Rain Man (1988)

Director:

Barry Levinson

Writers (WGA):

Barry Morrow (story)
Ronald Bass (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

16 December 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Selfish yuppie Charlie Babbitt's father left a fortune to his savant brother Raymond and a pittance to Charlie; they travel cross-country.

Plot Keywords:

Savant | Convertible | Autistic Savant | Inheritance | Desert

Awards:

Won 4 Oscars. Another 19 wins & 13 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Tue. Jan. 5

10:00 AM

AMC

Cast

Dustin Hoffman	...	Raymond Babbitt
Tom Cruise	...	Charlie Babbitt
Valeria Golino	...	Susanna
Gerald R. Molen	...	Dr. Bruner (as Jerry Molen)
Jack Murdock	...	John Mooney
Michael D. Roberts	...	Vern
Ralph Seymour	...	Lenny
Lucinda Jenney	...	Iris
Bonnie Hunt	...	Sally Dibbs
Kim Robillard	...	Small Town Doctor
Beth Grant	...	Mother at Farm House
Dolan Dougherty	...	Farm House Kid
Marshall Dougherty	...	Farm House Kid
Patrick Dougherty	...	Farm House Kid
John-Michael Dougherty	...	Farm House Kid
Peter Dougherty	...	Farm House Kid
Andrew Dougherty	...	Farm House Kid
Loretta Wendt Jolivette	...	Dr. Bruner's Secretary
Donald E. Jones	...	Minister at Funeral
Bryon P. Caunar	...	Man in Waiting Room
Donna J. Dickson	...	Nurse
Earl Roat	...	Man on Wallbrook Road
William Montgomery Jr.	...	Wallbrook Patient Entering TV Room
Elizabeth Lower	...	Bank Officer
Michael C. Hall	...	Police Officer at Accident
Robert W. Heckel	...	Police Officer at Accident
W. Todd Kenner	...	Police Officer at Accident
Kneeles Reeves	...	Amarillo Hotel Owner
Jack W. Cope	...	Irate Driver
Nick Mazzola	...	Blackjack Dealer
Ralph Tabakin	...	Shift Boss
Ray Baker	...	Mr. Kelso
Isadore Figler	...	Pit Boss
Ralph M. Cardinale	...	Pit Boss
Sam Roth	...	Floorman
Nanci M. Harvey	...	Lady at Blackjack Table
Kenneth E. Lowden	...	Guard in Video Room
Jocko Marcellino	...	Las Vegas Crooner
John Thorstensen	...	Train Conductor
Blanche Salter	...	Woman at Pancake Counter
Jake Hoffman	...	Boy at Pancake Counter
Royce D. Applegate	...	Voice-over Actor (voice)
June Christopher	...	Voice-over Actor (voice)
Anna Mathias	...	Voice-over Actor (voice)
Archie Hahn	...	Voice-over Actor (voice)
Luisa Leschin	...	Voice-over Actor (voice)
Ira Miller	...	Voice-over Actor (voice)
Chris Mulkey	...	Voice-over Actor (voice)
Tracy Newman	...	Voice-over Actor (voice)
Julie Payne	...	Voice-over Actor (voice)
Reni Santoni	...	Voice-over Actor (voice)
Bridget Sienna	...	Voice-over Actor (voice)
Ruth Silveira	...	Voice-over Actor (voice)
Jonathan Stark	...	Voice-over Actor (voice)
Lynne Marie Stewart	...	Voice-over Actor (voice)
Arnold F. Turner	...	Voice-over Actor (voice)
Gigi Vorgan	...	Voice-over Actor (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard A. Buswell	...	Car Driver (uncredited)
Barry Levinson	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Matthew Mattingly	...	Autistic Pianist (uncredited)
Aaron Weiler	...	Airport Security Guard (uncredited)
Mark Winn	...	Restaurant Patron (uncredited)

Directed by
Barry Levinson

Writing credits (WGA)
Barry Morrow		(story)
Ronald Bass		(screenplay) and
Barry Morrow		(screenplay)

Produced by
Peter Guber	....	executive producer
Mark Johnson	....	producer
David McGiffert	....	associate producer
Gerald R. Molen	....	co-producer
Gail Mutrux	....	associate producer
Jon Peters	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Hans Zimmer

Cinematography by
John Seale		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Stu Linder

