A real estate developer who enjoyed short-lived success seeks to regain his edge by using cocaine, but takes himself to new lows as he gets lost in the downward spiral of drug addiction.
Director:
Writers:
Stars:
Award:
- 1 nomination.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| James Woods | ... |
Lenny Brown
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| Sean Young | ... |
Linda Brown
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| John Kapelos | ... |
Joel Miller
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| Steven Hill | ... |
Max Sherman
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Kelle Kerr | ... |
Rochelle
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| John Rothman | ... |
Ned
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| Amanda Blake | ... |
Barbara
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| Grace Zabriskie | ... |
Sheryl
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| Marc Poppel | ... |
Mark
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| Fred McCarren | ... |
Tom
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| Suzanne Kent | ... |
Helen
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Libby Boone | ... |
Delores
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Greg Deason | ... |
Michael
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| David Preston | ... |
Surfer
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June Chandler | ... |
Secretary
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| Edith Fields | ... |
Office Manager
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| Barry Jenner | ... |
Billy
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| David Tress | ... |
Dr. Shapiro
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David Bantly | ... |
Dr. Bishop
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Bill Gratton | ... |
Businessman #1
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Parker Whitman | ... |
Businessman #2
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Michael Strasser | ... |
Man in Venice
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James Staszkiel | ... |
Another Man
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| Charles David Richards | ... |
Limousine Driver
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Austin Kelly | ... |
Apartment Manager
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| Stogie Kenyatta | ... |
Orderly
(as Stogie Harrison)
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Dan Moriarty | ... |
Liquor Store Clerk
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| Scott McGinnis | ... |
Investor
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David Haskell | ... |
Doctor
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Fernand Poitras | ... |
Captain - L'Ermitage
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| Clement von Franckenstein | ... |
Maitre D' - Mortons
(as Clement Von Franckenstein)
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Christopher Carroll | ... |
Maitre D' - Mortons
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Ricardo Gutiérrez | ... |
Valet
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Jody Lambert | ... |
Kid on Bike
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Jim Jansen | ... |
Veterinarian
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| Virginia Morris | ... |
Mary
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Jack Sargent | ... |
Jogger
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Ron Poniewaz | ... |
Biker
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| Zina Bethune | ... |
Dance Teacher / Choreographer
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Lucy Butler | ... |
(uncredited)
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| John Philbin | ... |
Tim (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Harold Becker | ||
Written by
| Ben Stein | ... | (book "Ludes: A Ballad of the Drug and the Dream") (as Benjamin Stein) |
| Darryl Ponicsan | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| Harold Becker | ... | co-executive producer |
| Daniel H. Blatt | ... | producer |
| Terry Carr | ... | co-producer |
| John Daly | ... | executive producer |
| Derek Gibson | ... | executive producer |
| Mel Howard | ... | co-producer |
| Thomas J. Mack | ... | associate producer (as Tom Mack) |
| Julia Phillips | ... | executive producer (uncredited) |
| Darryl Ponicsan | ... | co-executive producer |
Music by
| Stanley Myers | ||
Cinematography by
| Howard Atherton | ||
Editing by
| Maury Winetrobe | ||
Editorial Department
| John Greene | ... | apprentice editor |
| Joseph Guresky | ... | assistant editor |
| Dan Muscarella | ... | color timer |
| Mary Nelson-Duerrstein | ... | negative cutter (as Mary Duerrstein) |
| Melvin Shapiro | ... | associate editor |
Casting By
| Ilene Starger | ||
Production Design by
| Waldemar Kalinowski | ||
Art Direction by
| Kenneth Hardy | ||
Set Decoration by
| Cindy Carr | ||
Costume Design by
| Susan Becker | ||
Makeup Department
