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IMDb > Throw Momma from the Train (1987)
Throw Momma from the Train
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Throw Momma from the Train (1987) More at IMDbPro »

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Throw Momma from the Train (1987) -- A bitter ex-husband. A put upon Momma's boy. Both want their respective spouse and mother dead, but who will pull it off?

Overview

User Rating:
6.1/10   11,380 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 22% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer:
Stu Silver (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Throw Momma from the Train on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
11 December 1987 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Owen asked his friend, Larry, for a small favor...
Plot:
A bitter ex-husband. A put upon Momma's boy. Both want their respective spouse and mother dead, but who will pull it off? full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Danny DeVito And His Weird Trollfoot Fetish In Today's Daily TwitPic
 (From MTV Movies Blog. 4 December 2009, 6:00 AM, PST)

Guide to movie twists
 (From JoBlo. 21 October 2009, 2:39 AM, PDT)

User Reviews:
"Owen Doesn't Have Any Friends, He's Stupid" more (60 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Danny DeVito ... Owen

Billy Crystal ... Larry

Kim Greist ... Beth
Anne Ramsey ... Momma

Kate Mulgrew ... Margaret
Branford Marsalis ... Lester

Rob Reiner ... Joel
Bruce Kirby ... Detective DeBenedetto
Joey DePinto ... Sargeant
Annie Ross ... Mrs. Hazeltine
Raye Birk ... Pinsky

Oprah Winfrey ... Herself
Olivia Brown ... Ms. Gladstone
Philip Perlman ... Mr. Perlman
Stu Silver ... Ramon
J. Alan Thomas ... Millington

Randall Miller ... Bucky
Andre Rosey Brown ... Rosey (as Andre 'Rosey' Brown)

Tony Ciccone ... Mr. Lopez
William Ray Watson ... Steward
Larry McCormick ... Announcer
Peter Brocco ... Old Man
Hettie Lynne Hurtes ... Reporter
Karen J. Westerfield ... Laughing Woman
Stanley L. Gonsales ... Cab Driver
Fred Gephart ... Priest
Don Burns ... Radio DJ
Billy Childs ... Jazz Band
Ralph Penland ... Jazz Band
Tony Dumas ... Jazz Band
Ne Kaholokula ... Hawaiian Band of Musicians & Dancers
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Directed by
Danny DeVito 
 
Writing credits
(in alphabetical order)
Stu Silver  written by

Produced by
Larry Brezner .... producer
Kristine Johnson .... co-producer
J. Marina Muhlfriedel .... associate producer
Arne Schmidt .... executive producer (as Arne L. Schmidt)
 
Original Music by
David Newman 
 
Cinematography by
Barry Sonnenfeld (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Michael Jablow 
 
Production Design by
Ida Random 
 
Art Direction by
William A. Elliott  (as William Elliott)
 
Set Decoration by
Anne D. McCulley 
 
Costume Design by
Marilyn Vance  (as Marilyn Vance-Straker)
 
Makeup Department
Dorothy Byrne .... hair stylist
Ken Chase .... makeup artist
 
Production Management
Charles Newirth .... production manager (as Charles J. Newirth)
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael Amundson .... second second assistant director (as Michael A. Amundson)
Joe Napolitano .... first assistant director
Michele Panelli-Venetis .... second assistant director (as Michele A. Panelli)
 
Art Department
Carol Banever .... graphic designer
Frank L. Brown .... assistant property master
R. Gilbert Clayton .... set designer
Henry Darnell .... sculptor
Jerry Gadette .... stand-by painter
David Harris .... greens foreman
Rodney Liber .... construction auditor
C.J. Maguire .... property master
Joseph G. Pacelli Jr. .... set designer
Stephanie Rogers .... art department assistant
George Stokes .... construction coordinator
Kenneth L. Westcott .... lead man
Steven Curtis Husch .... set dresser (uncredited)
Luigi Mugavero .... set dresser (uncredited)
 
