Cocoon (1985)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Ron Howard

Writers:

Tom Benedek (screenplay)
David Saperstein (story)

Release Date:

21 June 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Romance | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

It is everything you've dreamed of. It is nothing you expect.

Plot:

When a group of trespassing seniors swim in a pool containing alien cocoons, they find themselves energized with youthful vigour.

Plot Keywords:

Cocoon | Alien | Swimming Pool | Senior Citizen | Loss Of Wife

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Don Ameche	...	Art Selwyn
Wilford Brimley	...	Ben Luckett
Hume Cronyn	...	Joe Finley
Brian Dennehy	...	Walter
Jack Gilford	...	Bernie Lefkowitz
Steve Guttenberg	...	Jack Bonner
Maureen Stapleton	...	Mary Luckett
Jessica Tandy	...	Alma Finley
Gwen Verdon	...	Bess McCarthy
Herta Ware	...	Rosie Lefkowitz
Tahnee Welch	...	Kitty
Barret Oliver	...	David
Linda Harrison	...	Susan
Tyrone Power Jr.	...	Pillsbury
Clint Howard	...	John Dexter
Charles Lampkin	...	Pops
Mike Nomad	...	Doc
Jorge Gil	...	Lou Pine
James Ritz	...	DMV Clerk
Charles Rainsbury	...	Smiley
Wendy J. Cooke	...	Alien (as Wendy Cooke)
Pamela Prescott	...	Alien
Dinah Sue Rowley	...	Alien
Gabriella Sinclair	...	Alien
Cyndi Vicino	...	Bank Teller
Russ Wheeler	...	Doctor
Harold Bergman	...	Reverend
Ivy Thayer	...	Waitress
Fred Broderson	...	Kirk
Mark Cheresnick	...	Salvatore
Bette Shoor	...	Realtor
Mark Simpson	...	Coast Guard First Class BM
Robert Slacum Jr.	...	Coast Guard Second Class BM
Rance Howard	...	St. Petersburg Dectective
Jean Speegle Howard	...	Woman (as Jean Speegle)
Charles Voelker	...	Leader, New Yorkers Dance Band
Irving Krone	...	Jasper
Clarence Thomas	...	Policeman
Ted Science	...	Policeman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Fred Astaire	...	Himself, film clip from 'The Gay Divorcee' (archive footage) (uncredited)
Jim Fitzpatrick	...	Dock Worker (uncredited)
Reginald Gardiner	...	Himself, film clip from 'Flying Deuces' (archive footage) (uncredited)
Oliver Hardy	...	Himself, film clip from 'Flying Deuces' (archive footage) (uncredited)
Stan Laurel	...	Himself, film clip from 'Flying Deuces' (archive footage) (uncredited)
Carmen Miranda	...	Herself, Vocalist on Recording: 'Weekend in Havana' (archive sound) (uncredited)
Jean Parker	...	Herself, film clip from 'Flying Deuces' (archive footage) (uncredited)
Tracy Roberts	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Ginger Rogers	...	Herself, film clip from 'The Gay Divorcee' (archive footage) (uncredited)

Directed by
Ron Howard

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Tom Benedek		screenplay
David Saperstein		story

Produced by
David Brown	....	producer
Robert Doudell	....	associate producer
Lili Fini Zanuck	....	producer
Richard D. Zanuck	....	producer

Original Music by
James Horner

Cinematography by
Donald Peterman		(director of photography) (as Don Peterman)

Film Editing by
Daniel P. Hanley		(as Daniel Hanley)
Mike Hill		(as Michael Hill)

Casting by
Penny Perry

Production Design by
Jack T. Collis

Set Decoration by
Jim Duffy

Costume Design by
Aggie Guerard Rodgers

Makeup Department
Greg Cannom	....	special makeup effects
Janis Clark	....	hair stylist
Kevin Haney	....	makeup artist
Robert Norin	....	makeup artist
Brian Penikas	....	special makeup effects artist
Rick Stratton	....	makeup artist
Michael Burnett	....	creature effects crew (uncredited)
David B. Miller	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Robert Doudell	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Hans Beimler	....	second assistant director
Jan R. Lloyd	....	first assistant director
John N. Whittle	....	additional second assistant director (as John Whittle)

