The Truth About Cats & Dogs (1996)

Director:

Michael Lehmann

Writer (WGA):

Audrey Wells (written by)

Release Date:

26 April 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Brian's about to discover the woman he loves isn't the woman he loves.

Plot:

A successful veternarian & radio show host with low self-esteem asks her model friend to impersonate her when a handsome man wants to see her.

Plot Keywords:

Self Esteem | Model | Dog | Art | Mistaken Identity

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Uma Thurman	...	Noelle
Janeane Garofalo	...	Abby
Ben Chaplin	...	Brian
Jamie Foxx	...	Ed
James McCaffrey	...	Roy
Richard Coca	...	Eric
Stanley DeSantis	...	Mario
Antoinette Valente	...	Susan
Mitch Rouse	...	Bee Man
La Tanya M. Fisher	...	Emily
Faryn Einhorn	...	Child Model
David Cross	...	Voice of Male Radio Caller / Bookstore Man
Mary Lynn Rajskub	...	Female Radio Caller (voice)
Bob Odenkirk	...	Bookstore Man
Dechen Thurman	...	Bookstore Cashier
Victoria Edwards	...	Mother
Lisa Marie Russell	...	Saleswoman
Robert Brinkmann	...	Irate Director
Joe Polhemus	...	Newscast Auditioner (as Josiah Polhemus)
Nigel Gibbs	...	Newscast Auditioner
David Phelps	...	Newscast Auditioner
Linda Porter	...	Newscast Auditioner
Michael Burke	...	Newscast Auditioner
Vanessa J. Wells	...	Newscast Auditioner
Hank the Dog	...	Hank (as Hank The Dog)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bonnie Bianco	...	Woman in Bar (uncredited)
Monique Parent	...	Woman in Elevator (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Lehmann

Writing credits (WGA)
Audrey Wells		(written by)

Produced by
Cari-Esta Albert	....	producer
Richard Hashimoto	....	executive producer
Audrey Wells	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Howard Shore

Cinematography by
Robert Brinkmann		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Stephen Semel

Casting by
Debra Zane

Production Design by
Sharon Seymour

Art Direction by
Jeff Knipp

Set Decoration by
Maggie Martin

Costume Design by
Bridget Kelly

Makeup Department
Deborah La Mia Denaver	....	key makeup artist (as Deborah LaMia Denaver)
Cammy R. Langer	....	hair stylist
Gina Monaci	....	hair stylist: Uma Thurman
Bill Myer	....	makeup artist
Barbara Olvera	....	key hair stylist
Jo-Anne Smith-Ojeil	....	makeup: Uma Thurman (as Jo Anne Smith)

Production Management
Richard Hashimoto	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joe Camp III	....	first assistant director
David Hallinan	....	second assistant director
Ellie Smith	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Deana Albers	....	on-set dresser
Maria Barashkoff	....	stand-by painter
Melanie S. Chretin	....	set dresser
Doug B. Dick	....	construction coordinator (as Douglas B. Dick)
Stacy Doran	....	buyer
Maureen Farley	....	property master
Jimmy Flores	....	general foreman (as Jim Flores)
Mark Haber	....	propmaker gangboss
Michael Anthony Jackson	....	storyboard artist (as Michael A. Jackson)
Roger L. King	....	property maker
Robert E. Knight	....	lead painter
Markus Manley	....	art department coordinator
Elizabeth C. Markus	....	construction production assistant
Randy Martens	....	key greens foreman
Michael O'Donnell	....	leadman
Mark Pallatt	....	swing gang
Jonathan Rose	....	labor foreman
Lori Rowbotham	....	senior set designer
Theodore Sharps	....	set designer
Jason W. Stradtman	....	art department production assistant
Parker Swanson	....	assistant property master
Brent David Mannon	....	property assistant (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ulrika Akander	....	dialogue editor
James Ashwill	....	foley mixer (as James Ashwil)
Douglas Axtell	....	sound mixer
Brydon Baker III	....	boom man (as Brydon Baker)
Nancy Barker	....	assistant sound editor
Michael J. Benavente	....	dialogue editor (as Mike Benavente)
George Berndt	....	adr supervisor
Thom Brennan	....	sound effects editor
John T. Cucci	....	foley artist (as John Cucci)
David Cunningham	....	sound recordist (as Dave Cunningham)
Susan Dudeck	....	dialogue editor
Sukey Fontelieu	....	adr editor
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert Maxfield	....	cableman (as Robert K. Maxfield)
Bob Newlan	....	supervising sound editor
Dan O'Connell	....	foley artist
Mark Pappas	....	foley supervisor
Mike Reale	....	sound recordist
Jerry Ross	....	supervising sound editor
Victoria Rose Sampson	....	adr editor (as Victoria Sampson)
Hamilton Sterling	....	sound effects editor
John Joseph Thomas	....	sound effects editor
Gregory H. Watkins	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Greg H. Watkins)
Hugo Weng	....	dialogue editor
Karen G. Wilson	....	foley editor (as Karen Wilson)
Rubén Domingo	....	sound editor (uncredited)
Alexandra Gonzales	....	second assistant sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Scott Forbes	....	special effects coordinator
Bruce Khteian	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Caroleen Green	....	digital matte artist: Matte World
Brian Hanable	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Bob Wiatr	....	digital effects compositor (uncredited)

