Something Wild (1986)

Director:

Jonathan Demme

Writer:

E. Max Frye (written by)

Release Date:

7 November 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Crime

Tagline:

Something Different Something Daring Something Dangerous

Plot:

A free-spirited woman "kidnaps" a yuppie for a weekend of adventure. But the fun quickly takes a dangerous turn when her ex-con husband shows up.

Plot Keywords:

Yuppie | Cameo | Violence | Class Reunion | Road

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Jeff Daniels	...	Charles Driggs
Melanie Griffith	...	Audrey Hankel
Ray Liotta	...	Ray Sinclair
George 'Red' Schwartz	...	Counter Man (as George Schwartz)
Leib Lensky	...	Frenchy
Tracey Walter	...	The Country Squire
Maggie T.	...	Country Squire Bulldog
Patricia Falkenhain	...	Charlie's Secretary
Sandy McLeod	...	Graves' Secretary
Robert Ridgely	...	Richard Graves
Buzz Kilman	...	TV Newscaster
Kenneth Utt	...	Dad
Adelle Lutz	...	Rose
Charles Napier	...	Irate Chef
Jim Roche	...	Motel Philosopher
John Sayles	...	Motorcycle Cop
John Waters	...	Used Car Guy
The Texas Kid	...	Hitchhiking Cowboy
Byron D. Hutcherson	...	Hitchhiking Kid
Eleana Hutcherson	...	Hitchhiking Kid
Thomas Cavano	...	Guitar Player
Dorothy Demme	...	Junk Store Gal
Emma Byrne	...	Junk Store Gal
Dana Preu	...	Peaches
Max the Dog	...	Himself
Mary Ardella Drew	...	Donna Penski
Joseph Lee Davis	...	James Williams
Edward Saxon	...	Kevin Stroup
The Feelies	...	The Willies
James Hurd	...	Stylish Reunion Couple
Joanna Kitchen-Hurd	...	Stylish Reunion Couple
Jack Gilpin	...	Larry Dillman
Su Tissue	...	Peggy Dillman
Gary Goetzman	...	Guido Paonessa
Margaret Colin	...	Irene
Chloe Amateau	...	Chloe
Dung Chau	...	Robbery Victim
The Crew	...	Gas Station Rappers
Steven Scales	...	Nelson (as Steve Scales)
John Montgomery	...	Harmonica Slim
Kristin Olsen	...	Tracy
Heather Shaw	...	Choir Girl
Vic Blair	...	Cowboy Maitre d'
D. Stanton Miranda	...	Darlene
Ding-a-Ling	...	Motorcycle Dog
Johnny Marrs	...	Motorcycle Driver
George Henry Wyche Jr.	...	Police Officer
Marilee K. Smith	...	Police Officer
Jeffrey R. Rioux	...	Police Officer
Jeff Herig	...	Police Officer
Gil Lazier	...	Homicide Detective
Anna Levine	...	The Girl in 3F
'Sister' Carol East	...	Dottie (as 'Sister Carol' East)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gary Bishop	...	Civil War re-enactor (uncredited)
Joanna Daniels	...	Joanne (uncredited)
Drummond Erskine	...	Cafe patron (uncredited)

Directed by
Jonathan Demme

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
E. Max Frye		written by

Produced by
Ronald M. Bozman	....	associate producer (as Ron Bozman)
Jonathan Demme	....	producer
Bill Miller	....	associate producer
Edward Saxon	....	executive producer
Kenneth Utt	....	producer

Original Music by
Laurie Anderson
John Cale

Cinematography by
Tak Fujimoto		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Craig McKay

Casting by
Risa Bramon Garcia		(as Risa Bramon)
Billy Hopkins

Production Design by
Norma Moriceau

Art Direction by
Stephen J. Lineweaver		(as Steve Lineweaver)

Set Decoration by
William F. Reynolds		(as Billy Reynolds)

Makeup Department
Alan D'Angerio	....	hair department head

Production Management
Kenneth Utt	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ronald M. Bozman	....	first assistant director (as Ron Bozman)
James Greenhut	....	second assistant director: New York (as Jim Greenhut)
Dana J. Kuznetzkoff	....	dga trainee (as Dana Kuznetzkoff)
Kyle McCarthy	....	second assistant director
David Sardi	....	second assistant director: New York

