The Player (1992)

Director:

Robert Altman

Writers (WGA):

Michael Tolkin (screenplay)
Michael Tolkin (novel)

Release Date:

10 April 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

Now more than ever!

Plot:

A studio executive is being blackmailed by a writer whose script he rejected but which one? Loaded with Hollywood insider jokes.

Plot Keywords:

Writer | Hollywood | Blackmail | Investigation | Murder

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 30 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

Tim Robbins	...	Griffin Mill
Greta Scacchi	...	June Gudmundsdottir
Fred Ward	...	Walter Stuckel
Whoopi Goldberg	...	Detective Avery
Peter Gallagher	...	Larry Levy
Brion James	...	Joel Levison
Cynthia Stevenson	...	Bonnie Sherow
Vincent D'Onofrio	...	David Kahane
Dean Stockwell	...	Andy Civella
Richard E. Grant	...	Tom Oakley
Sydney Pollack	...	Dick Mellon
Lyle Lovett	...	Detective DeLongpre
Dina Merrill	...	Celia
Angela Hall	...	Jan
Leah Ayres	...	Sandy
Paul Hewitt	...	Jimmy Chase
Randall Batinkoff	...	Reg Goldman
Jeremy Piven	...	Steve Reeves
Gina Gershon	...	Whitney Gersh
Frank Barhydt	...	Frank Murphy
Mike Kaplan	...	Marty Grossman (as Mike E. Kaplan)
Kevin Scannell	...	Gar Girard
Margery Bond	...	Witness
Susan Emshwiller	...	Detective Broom
Brian Brophy	...	Phil
Michael Tolkin	...	Eric Schecter
Stephen Tolkin	...	Carl Schecter
Natalie Strong	...	Natalie
Peter Koch	...	Walter (as Pete Koch)
Pamela Bowen	...	Trixie
Jeff Celentano	...	Rocco (as Jeff Weston)
Steve Allen	...	Himself
Richard Anderson	...	Himself
Rene Auberjonois	...	Himself
Harry Belafonte	...	Himself
Shari Belafonte	...	Herself
Karen Black	...	Herself
Michael Bowen	...	Himself
Gary Busey	...	Himself
Robert Carradine	...	Himself
Charles Champlin	...	Himself
Cher	...	Herself
James Coburn	...	Himself
Cathy Lee Crosby	...	Herself
John Cusack	...	Himself
Brad Davis	...	Himself
Paul Dooley	...	Himself
Thereza Ellis	...	Herself
Peter Falk	...	Himself
Felicia Farr	...	Herself
Katarzyna Figura	...	Herself (as Kasia Figura)
Louise Fletcher	...	Herself
Dennis Franz	...	Himself
Teri Garr	...	Herself
Leeza Gibbons	...	Herself
Scott Glenn	...	Himself
Jeff Goldblum	...	Himself
Elliott Gould	...	Himself
Joel Grey	...	Himself
David Alan Grier	...	Himself
Buck Henry	...	Himself
Anjelica Huston	...	Herself (as Angelica Huston)
Kathy Ireland	...	Herself
Steve James	...	Himself
Maxine John-James	...	Herself
Sally Kellerman	...	Herself
Sally Kirkland	...	Herself
Jack Lemmon	...	Himself
Marlee Matlin	...	Herself
Andie MacDowell	...	Herself
Malcolm McDowell	...	Himself
Jayne Meadows	...	Herself
Martin Mull	...	Himself
Jennifer Nash	...	Herself
Nick Nolte	...	Himself
Alexandra Powers	...	Herself
Bert Remsen	...	Himself
Guy Remsen	...	Himself
Patricia Resnick	...	Herself
Burt Reynolds	...	Himself
Jack Riley	...	Himself
Julia Roberts	...	Herself
Mimi Rogers	...	Herself
Annie Ross	...	Herself
Alan Rudolph	...	Himself
Jill St. John	...	Movie Star
Susan Sarandon	...	Herself
Adam Simon	...	Himself
Rod Steiger	...	Himself
Joan Tewkesbury	...	Herself
Brian Tochi	...	Himself
Lily Tomlin	...	Herself
Robert Wagner	...	Himself
Ray Walston	...	Himself
Bruce Willis	...	Himself
Marvin Young	...	Himself
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Althea Gibson	...	Herself (uncredited)
Ted Hartley	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Jack Jason	...	Himself (uncredited)
James McLindon	...	Jim the Writer (uncredited)
Derek Raser	...	Studio Mail Driver (uncredited)
Scott Shaw	...	Himself (uncredited)
Patrick Swayze	...	Himself (uncredited)
Dan Twyman	...	Funeral Guest (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Altman

