Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)

Director:

Adam McKay

Writers (WGA):

Will Ferrell (written by) &
Adam McKay (written by)

Release Date:

9 July 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

His news is bigger than your news.

Plot:

Ron Burgundy is San Diego's top rated newsman in the male dominated broadcasting of the 1970's, but that's all about to change when a new female employee with ambition to burn arrives in his office.

Plot Keywords:

1970s | Anchorman | Fashion Show | Sexism | Dog

Awards:

1 win & 9 nominations

Cast

Will Ferrell	...	Ron Burgundy
Christina Applegate	...	Veronica Corningstone
Paul Rudd	...	Brian Fantana
Steve Carell	...	Brick Tamland
David Koechner	...	Champ Kind
Fred Willard	...	Ed Harken
Chris Parnell	...	Garth Holliday
Kathryn Hahn	...	Helen
Fred Armisen	...	Tino
Seth Rogen	...	Eager Cameraman
Paul F. Tompkins	...	MC
Danny Trejo	...	Bartender
Scot Robinson	...	Waiter at Tino's
Ian Roberts	...	Stage Manager
Darcy Donavan	...	Hot Blonde
Renee Weldon	...	Petite Brunette
Jerry Minor	...	Tino's Bassist
Holmes Osborne	...	Director
Charles Walker	...	Security Guard
Shira Piven	...	Mother
Lili Rose McKay	...	Child
Thomas E. Mastrolia	...	Biker Guy
Jay Johnston	...	Eyewitness News Member
Peter A. Hulne	...	Man in Kitchen (as Peter Hulne)
Laura Kightlinger	...	Donna
Adam McKay	...	Custodian
Joseph T. Mastrolia	...	Custodian
Judd Apatow	...	News Station Employee
Debra McGuire	...	News Station Employee
Kent Shocknek	...	Network Reporter
Monique McIntyre	...	Yelling Woman
Bob Rummler	...	Bum
Chuck Poynter	...	Announcer
Esmerelda McQuillan	...	Middle Class Mother (as Esmeralda McQuillan)
Angela Grillo	...	Elderly Woman
Lionel Allen	...	Wealthy Family Father
Trina D. Johnson	...	Wealthy Family Mother
Mary Alice G. Goodin	...	Wealthy Family Child
Yasmine Nickle	...	Wealthy Family Child (as Jasmine Nicole Jackson)
Fred Dresch	...	Doctor
Glen Hambly	...	Middle Class Dad
Stuart Gold	...	Nursing Room Resident
Bill Kurtis	...	Bill Lawson - Narrator (voice)
Luke Wilson	...	Frank Vitchard
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joe Flaherty	...	Texas TV Station Manager (scenes deleted)
Ben Stiller	...	Arturo Mendes
Dave Allen	...	Fondue Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Ossie Beck	...	Reporter 2 (uncredited)
Jimmy Bennett	...	Tommy (uncredited)
Jack Black	...	Motorcyclist (uncredited)
Mark Hengst	...	Camera man (uncredited)
Ariane Von Kamp	...	Woman at Pool Party (uncredited)
Missi Pyle	...	Zoo Keeper (uncredited)
Tim Robbins	...	Public TV News Anchor (uncredited)
Jerry Stiller	...	Man in Bar (uncredited)
Vince Vaughn	...	Wes Mantooth (uncredited)
Matthew Vlahakis	...	Zoologist with Panda in Doug or Glen scene (uncredited)

Directed by
Adam McKay

Writing credits (WGA)
Will Ferrell		(written by) &
Adam McKay		(written by)

Produced by
Judd Apatow	....	producer
David B. Householter	....	co-producer (as David Householter)
Shauna Robertson	....	executive producer
David O. Russell	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Alex Wurman

Cinematography by
Thomas E. Ackerman		(director of photography) (as Thomas Ackerman)

Film Editing by
Brent White

Production Design by
Clayton Hartley		(as Clayton R. Hartley)

Art Direction by
Gregg Davidson		(as Greg Davidson)
Virginia L. Randolph		(as Virginia Randolph-Weaver)