Casting by
Louis DiGiaimo

Production Design by
Ida Random

Art Direction by
William A. Elliott

Set Decoration by
Linda DeScenna

Costume Design by
Bernie Pollack

Makeup Department
Edwin Butterworth	....	makeup artist (as Ed Butterworth)
Rick Sharp	....	key makeup artist
Joy Zapata	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Gerald R. Molen	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Cara Giallanza	....	second assistant director
Cherylanne Martin	....	second second assistant director
David McGiffert	....	first assistant director
B. Scott Senechal	....	dga trainee (as Scott Senechal)

Art Department
Edward Aiona	....	property master (as Edward A. Aiona)
James Hegedus	....	production illustrator
Tom McCown	....	set dresser
Ric McElvin	....	lead man
James F. Orendorff	....	construction foreman (as Jamie Orendorff)
George Stokes	....	construction coordinator
Nancy Gilmore	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Ron Yates	....	set designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Richard Beggs	....	sound designer
Richard Bryce Goodman	....	sound mixer
Craig Harris	....	special sound processing
Pieter Hubbard	....	sound editor (as Pieter S. Hubbard)
David J. Hudson	....	sound re-recording mixer (as David Hudson)
Bruce Lacey	....	sound editor
John A. Larsen	....	sound editor
Jimmy Ling	....	sound editor
Mel Metcalfe	....	sound re-recording mixer
Sarah Monat	....	foley effects
Bill Phillips	....	supervising sound editor
John Phillips	....	sound editor
Terry Porter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Hal Sanders	....	sound editor
Edward M. Steidele	....	foley effects (as Edward Steidele)
Marian Wilde	....	assistant sound designer
Jeffrey Wilhoit	....	sound editor (as Jeff Wilhoit)
Carl Fischer	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Jay Wilkinson	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Donald Myers	....	special effects supervisor (as Don Myers)

Visual Effects by
Mark Sullivan	....	matte painting

Camera and Electrical Department
Brian W. Armstrong	....	first assistant camera (as Brian Armstrong)
David Canestro	....	best boy (as David M. Canestro)
John J. Ellingwood	....	second assistant camera (as Jack Ellingwood)
Norman Harris	....	lighting technician (as Norm Harris)
M. Todd Henry	....	camera operator
David Katz	....	video playback operator
Ron Kenyon	....	best boy
Robin P. Knight	....	key grip (as Robin Knight)
Nicholas S. McLean	....	second assistant camera
Howard Rose	....	first assistant camera
Stephen Vaughan	....	still photographer
Kenneth D. Zunder	....	camera operator
Robert McCarthy	....	rigging gaffer (uncredited)
Randy Nolen	....	panaglide operator (uncredited)
Peter Van Eynde	....	dolly grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Marie Rowe	....	additional casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sue Moore	....	costumer
James W. Tyson	....	costumer (as James Tyson)

Editorial Department
Blair Daily	....	assistant editor
Rhody Davis	....	post-production coordinator
Thomas R. Moore	....	additional editor
Dale E. Grahn	....	color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
Al Clay	....	music recordist
James Flamberg	....	music editor
Allan Mason	....	music supervisor
Jay Rifkin	....	music recordist

Transportation Department
Bill Gray	....	transportation coordinator
Bob Johnson	....	picture car coordinator (as Bob Johnson Sr.)
Steven R. Molen	....	transportation captain (as Steven Molen)
Tim Abbatoye	....	second transportation captain (uncredited)
Maxwell R. Johnson II	....	transportation captain (uncredited)
Roger Wooge	....	transportation (uncredited)

