Girl, Interrupted (1999)

Director:

James Mangold

Writers (WGA):

Susanna Kaysen (book)
James Mangold (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

14 January 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

Based on a true story

Plot:

Based on writer Susanna Kaysen's account of her 18-month stay at a mental hospital in the 1960s.

Plot Keywords:

Friend | Suicide | 1960s | Suicide Attempt | Mental Hospital

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 6 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Winona Ryder	...	Susanna Kaysen
Angelina Jolie	...	Lisa Rowe
Whoopi Goldberg	...	Valerie Owens, RN
Brittany Murphy	...	Daisy Randone
Clea DuVall	...	Georgina Tuskin (as Clea Duvall)
Elisabeth Moss	...	Polly 'Torch' Clark
Vanessa Redgrave	...	Dr. Sonia Wick
Jared Leto	...	Toby Jacobs
Jeffrey Tambor	...	Dr. Melvin Potts
Angela Bettis	...	Janet Webber
Jillian Armenante	...	Cynthia Crowley
Drucie McDaniel	...	M.G.
Alison Claire	...	Nurse Gretta
Christina Myers	...	Nurse Margie
Joanna Kerns	...	Annette Kaysen
Travis Fine	...	Nurse John
Gloria Barnhart	...	Older Catatonic
Josie Gammell	...	Mrs. McWilley
Bruce Altman	...	Prof. Gilcrest
Mary Kay Place	...	Barbara Gilcrest
Ray Baker	...	Carl Kaysen
KaDee Strickland	...	Bonnie Gilcrest
Christian Monroe	...	Ronny
Kurtwood Smith	...	Dr. Crumble
David Scott Taylor	...	Monty Hoover (Cabby)
Janet Pryce	...	E.R. Nurse
C. Scott Grimaldi	...	E.R. Resident
Ginny Graham	...	Arleen
Richard Domeier	...	Art Teacher
John Kirkman	...	Jack
Sally Bowman	...	Maureen
Misha Collins	...	Tony
John Lumia	...	Van Driver
Marilyn Brett	...	Italian Shop Keeper
Henry Alex Rubin	...	Josh (as Alex Rubin)
Marilyn Spanier	...	Miss Plimack
Linda Gilvear	...	Miss Paisley
Allen Strange	...	Principal
Spencer Gates	...	British Teacher
Rebecca Derrick	...	Lillian
Anne Connors	...	Nurse
Steve Altes	...	Medic
Joe Gerety	...	Cop
Anne Lewis	...	Dance Therapist
Donny Martino Jr.	...	Naked Man
John Levin	...	E.R. Doctor
Irene Longshore	...	Connie
Katie Rimmer	...	Tiffany
Jonathan Martin Spirk	...	Tough Guy
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Bobby	...	Therapist #2 (uncredited)
Jeannie Dalton	...	Rosemary Jones (uncredited)
Steve Grabusky	...	Mental Patient (uncredited)
Kenneth Keith Kallenbach	...	Van Driver (uncredited)
Annie Marter	...	Druggy Chick (uncredited)
Eric Mitchell	...	Hippie (uncredited)

Directed by
James Mangold

Writing credits (WGA)
Susanna Kaysen		(book)
James Mangold		(screenplay) and
Lisa Loomer		(screenplay) and
Anna Hamilton Phelan		(screenplay)

Produced by
Carol Bodie	....	executive producer
Georgia Kacandes	....	co-producer
Susanna Kaysen	....	associate producer
Cathy Konrad	....	producer
Winona Ryder	....	executive producer
Douglas Wick	....	producer

Original Music by
Mychael Danna

Cinematography by
Jack N. Green		(director of photography) (as Jack Green)

Film Editing by
Kevin Tent

Casting by
Lisa Beach

Production Design by
Richard Hoover

Art Direction by
Jeff Knipp

Set Decoration by
Maggie Martin

Costume Design by
Arianne Phillips

Makeup Department
Milton Buras	....	key hair stylist
Jane Galli	....	key makeup artist
Kathrine Gordon	....	hair stylist: Ms. Ryder
Linda Grimes	....	makeup artist: Whoopi Goldberg
John E. Jackson	....	prosthetic makeup application
Cheryl 'Pickles' Kinion	....	assistant makeup artist
Diane Maurno	....	makeup artist
Emanuel Millar	....	hair stylist: Ms. Jolie
Janeen Schreyer	....	makeup artist: Ms. Jolie
Carol Schwartz	....	makeup supervisor
Gunnar Swanson	....	hair stylist
Kathe Swanson	....	hair styles supervisor
Julia L. Walker	....	hair stylist: Ms. Goldberg (as Julia Walker)
Matthew W. Mungle	....	prosthetic makeup designer (uncredited)
Clinton Wayne	....	prosthetic technician (uncredited)

