Cradle Will Rock (1999)

Director:

Tim Robbins

Writer (WGA):

Tim Robbins (written by)

Release Date:

12 April 2000 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Art is never dangerous -- unless it tells the truth.

Plot:

A true story of politics and art in the 1930s USA, centered around a leftist musical drama and attempts to stop its production.

Plot Keywords:

1930s | Play | Theater | Union | Communism

Awards:

5 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Hank Azaria	...	Marc Blitzstein
Rubén Blades	...	Diego Rivera
Joan Cusack	...	Hazel Huffman
John Cusack	...	Nelson Rockefeller
Cary Elwes	...	John Houseman
Philip Baker Hall	...	Gray Mathers
Cherry Jones	...	Hallie Flanagan
Angus Macfadyen	...	Orson Welles
Bill Murray	...	Tommy Crickshaw
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Countess Constance LaGrange
Susan Sarandon	...	Margherita Sarfatti
Jamey Sheridan	...	John Adair
John Turturro	...	Aldo Silvano
Emily Watson	...	Olive Stanton
Bob Balaban	...	Harry Hopkins
Jack Black	...	Sid
Kyle Gass	...	Larry
Paul Giamatti	...	Carlo
Barnard Hughes	...	Frank Marvel
Barbara Sukowa	...	Sophie Silvano
Victoria Clark	...	Maxine Elliot's - Dulce Fox
Erin Hill	...	Maxine Elliot's - Sandra Mescal
Daniel Jenkins	...	Maxine Elliot's - Will Geer
Timothy Jerome	...	Maxine Elliot's - Bert Weston
Chris McKinney	...	Maxine Elliot's - Canada Lee / Rev. Salvation
Henry Stram	...	Maxine Elliot's - Hiram Sherman
Adele Robbins	...	Augusta Weissberger
Lee Arenberg	...	Abe Feder
Allan F. Nicholls	...	George Zorn
Rob Carlson	...	National guardsman
Alison Tatlock	...	Reporter
Dina Platias	...	Lucille Schly
Pamela D. Henry	...	Alma Dixon
Emma Smith Stevens	...	Stagehand
Steven Tyler	...	Lehman Engel
Charles Giordano	...	Accordion
Jeffrey Kievit	...	Trumpet
Kenneth Finn	...	Trombone
Kenneth Hitchcock	...	Clarinet
David D'Angelo	...	Alto saxophone
David Ratajczak	...	Percussion
Stephen Spinella	...	Federal Theatre - Donald O'Hara
Brenda Pressley	...	Federal Theatre - Rose
Brian Brophy	...	Federal Theatre - Pierre de Rohan
David Costabile	...	Federal Theatre - Beaver Man
Marla Schaffel	...	Federal Theatre - Beaver Woman
Dominic Cortese	...	Federal Theatre - Beaver Accordion Accompanist
John Carpenter	...	Power - William Randolph Hearst
Gretchen Mol	...	Marion Davies
Gil Robbins	...	Congressman Starnes
Harris Yulin	...	Chairman Martin Dies
Ned Bellamy	...	Paul Edwards
V.J. Foster	...	James
William Duell	...	Butler
Albert Macklin	...	Tailor
Scott Sowers	...	Reporter
Bobby Amore	...	Reporter
Lynn Cohen	...	Silvano - Mama
Dominic Chianese	...	Silvano - Papa
Peter Jacobson	...	Silvano - Uncle
Evan Katz	...	Silvano - Joey
Alysia Zucker	...	Silvano - Chance
Sarah Hyland	...	Silvano - Giovanna
Stephanie Roth Haberle	...	Silvano - Marta (as Stephanie Roth)
Spanky McHugh	...	Vaudeville - Melvin
Todd Stockman	...	Vaudeville - Puppeteer
Patrick Husted	...	Vaudeville - Vaudeville Theatre Manager
Jay Green	...	Vaudeville - Plate Twirler
Carolyn West	...	Vaudeville - Assistant Plate Twirler
