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SYNOPSIS | REVIEW | PRODUCTION NOTES | TRIVIA | PRESS | QUOTES | KIM NEWMAN ARCHIVE | MEDIA

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

Country of Origin: USA
Year of Production: 1988
Running Times: 103m
Length:
Format: 35mm
Colour Format: colour
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Sound: 70mm 6-Track     Dolby


DIRECTION

Director: Robert Zemeckis


CREW

PRODUCTION
Production Companies: Amblin Entertainment/Silver Screen Partners III/Touchstone Pictures
Executive Producer: Kathleen Kennedy, Steven Spielberg
Producers: Frank Marshall, Robert Watts
Associate Producer: Steve Starkey, Don Hahn
Production Manager: Patricia Carr
Unit Production Manager: Jack Frost Sanders
Production Coordinators (Animation): Ian Cook, Stephen Hickner
Production Coordinator (UK): Carol Regan
Production Coordinator (USA): Bonnie Radford

SCRIPT
Screenplay: Jeffrey Price, Peter S. Seaman
Novel: Who Censored Roger Rabbit? by Gary K. Wolf

DIRECTION
Director: Robert Zemeckis
2nd Unit Directors (UK): Frank Marshall, Ian Sharp
2nd Unit Director (USA): Max Kleven
1st Assistant Director (USA): David McGiffert
1st Assistant Director (UK): Michael Murray
2nd Assistant Director (UK): Chris Brock
2nd Assistant Director (USA): Cara Giallanza

PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Dean Cundey
Additional Photographer: Paul Beeson
Camera Operator: Raymond Stella
Camera Operator (UK): David Worley
Camera Technician (Vistavision): Clyde E. Bryan
1st Assistant Camera: Clyde E. Bryan, Martin Kenzie
Clapper Loaders: Graham Hall, Wilf France, Bob Bridges (uncredited)
Focus Puller: Bobby Stillwell
Electrical Supervisor (UK): Mark D. Walthour
Gaffer (UK): Dennis Brock
Grip: John Flemming
Best Boy Grip: Tom Bookout
Best Boy: Tommy Finch
Photographic Consultant: Derek Browne
Video Assist Technician: Ian Kelly
Stills: Bob Penn
Electrical Equipment Supplier: Michael Samuelson Lighting
Cameras: VistaFlex Cameras
Technocrane and Vistavision Camera Supplied By: Technovision
Laboratories: Deluxe Laboratories; Metrocolor; Rank Film Laboratories

EDITING
Editor: Arthur Schmidt
Assistant Editors: Bill Wilner, Andrew MacRitchie (uncredited)
Assistant Editor (UK): Carin-Anne Strohmaier
Associate Editor: Peter Lonsdale
Associate Editor (UK): Colin Wilson
Post Production Supervisor (USA): Martin Cohen
Negative Cutting: Sunrise Film Inc
Stills (UK): Bob Penn

MUSIC
Music: Alan Silvestri, Franz Liszt (from Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2)
Songs: Joe McCoy (Why Don't You Do Right?); Cliff Friend, Dave Franklin (Merry-Go-Round Broke Down); Jack Meskill, Charles O'Flynn, Max Rich (Smile, Darn Ya, Smile); Coleman, Leigh (Witchcraft)
Songs Performed By: Amy Irving (Why Don't You Do Right?); Frank Sinatra (Witchcraft)
Music Engineer: Greg Fulginiti (uncredited)
Score Mixer: Dennis S. Sands
Music Editor: Kenneth Karman
Assistant Music Editor: Jacqueline Tager (uncredited)
Music Recorded At: CTS Studios

SOUND
Production Sound Mixer: Tony Dawe
Boom Operators: Chris Gurney, John Samworth, Shep Dawe
2nd Unit Boom Operator: Chris Gurney (uncredited)
Re-Recording Mixers: Don Digirolamo, John Boyd, Robert Knudson
Supervising Sound Editors: Charles L. Campbell, Louis L. Edemann
Post Punch Supervisor: Sandy Gordon
Post Punch Operator: Steve Pegram
ADR Supervisors: Paul Timothy Carden, Larry Singer
Dialogue Supervisor: Paul Timothy Carden
Foley Recorded At: Taj Soundworks

