Henry Hill (1999)

Director:

David Kantar

Writer:

David Kantar

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Music | Romance

Plot:

Suffering from stage fright, a talented and shy violinist learns to conquer his fears with the help of a woman. |

Plot Keywords:

Stage Fright | Violinist | Flashback | Motorcycle | Basketball

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Jamie Harrold	...	Henry Hill
Moira Kelly	...	Cynthia
Susan Blommaert	...	Gertrude Cox Hill (as Susan J. Blommaert)
Andrew Bowser	...	Young Henry Hill (as Andy B.P. Bowser)
John Griesemer	...	Charles Casper Hill
Eden Riegel	...	Nicole Hill
James Villemaire	...	Ward Hill (as James J. Villemaire)
Sam Boynton	...	Young Ward Hill
Malina Dumas	...	Young Nicole
Richard Bowman	...	Stanley Cox
Michael Kimball	...	Owen Cox
Mary Diveny	...	Tabitha Cox (as Mary Diveny Muenzen)
Janet Mitchko	...	Oliver's Mother
Io Tillett Wright	...	Oliver Wendell Holmes (as IO Wright)
William G. Kantar	...	Doctor Bill
Tom Cultrera	...	Judge
Frank R. Garzilli	...	Judge
Christine Marshal	...	Judge
Melissa Darling	...	New York Neighbor
Mike Dow	...	Nicky's Boyfgriend
Rebecca Kantar	...	Young Girl
Margaret Kerr	...	Young Girl
Chrissy McManus	...	Young Girl
Kerry Joyce	...	Policeman in Hut (as Deputy Kerry Joyce)
David Andrews	...	Guy at Diner Counter
Joe Kismen	...	Guy at Diner Counter
Edward Wilke	...	Guy at Diner Counter
Marsha Beal-Brazer	...	Diner Patron
Cindy Jeffers	...	Diner Patron
Craig J. Hunsinger	...	Diner Patron
Jason Bannister	...	Extra
Donna Bernat	...	Extra
Marcia Beal Brazer	...	Extra
Dean Bundy	...	Extra
Tara Bundy	...	Extra
Richard Butterfield	...	Extra
Patrick Davis	...	Extra
Danielle Estes	...	Extra
Leslie Guerin	...	Extra
Francesca Jellison	...	Extra
Sue Marcum	...	Extra
Duke Marcum	...	Extra
Dave Martin	...	Extra
Steve Scarfo	...	Concert Goer
Amy Stevens	...	Extra
Laddie Stevens	...	Extra
Charles Swanson	...	Extra
Jim Trask	...	Extra
Suzanne Whiteley	...	Extra
Bean Amoroso	...	Da Beans
Flower	...	Flower 'The Pig'
Kenny	...	Kenny 'The Horse'

Directed by
David Kantar		(as David G. Kantar)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
David Kantar		(as David G. Kantar)

Produced by
Roberto Almagià	....	assistant producer
David Kantar	....	producer (as David G. Kantar)

Original Music by
Dave Eggar
Jay Weissman

Cinematography by
Luke Eder		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Brian A. Kates		(as Brian Kates)
Susan Littenberg

Casting by
Amanda Koblin

Production Design by
Shelly Amoroso

Art Direction by
Dee Drisko

Set Decoration by
Marcia Beal Brazer		(as Marsha Beal-Brazer)

Costume Design by
Jocelyn Joson

Makeup Department
Rob Fitz	....	makeup artist (as Robert Fitz)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Roberto Almagià	....	first assistant director
Gretel Enck	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Sarah Campbell	....	artist: original art
Dee Drisko	....	artist: original art
Pam Durling	....	set dresser
Jill Hoy	....	artist: original art
John Imber	....	artist: original art
Tara Jensen	....	set dresser
Kim Pearson	....	set dresser
Sam Ring	....	artist: original art