| Deborah Figuly | ... | key makeup artist |
| Bill Myer | ... | special makeup effects |
| Jeanne Townsend | ... | makeup artist |
| Cinzia Zanetti | ... | makeup artist |
Production Management
| Terry Carr | ... | production manager |
| Mel Howard | ... | production manager |
| Randy D. Thornton | ... | post-production supervisor (as Randy Thornton) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Bruce Cohen | ... | second assistant director |
| Thomas J. Mack | ... | first assistant director (as Tom Mack) |
| George Parra | ... | second second assistant director (as George Ernest Parra) |
Art Department
| Christy Addis | ... | second assistant set decorator (as Christian Marie Addis) |
| Barbara Benz | ... | property master |
| Tyrrell Estes | ... | painter |
| Florence Fellman | ... | first assistant set decorator |
| Chris Forster | ... | construction coordinator |
| Richard Gowdy | ... | on-set dresser |
| Anton Karprow | ... | carpenter |
| Frank Lloyd | ... | lead carpenter |
| Gary B. Matteson | ... | scenic artist (as Gary Matteson) |
| Jeffrey Moore | ... | assistant property master |
| Nicholas T. Preovolos | ... | art department coordinator (as Nicholas Preovolos) |
| James Rynning Jr. | ... | carpenter |
| Randolph Sanchez | ... | painter |
| Eugene Freiburger | ... | construction laborer (uncredited) |
| Brana Rosenfeld | ... | set dresser (uncredited) |
| Scott Tabor | ... | carpenter (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Barney Cabral | ... | supervising adr editor / supervising sound editor |
| Kelly Cabral | ... | assistant adr editor / assistant sound editor |
| Richard Dwan Jr. | ... | sound editor (as Richard Dwan) |
| Hector C. Gika | ... | sound editor (as Hector Gika) |
| Charles Grenzbach | ... | re-recording mixer (as Charles 'Bud' Grenzbach) |
| William Grigg | ... | boom operator |
| Mark Hollingsworth | ... | sound editor |
| Walter Hoylman | ... | sound mixer |
| Troy Porter | ... | adr mixer |
| Richard D. Rogers | ... | re-recording mixer (as Richard Rogers) |
| John Wilkinson | ... | re-recording mixer (as John 'Doc' Wilkinson) |
| Barbara Delpuech | ... | boom operator (uncredited) / cable person (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Larry Fioritto | ... | special effects coordinator (as Larry Fioretto) |
Stunts
| Donna Evans | ... | stunts |
| Edward J. Ulrich | ... | stunt coordinator |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Huston Beaumont | ... | rigging electrician |
| Marc Brown | ... | second assistant camera |
| Peter Chrimes | ... | best boy grip |
| Christopher Fish Fischer | ... | grip (uncredited) |
| Ian Fox | ... | first assistant camera |
| Dwight Joseph Lavers | ... | dolly grip (as Dwight Joseph La Vers) |
| Bruce McCleery | ... | best boy electric |
| Deana Newcomb | ... | still photographer |
| Patrick Reddish | ... | gaffer |
| Dennis K. Wilson | ... | key grip |
| Alexander Witt | ... | camera operator |
| Jeff Zucker | ... | rigging gaffer |
| Angelo Pacifici | ... | camera operator (uncredited) |
| Mark Simon | ... | steadicam assistant (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Melanie Kagan | ... | casting assistant |
| Ivy Weiss | ... | extras casting |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Ricki Fournier | ... | costumer |
| Deborah Hall | ... | costumer |
| Lisa Lovaas | ... | costume supervisor |
Location Management
| Ross Fanger | ... | location manager |
| Kristi Frankenheimer | ... | assistant location manager |
Music Department
| David Boruff | ... | musician: saxophone solo (as 'Reverend' Dave Boruff) |
| Jules Chaikin | ... | orchestra contractor |
| Michael Dittrick | ... | music editor |
| Kenneth Hall | ... | supervising music editor (as Ken Hall) |
| Stanley Myers | ... | orchestrator |
| John Richards | ... | score mixer |
| Randy Waldman | ... | orchestrator |
| Mark Berrow | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Tom Brown | ... | music preparation (uncredited) |
| Randy Waldman | ... | composer: additional music (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Harriotte H. Aaron | ... | script supervisor (as Harriotte Aaron) |
Transportation Department
| Gary Hellerstein | ... | transportation coordinator (as Gary M. Hellerstein) |
| Marlo Hellerstein | ... | transportation captain |
Additional Crew
| Frans J. Afman | ... | motion picture banking: Credit Lyonnais Bank Nederland |
| Gerald Barnes | ... | craft service |
| Barry Beckerman | ... | technical advisor |
| Susan Biesack | ... | assistant: Mr. Becker |
| Patricia Bischetti | ... | production coordinator |
| Steven E. Blume | ... | financial executive: Hemdale |
| Tristan M. Brighty | ... | production assistant (as Tristan Brighty) |
| Juli Burkhart | ... | stand-in |
| Paul A. Calabria | ... | animal wrangler: Studio Animal Services (as Paul Callabria) |
| David Fine | ... | stand-in |
| Dorrie Hall | ... | production secretary |
| Kelly Hennessy | ... | production assistant |
| Andrea Jaffe | ... | publicity consultant |
| Robert Jellen | ... | insurance: Albert G. Ruben & Co. |
