Spawn (1997)

Director:

Mark A.Z. Dippé

Writers (WGA):

Todd McFarlane (comic book)
Alan B. McElroy (screen story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

1 August 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller | Action | Fantasy | Horror

Tagline:

Born in darkness. Sworn to justice.

Plot:

A mercenary is killed, but comes back from Hell as a reluctant soldier of the Devil.

Plot Keywords:

Spider | Bizarre | Cheerleader Uniform | Child In Peril | Deception

Awards:

1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Michael Jai White	...	Al Simmons / Spawn
John Leguizamo	...	Clown / Violator
Martin Sheen	...	Jason Wynn
Theresa Randle	...	Wanda Blake
Nicol Williamson	...	Cogliostro
D.B. Sweeney	...	Terry Fitzgerald
Melinda Clarke	...	Jessica Priest
Miko Hughes	...	Zack
Sydni Beaudoin	...	Cyan
Michael Papajohn	...	Glen, Zack's Dad
Frank Welker	...	The Devil Malebolgia (voice)
Robia LaMorte	...	XNN Reporter (as Robia La Morte)
John Cothran Jr.	...	African Liaison
Caroline Gibson	...	News Anchor
Tony Haney	...	African Liaison
Marc Robinson	...	Punk
Darryl Warren	...	Security Guard
Chris Coppola	...	Punk
Mike Akrawi	...	Foreign Dignitary
Jay Caputo	...	Punk #3
Romeo Akrawi	...	Foreign Dignitary
Jack Coleman	...	Doctor
Laura Stepp	...	Angela
Garrison Singer	...	Anesthesiologist
Todd McFarlane	...	Bum
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Angelie Almendare	...	Diplomat's Wife (uncredited)
Anthony Genovese	...	Bearded TV News Anchor (uncredited)
Stewart Lew	...	Clown on top of building (uncredited)

Directed by
Mark A.Z. Dippé

Writing credits (WGA)
Todd McFarlane		(comic book)
Alan B. McElroy		(screen story) (as Alan McElroy) and
Mark A.Z. Dippé		(screen story)
Alan B. McElroy		(screenplay) (as Alan McElroy)

Produced by
Alan C. Blomquist	....	executive producer
Adrianna A.J. Cohen	....	co-executive producer
Terry Fitzgerald	....	associate producer
Clint Goldman	....	producer
Todd McFarlane	....	executive producer
Brian Witten	....	co-executive producer

Original Music by
Graeme Revell

Cinematography by
Guillermo Navarro

Film Editing by
Todd Busch
Michael N. Knue

Casting by
Bruce H. Newberg
Mary Jo Slater

Production Design by
Philip Harrison

Art Direction by
Eric Orbom

Set Decoration by
Dena Roth

Costume Design by
Daniel J. Lester		(as Dan Lester)

Makeup Department
David LeRoy Anderson	....	special makeup effects key artist: John Leguizamo
Howard Berger	....	animatronic creature effects
Howard Berger	....	special makeup effects
Norman Cabrera	....	special makeup effects artist
Donna Cicatelli-Lewis	....	key makeup artist
Greg Funk	....	special makeup effects artist
Chris Hanson	....	special makeup effects artist
Robert Kurtzman	....	animatronic creature effects
Robert Kurtzman	....	special makeup effects
Gregory Nicotero	....	animatronic creature effects
Gregory Nicotero	....	special makeup effects
Cristina Patterson Ceret	....	contact lens technician (as Cristina Patterson)
Cindy J. Williams	....	makeup artist (as Cindy Jane Williams)
Bill Zahn	....	makeup effects crew
Gabriella Pollino	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Daryl Kass	....	unit production manager
Claire O'Brien	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard Graves	....	assistant director
J. Michael Haynie	....	first assistant director
Martin Jedlicka	....	second assistant director
Steve 'Spaz' Williams	....	second unit director

