Splash (1984)

A young man is reunited with a mermaid who saved him from drowning as a boy. He falls in love with her, not knowing who or what she is.

Director:

Ron Howard

Writers:

Brian Grazer (story), Bruce Jay Friedman (screen story)

Stars:

Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah, Eugene Levy

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Hanks	...	Allen Bauer
Daryl Hannah	...	Madison
Eugene Levy	...	Walter Kornbluth
John Candy	...	Freddie Bauer
Dody Goodman	...	Mrs. Stimler
Shecky Greene	...	Mr. Buyrite
Richard B. Shull	...	Dr. Ross
Bobby Di Cicco	...	Jerry
Howard Morris	...	Dr. Zidell
Tony DiBenedetto	...	Tim, The Doorman (as Tony Di Benedetto)
Patrick Cronin	...	Michaelson
Charles Walker	...	Michaelson's Partner
David Knell	...	Claude
Jeff Doucette	...	Junior
Royce D. Applegate	...	Buckwalter

Storyline

Allen Bauer is rescued from drowning as a young boy off Cape Cod by a young mermaid. Years later, he returns to the same location, and once again manages to fall into the sea, and is rescued once more by the mermaid (Allen isn't sure what he has seen and what he has imagined). Using maps from a sunken ship, the mermaid decides to search for Allen in New York City, sprouting legs when her tail dries. On finding Allen, they fall in love, but she has a secret, which will no longer be a secret if she gets her legs wet.

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Plot Keywords:

mermaid | new york city | public nudity | happy ending | saved from drowning | 

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Taglines:

Allen Bauer thought he'd never find the right woman... he was only half wrong!

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Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Swedish

Release Date:

9 March 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Splash: Jungfrau am Haken

Filming Locations:

Biltmore Hotel - 506 S. Grand Avenue, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,174,059, 11 March 1984, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$62,100,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Dolby Stereo (as Dolby Stereo) (Dolby Stereo) (Stereo) Dolby Digital (re-release) Dolby Atmos (2012) (re-release) DTS (2012) (re-release)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The scene where a television show makes Madison upset, and Allen explains the television show is fictional, and didn't really happen was originally going to set up a joke later on where Madison watches a real life plane crash on the news and laughs.

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Goofs

During the final sequence in which Madison rescues Alan from the divers, she uses her tail twice to defend herself. In both instances a hand is clearly seen positioning a tail prop against the divers.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Mary Bauer: [catches Freddie looking up women's skirts] Freddie!
Young Freddie: I dropped something.
Mary Bauer: Ralph, talk to him.
[Ralph smacks Freddie upside the head]
Mary Bauer: Listen to your father. Come on, from over there we can see Cape Cod.
Ralph Bauer: We were just on Cape Cod. We could have stayed there, I would have saved twelve dollars.
Mary Bauer: Allen, sweetheart, don't you want to see Cape Cod?
[Allen shakes his head]
Mary Bauer: All right, darling, you know where we are if you change your mind.

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Crazy Credits

Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah swimming and coming to an underwater city.

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Alternate Versions

One TV version uses an alternate take of Madison entering a sunken ship; it's shown in long shot instead of the close-up of Daryl Hannah in the theatrical version. This is because Hannah's nipples can clearly be seen in that shot. Another take is used during the climactic underwater sequence for the same reason.

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Connections

Referenced in Barbie: The Pearl Princess (2014)

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Soundtracks

Wooly Bully
Written by Domingo Samudio
Performed by Sam the Sham and The Pharaohs

User Reviews

An 80's Love Story CLASSIC! Great Movie!

If you grew up in the 80's, you can see why this movie still is a great classic! Great acting from Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah and a story line that can be taken funny as well as seriously. If you didn't see this movie in the 80's you probably won't appreciate it that much. I would rank it with other greats such as Teen Wolf, Heathers, etc. "Behold, the mermaid!"..lol..