Art Department
Eric A. Hulett	....	lead man
Steven M. Levine	....	property master
Ralph McQuarrie	....	conceptual artist
Mickey Woods	....	construction coordinator
Jack Reeves	....	painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Clint Althouse	....	boom operator
Richard S. Church	....	sound mixer
Mike O. Corrigan	....	sound editor
William Hartman	....	sound editor
Laurel Ladevich	....	special sound designer
Godfrey Marks	....	dialogue editor
Dennie C. Modes	....	cable person
Richard Overton	....	sound re-recording mixer
Gary Rydstrom	....	special sound designer
Theodore Soderberg	....	sound re-recording mixer
Gary Summers	....	special sound designer
Paul Wells	....	sound re-recording mixer
Marty Church	....	foley mixer (uncredited)
Kathleen Korth	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)
Greg Smith	....	machine room operator (uncredited)
Greg Smith	....	sound recordist (uncredited)
Lionel Strutt	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Stuart Artingstall	....	creature effects crew: Cannom
Greg Cannom	....	special alien creatures and effects
Craig Caton	....	creature crew
Robert Clark	....	creature effects crew: Cannom
Tony Gardner	....	creature effects crew: Cannom
Alec Gillis	....	creature effects crew: Cannom
Camilla Henneman	....	creature effects crew: Cannom
Tom Hester	....	creature effects crew: Cannom
Shawn McEnroe	....	creature effects crew: Cannom
Joseph A. Unsinn	....	special effects coordinator (as Joseph Unsinn)
Kevin Yagher	....	creature effects crew: Cannom
James Cummins	....	story board (uncredited)
Adam Hill	....	creature effects crew (uncredited)
Bill Sturgeon	....	creature effects crew (uncredited)
Tim Turner	....	creature effects crew (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Craig Barron	....	matte photography supervisor
William Beck	....	model maker
David Berry	....	visual effects optical supervisor
Barbara Brennan	....	rotoscope artist
Marty Brenneis	....	model maker
Sean M. Casey	....	stop-motion technician
Donald Clark	....	optical camera operator
Christopher Evans	....	matte painting supervisor
Scott Farrar	....	visual effects cameraman
Robert Finley Jr.	....	cloud tank technician
Pat Fitzsimmons	....	visual effects supervising stage technician
Warren Franklin	....	general manager: ILM
Michael Fulmer	....	model maker
Steve Gawley	....	visual effects supervising model maker
Ray Gilberti	....	visual effects assistant cameraman
Ralph Gordon	....	optical line-up
Caroleen Green	....	matte artist
Robert Hill	....	visual effects assistant cameraman
Edward Hirsh	....	visual effects stage manager
Sandy Houston	....	rotoscoper
Peg Hunter	....	optical line-up
Paul Huston	....	matte photography
Ed Jones	....	optical line-up
Randy Jonsson	....	visual effects assistant cameraman (as Randy Johnson)
Ira Keeler	....	model maker
Bill Kimberlin	....	visual effects editor
Tony Laudati	....	stop-motion technician
Ellen E. Lichtwardt	....	rotoscope artist
James Lim	....	optical camera operator
Mike MacKenzie	....	visual effects equipment engineering supervisor
Pamela Marcotte	....	visual effects
Jack Mongovan	....	rotoscope artist
Charlie Mullen	....	visual effects animation supervisor
Kerry Nordquist	....	visual effects still photography
Phillip Norwood	....	visual effects art director
Terrence Peck	....	visual effects assistant effects editor
Donald Pennington	....	visual effects construction coordinator
Margot Phillips	....	stop-motion technician
Ken Ralston	....	visual effects supervisor
Kenneth Smith	....	optical camera operator
David Sosalla	....	stop motion supervisor
Tom St. Amand	....	stop-motion technician
Mitch Suskin	....	visual effects production supervisor
Laurie Vermont	....	visual effects production coordinator
Catherine Craig	....	effects camera operator (uncredited)
Ned Gorman	....	effects production assistant (uncredited)
Jay Riddle	....	animation camera: ILM (uncredited)
Thomas Rosseter	....	optical lineup (uncredited)