Sound Department
Gina Bergstrom .... assistant sound editor
Stu Bernstein .... foley artist
David B. Cohn .... supervising adr editor
Don Coufal .... production sound
Carlos Delarios .... sound re-recording mixer
Gary A. Hecker .... foley walker (as Gary Hecker)
Scott Hecker .... sound editor (as Scott A. Hecker)
Michael J. Kohut .... sound re-recording mixer
Robert Martel .... assistant sound editor
Bob Newlan .... sound editor
Aaron Rochin .... sound re-recording mixer
Robert R. Rutledge .... supervising sound editor
Jerry Stanford .... sound editor
Alicia Stevenson .... foley walker
Jim Stuebe .... production sound
Robert Waxman .... sound editor
Jeff Wexler .... production sound
Marty Church .... adr mixer (uncredited)
Brian L. McCarty .... boom operator (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
Robert D. Bailey .... special photographic effects
Thomas R. Burman .... special effects makeup: The Burman Studio Inc. (as Tom Burman)
Bari Dreiband-Burman .... special effects makeup: The Burman Studio Inc.
John Frazier .... special effects coordinator
Rocky Gehr .... special effects (as Rocky A. Gehr)
 
Visual Effects by
Rocco Gioffre .... matte artist
Mark Sullivan .... matte artist
 
Stunts
Vince Deadrick Jr. .... stunts
Vince Deadrick Sr. .... stunt coordinator
Richard Drown .... stunts
Dana Dru Evenson .... stunts
Donna Garrett .... stunts
Marguerite Happy .... stunts
Orwin C. Harvey .... stunts
Larry Holt .... stunts
Peter Horak .... stunts
Wally Rose .... stunts
Rick Sawaya .... stunts
Jerry Summers .... stunts
Mike Tillman .... stunts
Jim Wilkey .... stunts
Joe Fury .... stunts (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Jay Davis .... rigging key grip
Robert W. Duggan .... dolly grip
M. Todd Henry .... camera operator
Kevin Kelley .... gaffer
Mark La Bonge .... second assistant camera
Robert LaBonge .... first assistant camera
Laurel Moore .... still photographer
Walter Nicols .... rigging gaffer
Chris O'Neil .... best boy
Jonathan O'Neil .... lamp operator
Tom Prophet Jr. .... key grip
Scott J. Prophet .... best boy grip (as Scott Prophet)
Reid Reilich .... video playback operator
Fred Scialla .... still photographer
David Canestro .... grip (uncredited)
Paul Jacobsen .... electrician (uncredited)
Paul Jacobsen .... rigger (uncredited)
 
Casting Department
Bess Gilbert .... extras casting: Cenex Inc.
Patrick Rush .... casting assistant
Todd M. Thaler .... additional casting (as Todd Thaler)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Elinor Bardach .... costumer (as Elinor C. Bardach)
Michele Neely .... costume supervisor
Pasquale Siciliano .... tailor
 
Editorial Department
Donah Bassett .... negative cutter
Duwayne Dunham .... additional editor
Carrie Ellison .... second assistant editor
Giovanna Giumarra .... post-production assistant
Jay Ignaszewski .... assistant editor
Kelly Mahan-Jaramillo .... second assistant editor (as Kelly Mahan)
Lynne Southerland .... assistant editor (as Lynn Southerland)
 
Music Department
Tim Boyle .... score mixer
David Klingenberger .... music researcher
Tom Villano .... music editor: Segue Music
Chris Silagyi .... music consultant (uncredited)
 
Transportation Department
Tom Briggs .... transportation captain
Tom F. Thomas .... transportation coordinator (as Tom Thomas)
 
