MOONSTRUCK (1987), 102 Min
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November 15, 2016 (XXXIII: 12) Norman Jewison: MOONSTRUCK (1987), 102 min. (The online version of this handout has color images and hot url links.) Academy Awards, 1988 Won: Best Actress in a Leading Role (Cher); Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Olympia Dukakis), Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen (John Patrick Shanley) Nominated: Best Picture, Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Vincent Gardenia), Best Director (Norman Jewison) Directed by Norman Jewison Written by John Patrick Shanley Produced by Norman Jewison & Patrick J. Palmer Music Dick Hyman Cinematography David Watkin Film Editing Lou Lombardo College, University of Toronto, and after moving to Cast London, where he wrote scripts and acted for the BBC, he Cher…Loretta Castorini returned to Toronto and directed TV shows for the CBC Nicolas Cage…Ronny Cammareri (1952-1958), then musicals and variety in New York, Vincent Gardenia…Cosmo Castorini before embarking on a film career. Even though he was Olympia Dukakis…Rose Castorini offended by it at first (and turned it down), A Clockwork Danny Aiello…Mr. Johnny Cammareri Orange (1971) inspired him to make Rollerball (1975) a Julie Bovasso…Rita Cappomaggi few years later. Jewison was also the original director of John Mahoney…Perry Malcolm X (1992), however had to withdraw from the Louis Guss…Raymond Cappomaggi project due to outside pressure demanding that the subject Feodor Chaliapin Jr….Old Man be made by a black film-maker (it would eventually be Anita Gillette…Mona directed by Spike Lee). In his DVD Commentary for In Leonardo Cimino…Felix The Heat Of The Night, Jewison recalled that shortly Paula Trueman…Lucy before he began production, he took his family on a ski Nada Despotovich…Chrissy trip in Colorado. He broke leg and ended up in the local Catherine Scorsese…Customer at Bakery hospital. While there, he met New York Senator Robert F. Kennedy who also had an injured child in the hospital NORMAN JEWISON (b. July 21, 1926 in Toronto, from his own ski trip. In the waiting room, the two men Ontario, Canada) is an award-winning, internationally struck up a conversation. When he mentioned to Kennedy acclaimed filmmaker who produced and directed some of the movie he was working on, RFK became excited and the world’s most memorable, entertaining and socially said "This could be an important picture. Timing is important films, often exploring controversial and everything." Later, after the movie was released, one of complicated subjects. Jewison got his BA at Victoria the first awards it won was the New York Film Critics Jewison—MOONSTRUCK—2 Award for Best Picture. When Jewison went to the giving a sermon, we're going to see the congregation. [The ceremony to receive his award, he was presented with his movie] came to life as a filmic idea rather than a theater award by none other than Robert F. Kennedy. When he idea. It's not an obvious thing to be able to get people to got to the stage to accept the award, Kennedy was smiling go to a movie where they buy popcorn to watch nuns and and saying "See? I told you! Timing was everything!" priests argue. I was scared. The other 10 television or Some of his most well-known works include the sharp movies he has written for are The Red Coat (2006, Short, pre-glasnost political satire The Russians Are Coming the written by), Live from Baghdad (TV Movie, teleplay), Russians Are Coming (1966), the original and iconic The Papillons de nuit (2002, book & play "Danny and the Thomas Crown Affair (1968), the sultry mystery and Deep Blue Sea"), Congo (1995, screenplay), We're Back! racially provocative In the Heat of the Night (1967), the A Dinosaur's Story (1993, screenplay), Danny i Roberta first rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar (1973), the (1993, TV Movie, play "Danny and the Deep Blue Sea"), futuristic cult hit Rollerball (1975), hit musical comedy- The Princess and the Cobbler (19993, additional material drama Fiddler on the Roof - uncredited), Joe Versus the (1971), the romantic comedy Volcano (1990), The January and multiple Academy Man (1989) and Five Award-winner Moonstruck Corners (1987). He wrote (1987), courtroom drama and directed Doubt (2008) ...And Justice For All (1982), and Joe Versus the Volcano military drama A Soldier’s (1990). Story, the labor movement picture F.I.S.T. (1978), the DICK HYMAN (b. March 8, masterfully told story of 1927 in New York City, New Reuben 'Hurricane' Carter The York) is composer, Hurricane (1999), as well as songwriter, conductor, The Statement (2003), ), In pianist, organist and Country (1989), Agnes of God (1985), among many arranger, educated at Columbia University and a music others. Always a bridesmaid, but never the bride, Jewison student of Teddy Wilson. Hyman worked