Production Management
Georgia Kacandes	....	unit production manager
Susan McNamara	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dieter 'Dietman' Busch	....	second assistant director (as Dieter Busch)
Cas Donovan	....	first assistant director
Kristen Ploucha	....	second second assistant director
Henry Alex Rubin	....	second unit director (as Alex Rubin)

Art Department
Krzysztof J. Bratun	....	scenic artist
Monica Castro	....	assistant property master (as Monica Ragan)
Harry Conrad Chitwood	....	construction coordinator (as Conrad Chitwood)
David B. Clark	....	paint foreman
Josh Ian Elliott	....	on-set dresser
Hank Giardina	....	paint supervisor
Jon E. Graf	....	construction gang boss
John Paul 'J.P.' Jones	....	property master
Ann Knight	....	assistant set decorator
David C. Potter	....	lead man (as David Potter)
Mary Saisselin	....	set designer
Stephen Siersema	....	scenic artist
Patrick M. Sullivan Jr.	....	set designer
Andrea Swistak	....	prop assistant
Christine Sysko	....	draper
Mimi Wyeth	....	art department coordinator
Jonathan A. Davidson	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Sharon Potts	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
George H. Anderson	....	sound effects editor (as George Anderson)
Michael J. Benavente	....	dialogue editor (as Michael Benavente)
Bill W. Benton	....	re-recording mixer
Michael J. Broomberg	....	foley artist (as Michael Broomberg)
Fred Burke	....	foley editor
Ali Derakhshan	....	assistant sound editor
David Diamond	....	boom operator
Paul Drenning	....	adr mixer
Richard Duarte	....	foley mixer
Howell Gibbens	....	supervising sound editor
Jeffrey J. Haboush	....	re-recording mixer
Gary A. Hecker	....	foley artist (as Gary Hecker)
Hanson Hsu	....	stage engineer
Elizabeth Kenton	....	supervising adr editor
James Morioka	....	assistant sound editor
Greg Robertson	....	assistant re-recording engineer
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
Jim Stuebe	....	production sound mixer
F. Scott Taylor	....	assistant sound editor
Hugo Weng	....	dialogue editor
Gary Wright	....	foley editor

Special Effects by
Ron Bolanowski	....	special effects
Jeffrey Cox	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Ralph Maiers	....	visual effects supervisor
Christopher Grandel	....	visual effects coordinator (uncredited)

Stunts
Bob Colletti	....	stunts
Jennifer Lamb	....	stunt coordinator
Kym Washington	....	stunt double

Camera and Electrical Department
Bill Coe	....	first assistant camera
Jason Cortazzo	....	company grip
Jan Gould	....	best boy grip
Jan Gould	....	second grip
Ryan Green	....	second assistant camera
Harold Groshon	....	electrician (as Hal Groshon)
Douglas C. Hart	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Michael Kleiman	....	additional second assistant camera
Craig Ligget	....	rigging electrician
Steven Litecky	....	rigging electrician
David Luckenbach	....	Steadicam operator
David Luckenbach	....	camera operator
Bobby McMahan	....	second assistant camera
Michael K. O'Melia	....	assistant chief lighting technician
William O'Melia	....	electrician
Charles Saldana	....	key grip
Leon Sanginiti	....	second assistant camera
Suzanne Tenner	....	still photographer
Paul Varrieur	....	camera operator: "b" camera
H. Mark Vuille	....	gaffer
Charles W. Wayt	....	dolly grip
James D. Wickman	....	dolly grip
Frank Yario Jr.	....	24 frame video operator

Casting Department
Sharon Hillegas	....	extras casting
Sarah Katzman	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Wendy M. Craig	....	costumer (as Wendy Craig)
Lorraine Crossman	....	costumer
Linda Matthews	....	wardrobe supervisor
Natasha Paczkowski	....	tailor
Trish Summerville	....	assistant costume designer
Rory Valentine	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Tom Dailey	....	first assistant editor
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Dennis McNeill	....	color timer (as Denny McNeill)
Holly Sachi	....	second assistant editor
Tom Scully	....	second assistant editor
Lee Michael Searles	....	print editor
Mark C. Pituch	....	dailies colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Monica Ciafardini	....	music clearances
Nicholas Dodd	....	conductor
Nicholas Dodd	....	orchestrator
Brad Haehnel	....	music mixer
Brad Haehnel	....	scoring engineer
Paul Intson	....	musician
Andrew Lockington	....	assistant to composer
Thomas Milano	....	music editor
Ron Searles	....	scoring engineer

Transportation Department
Bob Foster	....	transportation captain
Robert Lee Mitchell	....	transportation co-captain
John H. Stephens	....	driver