Other crew
Alicia Anthony .... post-production auditor
Tony Ciccone .... set assistant (as Tony 'Mopar' Ciccone)
James Clark .... train consultant
Allegra Clegg .... production coordinator
Ron Eisenman .... first aid
Tony Kerum .... catering: Tony's Food Service
Linda Kwaska .... production associate (as Linda Kwasha)
Arnold Lipsman .... publicity: PMK Public Relations
Harold Michelson .... continuity consultant
Thomas Miligan .... csa trainee (as Thomas E. Miligan)
Craig Pointes .... location manager
Stan Rosenfield .... publicity: PMK Public Relations
Steve Serber .... assistant accountant
Cheryl A. Stone .... production accountant (as Cheryl Stone)
Julie Strassman .... assistant: Mr. Silver
Judy Thomason .... assistant coordinator
Arthur Tostado .... laboratory contact: Consolidated Film Industries (as Art Tostado)
Todd Trotter .... office assistant
Jim Turner .... financial representative
Esther Vivante .... script supervisor
Karen Westerfield .... craft service (as Karen J. Westerfield)
Nancy Willen .... unit publicist
Matthew T. Adams .... body double (uncredited)
Arthur J. Miller Jr. .... location scout (uncredited)
Paul Rahmes .... personal assistant to director (uncredited)
Stephanie Spangler .... location manager: Kauai (uncredited)
Ladd Vance .... production assistant (uncredited)
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsSpecial EffectsOther Companies
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Additional Details

Runtime:
88 min | Germany:87 min
Country:
Language:
Colour:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Company:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The title comes from the Patti Page song "Throw Mama From the Train, a kiss, a kiss, Wave Mama from the train a goodbye..." more
Goofs:
Incorrectly regarded as goofs: When Owen sits on the porch (with the door open), his mother sits in her chair in the living room, and Larry lies down on the rug between them. Larry disappears between shots. This was NOT a goof. Momma saw Larry on TV, wanted for murdering his wife and began hollering Larry was a murderer. The next shot in which Larry disappears clearly insinuated Larry had come to and had taken off, trying to escape. more
Quotes:
Larry: The night was dry, yet it was raining. more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
PUHI PUHI O'SOLE PIPI more

FAQ

List: Murder swaps
more
3 out of 3 people found the following review useful.
"Owen Doesn't Have Any Friends, He's Stupid", 7 April 2009
9/10
Author: bkoganbing from Buffalo, New York

If you had a mother that described you like that, you just might be looking to bump her off yourself. It's how Danny DeVito feels about Anne Ramsey, it's just how to put the plan in action.

And his creative writing class taught by Professor Billy Crystal gives him the idea. That and a viewing of Alfred Hitchcock's classic Strangers On A Train which gives DeVito the idea to switch murders with Crystal who hates his wife, Kate Mulgrew, who not only is cheating him out of an idea for a book he wanted to write, but is also carrying on with hunky Tony Ciccone.

Throw Momma From The Train plays out kind of like Strangers On A Train as DeVito seems to have carried out his end of the murder scheme. But Crystal's having a bit of a problem putting Ramsey down even with Danny's help. That woman might need killing, but she's going to take a lot of it.

The only Academy recognition that Throw Momma From The Train got was an Academy Award nomination for Anne Ramsey for Best Supporting Actress. Ramsey lost to Olympia Dukakis for Moonstruck, but the film turned out to be her finest hour. Ramsey already had the throat cancer that would eventually kill her the following year, but look at the list of credits she managed to amass even after Throw Momma From The Train, she worked right up to the end.

I've seen interviews with both of the stars of Throw Momma From The Train, Billy Crystal and Danny DeVito, and both have gladly conceded that Anne Ramsey's performance as the mother from hell both made the film the success it was and stole it out from under them. Their acknowledgment of Ramsey's talent and performance is the best possible tribute.

If Marion Lorne in Strangers On A Train had been anything like Anne Ramsey here, Farley Granger would gladly have joined Robert Walker in disposing of her. Throw Momma From A Train is one of the best black comedies out there, should not be missed.

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