with Red Norvo has been nominated for an Academy Award five times for (1949-1950) and Benny Goodman (1950), and then spent Best Picture and three times for Best Director, though much of the 1950s and '60s as a studio musician. He never won in either category. However, he has won appears on the one known sound film of Charlie Parker numerous accolades around the world, including (Hot House from 1952); recorded honky tonk under numerous Golden Globe nominations, a BAFTA Award, pseudonyms; played organ and early synthesizers in the Silver Bear for Best Director at the prestigious Berlin addition to piano; was Arthur Godfrey's music director Film Festival, Lifetime Achievement Awards from both (1959-1962); collaborated with Leonard Feather on some the Directors Guild of Canada and America, and the Irving History of Jazz concerts (doubling on clarinet), and even G. Thalberg Memorial Award at the 71st annual Academy performed rock and free jazz; but all of this was a prelude Awards. to his later work. In the 1970s, Hyman played with the New York Jazz Repertory Company, formed the Perfect JOHN PATRICK SHANLEY (b. October 3, 1950 in The Jazz Repertory Quintet (1976), and started writing Bronx, New York City, New York) is a writer, known for soundtracks for Woody Allen films. He has recorded Doubt (2008, play/screenplay), Moonstruck (1987) and frequently during the past several decades (sometimes in Alive (1993). After he was thrown out of Catholic school duets with Ruby Braff) for Concord, Music Masters, and in New York, he attended the private Thomas Moore Prep Reference, among other labels, and ranks at the top of the School in Harrisville, New Hampshire. He then returned classic jazz field. In 2013, Hyman teamed up with vocalist to New York and attended New York University, left to Heather Masse for a set of standards on the Red House enlist in the military and then returned to finish university label called Lock My Heart. A versatile virtuoso, Hyman on the G.I. Bill. He graduated in 1977 as valedictorian. once recorded an album on which he played "A Child Is His play Doubt has won several awards for outstanding Born" in the styles of 11 different pianists, from Scott dramatic play including: the 2005 Pulitzer Prize, the 2004- Joplin to Cecil Taylor. Hyman even had minor hit record 2005 Drama Desk Award and the 2005 Tony Award. The in 1968: "The Minotaur" as "Dick Hyman & the Eclectic play is about a molestation charge in a Catholic school. He Electrics", which was first single ever to be entirely had this to say about the experience: I did Doubt as a film, performed on a synthesizer (Moog). He was nominated a play and an opera. We were there to use the new for a 1989 BAFTA Award for Best Score for tonight’s materials we'd been offered to express the story in the way films. He has composed for 32 films and television, some it wants to be expressed. I realized that if the priest is of which are Listen Up Emily (2016, Short, completed), Jewison—MOONSTRUCK—3 Nabokov on Kafka (1989, TV Short), The Lemon Sisters CHER (b. May 20, 1946 in El Centro, California) is (1989), Leader of the Band (1987), The Purple Rose of superstar entertainer who has well surpassed the four- Cairo (1985), Zelig (1983, music composed by), French decade mark while improbably transforming herself from Quarter (1978), Bernice Bobs Her Hair (1976, TV Movie) an artificial, glossy "flashionplate" singer into a serious, and Search for Tomorrow (1951, TV Series). He has also Oscar-worthy, dramatic actress ... and back again. With served as the musical arranger or writer on Whatever more ups and downs than the 2008 Dow Jones Industrial Works (2009, arranger & performer "Auld Lang Syne”), Average, Cher managed to rise like a phoenix from the The Whole Shebang (2001, writer: "Brooklyn Heights ashes each time she was down and counted out, somehow Stroll"), Soft Toilet Seats (1999, writer: "Summer re-inventing herself with every changing decade and Vacation", "Soho Stripper"), Sweet and Lowdown (1999), finding herself on top all over again. As a singer Cher is Radio Days (1987), The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985, the only performer to have earned "Top 10" hit singles in writer: "One Day at a Time" - uncredited) and Stardust four consecutive decades; as an actress, she and Barbra Memories (1980). Streisand are the only two Best Actress Oscar winners to have a #1 hit song on the Billboard charts. Cher’s father DAVID WATKIN (b. March 23, 1925 in Margate, Kent, left the family when she was young, and she was raised by England—d. February 19, 2008, age 82, in Brighton, East their mother, who had aspirations of being an actress and Sussex, England) was a fan of classical music as a child model herself, paid for Cher's acting classes despite her and originally wanted to become a pianist despite the lack of support from his religious father.