Art Department
Fanée Aaron	....	set designer
Karen Agresti	....	buyer
Sharon E. Alshams	....	set designer
Richard F. Anderson	....	set dresser
Robert A. Blackburn	....	construction coordinator
Joseph Calta	....	stand-by painter
TyRuben Ellingson	....	conceptual designer
Marc Gabbana	....	concept artist
Robert Greenfield	....	leadman
Ron Greenwood	....	property master
Michael Holcomb	....	painter
Travis Huffman	....	propmaker
Dorn Merrill Kennison	....	set designer
Carolyn Lassek	....	on-set dresser
Barry Lehrman	....	set designer
P.K. MacCarthy	....	storyboard artist
Peter Pace	....	concept designer
William H. Phen Jr.	....	propmaker foreman
Mark Weissenfluh	....	leadman
Mark Pacella	....	conceptual artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Paul Berolzheimer	....	sound effects designer
Dean Beville	....	supervising sound editor
Harry Cohen	....	sound effects editor
Damon Cohoon	....	assistant sound editor
Scott Curtis	....	foley editor
Chris David	....	sound re-recording mixer
Linda Di Franco	....	foley editor
Michael Dressel	....	foley editor
Jim Fitzpatrick	....	sound re-recording mixer
Linda Folk	....	adr editor
Greg Hedgepath	....	sound editor
Scott A. Jennings	....	sound effects editor
Jeffrey Kaplan	....	sound designer
Jeffrey Kaplan	....	sound effects editor
Shawn Kennelly	....	foley mixer
Patricio A. Libenson	....	sound effects editor
Laura Macias	....	foley walker
Vince Nicastro	....	foley walker
Jeffrey R. Payne	....	foley supervising editor
Joan Rowe	....	foley walker
Sean Rowe	....	foley walker
Solange S. Schwalbe	....	sound editor
Frank Smathers	....	sound editor
D. Chris Smith	....	sound effects editor
Liz Sroka	....	sound re-recording mixer: predubs
David E. Stone	....	sound editor
Bruce Stubblefield	....	sound effects editor
Eric Thompson	....	foley mixer
James Thornton	....	sound mixer
James Thornton	....	sound (as Jim Thornton)
Brian Williams	....	sound designer
Bob Wishnefsky	....	assistant sound editor
Evan T. Chen	....	sound editor (uncredited)
William Jacobs	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Elizabeth Kenton	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Chris Brenczewski	....	special effects technician
Evan Campbell	....	sculptor
Christian Eubank	....	special effects technician
Larry Odien	....	mechanical effects
Jon Thackery	....	special effects technician
Wayne Toth	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Sandra Almond	....	visual effects producer
Lisa Atkinson	....	digital production manager
Ken Banks	....	visual effects
Berj Bannayan	....	software engineer
Alan Barnett	....	digital effects supervisor: Sight Effects
Anders J.L. Beer	....	animator: BFtR
David Biedny	....	visual effects supervisor: IDIG Inc.
Constance Bracewell	....	CGI animator
Bruce Branit	....	digital effects artist
Brian Brecht	....	CG staff: ILM
Ronn Brown	....	matte artist
Nathalie Buce	....	animator
Michelle Butler	....	production coordinator: SBS
Sonia Calvert	....	digital compositor: Cinesite
Casey Cannon	....	visual effects producer: BFTRE
Glenn Cannon	....	computer graphic artist
Tom Capizzi	....	computer animator
Marc Chu	....	character animator: ILM
