The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)

A naive business graduate is installed as president of a manufacturing company as part of a stock scam.

Directors:

Joel Coen, Ethan Coen (uncredited)

Writers:

Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

Stars:

Tim Robbins, Paul Newman, Jennifer Jason Leigh

2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tim Robbins	...	Norville Barnes
Jennifer Jason Leigh	...	Amy Archer
Paul Newman	...	Sidney J. Mussburger
Charles Durning	...	Waring Hudsucker
John Mahoney	...	Chief
Jim True-Frost	...	Buzz (as Jim True)
Bill Cobbs	...	Moses
Bruce Campbell	...	Smitty
Harry Bugin	...	Aloysius
John Seitz	...	Benny
Joe Grifasi	...	Lou
Roy Brocksmith	...	Board Member
John Wylie	...	Board Member
I.M. Hobson	...	Board Member
Gary Allen	...	Board Member

Storyline

When Waring Hudsucker, head of hugely successful Hudsucker Industries, commits suicide, his board of directors, led by Sidney Mussberger, comes up with a brilliant plan to make a lot of money: appoint a moron to run the company. When the stock falls low enough, Sidney and friends can buy it up for pennies on the dollar, take over the company, and restore its fortunes. They choose idealistic Norville Barnes, who just started in the mail room. Norville is whacky enough to drive any company to ruin, but soon, tough reporter Amy Archer smells a rat and begins an undercover investigation of Hudsucker Industries.

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Plot Keywords:

art deco | reference to oklahoma the stage musical | neo screwball comedy | industry | stock | 

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Taglines:

At Hudsucker industries there's a fast way to the top...and an even faster way down!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild language and thematic elements

Details

Country:

UK Germany USA

Language:

English Finnish

Release Date:

11 March 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

El gran salto

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$104,490, 13 March 1994, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$2,869,369

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$14,991,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

PolyGram Filmed Entertainment,PolyGram Filmproduktion,Silver Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The main theme music of the film is the uncredited Adagio of Spartacus and Phrygia from the ballet Spartacus by Aram Khachaturyan. This music was also used as the main theme for BBC TV's series The Onedin Line (1971). The music played behind the black and white newsreel is Non-Stop by John Batt, used by Independent Television News in the UK in the 1950s and 1960s to introduce their main news bulletins. Malcolm apparently composed the piece to blow a raspberry at the musical prejudices of his tutor.

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Goofs

One of the microphones at Norville's press conference has a flag that reads "WWOR-TV." WOR-TV didn't add the second "W" until the 1980s.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Moses the Clock Man: That's right. New York. Nineteen fifty eight.

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Crazy Credits

Apprentice Editor David Diliberto is credited as "Big Dave" and Margaret Hayes is credited as "Large Marge".

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Connections

Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Guarding Tess/Lightning Jack/The Hudsucker Proxy/The Ref/Belle Epoque/Germinal (1994)

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Soundtracks

Memories Are Made Of This
By Terry Gilkyson, Rich Dehr (as Richard Dehr), Frank Miller
Used by permission of EMI Blackwood Music, Inc.
Performed by Peter Gallagher

User Reviews

In my opinion, this is a very underrated movie.

I cannot understand why this movie has not earned the respect it deserves. Norville Barnes represents high hopes and bright ideas, and when he starts out his intentions are pure. But when money makes him lose his focus, only love can put him back on the right track. Tim Robbins and Jennifer Jason Leigh are masterful in this movie, which is one of my personal favorites.