Set Decoration by
Jan Pascale

Costume Design by
Debra McGuire

Makeup Department
Heather Cummings	....	assistant makeup artist: pickups
Denise Dellavalle	....	key makeup artist
Kimberly Greene	....	makeup department head
Melanie Mills	....	makeup artist: pickups
Edward Morrison	....	hair stylist
Toni-Ann Walker	....	hair department head
Erin Wooldridge	....	makeup artist
Joy Zapata	....	key hair stylist
Ryan McDowell	....	prosthetic fabricator (uncredited)

Production Management
Mark Graziano	....	post-production supervisor
David B. Householter	....	unit production manager (as David Householter)
Diane L. Sabatini	....	production supervisor (as Diane Sabatini)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Rick Avery	....	second unit director
Jeff Bilger	....	second second assistant director
Basil Grillo	....	second assistant director (as Basil Bryant Grillo)
Matt Rebenkoff	....	first assistant director
Mark Trapenberg	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Jenny Baum	....	on-set dresser
Jeanne Bueche	....	art department coordinator
Alan Burg	....	set dresser
Amanda Crockett	....	art department production assistant (as Amanda C. Crockett)
Louise Del Araujo	....	lead
John R. Elliott	....	construction coordinator
Matthew Ferreira	....	set dresser
Glenn Forbes	....	props
Alex Hill	....	illustrator
P.K. MacCarthy	....	storyboard artist
Amie McCarthy	....	assistant property master
Mike Medina	....	construction foreman
Barbara Mesney	....	set designer
Mark Molina	....	assistant art director
Rick Polikowski	....	propmaker
Adam Tankell	....	graphic designer
Susie Thompson	....	set dresser
Sally Thornton	....	set designer
Mike Villarino	....	construction coordinator: additional photography
Randall D. Wilkins	....	set designer (as R.D. Wilkins)
Glenn Forbes	....	property master: additional photography (uncredited)
Charles Kern	....	stand-by painter (uncredited)
Christopher Morente	....	stand-by greens (uncredited)
Michael Ruby	....	supervising signwriter (uncredited)
Jack White	....	food stylist (uncredited)
Suzy Zarate	....	illustrator (uncredited)

Sound Department
Richard L. Anderson	....	sound effects editor (as Richard Anderson)
Bob Beemer	....	supervising sound mixer
Jessy Bender	....	cableperson (as Jessica Bender)
Mark Binder	....	supervising dialogue & adr editor
Mike Chock	....	sound effects editor
Mark Coffey	....	second assistant sound editor
Donald Flick	....	sound effects editor
Kevin Hyde	....	boom operator
Ryan Isbell	....	sound assistant
Thomas Jones	....	dialogue editor
Shawn Ian Kerkhoff	....	first assistant sound editor (as Shawn Kerkoff)
Mark A. Mangini	....	sound designer (as Mark Mangini)
Mark A. Mangini	....	supervising sound editor (as Mark Mangini)
Scott Millan	....	supervising sound mixer
Piero Mura	....	sound effects editor
Ralph Osborn	....	dialogue editor
Fred Peck III	....	sound re-recordist (as Fred W. Peck III)
Erin Michael Rettig	....	sound engineer (as Erin Rettig)
Joan Rowe	....	foley artist
Sean Rowe	....	foley artist
Abel Schiro	....	sound utility
Solange S. Schwalbe	....	dialogue editor (as Solange Schwalbe)
Nick Shaffer	....	sound effects recordist
Andy Sisul	....	second assistant sound editor
Jim Stuebe	....	sound mixer
Devendra Damon Cleary	....	sound utility: pre-shoots (uncredited)
Jay Duerr	....	auricle operator (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Akemi Abe	....	digital artist: title sequence animation
Christian Boudman	....	Inferno artist: SPI
Christian Boudman	....	digital compositor
Kelly Day	....	compositing animator
Roxanne Dorman	....	visual effects editor
Patrick Flanagan	....	compositing artist: Pixel Magic
Nate Haggard	....	compositing artist: Pixel Magic
James David Hattin	....	lead 2D artist: Pixel Magic
Richard R. Hoover	....	visual effects supervisor: SPI
Raji Kodja	....	technical director: SPI
Richard Kratt	....	compositing artist: Pixel Magic
John R. McConnell	....	compositing artist: Pixel Magic
Ray McIntyre Jr.	....	visual effects supervisor: Pixel Magic (as Raymond McIntyre Jr.)
Reid Paul	....	digital effects supervisor: Pixel Magic
Reid Paul	....	visual effects producer
David A. Smith	....	CG supervisor: SPI
Diana Stulic	....	visual effects producer: SPI (as Diana Stulic Ibanez)
Bonnie Kanner	....	visual effects executive producer: Pixel Magic (uncredited)
Evangeline Monroy	....	visual effects coordinator (uncredited)
James D. Tittle	....	digital visual effects coordinator: Pacific Title (uncredited)
Jeff Varga	....	digital effects artist (uncredited)
Mitch Zeitlin	....	video editorial coordinator: SPI (uncredited)