Steven Skybell	...	Blitzstein - Bertolt Brecht
Susan Heimbeinder	...	Blitzstein - Eva Blitzstein
Audra McDonald	...	Blitzstein - 'Joe Worker' Singer
Robert Ari	...	Blitzstein - Liberty Committee #1
Michele Pawk	...	Blitzstein - Liberty Committee #2
Gregg Edelman	...	Blitzstein - Dream Larry Foreman
Matthew Bennett	...	Blitzstein - Dream Cop
Brian Powell	...	Rockefeller Center - Aide
Jack Willis	...	Rockefeller Center - Lawyer
Gilbert Cruz	...	Rockefeller Center - Mendez
Robert Hirschfeld	...	Rockefeller Center - Sol
P.J. Brown	...	Rockefeller Center - Guard
Michael Rivkin	...	Rockefeller Center - Protester
Keira Naughton	...	Rockefeller Center - Protester
Taylor Stanley	...	Rockefeller Center - Claire
Tommy Allen	...	Rockefeller Center - Pete
Jeff Butcher	...	Rockefeller Center - Mendez Double
Sandy Hamilton	...	Rockefeller Center - Sol Double
Corina Katt Ayala	...	Diego - Frida Kahlo
Josie Whittlesey	...	Diego - Models
Sandra Lindquist	...	Diego - Models
Tamika Lamison	...	Diego - Models
Edward James Hyland	...	Opening - Worker in Theatre
Boris McGiver	...	Opening - Man on Street
Chris Bauer	...	VTA - Carpenter
Leonardo Cimino	...	VTA - Man in Line
Patti Tippo	...	VTA - Clerk
Carrie Preston	...	VTA - Administrator
Mary Robbins	...	VTA - Disgruntled Worker #1
Chris Talbott	...	VTA - Disgruntled Worker #2 (as Christopher Talbott)
Susan Bruce	...	VTA - Disgruntled Worker #3
Ian Bagg	...	VTA - Disgruntled Worker #4
Tony Amendola	...	Riot - Carl Jasper
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Carl Burrows	...	Fireman (as Edward Burrows)
Craig DiFrancia	...	Banker
Marshall Factora	...	Striker
Dennis Karagovalis	...	Congressional Aide
Cinda Lawrence	...	VTA Worker
Kimberly Manion	...	WPA Worker
Glenn Nocera	...	Man on the street
Jeff Patterson	...	Protestor
Alex Spencer	...	Audience Member #1
Ben Van Bergen	...	WPA Worker 2
Robert Aberdeen	...	Congressional Aide (uncredited)
Dar Billingham	...	Showgirl (uncredited)
Ed Brown	...	Theatre Patron (uncredited)
Scott Charles	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Peter Fernandez	...	(voice) (uncredited)
Karen Lynn Gorney	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Jenni Graham	...	Protestor (uncredited)
Darryl Reuben Hall	...	Theatre Patron (uncredited)
Marianne Hettinger	...	Protestor (uncredited)
David LaRosa	...	Audience Attendee (uncredited)
Michael J. Meyers	...	Reporter (uncredited)
George F. Miller	...	Reporter #1 at Table in Court (uncredited)
Mike Muldoon	...	(uncredited)
Dan Paragon	...	Banker (uncredited)
Andy Redmond	...	Congressional Aide #1 (uncredited)
Tim Robbins	...	Voice On Film Reel (voice) (uncredited)
Rocco	...	Marcher (uncredited)
Franklin D. Roosevelt	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Wanda Sanders	...	Theatre Patron (uncredited)
Kevin Scullin	...	WPA Worker (uncredited)
Haile Selassie	...	Himself (in pith helmet) (archive footage) (uncredited)
George Wilhelm	...	Theatre Patron (uncredited)
Stephanie Lynn Wilson	...	Demonstrator In Blu Dress With White Polka Dots (uncredited)

