Tequila Sunrise (1988)

Director:

Robert Towne

Writer (WGA):

Robert Towne (written by)

Release Date:

2 December 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

Un cocktail explosif [French]

Plot:

Mac Mckussic is an unlikely drug dealer who wants to go straight. His old and best friend Nick Frescia...

Plot Keywords:

Drugs | Drug Dealer | Police | Mexican | Friendship

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Mel Gibson	...	Dale 'Mac' McKussic
Michelle Pfeiffer	...	Jo Ann Vallenari
Kurt Russell	...	Det. Lt. Nicholas 'Nick' Frescia
Raul Julia	...	Carlos / Comandante Xavier Escalante
J.T. Walsh	...	DEA Agent Hal Maguire
Gabriel Damon	...	Cody McKussic
Arliss Howard	...	Gregg Lindroff
Arye Gross	...	Andy Leonard
Daniel Zacapa	...	Arturo, Bartender at Vallenari's (as Garret Pearson)
Eric Thiele	...	Vittorio Vallenari
Tom Nolan	...	Leland
Dawn Martel	...	Sin Sister #1
Lala Sloatman	...	Sin Sister #2 (as Lala)
Budd Boetticher	...	Judge Nizetitch
Ann Magnuson	...	Shaleen McKussic
Kenny Moore	...	Woody, Harbor Patrol Officer (as Kenneth C. Moore)
Jason Randal	...	Magician
Bob Swain	...	Ralph Spudder
Jim Bentley	...	Cop
Eric Waterhouse	...	Steve
Geno Silva	...	Mexican Cop
Daniel Ades	...	Pepe (as Daniel Addes)
Efrain Figueroa	...	Carlos' Man #1
Tomas Goros	...	Carlos' Man #2
Austin Hawk	...	Lifeguard #1
Scott Harms	...	Lifeguard #2
Sarah Davis	...	Girl in Restaurant
John D. Steele	...	Man at Party
David Rees	...	Man at Party
Oscar Abadia	...	Himself (as Oscar Abadia KLVE)
Jim Ladd	...	Himself (as Jimm Ladd KMPC)
Tom Schnabel	...	Himself (as Tom Schnabel KCRW)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Troy Flynn	...	Lifeguard (uncredited)
Helen Kelly	...	Woman in the restaurant (uncredited)
Sharmagne Leland-St. John	...	Woman in Phone Booth (uncredited)
Daisy Alexandra Sylbert-Torres	...	Child in Phone Booth (uncredited)
Scott Whyte	...	Boy #3 at Party (uncredited)
Del Zamora	...	Columbian Cocaine Cowboy (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Towne

Writing credits (WGA)
Robert Towne		(written by)

Produced by
Thom Mount	....	producer
Tom Shaw	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Dave Grusin

Cinematography by
Conrad L. Hall

Film Editing by
Claire Simpson

Casting by
Bonnie Timmermann

Production Design by
Richard Sylbert

Art Direction by
Peter Landsdown Smith

Set Decoration by
Rick Simpson

Costume Design by
Julie Weiss

Makeup Department
Dorothy J. Pearl	....	makeup artist
Toni-Ann Walker	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Jay Cassidy	....	post-production supervisor
Tom Shaw	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David C. Anderson	....	first assistant director
David S. Cass Sr.	....	second unit director (as Dave Cass)
Barbara M. Ravis	....	second assistant director
Robert Roda	....	second assistant director
Albert M. Shapiro	....	first assistant director
James Dillon	....	second second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Judy Cammer	....	set designer
Roger Irvin	....	construction coordinator
Paul Rylander	....	assistant property master
Steven Westlund	....	property master (as Steven R. Westlund)
Glenn Forbes	....	assistant property master (uncredited)
Bill Iiams	....	general construction foreman (uncredited)
Sharmagne Leland-St. John	....	assistant: Richard Sylbert (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bruce Bisenz	....	production sound mixer
Mark Boisseau	....	assistant sound editor
William C. Carruth	....	supervising adr editor
Gordon Davidson	....	sound editor
Ellen Heuer	....	foley artist
Spike Allison Hooper	....	assistant sound editor
James J. Isaacs	....	sound editor (as Jim Issacs)
Randall L. Johnson	....	boom operator (as Randall Johnson)
Robert J. Litt	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dan O'Connell	....	adr mixer
Greg Orloff	....	foley mixer
Richard Oswald	....	sound editor
Jayme S. Parker	....	sound editor (as Jayme Parker)
John Roesch	....	foley artist
Kay Rose	....	supervising sound editor
Greg P. Russell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Victoria Rose Sampson	....	sound editor
Jack Schrader	....	foley editor
Solange S. Schwalbe	....	foley editor (as Solange Schwalbe Boisseau)
James Simcik	....	adr editor
Chester Slomka	....	sound editor (as Chet Slomka)
Elliot Tyson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Butch Wolf	....	foley editor
Carolyn Tapp	....	foley recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jeff J. Davis	....	special effects technician
Michael Roundy	....	special effects technician
Chuck E. Stewart	....	special effects foreman (as Chuck Stewart)
Ken Tarallo	....	special effects crew
Jerry D. Williams	....	special effects
Thomas M. Ficke	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Stunts
Chance Barber	....	stunts
Gregory J. Barnett	....	stunts (as Greg Barnett)
Bobby Bass	....	stunt coordinator
David S. Cass Sr.	....	stunt coordinator (as Dave Cass)
Clarke Coleman	....	stunts
Joan Cunningham	....	stunts
James W. Gavin	....	stunts
Tim Gilbert	....	stunts
Andy Gill	....	stunts
Jack Gill	....	stunts
Bill Hart	....	stunts
Freddie Hice	....	stunts (as Fred Hice)
Hubie Kerns Jr.	....	stunts
Richard W. Martin	....	stunts
Chad Randall	....	stunts
Mic Rodgers	....	stunts (as Mic Rogers)
Dick Warlock	....	stunts (as Richard Warlock)
Dick Ziker	....	stunts
Mic Rodgers	....	stunt double: Mel Gibson (uncredited)
Dick Warlock	....	stunt double: Kurt Russell (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jamie Anderson	....	camera operator (as James M. Anderson)
François Duhamel	....	still photographer
Larry Gilhooly	....	chief lighting technician
Conrad W. Hall	....	first assistant camera (as Conrad Hall Jr.)
Michael D. Hightower	....	second grip (as Michael Hightower)
Danny Jimenez	....	dolly grip (as Daniel Jimenez)
Patrick Marshall	....	rigging gaffer
Tom May	....	key grip (as Thomas P. May)
Randy Nolen	....	Steadicam operator
Robert Samuels	....	second assistant camera
Robert Seaman	....	director of photography: second unit (as Robert E. Seaman)
John Toll	....	director of photography: second unit
Don Yamasaki	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Donald M. Yamasaki)