Gregory Creaser	....	visual effects editorial: Digital Magic
Colin Cunningham	....	3D animator: C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures
Melissa Davies	....	digital effects supervisor: Sight Effects
James Doherty	....	digital modeler
Bernard Edlington	....	shader artist
John Ford Jr.	....	digital artist
Russell Frazier	....	digital compositor: title sequence
Gil Gagnon	....	vice president/head of production: Cinesite
Angela Giannoni	....	visual effects: title sequence
Scott Gordon	....	digital effects designer
Richard Grandy	....	technical director
Susan Greenhow	....	visual effects coordinator
Orin Green	....	compositor
Mary Beth Haggerty	....	digital artist
Tim Harrington	....	character animator: ILM
Jordan Harris	....	digital animator
Rudy Hassen	....	digital effects supervisor: Sight Effects
B. Ian Hayden	....	digital effects artist
Christophe Hery	....	visual effects co-supervisor: ILM
Diane Holland	....	digital effects liason: ILM
Dave R. Howe	....	digital artist
Ian Hulbert	....	animator: Rhythm & Hues
Alex Jaeger	....	concept/storybaord artist: ILM
Arthur Jeppe	....	digital artist: Santa Barbara Studios
Bruce Jones	....	visual effects producer
Michael Kaelin	....	technical assistant: SBS
Wayne Kennedy	....	digital modeler: ILM
Jeanmarie King	....	visual effects coordinator
Karen Klein	....	roto supervisor
Christian Kubsch	....	animation and visual effects producer: ILM
Roger Kupelian	....	digital artist
Ali Laventhol	....	digital compositor
Scott Leberecht	....	visual effects art director
Stewart Lew	....	chief digital model supervisor: ILM
Jim Livolsi	....	digital production manager: title sequence
Scott Lukowski	....	model maker
Darren Lurie	....	digital effects designer
Jason MacLeod	....	computer graphics artist
Michele Maples	....	visual effects producer: Cinesite
Terrence Masson	....	visual effects
David Meny	....	digital effects artist
Todd Mesher	....	digital compositor
Richard Miller	....	sculptor
David Manos Morris	....	CG matchmove artist
Brian Moylan	....	digital compositing artist
George Oliver	....	rotoscope
David Parsons	....	character animator
Eddie Pasquarello	....	digital compositor
Tom C. Peitzman	....	visual effects producer
Stephen Price	....	visual effects executive producer: C.O.R.E. Digital
Paul Patrick Quinn	....	visual effects producer
Kevin Reuter	....	digital effects artist
Matt Rhodes	....	software development
Jay Riddle	....	visual effects supervisor
Kathi Samec	....	systems manager: SBS
Debra Sanderson	....	visual effects video editor/clearance
Trish Schutz-Krause	....	animator: ILM
Ralph Sevazlian	....	digital artist: C.O.R.E. Digital pictures
Jimi Simmons	....	director of visual effects
Douglas James Smith	....	digital effects artist
Brian Sorbo	....	digital effects technical assistant: ILM
Matthew Talbot-Kelly	....	digital animator
Jonathan Taylor	....	director of photography: visual effects unit
Lucy Taylor	....	compositor
Stephanie Taylor	....	visual effects coordinator
Peter G. Travers	....	digital effects designer
Alan Trombla	....	software research and development
Dennis Turner	....	animation supervisor: ILM
Courtney Vanderslice	....	head of production: Cinesite