Directed by
Tim Robbins

Writing credits (WGA)
Tim Robbins		(written by)

Produced by
Frank Beacham	....	executive producer
Lydia Dean Pilcher	....	producer
Allison R. Hebble	....	associate producer
Jon Kilik	....	producer
Louise Krakower	....	executive producer
Allan F. Nicholls	....	executive producer
Tim Robbins	....	producer

Original Music by
David Robbins

Cinematography by
Jean-Yves Escoffier

Film Editing by
Geraldine Peroni

Casting by
Douglas Aibel

Production Design by
Richard Hoover

Art Direction by
Richard Hoover
Peter Rogness
Troy Sizemore		(supervising art director)

Set Decoration by
Debra Schutt

Costume Design by
Ruth Myers

Makeup Department
Lynn Campbell	....	makeup artist
Jane Choi	....	additional assistant makeup artist
Mary Cooke	....	hair stylist
Jerry DeCarlo	....	hair stylist
Linda Grimes	....	key makeup artist
Raul Hernandez	....	hair stylist
Heidi Kulow	....	makeup artist
Eva Polywka	....	makeup artist
Peggy Schierholz	....	hair designer
Taurance F. Williams	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Kelley Cribben	....	post-production supervisor
Amy Herman	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Allan F. Nicholls	....	first assistant director
Susan Perlman	....	assistant director
Danielle Rigby	....	assistant director
Shea Rowan	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Tommy Allen	....	property master
JoAnn Atwood	....	on-set dresser
Mark Bachman	....	sign designer
Frances Catalano	....	best boy construction grip
Ann Edgeworth	....	props
Gerard J. Furey	....	shop craftsman
Sandy Hamilton	....	assistant property master
Tina Khayat	....	assistant to production designer
Steven E. Lawler	....	construction foreman
Byron K. Lovelace	....	props
Jeffrey D. McDonald	....	assistant art director
Ken Nelson	....	construction coordinator
Mark Newell	....	set dresser
Michael Parmelee	....	set dresser
Peter Regnier	....	swing gang
Karl Shefelman	....	storyboard artist
Stephen Siersema	....	scenic artist
Nell Stifel	....	scenic artist
Dick Tice	....	lead man
Robert Topol	....	master scenic artist
M. Tony Trotta	....	camera scenic artist
Karin Wiesel	....	assistant set decorator
Joan Winters	....	graphic designer
Alexandra Mazur	....	assistant set decorator (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ajae Clearway	....	assistant sound editor
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist
Lee Dichter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bruce Kitzmeyer	....	sound effects editor
Tod A. Maitland	....	sound
Barry Malawski	....	assistant adr editor
Tony Martinez	....	dialogue editor
Jane McCulley	....	supervising adr editor
Eliza Paley	....	supervising sound editor
Michael Scott	....	boom operator
Warren Shaw	....	supervising sound effects editor

Special Effects by
J.C. Brotherhood	....	special effects coordinator

Stunts
Michael Broughton	....	stunt cop
Lisa Cain	....	stunt cop 3
David Chirico	....	stunt rider
James Del Monico	....	stunt rider (as James Delmonico)
Kathy Dion	....	stunt cop
Ken Haas	....	stunt rider
Don Hewitt	....	stunt cop
Donald John Hewitt	....	stunt cop (as Don J. Hewitt)
Jery Hewitt	....	stunt coordinator
Jennifer Lamb	....	stunt cop 1
Steve McAuliff	....	stunt rider
Michael Pagan	....	stunt rider
Charles Page	....	stunt guard
Don Picard	....	stunt cop
Michael Russo	....	stunt cop 6 (as Mike Russo)
Keith Siglinger	....	stunt cop 4
Derrick Simmons	....	stunt cop 2
Manny Siverio	....	stunt cop
Thomas J. Smith	....	stunt rider
Brian Smyj	....	stunt cop 5
Raymond H. Stein	....	stunt rider
Jeff Butcher	....	stunt double: Gilbert Cruz (uncredited)
Sandy Hamilton	....	stunt double: Robert Hirschfeld (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Scott Gregoire	....	electrician
Petr Hlinomaz	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Thomas Landi	....	electrician
Scott Maguire	....	assistant camera
Jim McConkey	....	Steadicam operator
Jim McConkey	....	camera operator
Michael 'Flash' McDonald	....	electrician
Kevin McKenna	....	video assist operator
Jason Micallef	....	lighting technician
Phil Oetiker	....	additional camera operator
Craig Vaccaro	....	key rigging grip

Casting Department
Jordan Beswick	....	casting assistant
Byron Crystal	....	extras casting
David H. Kramer	....	adr voice casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Diana J. Collins	....	set costumer
Lisa R. Frucht	....	costume supervisor
Sheila Grover	....	costumer (as Sheila Gentile)
Alix Hester	....	assistant costume designer
Barrett Hong	....	set costumer
Robert Pease	....	set costumer
Monica Russell	....	set costumer
Ajamu Walker	....	wardrobe
Susan J. Wright	....	assistant wardrobe supervisor
Michael Anzalone	....	set wardrobe (uncredited)

Editorial Department
James Y. Kwei	....	additional editor
Misako Shimizu	....	first assistant editor
Ian Silverstein	....	second assistant editor
Neil A. Stelzner	....	post-production assistant
V. Renee Taylor	....	apprentice editor
Sara Thorson	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Gary Chester	....	score engineer
Dan Lieberstein	....	music editor
Bettie Ross	....	supervising music copyist
Debra C. Victoroff	....	assistant music editor