Stunts
Brian Avery	....	stunt coordinator
Brian Avery	....	stunts
Joni Avery	....	stunts
Mike Avery	....	stunts
Rick Avery	....	stunt coordinator
Mark Brooks	....	bear stunts
Joe Bucaro III	....	stunts (as Joey Bucaro)
Jack Gill	....	stunts
Gary Guercio	....	stunts
Nick Hermz	....	stunt performer
Lisa Hoyle	....	stunts
David Hugghins	....	stunt double
Michael Hugghins	....	stunts
Michelle Sebek	....	stunt double
Charlie Brewer	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Wendi Bromley	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Sophia Crawford	....	stunt double: Christina Applegate (uncredited)
Christopher Leps	....	stunt double: Kevin Corrigan (uncredited)
Brian Machleit	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Hans Bjerno	....	aerial director of photography
Ian S. Casas	....	grip: second unit
Alfred Castillo	....	grip
Brian Crane	....	rigging gaffer
Michael Everett	....	gaffer
Linda Gacsko	....	second assistant camera
Harry K. Garvin	....	Steadicam operator
Harry K. Garvin	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Geoffrey Haley	....	video playback operator
Steven Hiller	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Andrew B. Horton	....	electrical lighting technician
Damon Marcellino	....	set lighting technician: re-shoots
Frank Masi	....	still photographer
Ralph Merzbach	....	24 frame video operator
Richie Metcalfe	....	grip (as Lawton Metcalfe)
Darren Michaels	....	additional unit photographer
Paul Murphey	....	video assist operator (as Paul J. Murphey)
Nicolas Restrepo	....	assistant camera
Dylan Rush	....	electrician
Jonathan Shier	....	film loader
John Young	....	second assistant camera
Matthew E. Alper	....	additional assistant camera (uncredited)
Todd McMullen	....	additional camera operator (uncredited)
Alan M. Rowe	....	lighting console programmer (uncredited)

Animation Department
Graham Morris	....	animator
Azariah Owens	....	animation effects
Kristen Sych	....	animator (as Kristen Nicholas Sych)

Casting Department
Juel Bestrop	....	casting
Blythe Cappello	....	casting
Rich King	....	extras casting
Jeanne McCarthy	....	casting
Georgia Simon	....	adr voice casting
John Srednicki	....	casting associate
Kelly Hunt	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mike Lutz	....	set costumer
Joseph T. Mastrolia	....	costume supervisor
Katrina Mastrolia	....	costume supervisor
Michelle Sandvig	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Mellissa Bretherton	....	additional editor (as Melissa Bretherton)
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Martin Cohen	....	post-production executive
David Orr	....	color timer
Michael Pedraza	....	post-production assistant
Dylan Quirt	....	post-production assistant
James Schermerhorn	....	assistant editor: avid (as Jim Schermerhorn)
Fulvio Valsangiacomo	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Tom Calderaro	....	orchestrator
Debbi Datz-Pyle	....	orchestra contractor
Steve Dierkens	....	assistant music editor
Steve Durkee	....	score mixer
Steve Durkee	....	score recordist
Julie Eidsvoog	....	music preparation
Todd Homme	....	executive music supervisor
Larry Mah	....	digital score recordist
Stefan Nordin	....	assistant composer
John Rodd	....	score recordist
Jeffrey Schindler	....	conductor (as Jeff Schindler)
Ellen Segal	....	music editor
Armin Steiner	....	score mixer
Armin Steiner	....	score recordist
Craig Wedren	....	vocal coach
Erica Weis	....	music editor
Hal Willner	....	music consultant