Yon Van Kline	....	visual effects editor: Santa Barbara Studios
John 'JW' Warner	....	key grip: visual effects unit
Bill Westenhofer	....	technical director: Rhythm & Hues
Kelly Wilcox	....	computer graphics animator
Lance Wilhoite	....	visual effects compositor
Steve 'Spaz' Williams	....	visual effects supervisor
Habib Zargarpour	....	visual effects co-supervisor: ILM
Chris DeAngelis	....	visual effects editor: EFilm (uncredited)
Mark Edwards	....	visual effects coordinator: EFilm (uncredited)
Louis Katz	....	animatic artist (uncredited)
Tim Ketzer	....	computer graphics animator: Cinesite (uncredited)
Garrick McLaughlin	....	technical assistant: Western Images (uncredited)
Matt Merkovich	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Stephen Sobisky	....	3D modeling producer (uncredited)
Jason Wardle	....	CG Animator (uncredited)
R. Christopher White	....	digital artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Tony Brubaker	....	stunts
Jay Caputo	....	stunts
Debbie Lee Carrington	....	stunts (as Debbie Carrington)
Doc D. Charbonneau	....	stunts (as Doc Charbonneau)
Charles Croughwell	....	stunt coordinator
Tom Elliott	....	stunt double: Martin Sheen
Tom Elliott	....	stunts
Dane Farwell	....	stunts
Ramiro González	....	stunts
Tabby Hanson	....	stunts
Mark Hicks	....	stunt double
Kane Hodder	....	stunts
Will Leong	....	stunt double: Soldier
Jake Lombard	....	stunts (as Jack Lombard)
Faith Minton	....	stunts
Gary Morgan	....	stunts
Jimmy Ortega	....	stunts
Michael Papajohn	....	stunts
Denney Pierce	....	stunts
Jalon Raney	....	stunts
Simon Rhee	....	stunts
David Rowden	....	stunts
Ben Scott	....	stunts
Gregg Smrz	....	stunts (as Greg Smrz)
Scott Sproule	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Scott Sproule	....	utility stunts
William Washington	....	stunts: Fire Gag
Danny Wong	....	stunts
Roger Yuan	....	stunts
John Branagan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Hubie Kerns Jr.	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Koyama	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jimmy N. Roberts	....	stunts (uncredited)
Spice Williams-Crosby	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Kenneth J. Appel	....	electrian
John Crimins	....	best boy electric
Jeffrey De La Rosa	....	rigging gaffer
Allen D. Easton	....	camera operator
Paul Gibilisco	....	second assistant camera
Keith A. Hascher	....	electrician
Nathan Hathaway	....	best boy electric
Peter Iovino	....	still photographer
Timothy James Kane	....	assistant camera
Dan Kneece	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Dan Kneece	....	steadicam operator
Dennis J. Laine	....	camera operator: "a" camera, second unit
Dennis J. Laine	....	steadicam operator
David Lee	....	gaffer
Steven Mann	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Steven Mann	....	steadicam assistant
Alexandre Naufel	....	set lighting
Evan A. Nesbitt	....	first assistant camera: VistaVision camera
Tim Soronen	....	best boy grip
Rick Stribling	....	key grip
Jonathan Taylor	....	director of photography: second unit
Marshall Valentine	....	rigging grip
Matthew Devitt	....	rigging grip (uncredited)