MAKE UP AND COSTUMES
Make Up: Steve E. Anderson, Peter Robb-King
Hair: Colin Jamison
Costume Designer: Joanna Johnston
Wardrobe Supervisor (UK): Ron Beck

SPECIAL EFFECTS
Special Effects: Industrial Light and Magic
2nd Unit Special Effects: Brian Tipton
Visual Effects Supervisor: Ken Ralston
Visual Effects Coordinator: Suella Kennedy
Visual Effects Tech Director: Scott Squires
Visual Effects: Jenny Fulle
Special Effects Technicians: Terry Cox, Michael Dawson
Special Effects Wireman: Bob Wiesinger
Production Supervisor: Chrissie England
Chief Puppeteer (UK): David Alan Barclay
Modeler / Puppeteer: Tony Hudson
Puppeteer: Toby Philpott (uncredited)
Armature Machinist: Blair Clark
Mechanical Effects Supervisor: George Gibbs
Matte Supervisor: Annie Elvin
Rotoscope Supervisor: Annie Elvin, Jack Mongovan
Roto Artist: Sandy Houston
Optical Photography Supervisor: Edward Jones
Optical Camera Operators: Jeffrey Doran, Jim Hagedorn, John Ellis, Patrick Repola, Patrick Sweeney, Selwyn Eddy III, Donald Clark, James Lim, Jon Alexander, Keith Johnson, Kenneth Smith, Michael Hinton
Optical Line Up: Brad C. Kuehn, Ralph L. Gordon, Tom Rosseter, Bruce Vecchitto, David Karpman, Lori J. Nelson, Mary E. Walter, Michael Sweeney, Peg Hunter, Thomas Cesarz, Michael Backauskas
Optical Processing: Demetre Lagios, Thomas J. Smith
Supervising Model Maker: Steve Gawley
Special Visual Effects Camera Operator: Scott Farrar
Special Visual Effects Assistant Camera Operator: Pat Turner
Chief Visual Effects Editor: Bill Kimberlin
Visual Effects Editors: Howie Stein, Kim Costalupes
Boom Operator: Dan Gleich (uncredited)
General Manager: Warren Franklin
Executive in Charge of Finance: Ray Scalice
Special Effects Secretary: Judy Britten (uncredited)
Supervising Stage Technicians: Brad J. Jerrell, Joe Fulmer
Constructor: Peter Mann (uncredited)
Storysketch: Hans Bacher, Harald Siepermann, Joe Ranft, Mark Kausler
Titles: Pacific Title

ANIMATION
Animation Supervisor: Wes Takahashi
Assistant Animation Supervisor: Maggie Brown
Production Manager: Patsy de Lord
Production Coordinators: Ian Cook, Stephen Hickner
Animation Director: Richard Williams
Supervising Animators: Andreas Deja, Phil Nibbelink, Russell Hall, Simon Wells
Animators: Alain Costa, Alan Simpson, Alexander Williams, Alvaro Giavoto, Alyson Hamilton, Brent Odell, Bridgitte Hartley, Caron Creed, Chuck Gammage, Colin White, Dave Spafford, David Byers-Brown, Gary Mudd, Greg Manwaring, Jacques Muller, James Baxter, Joe Haidar, Marc Gordon-Bates, Mike Swindall, Nik Ranieri, Peter Gambier, Peter Western, Raúl García, Rob Stevenhagen, Roger Chiasson, Tom Sito
Character Animator: Barry Temple (uncredited)
Chief Executive And Supervising Animator (Additional Animation): Dale L. Baer
Additional Animators: Barry Temple, Bruce W. Smith, Dave Pacheco, Frans Vischer, Mark Kausler, Matthew O'Callaghan
Additional Animation Co-Ordinator: Jane M. Baer
Assistant Animators: David Bowers, Neil Boyle
Effects Animators: Andrew Brownlow, Christopher Jenkins, Dave Bossert, Jon Brooks, Les Pace, Dorse Lanpher
Backgrounds Renderings: Nick Harris, Shelley Page
Inbetweener: Richard Bazley
Ink And Paint Supervisor: Barbara McCormack
Layout Artist: Roy Naisbitt
Final Check Supervisor (Animation): Julia Orr
Checking: Pat Sito
Animation Administrator: Max Howard
Animation Auditor: Ron McKelvey
Animation Check Supervisor: Paul Steele
Animation Consultants: Chuck Jones, Leroy Anderson, Stan Green, Walt Stanchfield
Animation Camera Supervisor: John Leatherbarrow
Animation Editor: Nick Fletcher
Animation Editor (Los Angeles): Scot Scalise
Animation Effects Supervisor: Christopher Knott