Art Department
Richard Adee	....	set dresser (as Rich Adee)
Peter Demme	....	carpenter
Kathleen Dolan	....	assistant props (as Kathy Dolan)
Chuck Esty	....	carpenter
Jim Finguera	....	scenic artist
Clay A. Griffith	....	art department assistant (as Clay Griffith)
Jerry Holt	....	construction supervisor
Winston Ford Lawless	....	assistant props (as Winston 'Ford' Lawless)
Ann Miller	....	property master (as Annie Miller)
Kevin Oates	....	set dresser
Jiggs Walker	....	assistant props (as Lewis 'Jiggs' Walker)
Susan Inge Wood	....	scenic artist (as Susan Wood)
John Dahl	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)
Byron K. Lovelace	....	property master: New York second unit (uncredited)

Sound Department
Louis Bertini	....	sound assistant
Harriet Fidlow	....	adr editor (as Harriet Winn)
Tom Fleischman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Frank Graziadei	....	sound recordist
Les Lazarowitz	....	sound mixer
Michael Moyse	....	sound editor
Linda Murphy	....	boom operator
Yvette Nabel	....	adr assistant
Dan Sable	....	supervising sound editor
Lynn Sable	....	sound assistant
Jill Searchinger	....	sound assistant
Reilly Steele	....	adr recordist
Ann Stein	....	adr editor (as Anne Stein)
Paul Trejo	....	sound editor
Li Shin Yu	....	sound apprentice
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Bill Anagnos	....	stunt double: Ray (as Billy Anagnos)
Debbi A. Davison	....	stunt double
Debbie Ellis	....	stunt double: Lulu (as Debbi Ellis)
John Robotham	....	stunt coordinator
John Robotham	....	stunt double: Charlie
George Marshall Ruge	....	stunt double: Ray

Camera and Electrical Department
Bob Brennan	....	best boy
Mike DePrez	....	assistant camera: second unit
John Donahue	....	key grip
Gene Engels	....	electrician
S. Karin Epstein	....	still photographer
James W. Finnerty	....	dolly grip (as Jim Finnerty Jr.)
Bill Gerardo	....	assistant camera (as Billy Gerardo)
Vinnie Gerardo	....	assistant camera
Kurt Illinger	....	electrician
Tony C. Jannelli	....	camera operator (as Tony Janelli)
Brian Marshall	....	grip
Jim Meade	....	grip
Charles Meere	....	gaffer (as Charlie Meere)
Tom Schurke	....	video engineer
Don Smetzer	....	still photographer
John Smith	....	best boy

Casting Department
Beth Henley Cavano	....	extras casting (as Beth Cavano)
Heidi Levitt	....	casting assistant
Lisa Peterson	....	casting assistant
Riccardo Bertoni	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Eugenie Bafaloukos	....	costume supervisor (as Eugenie Bafaloukas)
Rita Barbera	....	wardrobe supervisor
Michael Forcade	....	wardrobe supervisor
Julie Hill-Parker	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Julie Parker)
Jacqueline Pinon	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Reid Burns	....	color timer
Rudy Gaskins	....	assistant editor
J. Kathleen Gibson	....	assistant editor
Howard Gindoff	....	assistant editor
Bill Johnson	....	second assistant editor
Alisa Lepselter	....	apprentice editor
Anne Sawyer	....	apprentice editor (as Ann Sawyer)
Diane Schaub	....	first assistant editor
Camilla Toniolo	....	associate editor

Music Department
Sharon Boyle	....	music supervisor
Gary Goetzman	....	musical consultant
Suzana Peric	....	music editor
Eric Liljestrand	....	score recordist (uncredited)

Transportation Department
John Leonidas	....	transportation coordinator
Dennis Radesky	....	transportation captain
John H. Stephens	....	driver
Timothy Stephens	....	driver: trailers (uncredited)