Transportation Department
Michael Menapace	....	transportation coordinator (as Michael D. Menapace)
Theresa M. Roehner	....	driver (as Theresa Roehner)
Ted Schambers	....	driver: Will Ferrell

Other crew
Jeremy Alter	....	location manager
Rebecca Asher	....	script supervisor (as Rebecca E. Asher)
Alisha Attella	....	construction accountant
Bradford Berling	....	art director: titles, Picture Mill
Alex Bogdanov	....	production assistant (as Alexander Bogdanov)
Ian Calip	....	production assistant
Daniel Canamar	....	production assistant (as Dan Canamar)
Brett Cody	....	video effects co-supervisor
Andrew J. Cohen	....	assistant: Mr. Apatow (as Andrew Jay Cohen)
Mathilde Decagney	....	animal trainer (as Mathilde deCagney)
Patricia L. DeShields	....	production accountant (as Patsy DeShields)
Susana Inés Fattorini	....	first assistant accountant
Patrick Ferrell	....	assistant: Mr. Ferrell
Brian Greene	....	stand-in
Marie Healy	....	assistant location manager (as Marie E. Healy)
Ellen J. Hornstein	....	assistant: Mr. Householter
Elizabeth Ingram	....	production secretary (as J. Elizabeth Ingram)
Pino Insegno	....	voice dubbing: Will Ferrell
David Irvine	....	production assistant
Gregg Kawecki	....	production assistant (as H. Gregg Kawecki)
Ahmed Kirdar	....	additional set production assistant
Thomas Krueger	....	construction medic
Ruth LaBarge	....	head bear trainer
Michael Lecke	....	accounting clerk
Larry Madrid	....	animal trainer
Kevin Maier	....	stand-in: Steve Carell
Marlene Marks	....	payroll accountant
Rob McCabe	....	stand-in: Will Ferrell
Steven R. Molen	....	production executive
Mimi Munson	....	researcher
Julie Jean Naylon	....	assistant: Mr. McKay
Kyle Oliver	....	key assistant location manager
Paulette Osorio	....	unit publicist (as Paulette E. Osorio)
Aaron Roberts	....	production assistant (as Aaron C. Roberts)
Margo Romano	....	second assistant accountant
Page Rosenberg-Marvin	....	production coordinator
Erin Sahlstrom	....	assistant production coordinator (as Erin Lee Sahlstrom)
Steve Suh	....	production assistant
Frank Tignini	....	production assistant
Collin Woode	....	assistant: Ms. Applegate (as Colin Wood)
Aaron Zimmerman	....	assistant: Ms. Robertson
Russell Barrett	....	assistant: David O. Russell (uncredited)
Matthew Cassel	....	location manager: additional photography (uncredited)
Scott Cronan	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Thomas Farr	....	assistant production accountant (uncredited)
Seth William Hansen	....	additional set production assistant (uncredited)
Eric Hooge	....	assistant location manager: re-shoots (uncredited)
John Humber	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Eric Hurt	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Christian Labarta	....	set production assistant: re-shoots (uncredited)
Tracy L. Moody	....	script supervisor: second unit (uncredited)
Clint Rowe	....	animal trainer: bear (uncredited)
Helen Alexis Yonov	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• DreamWorks SKG (as DreamWorks Pictures) (presents)
• Apatow Productions
• Herzog-Cowen Entertainment

Distributors

• DreamWorks Distribution (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Brazil) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (2007) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Argentina Video Home (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)
• DreamWorks Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD) (VHS)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2005) (Argentina) (all media)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Nordic (2005) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Veronica (2007) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)