Stunts
Jerry Brutsche	....	stunts
Denise Cheshire	....	stunts
Ted Grossman	....	stunt coordinator
Candice Orsini	....	stunts
Charlie Picerni	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Richard Dow	....	grip
Sharon Smith Holley	....	camera intern
Jordan Klein Jr.	....	underwater assistant camera: Nassau
Jordan Klein Sr.	....	underwater camera operator: Nassau (as Jordan Klein)
John LeBlanc	....	camera operator: Chicago
Keith Peterman	....	camera operator
Zade Rosenthal	....	still photographer
Waverly Smothers	....	grip
Calvin Sterry	....	key grip
Ken M. Suzuki	....	gaffer
Frank D. Tobin	....	best boy electric
Clay H. Wilson	....	grip
Greg Patterson	....	set lighting technician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Barbara Harris	....	voice casting
Beverly McDermott	....	casting: Florida

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Linda Henrikson	....	costumer
Eddie Marks	....	costume supervisor
Mort Schwartz	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Pamela Ghaleb	....	apprentice editor
Carol Ann Jackson	....	assistant editor
Mary McGlone	....	assistant editor
Lydia Telo	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Billy May	....	orchestrator
Herbert W. Spencer	....	orchestrator
Armin Steiner	....	score mixer
Gwen Verdon	....	special music & dance coordinator
James Horner	....	conductor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Princess Clare	....	transportation coordinator: Nassau
Michael Connolly	....	transportation coordinator
Dean E. Mason	....	transportation coordinator
Mike Robinson	....	driver: insert car

Other crew
Rick Baker	....	special creature consultant
James Steven Claridge	....	diving services: Nassau
Susan Cornell	....	dance consultant
Thane Cornell	....	dance consultant
Carline Davis-Dyer	....	script supervisor
Al Ebner	....	unit publicist
Kingsley Griffin	....	dolphin trainer: Nassau
Kathy Krueger	....	dolphin trainer: Nassau
Robert Maharis	....	location manager
Louisa Marie	....	assistant: Mr. Howard
Gavin McKinney	....	diving services: Nassau
Fred Newman	....	dolphin voices
Mike Nomad	....	underwater consultant: Nassau
Giedra Rackauskas	....	auditor
Caprice Rothe	....	alien movement choreographer
Teresa Stokovic	....	production coordinator
Fred Zendar	....	marine coordinator (as Manfred Zendar)
Jay Roberts	....	assistant accountant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Zanuck/Brown Productions (for)
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation
• SLM Production Group

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1985) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1988) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• CBS/Fox Home Video (1986) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Fox Video (1996) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Fox Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Cannom Creations (creature effects)
• Industrial Light & Magic (ILM)

Other Companies

• Mayflower Recording  adr recording

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Netherlands:AL | Iceland:L | Peru:PT | New Zealand:PG | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:S | France:U | Norway:12 (1985) | Sweden:11 | UK:PG (cut) | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:6 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Clearwater, Florida, USA

Company:

Zanuck/Brown Productions

Trivia:

Hume Cronyn was a Golden Glove boxer and lost sight in one eye. In the scene where he hits the young orderly, without depth perception, he actually hit the young man and knocked him out.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When people are commenting on the old people's dancing.

Quotes:

Joseph Finley: [to Alma] They say if we go with them, we'll live forever. And that's good. It's probably going to take you an eternity to forgive me... Alma, I'm sorry. I guess I was being ridiculous. I'm sorry. I love you. You're my whole life. I wanna go. But if it's a choice of only six more months here with you or living forever all by myself, well I'll take the six more months here with you. I don't want to live forever if you're not going to be with me.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Reading Rainbow: Space Case (#4.1)" (1986)

Soundtrack:

You'll Never Know

Charming fable that's still fresh

Cocoon is a charming science fiction fable by the underrated Ron Howard. Howard is an amiable, frequently baseball-capped figure who, in the 70's, became a familiar face through his 6 year stint as Richie in TV's Happy Days. Cocoon followed immediately after Splash! (1984), another successful fantasy. It exchanges the Tom Hanks figure featured in that film with a similar one played by Steve Guttenberg, another romantic innocent. But whereas in the earlier film Hanks had a central role, here Jack Bonner (Guttenberg) has far less prominence. This is perhaps because of Guttenberg's modest acting abilities, but principally so the narrative can focus more securely on the characters that matter – the community of senior citizens facing their twilight years at the Sunny Shores Retirement Center.