Animation Department
Richard Bennett	....	background designer
Matthew Talbot-Kelly	....	animator
Mark Wendell	....	animator

Casting Department
Jennifer Bender	....	extras casting

Editorial Department
Steve Ansell	....	assistant editor
Todd Busch	....	first assistant editor
Anthony J. Camaioni	....	apprentice editor
Joe Fineman	....	post-production consultant
Mike Mertens	....	color timer
Joëlle Taar	....	assistant editor
Neil Eric Wenger	....	assistant editor

Music Department
George Acogny	....	music supervisor
Joe Fischer	....	music coordinator: Album music
Paul Haslinger	....	additional orchestrator
Graeme Revell	....	orchestrator
Happy Walters	....	music supervisor
Brian Williams	....	music designer
Joshua Winget	....	music editor
Ashley Revell	....	assistant music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Scott Doyle	....	transportation
Theresa M. Roehner	....	driver

Other crew
Robin Anderson	....	script supervisor
Laurie Arnow-Epstein	....	construction accountant
Gerard Averill	....	assistant location manager
Jimmy Badstibner	....	production assistant
Brian Bero	....	suit fabricator: Spawn suit
Ericka Bryce	....	construction medic
Unjoo Lee Byars	....	main title producer
Anthony J. Camaioni	....	production assistant
Glenn Cannon	....	computer and video playback supervisor
Glenn Cannon	....	on-set playback supervisor: Banned from the Ranch Entertainment
Kyle Cooper	....	title designer
Andrea Fellers	....	photo double
Tracy Gossett	....	assistant to executive producer
Derrick Goulet	....	assistant accountant
Sissy Grover	....	playback coordinator
Eric Hedayat	....	location manager
Christopher Kahn	....	assistant production coordinator
Harriet Katz-Stevens	....	first assistant accountant
Harry Lu	....	weapons master
Hilary Momberger	....	script supervisor
Christopher Raimo	....	production associate
Christina Rollo	....	office production assistant
Eric Schafer	....	software development: Industrial Light & Magic
Bill H. Schwocho	....	craft service
John Semedik	....	assistant accountant
Steven E. Simon	....	set production assistant
Eric Smith	....	title designer
Tony Swatton	....	armorer
Alan Tuskes	....	makeup effects crew: K.N.B. EFX Group Inc.
Robert West	....	assistant to producer
Donald E. Wygal	....	production assistant (as Don Wygal)
Matthew Goodman	....	production associate (uncredited)
Jerry Macaluso	....	combat suit designer and builder: "Priest" (uncredited)
Scott Strozier	....	stand-in (uncredited)

Thanks
Russell Frazier	....	acknowledgment: for D.Rez Hollywood

Production Companies

• New Line Cinema
• Pull Down Your Pants Pictures
• Todd McFarlane Entertainment

Distributors

• New Line Cinema (1997) (USA) (theatrical)
• Fox Network (2001) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Constantin Film (Germany)
• EDKO Film (Hong Kong)
• Edifilmes (Portugal)
• Entertainment (UK)
• GAGA Communications
• GAGA Humax Inc.
• Líder Films (Spain)
• Metropolitan Filmexport
• New Line Home Video (video)
• Roadshow Entertainment Video (Australia) (VHS)
• Roadshow Entertainment
• Roadshow Film Distributors (NZ) Ltd.
• VCL Communications GmbH (Germany) (video)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) (special animation and visual effects)
• K.N.B. Effects Group (special make-up and animatronic effects)
• Banned from the Ranch Entertainment (BFTRE) (computer graphics and video displays created by)
• C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures
• Santa Barbara Studios (visual effects created by)
• EFX Unlimited (additional visual effects)
• Digital Muse
• Rhythm and Hues
• Western Images

Other Companies

• Epic Records  soundtrack
• Image Comics  comic books
• Imaginary Forces  titles and opticals
• Immortal Records  soundtrack

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements involving the demonic underworld, violence, intense fantasy action and crude humor.

Runtime:

96 min | USA:98 min (director's cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:16 (video rating) | Germany:18 (director's cut) | South Korea:12 | Iceland:14 | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) (director's cut) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Finland:K-16 (video premiere) (director's cut) | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | UK:12 | UK:15 (director's cut) | USA:PG-13 | USA:R (director's cut) | Mexico:B

Filming Locations:

Hollywood Center Studios - 1040 N. Las Palmas Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

Spaz (Spawn's dog) is the nickname of visual effects supervisor Steve 'Spaz' Williams.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the battle in Hell, when Cogliostro is approached by the Violator, he extends his Necro-sword twice.

Quotes:

Clown: [to a group of would-be Satanists] Behold. This one of a kind necroplasmic armor can be yours for the teeny price of your soul, and a butt-load of pain.

Movie Connections:

References Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

Soundtrack:

Spawn

The muppet show gone wrong

Everyone seems to agree that the original Spawn comic is excellent material for a pointless, violent, stupid and thoroughly amusing movie. This movie, however....It isn't all that violent (if you compare it to the comic book), but it is stupid and utterly pointless. Amusing? It could have been if they had inserted a prolonged torture scene of John Leguizamos Clown character: one of the most un-funny, irritating and tacky "comic relief" characters ever to have (dis)graced the screen. Move over Chris Tucker and Pauly Shore - we have a new candidate for overrated quasi-comedian of the decade. The special effects were kind of confusing - half of them were excellent and half of them looked like beautified Sesame Street animations (the demon "thing" of hell, for example, which had me crying with laughter). Let's hope for the next Spawn movie they take a few chances and make a grittier downbeat tale with more in common with the original comic and not like the muppet show from hell.