Other crew
Todd J. Adelman	....	first aid (as Todd Adelman)
Michael Frost Beckner	....	assistant: Mr. Levinson
Robin Citrin	....	location manager
Patricia Douglas	....	production assistant
Leigh French	....	adr group coordinator
Lee Gottsegen	....	production associate
Scott Harris	....	production assistant
Michael Helfand	....	production assistant
Keith Jones	....	production assistant
Jack Klette	....	production assistant
Bonnie Kurt	....	assistant: Mr. Hoffman
William Mapother	....	production assistant
Andrea Morse	....	assistant: Mr. Cruise
Ellen Pasternack	....	unit publicist
Bernard Rimland	....	consultant: autistic behavior (as Bernard Rimland Ph.D.)
Arnold M. Rosen	....	consultant: autistic behavior (as Arnold M. Rosen M.D.)
Ken Ryan	....	production accountant
Lata Ryan	....	production coordinator
Marshall Schlom	....	script supervisor
Bodil Sivertsen	....	consultant: autistic behavior (as Bodil Sivertsen Ph.D.)
Ruth C. Sullivan	....	consultant: autistic behavior (as Ruth C. Sullivan Ph.D.)
Steven Talmy	....	production assistant
Peter E. Tanguay	....	consultant: autistic behavior (as Peter E. Tanguay M.D.)
Darold A. Treffert	....	consultant: autistic behavior (as Darold A. Treffert M.D.)
Dara Weintraub	....	assistant production coordinator
Diane Bass	....	technical consultant (uncredited)
Matt Casella	....	talent scout (uncredited)
Jody Hummer	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Lee Lanier	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Lance Mazmanian	....	assistant location scout: Las Vegas (uncredited)
Richard Murken	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Lare Roberts	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Kas Self	....	stand-in: Mr. Hoffman (uncredited)
Neil Toussaint	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Ted Bafaloukos	....	special thanks
Roger Birnbaum	....	special thanks
Ken Friedman	....	special thanks
Kim Peek	....	special thanks
Peggy Siegal	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• United Artists
• Guber-Peters Company, The
• Mirage Entertainment
• Star Partners II Ltd.

Distributors

• United Artists (1988) (worldwide) (all media)
• MGM/UA Distribution Company (1988) (USA) (theatrical)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1989) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1989) (France) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1992) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2000) (UK) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (Europe) (2004) (UK) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (Germany) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (France) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (France) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• Varus Video
• Warner Home Video (1989) (West Germany) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (199?) (Germany) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (199?) (Germany) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Vidéo (1998) (France) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Andrea Jaffe  publicity
• Buena Vista Visual Effects  titles and opticals
• Caesar's Palace  special thanks
• California Film Commission  acknowledgements
• Capitol Records  soundtrack published by
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• Indiana Film Commission  acknowledgements
• Kentucky Film Office  special thanks
• Major League Baseball  special thanks
• Nevada Motion Picture Division  acknowledgements
• Oklahoma Film Commission  acknowledgements
• The Ohio Film Bureau  special thanks
• Unique Movie Cars  picture cars

Runtime:

133 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:12 | Iceland:L | Ireland:15 | Brazil:Livre | Australia:MA (DVD rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | New Zealand:PG | Norway:10 (original rating) | Norway:11 (re-rating) | Peru:14 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Caesar's Palace - 3570 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Company:

United Artists

Trivia:

The script was originally written with Dennis Quaid and Randy Quaid in mind.

Goofs:

Continuity: The salt and pepper shakers at the first diner.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Charlie: [on telephone] Now it's five and a half weeks and I'm still sitting on four Lamborghinis that can't meet spot emissions standards. Now, how many times you wash out with EPA?
Lenny: [on a separate line] Uh, yes sir, they're finally, uh, clearing EPA; uh, just one or two more days.
Charlie: Three times? You're really on a roll here, my friend; four cars, three times each - that's zip for twelve. What are you, a... mechanic, or a NASA engineer? Now listen, now, I told you I've never dealt with these Lamborghinis before, and yet you assured me that you can deliver these cars within that time frame. Don't, don't tell me that, 'cause I - I'm not even listening.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Last Run (2004)

Soundtrack:

Wishful Thinking

My main man Charlie Babbitt.

It is something of a great cinematic achievement that Rain Man became the great film it clearly is because the story surrounding it is interestingly Hollywood in itself.

Four directors, six screenwriters, two cinematographers, eight producers, writers strikes, crew change, and a studio fighting for its life.

All of the above are common knowledge but it doesn't hurt to remember these facts when viewing the award wining triumph of a movie that stands the test of time today. The film is so simple in structure it really needed something special to pull it out of the prospective banality of being "just another road movie about finding oneself", Rain Man achieves something special by tackling its subjects with very sensitive hands and splicing a believable human concept into the story via the incredible shows from its two leading men.

Dustin Hoffman gives a magical moving performance as the Autistic Savant Raymond, the ultimate complement I can pay the performance is that it really is believable, both moving and clever rolled into one artistic result. Tom Cruise is equally as great in a role that called for drastic layer changes, a role that demanded much conviction from the actor taking it on, and Cruise gives the role much depth as he goes from shallow bastard to a very emotive and feeling human being, it's a great show that stands up to reevaluation these days.

With a film such as this you pray that the ending can do it justice, and I'm glad to say that there is no pandering here, it's an ending that says so much because it doesn't cop out, I thank god for those rewrites because the endings to the original scripts would of had me booting the TV set out of the window.

Essential cinema, 10/10.