Sound Department
Brian Bowles	....	supervising sound editor
Andrew Bracken	....	assistant sound editor
Hans W. Dalhaus	....	boom operator
Patrick Dundas	....	sound effects editor
J.R. Gurrieri	....	sound engineer
Ron Jones	....	boom operator
John Levy	....	sound mixer
Christopher Love	....	sound mixer
Frank Morrone	....	sound re-recording mixer
Woody Pak	....	sound engineer
William Shamlian	....	sound mixer (as William J. Shamlian)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bruce S. Allen	....	still photographer
Erica Colegrove	....	second assistant camera (as Erica L. Colegrove)
Scott Crawford	....	first assistant camera
Michael Dynice	....	key grip
Richard Feldman	....	still photographer
Craig A. Hunsinger	....	swing
Jayson Lobozzo	....	electrician
Ed Mattson	....	gaffer (as Edward Mattson)
Ken Perham	....	gaffer
Edward A. Robinson Jr.	....	key grip (as Edward Robinson Jr.)
Michael R. Rudolph	....	best boy (as Michael Rudolph)
John V. Terrey	....	first assistant camera (as John V. Terrey Jr.)
Matt Thurber	....	first assistant camera
Angela Whitesell	....	best boy

Casting Department
Dee Cooke	....	casting: Maine

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Cindy Jeffers	....	wardrobe supervisor
Leisa Raimer Nomura	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
P. Scott Nelson	....	assistant editor (as Scott Nelson)
Shelby Siegel	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Mark Ambrosino	....	musician
Dan Auerbach	....	musician
Adrian Carr	....	additional composer: Henry's theme
Tom Chiu	....	musician
Dave Eggar	....	music supervisor
Matthew Fieldes	....	musician (as Matt Fieldes)
Aaron Flagg	....	musician
Constance Glaser	....	musician
Woody Pak	....	musician
Alan J. Roth	....	musician

Other crew
Brian Contaldi	....	production assistant
Jonathan Cooper	....	provider: violin
Janna DeLury	....	script supervisor
Lauren Garlovsky	....	production assistant
David George	....	provider: motorcycle
Joanne Hays-Glover	....	payroll
Constance G. Kantar	....	public relations
William G. Kantar	....	provider: car
Darlene Lorde	....	production coordinator
Joseph J. Lorenzo	....	production assistant
Sal Malimo	....	title designer (as Sal Mallimo)
Walter Riseman	....	provider: car
Jim Schroeder	....	provider: car
Karen Schroeder	....	provider: car
Andrew Vanderzee	....	provider: car

Distributors

• Asylum, The (USA)
• Creative Light Worldwide (non-USA)
• Vanguard Cinema (2002) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• ABC Office Equipment  office equipment
• Bilodeau Insurance  location insurance
• CA Sound  sound post-production
• Chalmers Insurance  location insurance
• Du Art Film and Video  film lab
• Effects House, The  opticals
• Hudson River Pictures  avid editing facilities
• Metropolis Film Labs  35mm print
• Music Designs  post-production sound recording
• Rosenblatt, Slavet & Radesky  accounting
• Slavet & Lefkowitz  legal services
• Taylor and Taylor  insurance: New York
• Todd-AO Studios (East)  sound mix (as Todd AO East)
• Uptime Studios  post-production sound recording
• Woodhouse  post-production sound recording (as The Woodhouse)

Also Known As:

"Play for Me" - USA (alternative title)

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Quotes:

Charles Casper Hill:Just stay away from Owen's hut, Henry.
Henry Hill:Why, is it haunted?

Soundtrack:

Surrender

Worthwhile

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

This isn't Shine or even Benny and Joon, and that's what makes it special. So many small aspects of this film make it work. It's more a film about relationships than high art—and not essential relationships or even sexual ones. Henry's family is fringe for him. As he realizes, everyone is living his or her life, and he needs to live his without dependency. Cynthia is not the typical wholesome or bohemian or wealthy muse. She's not even particularly supportive of or interested in Henry's music. She has her own agenda—whatever it may be. And she's not even some grand awakening for Henry. Moira Kelly doesn't let her sweet face soften the character. Jamie Harrold's fantastic, signature facial expressions are there—albeit in drunker manifestations. He blends considerate, angry, simple, brilliant, slovenly, and conflicted in a manner that's always believable and never excessive or cliché. He plays the quirky artist without a grandiose moment.

The little gestures from the characters make this film (and the characters themselves) valuable: the father's awkward arm-pat, the mother opening the honey jar, the brother's crude practical wisdom, the sister's bathroom pep talk that doesn't completely make sense. They give to Henry what they have to give. So does Cynthia. Henry gathers these up and gives his performance—not a sweaty, earth-shattering display in a velvety auditorium but a simple, lovely moment in a community theater. Those bits the people in his life give him are enough, as they have to be enough for everyone.