody Dorn

Casting by
Sabrina Atoori
Anne McCarthy
Mary Vernieu

Production Design by
Maia Javan

Art Direction by
Cecil Gentry

Costume Design by
Marian Ceo

Makeup Department
Andre Blaise	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
Brendan Garst	....	production manager
Natalie Samanon	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joe McDougall	....	first assistant director
Calvin Starnes	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Eli Fuller	....	assistant art director
Eli Fuller	....	set dresser
Kyla MacTaggart	....	lead scenic
Robert Piser	....	scenic artist
Ed Servaites	....	on-set dresser

Sound Department
Ryan Ferro	....	sound
Bryan Franklin	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ross Levy	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Wayne Beauchamp	....	special effects coordinator

Stunts
Bobbi Blackford	....	stunts
Brad Bovee	....	stunts
Julie Ann Johnson	....	stunts
Roberta Kenning-Blackford	....	stunts
Jamie Keyser	....	stunts
Chris Michael	....	stunts
Susan Muzila	....	stunts
Tom Muzila	....	stunt coordinator
Erik Paulson	....	stunts
Patricia M. Peters	....	stunts (as Patricia Peters)
Mario Roberts	....	stunts
José Ignacio Álvarez	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Dionne Eskelin	....	first assistant camera
Colin Hudson	....	Steadicam operator
Jon Myers	....	jib operator
Joel Perkal	....	first assistant camera

Editorial Department
Elias Axume	....	assistant executive in charge of post-production
Mike Grant	....	assistant film editor
Chris Regan	....	color timer

Music Department
Andrew M. Chukerman	....	composer: end title and additional music
Andrew M. Chukerman	....	composer: song "Bink e Bink"
Gerry Gershman	....	music supervisor
John Kurlander	....	music scoring mixer
Frank Macchia	....	composer: additional score
Frank Macchia	....	orchestrator

Other crew
Frederic Demey	....	executive in charge of marketing
Josh Dreier	....	production assistant
Michael Mandaville	....	production bonding: Motion Picture Bond Company
Deborah Mermelstein	....	completion bond
Paul Moisio	....	production assistant
Dan Perri	....	title designer: main titles
Chris Swinney	....	set medic
Cindy Swinney	....	craft service
Lynn M. van Kuilenburg	....	location manager

Production Companies

• Muse Productions

Distributors

• Cinefear (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Cinequanon Pictures International Inc. (1999) (USA)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (1999) (Germany) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (Spain) (2004) (Spain) (DVD)

Also Known As:

"I Awoke Early the Day I Died" - USA (alternative title)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Spain:7

Filming Locations:

Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Muse Productions

Trivia:

The second film with no dialogue that Ron Perlman has acted in. The first was Quest for Fire (1981).

Soundtrack:

Jesus I Was Evil

Ed Wood is back!

I saw this film at the International Film Festival Of Brussels. I also met the director of the film. I heard that Ed Wood wrote the story in 10 years! I'm sure he thought his would be his masterpiece - his triumph.

Well, if you take the film seriously (like mr. Wood did) it is really one of the worst films you will ever see. And this is cool. The big joke of I Woke Up Early The Day I Died is that it doesn't even try to be a decent film.

This makes the film very, very good. The script is filled with nihilism and anarchism - a lot of black humour. Billy Zane's role is absolutely excellent. You see, this is either high art...or low rubbish.

****/*****