Cocoon's achievement as a film is all the more remarkable when one reflects upon the scarcity of active, old people in American cinema, let alone a group of them presented so positively in a state of sexual re awakening, then led to such an upbeat conclusion. Behind this apparent optimism, however, the thoughtful viewer can still reflect on some final doubts and uncertainties.

The central circle of old people, around whom events turn, together prove a fine acting ensemble. Arthur (a still svelte Don Ameche), Ben (Selwyn Wilford Brimley) Jo (Hume Cronyn), Bernie (Walter Gilford), Alma (Jessica Tandy), Bess (Gwen Verdon) and the others are a convincing unit, squabbling, relating and facing the end of their lives with cantankerous dignity which is entirely convincing. Tandy and Cronyn were married in real life. Many of film's most poignant moments of the film spring from the relationships between these people. The quiet passing of Rose for instance, and her husband's grief by her bedside. Notable too is the wooing by former song and dance man Ameche of his new lady love, a process during which he shows no lessening of time-honed screen courtesy and assurance. During the opening of the film, Arthur and Jo's witnessing of an unsuccessful resuscitation is a stark reminder of the mortality of the principals, sadly off and on screen. Cocoon was a last hurrah for many of the elderly cast (although one or two survived advancing years to appear in the terrible Cocoon 2(1988)).

The other major character group are the Antareans. Here too a refreshing leap out of the stereotypical is taken as the aliens prove reasonable, non aggressive and forgiving – perhaps characteristics inspired by Spielberg's influential and amenable ET (1982) or the religiosity of Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). Jack Bonner's near hysterical reaction to their initial unmasking ('If you try and eat my face off you'll be very, very sorry'), his following conversion then inevitable dalliance, are all handled with an effective lightness. Even Howard's depiction of an alien orgasm on screen as Jack romances Kitty (Tahnee Welch) without touching, in the life giving pool, is done sensitively. It is perhaps the most striking moment of its sort in Science Fiction cinema since Woody Allen's Sleeper (1973). Cocoon is a film in which sexual energy is equated closely to an amplified life force and is seen as both positive and welcome. Both young and old feel the replenishment of their passion, directly or indirectly, in connection with the cocoon tank. Here the items retrieved from the sea are settled at the bottom, somewhat ominous reminders of a life to come. The title itself is suggestive, not only of the typical dormacy of a chrysalis, but of impending rebirth such an object heralds. As the oldsters rejuvenate with the 'fountain of youth', they find new meaning and value in their lives, a belated development which even leads to the sad break up of families. The desire for life can be selfish, even when healthily expressed, and some prefer to 'stick with the hand nature has given' them.

The Antarean's recovery of their 'ground crew' is what brings them to earth. While their leader's account of them having originally lodged themselves in what was Atlantis is slightly hoary (their bases apparently having sunk during the 'first great upheaval') the film wisely seers away from too much alien hardware. Apart from the pretty device on the deck of Bonner's boat, and the splendours of the returning mother ship, very little technology is glimpsed. The Antareans are certainly strange, but lacking much hard evidence of their difference enables the audience to relate to them easily. Even their unskinning, as they emerge as their true, shining selves, is a wonderous event, a shining transfiguration with no implicit threat to humanity.

These are aliens associated with whiteness and with life, forgiving and considerate, exhibiting 'christian' values. They radiate and float like angels when emerging from human covering, and their ship takes the departing OAPs up into the light. Hollywood readily associates such light with the rewards of heaven (for other examples of the brilliance bestowed upon the departing see The Frighteners (1996) or Jacob's Ladder (1990). Substitute the pool of life for baptism, the smiling Walter (Brian Dennehy) for a prophet, and Cocoon's alien spaceship might just as easily be the Gabriel leading the faithful to paradise.

But what of the end of the film? Is it really as happy and as affirmative as it first seems? Bonner has made great play with his responsibility as a skipper in an earlier scene with Kitty. At the conclusion he might, therefore, reasonably be held to account for his loss of a cargo of elderly transportees. At least one extended family is broken up by their leaving. And Walter has to return home, his mission a failure, together with a boatload of unexpected guests. At the least the final ascension is a complex event, leaving some tensions unresolved. That Cocoon manages to hold all these elements together in a satisfying whole is one reason to seek it out. To enjoy a warm hearted family film is another.