That Thing You Do! (1996)

A local Pennsylvania band scores a one hit wonder in 1964 and rides the star-making machinery as long as they can, with lots of help from its manager.

Director:

Tom Hanks

Writer:

Tom Hanks

Stars:

Tom Hanks, Liv Tyler, Charlize Theron

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Everett Scott	...	Guy Patterson
Liv Tyler	...	Faye Dolan
Johnathon Schaech	...	Jimmy
Steve Zahn	...	Lenny
Ethan Embry	...	The Bass Player
Tom Hanks	...	Mr. White
Charlize Theron	...	Tina
Obba Babatundé	...	Lamarr
Giovanni Ribisi	...	Chad
Chris Ellis	...	Horace
Alex Rocco	...	Sol Siler
Bill Cobbs	...	Del Paxton
Peter Scolari	...	Troy Chesterfield
Rita Wilson	...	Margueritte
Chris Isaak	...	Uncle Bob

Storyline

Recounts a fable of a pop rock band formed a year after the Beatles took America by storm in early 1964. Jazz aficionado Guy Patterson, unhappily toiling in the family appliance store, is recruited into the band the Oneders (later renamed the Wonders) after regular drummer Chad breaks his arm. After Guy injects a four/four rock beat into lead singer Jimmy's ballad, the song's undeniable pop power flings the Wonders into a brief whirlwind of success, telling the tale of many American bands who attempted to grab the brass ring of rock and roll in the wake of the British Invasion.

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Plot Keywords:

band | pennsylvania | drummer | appliance store | written and directed by cast member | 

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Taglines:

In every life there comes a time when that dream you dream becomes that thing you do.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 October 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

¡Eso que tú haces!

Filming Locations:

Orpheum Theater - 842 South Broadway, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$26,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,208,595, 6 October 1996, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$25,809,813, 24 January 1997

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$34,585,416, 26 January 1997

Company Credits

Production Co:

Clavius Base, Clinica Estetico, Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min 149 min (Director's cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The part of Troy Chesterfield is played by Peter Scolari, Tom Hanks' co-star in his old sitcom Bosom Buddies (1980).

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Goofs

When Guy is playing his drum solo, "Spartacus" at the recording studio, when he is finished playing he holds the cymbals so as to quiet them and then he lets go of them. When the recording master asks Guy what he calls his solo, and the camera pans back to Guy, he is once again holding the cymbals.

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Quotes

Phil Horace: I'm talking about Rock 'N' Roll shows in Steubenville, Youngstown, Pittsburgh, places like that.
The Bass Player: Pittsburgh?
Lenny: Steubenville?

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Crazy Credits

Soundtrack released on the fictional Play-tone records.

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Connections

References Hairspray (1988)

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Soundtracks

Will You Marry Me?
Written by Tom Hanks, Gary Goetzman, and Mike Piccirillo

User Reviews

That Thing You Do - A Review By Jo Henshaw

That Thing You Do! In every life there becomes a time when that dream you dream becomes that thing you do.

That Thing You Do begins with a group of friends practising for their college talent show. Their band - the amusingly named One-ders win the contest with their catchy song - That Thing You Do. But this is only the beginning of their success story. In a blur, the newly renamed Wonders become a hit - playing at their local clubs, and then moving on to a national tour with Playtone records under the guidance of Mr White (Tom Hanks) The beauty of the film is there is no conflict, just the excitement and exhilaration that the band feels as they become celebrities and this is can't be shown better than in the scene where they first hear their song on the radio and they are literally dancing in the street, you can't help but feel happy for them too. Tom Everett Scott plays the charming Guy Patterson - the electrical store assistant who becomes the band's drummer and a national sex symbol with his trademark sunglasses. Lenny (Steve Zahn) is the carefree guitarist who sees the bands success as a huge lark and just throws himself into enjoying every day. Jimmy (James) Mattingly II is the band's creativity - writing the songs - and also its serious side. He sees the commercialisation of the wonders as stifling his creativity and is reluctant to sign anything to do with his music. Liv Tyler is also a delight as Jimmy's girlfriend Faye and the band's biggest supporter. The success of That Thing You do lies in the little things that are so easy to miss yet are the glue that brings the whole film together. Watch out for how well Guy's family react to his success and how the bands first drummer with the broken arm keeps turning up. Also notice how it is Guy that keeps looking out for Faye. It is these little things that will bring you to the film and that find you leaving with a smile and a desire to see it again.