Stunts
David Brinton	....	stunts
Tabby Hanson	....	stunts
Ernie F. Orsatti	....	stunt coordinator (as Ernie Orsatti)
Noon Orsatti	....	stunts
Spike Silver	....	stunts
Eddie Yansick	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Nick Arnds	....	grip (as Burton Nick Arnds IV)
Craig A. Brink	....	set lighting
Joseph Dianda	....	key grip
Mitch Dubin	....	camera operator
Shawn Ensign	....	grip (as R. Shawn Ensign)
James Fee	....	photographer: Brian's portfolio photographs
David Gamerman	....	best boy electric
Charley Gilleran	....	key rigging grip (as Charley H. Gilleran)
Jack Glenn	....	dolly grip (as Jack P. Glenn)
Pascal M. Guillemard	....	set lighting
Gregory Irwin	....	first assistant camera
Matt Jackson	....	grip
Jerry D. Knight	....	set lighting
William J. McDevitt	....	grip
Daniel P. Moore	....	video assist operator
Juan Morse	....	set lighting
Randy Nolen	....	Steadicam operator
Bill O'Drobinak	....	camera operator: "b" camera (as William A. O'Drobinak)
Scott Patten	....	best boy grip
Reinhart 'Rayteam' Peschke	....	gaffer (as Reinhart G. Peschke)
Reginald Powell	....	set lighting
Darrin Pulford	....	set lighting
Aaron Iggy Scarpitti	....	set lighting
Christopher A. Schenck	....	assistant camera: "b" camera
Joy R. Stone	....	camera loader
William J. Taylor	....	grip (as William Taylor)
Thomas Vandermillen	....	second assistant camera
Merie Weismiller Wallace	....	still photographer (as Merie W. Wallace)

Casting Department
Barbara Harris	....	voice casting
Julia Kim	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Edward T. Hanley	....	set costumer
Heather Kohlhoff	....	set costumer
Susan Lichtman	....	set costumer
Michelle Skoby	....	costumes: Uma Thurman
Valerie Zielonka	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Andi Kasen Bergman	....	assistant editor: AVID (as Andi Kasen-Van Kirk)
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Roger Cooper	....	assistant editor: AVID
Deann Hechinger	....	post-production coordinator
Alexandra Leviloff	....	first assistant editor
Melissa Remenarich	....	apprentice editor
Mike Stanwick	....	color timer (as Michael Stanwick)
Dave Hussey	....	colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Lisa Brown	....	music coordinator
Dennis Budimir	....	musician: guitar, jazz group
Larry Bunker	....	musician: percussion, jazz group
Sandy DeCrescent	....	music contractor (as Sandy De Crescent)
Chuck Domanico	....	musician: bass, jazz group
Jerry Goodman	....	musician: violin, jazz group
Bonnie Greenberg	....	music supervisor
John Kurlander	....	scoring mixer
Michael Lang	....	musician: piano, jazz group
John La Salandra	....	temp music editor (as John LaSalandra)
Jonathan McHugh	....	supervising soundtrack executive: A&M Records
Tommy Morgan	....	musician: harmonica, jazz group
Angie Rubin	....	music editor
Steve Schaeffer	....	musician: drums, jazz group
Ellen Segal	....	supervising music editor
Howard Shore	....	music conductor
Howard Shore	....	music orchestrator
E. Gedney Webb	....	temp music editor
Patti Weiss	....	violin coach
Paul Weller	....	composer: song "You Do Something To Me"