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designer: Roger Cain, Elliot Scott
Art Director (UK): Stephen Scott
Set Decorator (UK): Peter Howitt
Property Master (UK): Peter Wilkinson
Construction Manager (UK): Alan Booth
Constructor: Peter Mann (uncredited)
Painter: Rhonda L. Hicks (uncredited)
Production Illustrator: Martin A. Kline
Storyboards: Marty Kline

MISCELLANEOUS
Script Supervisor (UK): Pamela Mann-Francis
Production Accountant (UK): George Marshall
Assistant To Max Howard: Gilly Fenn
Assistant To Kathleen Kennedy: Barbara Harley
Assistant To Robert Watts: Barbara Margerrison
Assistant to Don Hahn: Cynthia Woodbyrne
Assistant to Frank Marshall: Mary T. Radford
Production Assistant: Camille Cellucci (uncredited)
Production Associate: Steven Talmy (uncredited)
Runner: Jason McDonald (uncredited)
Supervising Stage Technicians: Joe Fulmer, Brad J. Jerrell
Conyevor Equipment Supplier: Canning Conveyor Co
Red Car Built By: Dean Jeffries Automotive Styling

LOCATIONS
Locations: Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles, California, USA; Oakland, California, USA; State Theater, Grays, Essex, England, UK
Studio: Cannon Elstree Studios, Herts, England, UK
Location Manager: Philip Kohler

STUNTS
Stunt Coordinator: Rocky Capella
Stunt Arranger: Peter Diamond
Stunts: Danny O'Haco, Lane Leavitt (uncredited), Andy Bradford, Bob Yerkes, Brian Smrz, Charles Croughwell, Daniel K. Moore, Del Baker, Frank Henson, Fred Haggerty, Gregg Smrz, Jason White, Reg Harding, Rocky Taylor, Stuart Fell, Terry Jackson, Terry Walsh, Vincent Keane

CASTING
Casting (USA): Reuben Cannon and Associates
Casting (UK): Priscilla John
Casting Assistant: Cecily Adams
Extras Casting: Sally Pearle


CAST

Bob Hoskins (Eddie Valiant)
Christopher Lloyd (Judge Doom)
Joanna Cassidy (Dolores)
Stubby Kaye (Marvin Acme)
Alan Tilvern (R.K. Maroon)
Richard LeParmentier (Lt Santino)
Joel Silver (Raoul J Raoul)
Paul Springer (Augie)
Richard Ridings (Angelo)
Edwin Craig (arthritic cowboy)
Lindsay Holiday (soldier)
Mike Edmonds (Stretch)
Morgan Deare (editor)
Danny Capri (kid 1)
Christopher Hollosy (kid 2)
John-Paul Sipla (kid 3)
Laura Frances (blonde starlet)
Joel Cutrara (forensic 1)
Billy J Mitchell (forensic 2)
Eric B Sindon (mailman)
Ed Herlihy (newscaster)
James O'Connell (conductor)
Eugene Guirterrez (Teddy Valiant)
April Winchell (Mrs Herman)