Special Effects

• E=mc² (video effects)
• Pacific Title (opticals)
• Pixel Magic (visual effects)
• Sony Pictures Imageworks (SPI) (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Birds & Animals Unlimited  animals provided by (as Birds and Animals Unlimited)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• E=mc²  24 frame video effects
• Film Permits Unlimited  location permits
• Gala Catering  catering
• Graham Morris Animation Inc.  animation sequence
• Movie Movers  star trailers
• Newman Scoring Stage, Twentieth Century Fox Studios, The  score recording
• O'Henry Sound Studios  score mixed at
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Panavision  camera and lenses
• Picture Mill, The  main titles and graphics
• Republic Records  soundtrack published by
• Rockbottom Rentals  nextel cell phone rentals
• Sony Pictures Studios William Holden Theatre  sound re-recording
• Technicolor Weddington  sound editorial services (as Technicolor Weddington Productions)
• Technicolor  prints
• Universal Records  soundtrack published by
• Universal Studios Sound Facilities  adr recording (as Universal Studios' Sound)

Also Known As:

Action News (USA) (working title)
Action News! With Ron Burgundy (USA) (original script title)
Action Newsman (USA) (working title)
Anchorman (USA) (short title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual humor, language and comic violence. (edited for re-rating)

Runtime:

94 min | USA:104 min (extended version) | Canada:97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:14A (DVD rating) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Netherlands:6 | Malaysia:U (DVD) | Sweden:11 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12 | Iceland:L | Ireland:12 | Norway:11 | Singapore:NC-16 | UK:12A | USA:R (original rating) | USA:Unrated (uncut DVD version) | USA:PG-13 (edited for re-rating) (certificate no. 40782)

Filming Locations:

Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, California, USA

Company:

DreamWorks SKG

Trivia:

This film had been pitched to DreamWorks nearly 20 times before, following the successes of "Old School" and "Elf". DreamWorks had little faith in the film, doubting Ferrell and McKay were able to pull off an entire film based on news anchors. Despite the doubts the film would bomb, it grossed $84 million domestically and the director had so much extra footage they were able to make a second film out of it.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Ron is first talking to his dog Baxter, the dog's front paws change position on the chair between shots (from standing to kneeling).

Quotes:

[first lines]
Bill Lawson: [narration] There was a time, a time before cable. When the local anchorman reigned supreme. When people believed everything they heard on TV. This was an age when only men were allowed to read the news. And in San Diego, one anchorman was more man then the rest. His name was Ron Burgundy. He was like a god walking amongst mere mortals. He had a voice that could make a wolverine purr and suits so fine they made Sinatra look like a hobo. In other words, Ron Burgundy was the balls.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien: (#1.1)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

If

The perfected art of being stupid

In a year packed with comedies that were all a bit stupid and silly (and all seemed to feature Ben Stiller), Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy reigns supreme above them all. This is a movie that is well aware of its own stupidity, and best of all, it is able to embrace it skillfully so that it is exactly as silly and immature as it wants to be. It is such a great comedy; I'd consider it the Naked Gun of our generation.

As apposed to many, many, other comedies, Anchorman actually gets better as it moves along. Most of the time a comedy like this will use up all the laughs in the first hour and then try to take a serious, lovey-dovey turn in the last act. There are more laughs in the last half hour than in the first half hour, which usually is never the case. It's as if there was some mathematical comedic formula that spread the laughs out in a way that it was consistently funny. Or, maybe they just got lucky. I dunno.

I loved all the characters in the movie, every role no matter how small had a great moment or two. Will Ferrel of course, the star of the movie who is just perfect as Ron. He's so so funny 'cause he's such a lovable idiot. Even Christina Appelgate, who was in a role that quite honestly anyone could have done, is able to make it her own and provide some laughs. There is a scene that has a lot of cameos that was hilarious as well. It was one of those moments that takes you completely by surprise.

So, what else can I say except that I loved Anchorman! It's the best "stupid" comedy I've seen in years. This is Will Ferrel at his best and it will be hard to top.

My rating: 9/10