Transportation Department
Timothy Paustian	....	driver

Other crew
Randall Balsmeyer	....	title designer
Nadia Benamara	....	assistant: Tim Robbins
Tyson Bidner	....	location assistant
David Brotsky	....	location assistant
Eva Z. Cabrera	....	script supervisor
Jerry Carita	....	production assistant
Kelley Cribben	....	assistant to producers
Carey DePalma	....	assistant location manager
Christine V. Desrochers	....	assistant production coordinator
Anne Devereux	....	assistant: Mr. Cusack
Johnny Egan	....	production assistant
Frances Fiore	....	unit publicist
Samuel V. Franco	....	production assistant
Jennifer Zolten Freed	....	post-production accountant
Jessica Johnson Tavenner	....	second assistant accountant (as Jessica Johnson)
Nicole Klett	....	location assistant
Diana E. Latham	....	production coordinator
Karen Mayen	....	location assistant
Tim Monich	....	dialect coach
Kellie Morrison	....	location assistant
Andy Muller	....	production assistant
Kip Myers	....	production assistant
Jesse Nye	....	production assistant
Caleb Omens	....	production assistant
Cynthia Onrubia	....	associate choreographer
Claudia Raschke	....	operator
Demian Resnick	....	location assistant
Peggy Robinson	....	production assistant
Eddie Roche	....	production assistant
Vernon Rodriquez	....	parking assistant
Bettie Ross	....	supervising copyist
Autumn Saville	....	production assistant
Alan Semok	....	consultant: ventriloquism
Jodi Shapera	....	first assistant accountant
Dean M. Stephens	....	location assistant (as Dean Stephens)
Todd Stockman	....	consultant: ventriloquism
Bryan Thomas	....	location manager
K.L. Connie Wang	....	assistant: clearances (as Connie Wang)
Adam T. Weisinger	....	production assistant
Tim Ballou	....	script clearance administrator (uncredited)
Jay Geller	....	metal work and welding (uncredited)
Steve Nuke	....	utility stand-in (uncredited)

Thanks
Rick Dior	....	in memoriam
Samuel Fuller	....	in memoriam (as Sam Fuller)
Steven Gorelick	....	special thanks
Barton Heyman	....	in memoriam
David W. Schoner Jr.	....	thanks: New Jersey Motion Picture and TV Commission

Production Companies

• Cradle Productions Inc.
• Havoc
• Touchstone Pictures

Distributors

• Asmik Ace Entertainment
• Buena Vista Pictures
• Filmauro Distribuzione
• Lolafilms Distribución (Spain)
• Primer Plano Film Group (Argentina)
• Touchstone Home Video (USA) (DVD)
• UGC-Fox Distribution (UFD) (France)

Other Companies

• Trevanna Post  post-production accounting

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for some language and sexuality

Runtime:

132 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | France:U | Spain:7 | UK:15 | USA:R | Iceland:L | South Korea:15

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Cradle Productions Inc.

Trivia:

Director Tim Robbins co-wrote the song "Cobbler in Despair" and co-produced the song "Croon Spoon". "Croon Spoon" was sung by Susan Sarandon and Eddie Vedder from the rock group Pearl Jam.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): At 36 when the film was released, Angus Macfadyen is visibly far older than Orson Welles was supposed to be during the time the film is set. When the opens, in 1935, he was only 20 years old and even at the climax, in 1937, he'd still only be 22.

Quotes:

Security Guard:Mr Rivera, Mr Rockefeller has told us to give you your comission check. Your services are no longer required.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Gangs of New York (2002)

Soundtrack:

Art for Art's Sake

A Wonderful, Intelligent Film

Cradle Will Rock has everything I like in a movie - great characters, humor, suspense, depth, and music. The many subplots are woven together in perfect balance, leaving you wanting more of everything at the end, even though the film is over two hours.

The acting is excellent all around, especially Cherry Jones' portrayal of Hallie Flanagan, the head of the Federal Theater. Ruben Blades and Angus MacFadyen give us Diego Rivera and Orson Welles, respectively, and do not disappoint. It's rare to see so many charismatic, likeable people in a movie with a real story. There is no one star of the film - everyone is sharing the spotlight equally. Tim Robbins has really done a magnificent job of putting all the pieces in the right places.

And perhaps best of all, this is a film with real controversy - one that will get you thinking about art and politics and unions and the influence of money on everything. Cradle Will Rock is such an ambitious piece of work, it could have failed in so many different ways, and yet it succeeds on every level. Check it out.