Other crew
Sheila Allen	....	production accountant
Sibi Blazic	....	assistant: Ms. Ryder
Barbara Branch	....	second assistant accountant
Ursula Brauner	....	animal trainer
Damon E. Burke	....	production assistant
Joe Everett	....	unit publicist
Ben Everhart	....	production assistant
Mike Fantasia	....	location manager
April H. Grantham	....	craft service
Reva Grantham	....	craft service
Michelle Iwamoto	....	animal trainer
Alan Jacques	....	projectionist
Annie Marter	....	production assistant
Donny Martino Jr.	....	location assistant
Brad Minnich	....	assistant to producer
Andrea Mitchell	....	production assistant
Boone Narr	....	animal supplier
Kelly O'Bier	....	production secretary
Danny Pellegrine	....	assistant: Ms. Konrad
Ronit Ravich-Boss	....	script supervisor
Jeremy Roberts	....	payroll accountant
Tyler Romary	....	production assistant
Nancy Safran	....	assistant: Mr. Wick
Lisa G. Shillingburg	....	first assistant accountant
Lori A. Spall	....	production coordinator
Lance Stockton	....	assistant: Mr. Mangold
John Burton West	....	assistant production coordinator
Mimi Wyeth	....	assistant accountant
Elaine Charles	....	Pennsylvania Film Office (uncredited)

Production Companies

• 3 Art Entertainment
• Columbia Pictures Corporation
• Global Entertainment Productions GmbH & Company Medien KG
• Red Wagon Entertainment

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1999) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2000) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (France)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (2000) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2000) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (Japan)

Other Companies

• Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)  score recording (as C.B.C., Toronto)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes
• Cinema Research  titles and opticals
• DeLuxe Laboratories  color timing (as Deluxe)
• Deluxe Catering  catering
• Panavision  camera and lenses
• Sony Pictures Studios  sound services (as Sony Pictures Studios, Culver City, California)
• Sony Scoring Stage  score recording (as Sony)
• The Glass Orchestra  score performed by

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language and content relating to drugs, sexuality and suicide

Runtime:

127 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS (8 channels)

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Canada:16+ (Québec) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-14 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Mexico:B | New Zealand:M | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | USA:R (certificate #36459) | Malaysia:18PL | Malaysia:U (cut version) | Portugal:M/16 | Philippines:R-18 | Singapore:NC-16 (re-rating) | Brazil:14 | Peru:14

Filming Locations:

Hanover, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

3 Art Entertainment

Trivia:

The quote that Dr. Wick uses during her first meeting with Susanna is from Lucio Anneo Seneca, a Roman philosopher and father of Stoicism.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When Susanna is first being driven by taxi to the asylum, we see an all blue mailbox through the window. In 1968, mailboxes were red on top, blue on bottom. They weren't painted all blue until the '70s.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Susanna:[narrating] Have you ever confused a dream with life? Or stolen something when you have the cash? Have you ever been blue? Or thought your train moving while sitting still? Maybe I was just crazy. Maybe it was the 60's. Or maybe I was just a girl... interrupted.

Movie Connections:

References Lady and the Tramp (1955)

Soundtrack:

Jeannie

That Girl

"Borderline personality disorder" is one of those phrases that says more about the people who invented it than it does about the patient it's supposed to describe. When Susanna Kaysen (Winona Ryder) the 18-year old heroine of "Girl Interrupted" enters Claymoore hospital, a psychiatric facility outside Boston, she is diagnosed with the syndrome - but in fact, all she's done is made a hapless suicide attempt and acted slack and mopey and lost in her sober daydreams. Her personality isn't borderline -- it's self-pitying and indulgent. Fortunately, the film understands this. Set in 1967, and adapted from Kaysen's memoir of her two-year experience as an adolescent in the throes of a middle-class crack up, "Girl Interrupted" is shrewd, tough and lively - a junior-league "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" that never makes the mistake of portraying its protagonist as a victim-naif. She's more like the original poster child for Prozac Nation: a girl who'd rather interrupt her own life, even if it means going a little crazy, than grow up.

Susanna is thrown in with a turbulent gallery of disturbed young women. They range from a girl who tried to burn her own face off to one who won't eat anything but chicken from her father's deli (she stores the carcasses under the bed). Most of the patients are harmless, but Lisa (Angelina Jolie) a heartless, charismatic sociopath, delights in her destructive power. Jolie brings the kind of combustible sexuality to the screen that our movies, in the age of Meg Ryan have been missing for too long. As Susanna and Lisa become comrades, then enemies, Susanna becomes like a space cadet fighting a secret war with herself, and through Lisa she plays out that war. The film allows Ryder to trace Susanna's gradual emergence from her "borderline" state as she confronts the cruel truth of mental illness.

Directed with satisfying authority by James Mangold, "Girl Interrupted" is really about the thorny neurotic underside of a contemporary young woman's struggle to leave childhood behind. By the end, you feel that Ryder, at long last, has done that as an actress.