The Singing Detective (2003)

Director:

Keith Gordon

Writers:

Dennis Potter (screenplay)
Dennis Potter (television series)

Release Date:

14 November 2003 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Musical | Mystery

Tagline:

When it comes to murder, seduction and betrayal he wrote the book. Now he's living it!

Plot:

From his hospital bed, a writer suffering from a skin disease hallucinates musical numbers and paranoid plots.

Plot Keywords:

1950s | Murder | Book | Detective | Musical Number

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Robert Downey Jr.	...	Dan Dark
Robin Wright	...	Nicola / Nina / Blonde (as Robin Wright Penn)
Mel Gibson	...	Dr. Gibbon
Jeremy Northam	...	Mark Binney
Katie Holmes	...	Nurse Mills
Adrien Brody	...	First Hood
Jon Polito	...	Second Hood
Carla Gugino	...	Betty Dark / Hooker
Saul Rubinek	...	Skin Specialist
Alfre Woodard	...	Chief of Staff
Amy Aquino	...	Nurse Nozhki
David Dorfman	...	Young Dan Dark
Eddie Jones	...	Moonglow Bartender
Lily Knight	...	Woman Physiotherapist
Clyde Kusatsu	...	Visiting Japanese Doctor
Earl Poitier	...	Orderly (as Earl C. Poitier)
Don Fischer	...	Intern
Andy Umberger	...	Mr. Dark
David Denman	...	Soldier with Betty Dark
Alec Puro	...	Dark's Drummer
Renn Hawkey	...	Dark's Bass Player
Bryan Law	...	Dark's Guitar Player
Carla Anderson	...	Dancer
Sandahl Bergman	...	Dancer
Rita Bland	...	Dancer
Billy Bonsangue	...	Dancer
Sergio Carbajal	...	Dancer
Leonard Crofoot	...	Dancer
Erin Crouch	...	Dancer
Kiva Dawson	...	Dancer
Richard Dorton	...	Dancer
Brenda Mae Hamilton	...	Dancer (as Brenda Hamilton)
Gordon Hart	...	Dancer
Famisha La Pree	...	Dancer
Suzi Lonergan	...	Dancer (as Suzie Lonergan)
Eva Mikita	...	Dancer
Tara Nicole Hughes	...	Dancer (as Tara Nicole)
Regan Patno	...	Dancer
Randi Pareira	...	Dancer
Sandra Plazinic	...	Dancer
Sheldon Robins	...	Dancer
DeAnna Kane	...	Dancer (as DeAnna Steele)
Tasha Tae	...	Dancer
Elle Taylor	...	Dancer
Delila Vallot	...	Dancer (as Jessica Vallot)
Dee Dee Weathers	...	Dancer
Spice Williams-Crosby	...	Dancer (as Spice Williams)
Darrel W. Wright	...	Dancer (as Darrel Wright)
Dani Wylie	...	Dancer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rusty Nelson	...	Bus Rider (uncredited)

Directed by
Keith Gordon

Writing credits
Dennis Potter		(screenplay)
Dennis Potter		(television series)

Produced by
Bruce Davey	....	producer
Mel Gibson	....	producer
Steven Haft	....	producer
Kevin Lake	....	associate producer
Jane Potter	....	co-producer
Robert Potter	....	co-producer
Sarah Potter	....	co-producer
Stan Wlodkowski	....	executive producer

Cinematography by
Tom Richmond		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jeff Wishengrad