VOICES

Charles Fleischer (Roger Rabbit/Benny the Cab/Greasy/Psycho)
Lou Hirsch (Baby Herman)
Morgan Deare (Bongo the Gorilla)
Mae Questel (Betty Boop)
Mel Blanc (Bugs Bunny/Daffy Duck/Porky Pig/Sylvester/Tweety)
Tony Anselmo (Donald Duck)
Mary T Radford (Hippo)
Joe Alaskey (Yosemite Sam)
David Lander (smart ass)
Fred Newman (Stupid)
June Foray (Wheezy/Lena Hyena)
Russi Taylor (Minnie Mouse/birds)
Les Perkins (Toad)
Richard Williams (Droopy)
Wayne Allwine (Mickey Mouse)
Pat Buttram (bullet 1)
Jim Cummings (bullet 2)
Jim Gallant (bullet 3)
Frank Sinatra (singing sword - archive recording)
Tony Pope (Goofy/Wolf)
Peter Westy (Pinocchio)
Cherry Davis (Woody Woodpecker)
Amy Irving (Jessica Rabbit's singing voice)


UNCREDITED VOICES

Jack Angel (additional voices)
Kathleen Turner (Jessica Rabbit)


PLOT SUMMARY

Toontown superstar Roger Rabbit has come to believe that his wife Jessica is cheating on him. His worried studio hires private detective Eddie Valiant - who hates Toons after his brother was killed by one - to find out the truth. But studio boss Marvin Acme is murdered and Roger is the chief suspect...


AVAILABILITY

Argentina
Video Distributor: Gativideo

Japan
Laserdisc Distributor: Disney (includes - bonus CAV disc with the three Roger Rabbit cartoons, Tummy Trouble (1989), Roller Coaster Rabbit (1990), and Trail Mix-Up (1993))

UK
Video Distributor: Buena Vista
Laserdisc Distributor: Encore (EE 1168; includes - bonus CAV disc with the three Roger Rabbit cartoons, Tummy Trouble (1989), Roller Coaster Rabbit (1990), and Trail Mix-Up (1993))

USA
Theatrical Distributor: Buena Vista Pictures
Video Distributor: Touchstone
Laserdisc Distributor: Touchstone (11670 AS; includes - commentary by Robert Zemeckis, Frank Marshall, Peter S. Seaman and Jeffrey Price; original theatrical trailer; deleted scene); Touchstone (940 AS); Touchstone (940 CS)
DVD Distributor: Touchstone Home Video (18140)


CENSORSHIP HISTORY

Argentina
Rating: Atp

Belgium
Rating: KT

Chile
Rating: TE

Finland
Rating: K-12/9

France
Rating: U

Germany
Rating: 12

Netherlands
Rating: AL

Peru
Rating: PG

Sweden
Rating: 11

UK
Rating: PG

USA
Rating: PG
When it was first shown on American TV, Baby Herman's line "The problem is, I've got a fifty year old lust but a three year old dinky." was changed to "I've got a fifty year old lust but a three year old body." Strangely, the offending line was still heard in the trailers advertising the forthcoming broadcast.

West Germany
Rating: 12


AWARDS

1988
British Society of Cinematographers, UK

Best Cinematography Award (Dean Cundey) - nominated

Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards, USA
Special Award (Robert Zemeckis) - winner

1989
Academy Awards, USA

Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing (Charles L. Campbell, Louis L. Edemann) - winner
Best Effects, Visual Effects (George Gibbs, Ed Jones, Ken Ralston, Richard Williams) - winner
Best Film Editing (Arthur Schmidt) - winner
Special Achievement Award (Richard Williams) - winner (for animation direction and creation of the cartoon characters)
Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Peter Howitt, Elliot Scott) - nominated
Best Cinematography (Dean Cundey) - nominated
Best Sound (John Boyd, Tony Dawe, Don Digirolamo, Robert Knudson) - nominated

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films, USA
Saturn Award Best Director (Robert Zemeckis) - winner
Saturn Award Best Fantasy Film - winner
Saturn Award Best Special Effects (George Gibbs, Ken Ralston, Richard Williams) - winner

American Cinema Editors, USA
Eddie Best Edited Feature Film (Arthur Schmidt) - nominated

BAFTA Awards, UK
Best Special Effects (George Gibbs, Ed Jones, Ken Ralston, Richard Williams) - winner
Best Adapted Screenplay (Jeffrey Price, Peter S. Seaman) - nominated
Best Cinematography (Dean Cundey) - nominated
Best Editing (Arthur Schmidt) - nominated
Best Production Design (Elliot Scott) - nominated