Writing credits (WGA)
Michael Tolkin		(screenplay)
Michael Tolkin		(novel "The Player")

Produced by
Cary Brokaw	....	executive producer
David Brown	....	producer
Scott Bushnell	....	co-producer
William S. Gilmore	....	co-executive producer
David Levy	....	associate producer
Michael Tolkin	....	producer
Nick Wechsler	....	producer

Original Music by
Thomas Newman

Cinematography by
Jean Lépine		(director of photography) (as Jean Lepine)

Film Editing by
Maysie Hoy
Geraldine Peroni

Production Design by
Stephen Altman

Art Direction by
Jerry Fleming

Set Decoration by
Susan Emshwiller

Costume Design by
Alexander Julian		(wardrobe designer)

Makeup Department
Deborah K. Larsen	....	makeup artist (as Deborah Larsen)
Scott Williams	....	hairdresser

Production Management
Jim Chesney	....	production supervisor
Tom Udell	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
C.C. Barnes	....	second assistant director (as CC Barnes)
Allan F. Nicholls	....	first assistant director (as Allan Nicholls)

Art Department
Matthew R. Altman	....	set dresser (as Matthew Altman)
John Beauvais	....	scenic painter
Peter Borck	....	leadman
Charles Bragg	....	title painting
John Bucklin	....	set dresser
Thomas Calloway	....	carpenter
Sydney Cooper	....	artwork
Loren Corney	....	construction coordinator
John Evans	....	carpenter
Kenny Funk	....	carpenter (as Kenneth Funk)
Michelle Guastello	....	art department coordinator (as Michele Guastello)
Julie Heuer	....	assistant property master
Justin Kritzer	....	carpenter
Darryl Lee	....	carpenter
Chris Marneus	....	carpenter
Patrick Maurer	....	construction foreman (as Pat Maurer)
James Monroe	....	property master
Mario Pérez	....	swing gang (as Mario Perez)
Ricky Riggs	....	painter
David Ronan	....	set dresser
Daniel C. Rothenberg	....	swing gang (as Daniel Rothenberg)
Jim Samson	....	set dresser
W.C. Nearhood Jr.	....	carpenter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Kenneth R. Burton	....	sound effects editor (as Ken Burton)
Robert Deschaine	....	foley mixer (as Bob Deschaine)
Rich Gooch	....	recordist
Joseph Holsen	....	dialogue editor
Paul Holzborn	....	foley artist (as Paul Holtzborn)
Matthew Iadarola	....	re-recording mixer
David Jobe	....	foley recordist
Stanley Kastner	....	sound re-recording mixer
Edmund J. Lachmann	....	dialogue editor (as Ed Lachmann)
John Post	....	foley artist
John Pritchett	....	production sound mixer
Michael P. Redbourn	....	supervising sound editor (as Michael Redbourn)
Joel Shryack	....	boom operator
Emily Smith-Baker	....	cable puller
Bill Ward	....	assistant sound editor
John Rotondi	....	sound engineer: Y4 (uncredited)
John Soukup	....	sound transfer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
John C. Hartigan	....	special effects (as John Hartigan)