Casting by
Denise Chamian

Production Design by
Patricia Norris

Set Decoration by
Jan K. Bergstrom

Costume Design by
Patricia Norris

Makeup Department
Linda Benavente-Notaro	....	makeup effects: specialty costumer, Captive Audience (as Linda Venevente-Notaro)
Anita Brabec	....	makeup artist
Patricia Budz	....	hair stylist
Greg Cannom	....	makeup effects creator
Cory Czekaj	....	makeup effects technician: Captive Audience
David Dupuis	....	makeup effects technician: Captive Audience
Consuelo Durán	....	makeup effects: specialty costumer, Captive Audience (as Consuelo Duran)
Nathan Franson	....	makeup effects technician: Captive Audience Productions
Gregory J. Goertzen	....	makeup effects production assistant: Captive Audience (as Gregory Goertzen)
Claudia Hardy	....	makeup effects: specialty costumer, Captive Audience
Tom Killeen	....	makeup effects technician: Captive Audience
John Kim	....	makeup effects technician: Captive Audience
Mary Kim	....	production supervisor: Captive Audience
Vera Mitchell	....	hair designer: Mr. Gibson
Mark Nieman	....	makeup effects technician: Captive Audience
Alexei O'Brien	....	makeup effects production assistant: Captive Audience (as Alexie O'Brien)
Michael Peterson	....	lab makeup effects
Michael Peterson	....	makeup effects technician: Captive Audience
Pam Phillips	....	key makeup artist
Art Pimentel	....	mold shop supervisor: Captive Audience (as Arthur Pimentel)
Stephen Robinette	....	hair stylist (as Steve Robinette)
Sam Sainz	....	makeup effects technician: Captive Audience
Brian Sipe	....	lead character designer: Captive Audience (as Brian Spie)
Brian Sipe	....	special makeup supervisor
Todd Tucker	....	makeup assistant
Brian Van Dorn	....	makeup effects technician: Captive Audience (as Brian Vandorn)
Keith VanderLaan	....	makeup effects creator (as Keith Vanderlaan)
Toni-Ann Walker	....	hair stylist supervisor
Patty York	....	makeup supervisor

Production Management
Rajeev Malhotra	....	post-production supervisor
Stan Wlodkowski	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Eric Heffron	....	first assistant director
Michael J. Moore	....	second assistant director (as Michael Moore)
David K. Riebel	....	second second assistant director (as David Reibel)

Art Department
Curtis Allen	....	set dresser
Larry Boyd	....	set dresser
Alberto Mauricio Caballero	....	labor foreman
Michael Casey	....	leadman
Keith Cox	....	construction coordinator
Paul Detlefson	....	set dresser
Donna Ekins-Kapner	....	set decorating coordinator (as Donna Ekins)
Maureen Farley	....	property master
Dick Girod	....	paint foreman (as Richard Girod)
Brenner Hugh Harris	....	set dresser (as Brenner H. Harris)
Brent David Mannon	....	props
Merdyce McClaran	....	assistant property master
David C. Nute	....	location foreman (as David Nute)
Maureen Osborne	....	set dresser
C.J. Pyles	....	on-set dresser
Jimmy Simeone	....	set dresser
Robert Soles	....	plaster foreman
Gustavo Traslavina	....	construction foreman
Jim Wardell	....	set dresser
Maureen Osborne	....	buyer (uncredited)

Sound Department
David Franklin Bergad	....	adr editor (as David Bergad)
Mark Berger	....	sound re-recording mixer
Frank Canonica	....	machine room recordist
Piotr Filipowski	....	sound effects editor
Anna Geyer	....	machine room recordist
Chris Gridley	....	assistant sound editor (as Christopher Gridley)
Nathan Gunn	....	assistant sound editor
Rick Kahn	....	transfer room operator
James Lebrecht	....	sound designer
Marnie Moore	....	foley artist
Chris Navarro	....	adr recordist
John Nutt	....	supervising sound editor
Margie O'Malley	....	foley artist
David Parker	....	sound re-recording mixer
Rocky Quiroz	....	cable person
Frank Rinella	....	foley recordist
Earl Sampson	....	boom person
Jonathan Schwartz	....	apprentice sound editor
Daniel Sperry	....	sound consultant: Dolby (as Dan Sperry)
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
Patti Tauscher	....	foley editor
Viet Tran	....	transfer room operator
Richard Van Dyke	....	sound mixer
James Willetts	....	assistant foley recordist

Special Effects by
Scott Blackwell	....	special effects foreperson
Jeremy Hays	....	special effects
David Peterson	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Helena Packer	....	digital effects designer: WhoDoo EFX
Helena Packer	....	lead digital artist: WhoDoo EFX
Mark Ritcheson	....	digital effects producer: Whodoo VFX