César Awards, France
Meilleur film étranger (Robert Zemeckis) - nominated

David di Donatello Awards, Italy
Migliore Produttore Straniero (Frank Marshall, Robert Watts) - winner

Golden Globes, USA
Best Motion Picture: Comedy / Musical - nominated
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture: Comedy / Musical (Bob Hoskins) - nominated

Golden Screen, Germany
Golden Screen - winner

Hugo Awards, USA
Best Dramatic Presentation - winner

Writers Guild of America, USA
Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium (Jeffrey Price, Peter S. Seaman) - nominated


TIMELINE

1988
June

21: USA - theatrical release

October
18: France - theatrical release
27: West Germany - theatrical release

December
2: Sweden - theatrical release
2: UK - theatrical release
16: Denmark - theatrical release
16: Finland - theatrical release
22: Argentina, Peru - theatrical release

1996
October

Day Unknown: Japan - laserdisc release (Disney)

1997
July

28: UK - laserdisc release (Encore (EE 1168))

1998
July

8: USA - laserdisc release (Touchstone (11670 AS))

1999
September

28: USA - DVD release (Touchstone Home Video (18140))

2002
May

25: USA - television broadcast (on KYTV)


POSTER TAGS

It's the story of a man, a woman, and a rabbit in a triangle of trouble.


ALTERNATIVE TITLES

Chi ha incastrato Roger Rabbit? - Italian title
Falsches Spiel mit Roger Rabbit
- German title
Hvem snorede Roger Rabbit
- Danish title
Kto wrobil królika Rogera? - Polish title
Kuka viritti ansan, Roger Rabbit?
- Finnish title
Quem Tramou Roger Rabbit? - Portugese title
Qui veut la peau de Roger Rabbit?
- French title
?Quién enganó a Roger Rabbit?
- Argentinian/Spanish title
Uma Cilada Para Roger Rabbit - Brazilian title
Vem satte dit Roger Rabbit? - Swedish title


LINKS

SEQUELS
Tummy Trouble (1989)
Roller Coaster Rabbit (1990)
Trail Mix-Up (1993)

SEE ALSO
Smile, Darn Ya, Smile! (1931)
Flowers and Trees (1932)
The Three Little Pigs (1933)
The Tortoise and the Hare (1935)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Pinocchio (1940)
Fantasia (1940)
The Reluctant Dragon (1941)
Dumbo (1941)
Bambi (1942)
The Three Caballeros (1945)
Song of the South (1946)
Peter and the Wolf (1946)
Fun and Fancy Free (1947)
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr Toad (1949)
Harvey (1950)
Alice in Wonderland (1951)
Peter Pan (1953)
The Hole Idea (1955)
Mary Poppins (1964)
Back to the Future Part II (1989)
Cool World (1992)
I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
Toy Story 2 (1999)
Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle (2000)
Cast a Deadly Spell (1991)
Tiny Toon Adventures: How I Spent My Vacation (1992)
Last Action Hero (1993)
Inspector Gadget (1999)

INCLUDES FOOTAGE FROM
Goofy Gymnastics (1949)

FOOTAGE INCLUDED IN
Flubber (1997)
AFI's 100 Years, 100 Laughs: America's Funniest Movies (2000)


REFERENCES

PERIODICALS

Premiere October 1988 p.15 (France)
review (by Jean-Philippe Guerand)

Premiere July 1989 pp.70-71 (USA)
review

Premiere October 1989 p.136 (USA)
review

Studio October 1988 p.14 (France)
review (by Catherine Wimphen)

Total Film no.107 (October 2005) p.9 (UK)
illustrated letter (from Mark Poole)

Video World December 1989 pp.31, 51-53 (UK)
review

NEWSPAPERS

Expresso, Antena 24 April 1999 (Portugal)
review (by Manuel Cintra Ferreira)

BOOKS

The BFI Companion to Crime pp.346-347
credits, review


KEYWORDS

films based on books, live action and animation, film making, film makers, fugitives, rabbits, private detectives, singers, cartoons, mice, sylvester, minnie mouse, betty boop, porky pig, tweety, daffy duck, woody woodpecker, yosemite sam, hollywood, donald duck, goofy, bugs bunny

 


Last Updated: 24 January, 2010

 


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