Stunts
Greg Walker	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert Reed Altman	....	first assistant camera
Robert Bruce	....	electrician
Andy Day	....	best boy electric (as Andrew Day)
Val DeSalvo	....	electrician (as Val De Salvo)
Kevin Fahey	....	grip
Michael James Fahey	....	best boy grip (as Michael J. Fahey)
Craig Finetti	....	third assistant camera
Scott Hollander	....	grip (as Scott 'El Gato' Hollander)
Anthony T. Marra II	....	key grip
Daniel Cary McCrystal	....	second assistant camera (as Cary McKrystal)
Tom McGrath	....	electrician
Don Muchow	....	gaffer
Tim Nash	....	grip
Chris Reddish	....	electrician
Lorey Sebastian	....	still photographer
Wayne Stroud	....	dolly grip
Scott Hamilton	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Al Luis	....	electrician (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Angela Billows	....	wardrobe assistant
Vickie Brinkford	....	wardrobe assistant (as Vicki Brinkkord)
Lydia Tanji	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Alisa Hale	....	second assistant editor
Bob Hart	....	negative cutter
A. Michelle Page	....	assistant editor
Mike Stanwick	....	color timer (as Michael Stanwick)
Dylan Tichenor	....	apprentice editor
John Dowdell	....	hd colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Bill Bernstein	....	music editor
Thomas Pasatieri	....	orchestrator
John Vigran	....	music scoring mixer

Transportation Department
Chris Armstrong	....	driver (as Christopher Armstrong)
Ron Chesney	....	driver
Steve Earle	....	driver
Don Feeney	....	driver
D.J. Gardiner	....	driver
Derek Raser	....	transportation coordinator
J.T. Thayer	....	transportation captain (as 'J.T.' Thayer)
Gregg Willis	....	driver (as Greg Willis)

Other crew
Alison Balian	....	assistant: Nick Wechsler
Andrea Berty	....	craft service
Angie Bonner	....	production assistant
Paul D. Boydston	....	assistant location manager (as Paul Boydston)
Jim Brockett	....	animal trainer
John O. Brown III	....	production assistant (as John Brown III)
Betsy Chasse	....	assistant coordinator
Stacy Cohen	....	production secretary
Celia Converse	....	representative: Sandcastle 5
Signe Corriere	....	production assistant
Steve Day	....	production assistant
Kimberly Edwards	....	production accountant (as Kimberly Edwards Shapiro)
Judy Geletko	....	additional accounting services
Robin Hage	....	assistant: Cary Brokaw
Sheri Halfon	....	financial representative: Avenue
Pamela Hedley	....	production executive
Cynthia Hill	....	production coordinator
Kelly Householder	....	production assistant
Lawrence Karman	....	karaoke videos (as Larry 'Doc' Karman)
Jack Kney	....	location manager
Danielle Knight	....	assistant: Cary Brokaw
Cheryl Kurk	....	assistant accountant
Claudia Lewis	....	production executive
Stuart McCauley	....	craft service
James McLindon	....	assistant: Robert Altman (as Jim McLindon)
Tom Moore	....	set medic
Dan Perri	....	title designer
Carole Starkes	....	script supervisor
Andrew Varela	....	promotions arranger
Catherine Webb	....	post-production accountant
Michael Hubert	....	assistant coordinator (uncredited)
Julie Kuehndorf	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Chris Paine	....	assistant to writer and producer (uncredited)

Thanks
Janis Dinwiddie	....	special thanks
Mark Eisen	....	special thanks
Morgan Entrekin	....	special thanks
Luis Estevez	....	special thanks
Bob Flick	....	special thanks: Entertainment Tonight
Suzanne Goldman	....	special thanks
Gerald Greenbach	....	special thanks: Two Bunch Palms
Ron Haver	....	special thanks
Randy Honaker	....	special thanks
Julie Johnston	....	special thanks
Patrick Murray	....	special thanks
Toyoko Nezu	....	special thanks
Mimi Rabinowitz	....	special thanks
Steve Trombatore	....	special thanks: All Payments

Production Companies

• Avenue Pictures Productions (as Avenue Pictures) (presents)
• Spelling Entertainment (in association with)
• Addis Wechsler Pictures (as David Brown/Addis-Wechsler)
• Guild (uncredited)