Transportation Department
William Hogue	....	transportation co-captain (as William M. Hogue)
Gene R. Johnson	....	transportation coordinator
Jerry F. Johnson	....	transportation captain
J. Armin Garza II	....	driver: camera car (uncredited)
Bill Lopez-Arjona	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Ruth Auerbach	....	teacher
Robert C. Barnett	....	paymaster
Steve Berens	....	animal trainer
Rayford Berrymon	....	set production assistant
John Blue	....	set medic
Paul D. Boydston	....	location manager (as Paul Boydston)
Becky Brake	....	assistant location manager
Susannah Brengel	....	post-production accountant
Ronald Burwick	....	production assistant
Jennifer Casey	....	assistant: Mr. Hashimoto
Jon Davidson	....	production accountant
Gigi Davis	....	assistant: Ms. Albert
Carlos De La Torre	....	set production assistant (as Carlos de la Torre)
Julia Ganis	....	assistant: Mr. Lehmann (as Julia Ganis-Leslie)
Norman Gary	....	bee expert (as Norman E. Gary)
Robert B. Gillam	....	set production assistant
Erich L. Harris	....	set production assistant
Brian Herbert	....	assistant location manager
Cindia Huppeler	....	acting coach: Ms. Thurman
Robin Jorden	....	set production assistant
Jim Juvonen	....	post-production assistant to Mr. Lehmann
Steve Kornacki	....	assistant production coordinator (as Stephen A. Kornacki)
Joseph McCarter	....	animal trainer (as Joe McCarter)
Carolyn Noonan	....	assistant production accountant
Charlotte Purein	....	location assistant
Tricia Ronten	....	script supervisor (as Patricia Ronten)
Margaret L. Schlaifer	....	teacher
Craig Thompson	....	production/post assistant
Emma Tillinger	....	assistant: Ms. Thurman
Valerie Van Galder	....	unit publicist
John 'Magic' Wright	....	craft service
Paul O. Wright	....	craft service
Diana Zock	....	production coordinator
Zack Milan	....	stand-in (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (presents) (as Twentieth Century Fox)
• Noon Attack (producer)

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1996) (USA) (theatrical)
• Fox Video (1996) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (1997) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (2000) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Alta Films (????) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Filmes Castello Lopes (????) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Gativideo (????) (Argentina) (VHS)

Other Companies

• A&M Records  soundtrack available on
• Acme Soundworks Studio  sound editing by (as Acme Soundworks)
• American Humane Association, The  animal action monitoring
• Deluxe Catering  caterer
• Howard A. Anderson Company  opticals (as Howard Anderson Company)
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.)
• Jo Anne Kane Music Services  music preparation (as Jo Ann Kane Music Service)
• Messenger Associates Casting  extras casting
• Movie Movers  cast trailers
• Movie Movers  hair and make-up trailers
• Movie Movers  production trailers
• Nina Saxon Film Design  main and end titles designed by
• Otto Nemenz International  Arriflex 535 cameras (as Otto Nemenz)
• Pacific Title  titles
• Sony Pictures Studios  re-recorded at
• Sound World  foley recorded at
• Steve Berens' Animals of Distinction  animals supplied by

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 on appeal for a sex-related scene and brief strong language.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | Philippines:PG-13 | South Korea:18 | Canada:14A (Canadian Home Video rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Germany:12 (w) | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 (appeal) (Approved No. 34015) | Finland:S

Filming Locations:

Abbot's Habit - 1401 Abbot Kinney Blvd , Venice, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Janeane Garofalo, a shade over five feet tall, sometimes had to stand on a box just to be in the same frame with 6-foot co-star Uma Thurman.

Goofs:

Continuity: Brian loses his bag when he asks to escort "Donna" out.

Quotes:

Cosmetics Saleslady: We also have this new face cream which neutralizes the free radicals that attack the skin. Let me ask you: what's your skin regime?
Dr. Abby Barnes: My regime? The regime from which the radicals are trying to get free? Are we selling face cream or staging a coup?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Sopranos: D-Girl (#2.7)" (2000)

Soundtrack:

You Do Something To Me

"You can love your pets -- you just can't 'love' your pets."

This film is an absolute gem, showcasing the incredible talents of Janeane Garofalo and highlighting the physical beauty of Uma Thurman (and Ben Chaplin).

It is an incredibly well crafted and well-written film due to the efforts of director Michael Lehmann and author Audrey Wells.

If there were ever any doubts as to the acting ability of Ms Garofalo this film will put them to rest. There are scenes in which she is positively luminescent as the ‘voice on the radio' – Dr Abby Barnes.

This film was to be a star vehicle for Uma Thurman: she has top billing both in the opening title sequence and in the closing credits. She also has the personal assistant, personal makeup and hair and even a personal acting coach! But she has worked on just 12 films since `Cats and Dogs' was released and Ms Garofalo has completed 39!

Janeane steals the show (again)!

The story is derivative: Basically it is the Cyrano story; however, it is given new life and freshness by the appealing characters and plot twists.

I must admit that I am a bit tired of Janeane Garofalo playing the ‘ugly' girl roles. She is far from ugly and really should be playing the romantic characters more often.

This really is an outstanding film – the scenes with `Hank' steal the show and the late-night telephone conversation between Abby and Brian should not to be missed.