Other crew
Grace Blake	....	production office coordinator
Vince Burns	....	production assistant
Parnes Cartwright	....	production assistant
Donna Chase	....	production assistant
Diana Chingos	....	assistant production office coordinator
R.W. Dixon	....	production assistant
Robin Fajardo	....	assistant: Ken Utt
Loretta Farb	....	production associate
Richard Guay	....	production auditor
Gus Holzer	....	production associate
Larry Kaplan	....	unit publicist
Bill Largin	....	production assistant
Jacek Laskus	....	creative consultant
Solomon J. LeFlore	....	production financing
Pat MacEnulty	....	assistant production office coordinator
Sandy McLeod	....	script supervisor
Steve Rose	....	location manager: New York (as Steven Rose)
Nancy Savoca	....	assistant auditor
Annie Spiegelman	....	production assistant
Dawn Sydney Steinberg	....	production assistant
Jim Van Voris	....	production assistant
Mark Witzen	....	production assistant
Michelle Hartly	....	coordinator (uncredited)
David H. Kramer	....	adr loop group (uncredited)

Thanks
Irving Azoff	....	thanks
Steve Baker	....	thanks
John 'Tim' Bowling	....	thanks
Jay Chattaway	....	thanks
Percy Chin	....	thanks
Tony Fitzpatrick	....	thanks
Andrea 'Maude' Graham	....	thanks
Jah Life	....	thanks
Jerry Masucci	....	thanks
Kathy Nelson	....	thanks
Chip Taylor	....	thanks
Mark Wolfson	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Religiosa Primitiva

Distributors

• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (35mm print)
• GoodTimes Home Video (1990s) (USA) (video)
• HBO/Cannon Video (1987) (USA) (video)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (DVD)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (DVD)
• Orion Pictures Corporation

Other Companies

• Hastings Sound Editorial  sound effects
• J.G. Films  negative matching
• M & Co.  titles
• Navarro-Bertoni Casting  extras casting
• Optical House, The  opticals
• Sunrise Catering  catering

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:16 | Spain:13 | France:U | Canada:R | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

Havana, Florida, USA

Company:

Religiosa Primitiva

Trivia:

The book that Audrey Hankel is reading on the first scene at the fast food is on Frida Kahlo.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Charlie Driggs pulls into the gas station and is first talking to the attendant, we see the Civil War re-enactor and the other station employee walk by twice in the same direction.

Quotes:

Nelson: Charlie, attempt to be cool.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Indie Sex: Extremes (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Pili-Pili

Unique, enjoyable black comedy from Johnathan Demme

It's easy to take actors like Ray Liotta and Jeff Daniels for granted with the benefit of hindsight. Both of them have had ups and (horrible) downs, crossing genres seamlessly or inexplicably. It can also be argued that neither one of them has been more gratifying, more liberated, more, well, wild than in their breakthrough roles in Johnathan Demme's road movie. With the help of Melanie Griffith's femme fatale they make a very interesting movie about finding your wild side, but also finding out about the nasty underbelly lurking beneath society's pickett fences.

After being accused of ripping off a diner, a yuppie accountant named Charles sets off on a wild road trip with the free-spirited Lulu. Along the way she manages to bring out something special in Charlie, accusing him of being a closet rebel. They decide to get themselves in various troublesome situations, like running out on roof-splittingly expensive restaurants. They soon run into trouble, however, when a former love of Lulu's (or Audrey's), Ray, turns up at her high school reunion, after what appears to be done time in a jail.

Demme's film switches from screwball situation comedy to black farce and then to an uncomfortable menace. At times we're not really sure what this woman wants with Charles, whether she is after money, scheming, or indeed really has fallen for our floppy-haired protagonist. Daniels injects his hapless hero with all the dopey charm and middle-class wit one could ever hope to see in an 80s suit-wearing yuppie. He wants to eschew his suburban divorce style for a rebellious wild-at-heart rebel, and insists upon doing it with the impulsive, slightly reckless, but utterly alluring Lulu. The problem is, when he discovers his wild side, he has to deal with the ensuing problems: He's just been made Vice-President at his firm - What would his work mates think? How does he deal with the psychotic ex-con boyfriend? Does he really know what this woman wants? He appears, for most of the movie, to be a sap, who could fall for more than he could handle. But coincidentally, he's a pretty good liar, so maybe he's no better than the rest of them.

But even if the underlying philosophy doesn't hit you, then the comedic set-pieces definitely should. One particular scene involving handcuffs, suspenders, a dinky motel and a a phone call to his work office particularly sticks in the mind. It's not often you get movies like this. Movies that share a good balance between intelligence and farce. How can you go wrong?