Stunts
Christine Anne Baur	....	stunts (as Christine Bauer)
Simone Boisseree	....	stunts (as Simone Boiseree)
Frankie 'G' Garbutt	....	stunts
Jeff Habberstad	....	stunt coordinator
Michael Hilow	....	stunts
Chris Howell	....	stunts
Paul Sklar	....	stunts
Erik Stabenau	....	stunts (as Erick Stabenau)
Clark Tucker	....	stunts
Michael Hilow	....	stunt double: Adrien Brody (uncredited)
Clark Tucker	....	stunt double: Robert Downey Jr. (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Dana Lee Anderson	....	company grip (as Dana Anderson)
Robert Anzures	....	rigging grip
Jon Archibald	....	rigging grip (as Jon C. Archibald)
Nick Arnds	....	best boy grip
Eddie Avila	....	second assistant camera
Randy Babchuck	....	electrician
Robert Bennett	....	camera operator (as Robert P. Bennett)
Geb Byers	....	first assistant camera
John Chickanis	....	electrician
Bill Daimant	....	company grip (as William 'Billy' Diamant)
Kenny Davis	....	dolly grip (as Kenneth Davis)
Joseph Dianda	....	key grip
Alan B. Edwards	....	rigging gaffer (as Alan Edwards)
Robert Forrest	....	company grip
Alan Frazier	....	best boy electric
Jimi Johnson	....	video assist operator
Dan Jones	....	camera loader
Ted Kennedy	....	dolly grip
Dan Kneece	....	Steadicam operator
Chris Lewis	....	additional rigging gaffer
Shaun Madigan	....	gaffer (as Shaun J. Madigan-McClelland)
Richard C. Miller	....	first assistant camera (as Richard Miller)
Sacha Riviere	....	second assistant camera
Lorey Sebastian	....	still photographer

Casting Department
Jennifer Bender	....	extras casting
Dena Berman	....	casting associate
Barbara Harris	....	adr voice casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Thomas S. Dawson	....	costume supervisor (as Tom Dawson)
Anne Hartley	....	key costumer (as Anne Winsor Hartley)
Kelly Lindquist	....	key costumer
Mimi Maxmen	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Imelda Betiong	....	assistant editor
Bob Fredrickson	....	color timer
Anthony Miller	....	assistant editor
Melissa Remenarich	....	first assistant editor (as Melissa Remenarich-Aperlo)

Music Department
Steven Saxton	....	executive music producer
Michael Carey Schneider	....	music coordinator
Ken Weiss	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Jeff Couch	....	transportation captain
Paulie DiCocco	....	driver
Alan Kaminsky	....	transportation co-captain
Brian Kay	....	production van driver
A. Welch Lambeth	....	transportation coordinator (as Welch Lambeth)
John McLaughlin	....	driver: honeywagon
Harold L. Woods	....	driver

Other crew
Jeremy Alter	....	location manager
Tony Baldridge	....	technical supervisor: Legend Films, Inc.
Larry Ballard	....	medic
Andrew Blau	....	production coordinator
Sara Boik	....	production assistant (as Sarah Boik)
Steven Butensky	....	production accountant
Vicki Christianson	....	chief financial officer: Icon
Wil Collins	....	production assistant
Atmadev Cornelius	....	main title designer: MWP Editorial (as Ãtmadev Cornelius)
Marsha Craig	....	studio teacher
Judy Dickerson	....	dialect coach
Marc C. Geschwind	....	extras coordinator
Penny Gillman	....	payroll accountant (as Penny A. Gillman)
Paul Giorgi	....	first assistant accountant
Jane Goldsmith	....	script supervisor
Paul Green	....	executive vice president: Icon
Casey Jordan	....	production assistant
William Jorgenson	....	assistant location manager
Jason Kennedy	....	production assistant
Matt Lake	....	production assistant
Bill Landrum	....	choreographer
Jacqui Landrum	....	choreographer (as Jacqui)
Jim Meenaghan	....	business and legal affairs: Icon (as James Meenaghan)
Beth Unger Morrison	....	script clearance
Dale Ottley	....	production secretary
Jimmy Rich	....	assistant: Mr. Downey
Monica Rust	....	medic
Janell M. Sammelman	....	production assistant
Traceigh Scottel	....	assistant production coordinator
Noah Segan	....	production assistant
Rebecca Snavely	....	assistant: Mr. Gordon
Shawn Stevens	....	craft service
Amy Tillman	....	business and legal affairs: Icon
Lisa Tritico	....	medical advisor
Carson Turner	....	assistant location manager
Bonnie F. Watkins	....	assistant: Mr. Davey
Hondo Weiss-Richmond	....	production assistant
Marvin Williams	....	production assistant (as Marvin J. Williams Jr.)
Michael J. Harker	....	completion bond company representative (uncredited)

Thanks
Rachel Griffin	....	the filmmakers wish to thank the following for their assistance

Production Companies

• Icon Productions (presents)
• Haft Entertainment (in association with)
• Airborne Productions

Distributors

• Constantin Film (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Filmax S.A. (2003) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Monopole-Pathé (2004) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Paramount Classics (2003) (USA) (theatrical)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2004) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Divisa Home Video (2012) (Spain) (DVD)
• Eagle Pictures (2005) (Italy) (all media)
• Eén (2007) (Belgium) (TV)
• Highlight Film (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2004) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Pyramid (2003) (Russia) (all media)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2004) (Finland) (VHS)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2004) (Sweden) (DVD)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Argentina) (all media)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2006) (Finland) (TV) (2008) (TV2)