Casting Department
Jeff Block	....	casting assistant (as Jeffrey Block)
Suzanne Ryan	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ronald I. Caplan	....	costume supervisor (as Ronald Caplan)
Carol Kunz	....	costumer
Nancy McArdle	....	costumer
Peter V. Saldutti	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Mellissa Bretherton	....	assistant film editor
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Phil Hetos	....	color timer
Cynthia E. Thornton	....	apprentice film editor

Music Department
Danny Bramson	....	music supervisor
James Flamberg	....	music editor
Lee Ritenour	....	musician: guitar solos
David Sanborn	....	musician: saxophone solos
Simon Webb	....	musician: keyboards

Transportation Department
Ronnie Baker	....	transportation coordinator
Steve Boyd	....	transportation captain
Troy Flynn	....	driver
Shane Greedy	....	production van driver
Maxwell R. Johnson II	....	transportation co-captain

Other crew
Lawrence J. Banks	....	assistant: Mr. Mount
Thomas 'Doc' Boguski	....	production aide
Robert C. Campion	....	production accountant
Albert Cho	....	production aide
Joan Cunningham	....	production aide
William Dance	....	production aide
Terri Depaolo	....	assistant: Mel Gibson (as Terry DePaolo)
Stewart Dixon	....	production aide (as Stew Dixon)
Concepta Fennell	....	secretary: Mr. Towne
Sam Goldrich	....	production controller
Camille Griffin	....	assistant accountant
Mary A. Kelly	....	script supervisor (as Mary Kelly)
Michael Klastorin	....	unit publicist
Sharmagne Leland-St. John	....	researcher
Dan Perri	....	title designer
York Phelps	....	production aide
Beth Semans	....	production associate
Anne Shaw	....	production office coordinator
Eric P. Steckler	....	assistant accountant
Edward M. Taylor	....	assistant: Mr. Towne (as Edward Taylor)
Jaime Fowler	....	electronic press kit editor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• The Mount Company
• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1988) (USA) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1992) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Warner Bros. (Germany)
• Warner Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Vídeo (1998) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Pacific Title  opticals

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:12 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Philippines:R-18 | Netherlands:6 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Finland:K-16 | Singapore:M18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Manhattan Beach, California, USA

Company:

The Mount Company

Trivia:

When the film was first released, the initial teaser trailer for Batman (1989) was attached to prints of the film. When word got out about the teaser, fans were so excited about seeing the teaser that some people paid admission just to get a glimpse of the trailer.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Pfeiffer is at the police station getting her chef released, Russell pulls up and parks directly in front of her car. When they leave the station, his car isn't there and Pfeiffer is able to drive away unobstructed.

Quotes:

Hal Maguire: Come on Nick. Escalante's waiting. He wants to give you a token of his government's friendship.
Nick Frescia: What?
Maguire: A gun. What can I say? He's Mexican.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

Soundtrack:

Surrender To Me

Eighties classic

This is one of those guilty pleasures. I still find myself watching it over and over some 14 years later. After a while, who even cares about Robert Towne's serpentine plot twists. The reason this movie still works is simple - it is great entertainment. This movie takes 3 stars at the peak of their physical beauty who were just beginning to realize their acting potential (admittedly, in the years since, only 2 of them realized that potential). Michelle Pfeiffer attained a perfect trifecta in 1988 with comedy (Married to the Mob), drama (Dangerous Liasons), and this melodramatic actioner. The movie takes itself too seriously, but we don't have to. It's a silly fantasy world with stunning beach sunsets, tequila and sports cars, good drug dealers and bad cops, etc. Like Miami Vice, this movie portrayed the late 80s, and for those of us who grew up during that flashy, fun decade, _Tequila Sunrise_ is a fun-filled nostalgic trip. It's about a beautiful people living angst filled lives.

It's mindless and fun. So enjoy it for what it is.