| Lydia Lipatan-Sarmiento | ... | assistant production auditor (as Lydia Lipatan Sarmiento) |
| Sheridan Liu | ... | assistant production auditor |
| Perry Patterson | ... | production assistant |
| Terri Rubenstein | ... | assistant production coordinator |
| John D. Sarviss | ... | helicopter pilot (as John Sarviss) |
| Michael Schultz | ... | caterer: Sunrise Caterers |
| Elizabeth Seifer | ... | nurse |
| William Skinner | ... | technical advisor (as Dr. William Skinner) |
| Nicolas Spikings | ... | production assistant |
| Brian Steward | ... | production assistant |
| Ame D. Vaughan | ... | legal services |
| Catherine Webb | ... | production auditor |
| J. David Williams | ... | financier |
| Rand Vossler | ... | assistant: Sean Young (uncredited) |
Thanks
| Michael Hausman | ... | special thanks: Cinehaus |
| John Williams | ... | special thanks: solo guitar |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Hemdale (1988) (United States) (theatrical)
- Twentieth Century Fox (1989) (France) (theatrical)
- Hoyts Distribution (1989) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Nea Kinisi (1989) (Greece) (theatrical)
- Canal+ (1992) (France) (tv) (dubbed version)
- Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (United States) (VHS)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2003) (United States) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- Olive Films (2014) (Canada) (DVD) (Bluray)
- Olive Films (2014) (United States) (DVD) (Bluray)
- RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video (1989) (West Germany) (VHS)
- RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video (1989) (Australia) (video)
- VideoVisa (Mexico) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Magic Casting (extra casting)
- Sunrise Catering (catering)
- Studio Animal Services (animal wrangling)
- Evergreen Recording Studios (music recording)
- Ryder Sound Services (re-recording facilities)
- Cinema Research (titles and opticals)
- Panavision (camera equipment: lenses and Panaflex camera)
- Lee America West (location lighting equipment)
- Lee America West (grip equipment)
- Southwest Car Rental (vehicles)
- Albert G. Ruben and Company (insurance)
- Film Finances (completion guarantee)
- Credit Lyonnais Bank (Nederland) N.V. (motion picture banking)
- Cinehaus (special thanks: to Michael Hausman)
- Theatre Bethune (special thanks)
- The Jerde Partnership (special thanks)
- Proton Corporation (special thanks)
- Jeopardy Productions (tape excerpt courtesy of: "Jeopardy!")
- Unique Movie Cars (picture cars)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Lenny Brown moves to California to find his fortune in tax shelter investments. When the federal government changes the tax laws, poor Lenny finds himself $700,000 in hock with nowhere to turn. His friend, Joel, introduces him to cocaine to give Lenny that needed "boost". What ensues next is a descent into drug addiction and insanity as Lenny tries to regain control of his life, all the while needing that extra "boost". Written by Humberto Amador |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Imagine having all the power, passion and pleasure money can buy. Now imagine losing them. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $8,000,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | This movie is based on a book by Ben Stein of Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) fame. The book, published in 1983, is titled "'Ludes: A Ballad of the Drug and the Dream" and is about the abuse of Quaaludes (methaqualone) rather than cocaine as in the movie. Supposedly based on a friend of Stein's who met his ruin through the abuse of Quaaludes in the 70's and 80's, the action in the movie follows almost exactly the action of the book, even down to some of the dialogue. See more » |
| Goofs | When Lenny and Linda are in the pool, we see Linda from behind, and her wet hair is completely swept back behind her right ear, but as the camera angle changes to a front view, her right ear is now half-covered with wet hair. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Talk Radio/Hellbound: Hellraiser II/The Accidental Tourist/The Boost/Pelle the Conqueror (1988). See more » |
| Quotes |
Max:
[Max has discovered that Lenny put a check in Max's safety-deposit box, after "borrowing" $20,000 from the Century West Maintenance account, so that Lenny could treat Linda to a night in Las Vegas]
A worthless goddamn CHECK? Lenny: What are you getting hysterical about? It was just a LOAN. Max: In all my life, I never treated ANYONE like I treated you! You were POOR; I made you RICH. You were DROWNING; I gave you a YACHT! And then you STOLE from me. After I treated you like a son. TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS! Lenny: You want another check? I'll write you another check right now. Max: A check is no damn good. You want to be a liar as well as a thief? Lenny: Then tell me what to do. Just tell me, Max. Max: [hugs Lenny, then speaks softly] You gotta go. I can't have you around here anymore. See more » |