Special Effects

• Keith Vanderlaan's Captive Audience Productions (special make-up effects)
• Whodoo EFX (digital effects)

Other Companies

• Central Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes and dollies
• Clairmont Camera  camera systems (as Clairmont)
• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables
• Doc Hollywood Records  soundtrack released by
• FotoKem Laboratory  color (as Fotokem)
• Hanna Brothers Catering  catering (as Hanna Brothers)
• IVC  post-production facilities (digital mastering)
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.)
• International Film Guarantors  completion guaranty provided by
• Kodak  film stock
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• MWP Editorial  editorial facilities
• MWP Editorial  main title design
• Mary Nelson-Fraser & Associates  negative cutting
• National Psoriasis Foundation  the filmmakers wish to thank the following for their assistance
• O'Neill Clothing  the filmmakers wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Saul Zaentz Film Center  re-recording at (as The Saul Zaentz Film Center)
• Saul Zaentz Film Center  sound editorial (as The Saul Zaentz Film Center)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual content, language and some violence

Runtime:

109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Canada:14A | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | Germany:12 | Portugal:M/16 | Finland:K-15 | Spain:18 | Brazil:18 | USA:R (No. 39265) | New Zealand:R16 | Hungary:16 | Italy:VM14 | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Icon Productions

Trivia:

The opening song was chosen by director Keith Gordon because he liked it so much in John Carpenter's Christine (1983), which he also starred in.

Goofs:

Continuity: The position of Dark's gun hand when he chases the goons into the street after they try to kill him in the nightclub.

Quotes:

Dan Dark:So, what's the story? Who's the dame?
Mark Binney:How'd you know there's a dame?
Dan Dark:There's always a dame.

Movie Connections:

References The Maltese Falcon (1941)

Soundtrack:

Flip Flop And Fly

Great Cast and Direction Drive Compelling Update of Dennis Potter's Classic

The 2003 film version of THE SINGING DETECTIVE is by turns funny, scathing, and poignant, a woefully underrated look into a writer's psyche. If you don't have time to watch Dennis Potter's landmark TV miniseries (also available on home video), Potter's screenplay for this movie version (written 2 years before his untimely death) does a great job of condensing the story of novelist Dan Dark's (Robert Downey Jr.) battle with severe chronic psoriasis and personal demons. Throughout the movie, the bitter, suffering Dark weaves in and out of reality and delirious re-imaginings of the people and events in his life as they'd appear in the titular novel starring Dark's tough private eye alter ego. Actor-turned-director Keith Gordon stages this wild ride through Dark's mind with a style that owes as much to David Lynch and the Coen Brothers as it does to Potter. The British miniseries' lip-synched 1940s musical set pieces are retooled as American 1950s rock 'n' roll numbers -- call me a Philistine, but I think the updating works even better than the original (and believe me, I loved the original)! As a writer, I found THE SINGING DETECTIVE to be a fine example of how one's life and experiences creep into one's writing no matter what genre you write in. Each and every member of the stellar cast is letter-perfect, with particularly good, sharp chemistry between Downey and, respectively, Robin Wright Penn (I've always loved her name; it's especially appropriate for someone playing a writer's wife :-), and producer Mel Gibson (as Dark's seemingly goofy but astute and compassionate therapist, Gibson is all but unrecognizable in bald drag; Greg Cannom's F/X makeup serves both Gibson and Downey well). It's a shame THE SINGING DETECTIVE didn't do better with critics or at the box office, or Downey probably would've been a shoo-in for an Oscar nomination. I could empathize with Downey as the bitter, clever, pain-racked (physically and emotionally) Dan Dark even when he wasn't acting particularly likable. The versatile Downey could be a Bogart for the Aughties if he could keep his own personal demons under control. I also enjoyed seeing our household fave Adrien Brody in a relatively lighthearted (for this film :-) role as one of a pair of Dark's fictional hoods with a bumbling streak. Jon Polito completes the pair; he and Brody are like an amoral Abbott & Costello. Their repartee cracked me up, especially their "Patti Page" exchange early in the film. Give this new SINGING DETECTIVE a try next time you're in the video store and in the mood for something different. If you rent the DVD and like it, watch it again with Keith Gordon's commentary track on; he has lots of intriguing and entertaining things to say about the making of the film, particularly about the cast and how he and his crew got those great surreal effects on a low budget.