Eraserhead (1977)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

David Lynch

Writer:

David Lynch (writer)

Release Date:

7 September 1979 (West Germany)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

In Heaven Everything Is Fine.

Plot:

Henry Spencer tries to survive his industrial environment, his angry girlfriend, and the unbearable screams of his newly born mutant child.

Plot Keywords:

Nightmare | Imagery | Radiator | Factory | Mutant Baby

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Jack Nance	...	Henry Spencer (as John Nance)
Charlotte Stewart	...	Mary X
Allen Joseph	...	Mr. X
Jeanne Bates	...	Mrs. X
Judith Roberts	...	Beautiful Girl Across the Hall (as Judith Anna Roberts)
Laurel Near	...	Lady in the Radiator
V. Phipps-Wilson	...	Landlady (long version)
Jack Fisk	...	Man in the Planet
Jean Lange	...	Grandmother
Thomas Coulson	...	The Boy
John Monez	...	Bum
Darwin Joston	...	Paul
T. Max Graham	...	The Boss (as Neil Moran)
Hal Landon Jr.	...	Pencil Machine Operator
Jennifer Chambers Lynch	...	Little Girl (as Jennifer Lynch)
Brad Keeler	...	Little Boy
Peggy Lynch	...	Person Digging in the Alley (long version)
Doddie Keeler	...	Person Digging in the Alley (long version)
Gill Dennis	...	Man with Cigar
Toby Keeler	...	Man Fighting
Jack Walsh	...	Mr. Roundheels (as Raymond Walsh)

Directed by
David Lynch

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
David Lynch		writer

Produced by
David Lynch	....	producer
Fred Baker	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
David Lynch

Cinematography by
Herbert Cardwell
Frederick Elmes

Film Editing by
David Lynch

Production Design by
David Lynch

Art Direction by
David Lynch

Production Management
Doreen G. Small	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Catherine E. Coulson	....	assistant director

Sound Department
David Lynch	....	sound effects
Alan Splet	....	location sound (as Alan R. Splet)
Alan Splet	....	sound editor (as Alan R. Splet)
Alan Splet	....	sound effects (as Alan R. Splet)

Special Effects by
Frederick Elmes	....	special photographic effects
David Lynch	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Catherine E. Coulson	....	assistant camera

Other crew
Jeanne Field	....	crew
Michael Grody	....	crew
Stephen Grody	....	crew
Toby Keeler	....	crew
Roger Lundy	....	crew
John Lynch	....	crew
Dennis Nance-Kivell	....	crew (as Dennis Nance)
Anatol Pacanowsky	....	crew
Carol Schreder	....	crew

Thanks
Ron Barth	....	special thanks
Mars F. Baumgardt	....	special thanks
Ron Culbertson	....	special thanks
Frantisek Daniel	....	special thanks (as Frank Daniel)
Richard Einfeld	....	special thanks
Margit Felligi Laszlo	....	special thanks
Jack Fisk	....	special thanks
Mary Fisk	....	special thanks
Kenneth E. Fix	....	special thanks (as Ken Fix)
Marvin Goodwin	....	special thanks
Andre R. Guttfreund	....	special thanks (as Andre Guttfreund)
Roman Harte	....	special thanks
Randy Hart	....	special thanks
George T. Hutchison	....	special thanks
David Khasky	....	special thanks
Jim King	....	special thanks
Paul Leimbach	....	special thanks
David Lunney	....	special thanks
Peggy Lynch	....	special thanks
Sarah Pillsbury	....	special thanks
Sidney P. Solow	....	special thanks
Sissy Spacek	....	special thanks
George Stevens Jr.	....	special thanks
Antonio Vellani	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• American Film Institute (AFI)
• Libra Films

Distributors

• Libra Films International (1977) (USA) (theatrical)
• Creative Exposure (1979) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Mainline Pictures (1979) (UK) (theatrical)
• Comstock (1993) (Japan) (theatrical) (re-release)
• David Lynch Project (2009) (Japan) (theatrical) (restored version)
• Toei Yoga (1981) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Cineplex Odeon Films (????) (Canada) (video)
• Davidlynch.com (2003) (worldwide) (DVD)
• Lume Filmes (2008) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Palace Video (1982) (UK) (VHS)
• PolyGram Video
• Primer Plano Film Group Video (2003) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Primer Plano Film Group (2003) (Argentina)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1984) (USA) (VHS)
• Raro Video (2008) (Italy) (DVD) (boxed set)

Also Known As:

Eraserhead 2000 (USA) (DVD box title)
Gardenback (USA) (original script title)

Runtime:

89 min | USA:108 min (approx.) (premiere version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby (re-release) | Mono (original release)

Certification:

Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Iceland:16 | Spain:13 | Singapore:PG | France:-16 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Denmark:7 | UK:15 (re-rating) (2008) | Portugal:M/16 | Chile:14 | UK:18 (video rating: 1986) | UK:X (original rating) | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-14 | Ireland:18 | South Korea:15 | Sweden:15 | USA:Unrated | West Germany:18 | Canada:13+ (Québec)

Filming Locations:

Beverly Hills, California, USA

Company:

American Film Institute (AFI)

Trivia:

The film was created in a piecemeal fashion over 5 years, with many sets rebuilt after being torn down to make way for other work. Through all 5 years, Jack Nance's only request as far as comfort or entertainment went was "a room and a chair," and he kept his hair in the same frizzy style the whole time. The sparse, drawn-out shooting schedule is revealed when at one point, Henry opens a door, and Nance ages 18 months between cuts. 2 years in, cinematographer Herbert Cardwell, 35, died in his sleep. After 4 weeks of searching, Frederick Elmes was chosen to take his place.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: Continuity "errors" are in keeping with the movie's distorted, surreal atmosphere.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Beautiful Girl Across the Hall: Are you Henry?

Movie Connections:

Featured in Pretty as a Picture: The Art of David Lynch (1997) (TV)

Soundtrack:

In Heaven

how weird can you get?

I needed to read all the other reviews here before I was game to make a comment. I'm a great fan of Lynch's Wild at Heart having seen it four times, and recently loved Lost Highway. But this one left me baffled. I'd heard of it for years, but can make little sense of it. It certainly didn't bore me, in fact I was fascinated to see where the plot led. Tried to analyse it in terms of symbolism, but decided that if I have to do that the film isn't really speaking to me. The dark broodiness is impressive, the squishiness repulsive, and Henry's hairdo is unforgettable!