Distributors

• Fine Line Features (1992) (USA) (theatrical)
• Les Films Number One (1992) (France) (theatrical)
• Criterion Collection, The (1993) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Voyager Company, The (1993) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Image Entertainment (1997) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• New Line Home Video (1997) (USA) (DVD)
• Laurenfilm (????) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1993) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Cecchi Gori Home Video (2004) (Italy) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• All Payments Services  special thanks (as All Payments)
• Artis Security  location security
• Bally  special thanks
• Baseline Type & Graphics  special thanks (as Baselne)
• Clein & White  publicity
• Clein + White  publicity (as Clein + White, Inc.)
• Design America  special thanks
• Entertainment Tonight  special thanks
• Film Finances  completion bond (as Film Finances, Inc.)
• GeoWorks  special thanks
• Land Rover of North America  special thanks (as Range Rover of North America)
• Les Hooper Orchestra, The  special thanks
• Los Angeles County Museum of Art  special thanks (as The Los Angeles County Museum Of Art )
• Los Angeles Marathon  special thanks (as L.A. Marathon)
• Magic Casting  extras casting
• Marchon  special thanks
• Marcolin Eye Wear  special thanks
• Mercer Titles & Optical Effects Ltd.  titles and opticals (as Mercer Titles & Optical)
• Reebok  special thanks
• Richard Feiner & Co. Inc.  special thanks: The Bicycle Thief
• Rick Brainin Catering Inc.  catering (as Rick Brainin Catering)
• Sinclair, Tenenbaum, Emanuel & Fleer  legal services (as Sinclair Tennenbaum & Co.)
• Skywalker Sound  re-recording facilities (A Division of LucasArts Entertainment Company)
• Spinneybeck  special thanks
• The Daiwa Bank Ltd.  financing provided by
• Two Bunch Palms  special thanks
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack (uncredited)
• Wyman & Isaacs  legal services

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language, and for some sensuality

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | USA:R (certificate #31599) | USA:TV-MA (cable rating) | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | Peru:14 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Chile:18 | Finland:K-14 | Germany:12 | Netherlands:AL | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Argyle Hotel - 8358 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, California, USA

Company:

Avenue Pictures Productions

Trivia:

The house used as Griffin and June's home in the final scene belonged to Robert Altman.

Goofs:

Continuity: After the funeral, when Griffin and June have a conversation in the cemetery, the limo driver behind them disappears between shots.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Man 1:[voiceover] Quiet on the set.
Woman:[voiceover] OK, everybody, quiet on the set.
Man 2:[voiceover] Scene 1, take 10. Marker.
Man 1:[voiceover] And - action!

Movie Connections:

References Ghost (1990)

Soundtrack:

SNAKE

The best anti-Hollywood film ever made by Hollywood

Griffin Mill is a young hotshot producer who everyone bows and scrapes to because he has the powers to get a movie made. However he starts getting bugged by a dissatisfied writer which leads to all kinds of deadly intrigue.

Just when I thought Altman had gone totally off-the-boil he suddenly jumps back with his most perfectly realised film. While hardly unapplauded on its release (and in short retrospect) this is a movie that will be regarded by future generations as a classic. It is so smart, sassy, funny and has a beginning, a middle and an end. The kind of tragicomedy that gets the best of both worlds.

Robbins is perfect as the lead. He doesn't do much or emote much. As Robert De Niro once said "most people don't show their emotions, they hide them." Occasionally we get behind the shield of human indifference, but only occasionally. We don't like him much - nor should we - but he is not so bad that we can't bare him. Indeed he is merely someone whose selfish world gets out of control. Whoopie Goldberg makes the most of her unlikely casting too.

The appearance of stars in guest parts adds a bit of icing, but that is all. I loved Altman's directions to the stars who had to play walk-ons (who else could have got that?) "remember, you are responsible for who you are on screen. You are playing yourselves!"

The sexy Scacchi plays the love interest with great skill. While just a muse she is a far better actress than most and this shows in her short screen time. Shame she hasn't more involvement in the main plot.

Like breaking a car down in to its competent parts, taking The Player apart only leaves an ugly mess of oil and metal. Together it drives a tight little film that has insight, drama and comedy. I would hesitate to call this a masterpiece, but it is a mini-masterpiece that however farfetched never reaches the point of being totally unbelievable.

The pay off at the end is one of the best belly-laughs any film buff could ever get. I doubt I will see a better film about modern day Hollywood in my lifetime. Like Pulp Fiction, a film that is as enjoyable the second time of viewing as the first.