Mask (1985)

Director:

Peter Bogdanovich

Writer:

Anna Hamilton Phelan (written by)

Release Date:

8 March 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

They told 16-year-old Rocky Dennis he could never be like everyone else. So he was determined to be better.

Plot:

A boy with a massive facial skull deformity and biker gang mother attempts to live as normal a life as possible under the circumstances.

Plot Keywords:

Biker Gang | Biker | Deformity | Prejudice | Sport Card

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 1 win & 6 nominations

Cast

Cher	...	Florence 'Rusty' Dennis
Sam Elliott	...	Gar
Eric Stoltz	...	Roy L.'Rocky' Dennis
Estelle Getty	...	Evelyn
Richard Dysart	...	Abe
Laura Dern	...	Diana Adams
Micole Mercurio	...	Babe
Harry Carey Jr.	...	Red
Dennis Burkley	...	Dozer
Lawrence Monoson	...	Ben
Ben Piazza	...	Mr. Simms
L. Craig King	...	Eric
Alexandra Powers	...	Lisa
Kelly Jo Minter	...	Lorrie (as Kelly Minter)
Joe Unger	...	1st Boyfriend
Todd Allen	...	Canuck
Howard Hirdler	...	Stickman
Jeannie Dimter Barton	...	Jr. High Secretary
Steve James	...	Hospital Intern
Cathy Arden	...	Hospital Doctor
Andrew Robinson	...	Doctor Vinton
Ivan J. Rado	...	Dr. Rudinsky
Anna Hamilton Phelan	...	Puppy Lady
Wayne Grace	...	Drug Dealer
Nick Cassavetes	...	T.J.
Les Dudek	...	Bone
Rebecca Wood	...	Angel (as Rebecca Sharkey)
Paige Matthews	...	Stickman's Girl
Patricia Pelham	...	Canuck's Girl
Gale Ricketts	...	Sunshine's Girl
Stan Ross	...	Drunken Biker
Scott Willardsen	...	Jr. High Student
Marsha Warfield	...	Homeroom Teacher
Allison Roth	...	Nancy Lawrence
David Scott Milton	...	History Teacher
Creed Bratton	...	Carnival Ticket Taker
Charles Taylor	...	2nd Boyfriend
Rummel Mor	...	Track Runner
Barry Tubb	...	Dewey
Norman Kaplan	...	Himself
Marilyn Hamilton	...	Mr. Kaplan's Aide
Anna Thea	...	Woman Counselor
Louis Waldon	...	Camp Cook
Toni Sawyer	...	Mrs. Adams
Lou Felder	...	Mr. Adams
Christopher Rydell	...	Senior High Student
Beth McKinley	...	Senior High Student
Jill Whitlow	...	Anne Marie
Eddie Paul	...	Biker
Michael Adams	...	Biker
Jeff Jensen	...	Biker
Jack Wright	...	Biker
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dorothy Hack
Jo-El Sonnier	...	Sunshine
Robert 'Duckie' Carpenter	...	Blind Boy (uncredited)

Directed by
Peter Bogdanovich

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Anna Hamilton Phelan		written by

Produced by
Howard P. Alston	....	co-producer (as Howard Alston)
C.J. Kettler	....	executive producer
George Morfogen	....	associate producer
Peggy Robertson	....	associate producer
Martin Starger	....	producer

Original Music by
Dennis Ricotta

Cinematography by
László Kovács		(director of photography) (as Laszlo Kovacs)

Film Editing by
Barbara Ford

Casting by
Jackie Burch
Michael Chinich

Art Direction by
Norman Newberry

Makeup Department
Zoltan Elek	....	makeup artist (as Zoltan)
Brian Penikas	....	test prosthetics
Michael Westmore	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Katy Emde	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Tom Margozewitz	....	assistant property master
Andrew Probert	....	pre-production artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Crew Chamberlain	....	boom operator
Angie Luckey	....	assistant sound editor
Michael Colomby	....	sound re-recording mixer: restoration remix (uncredited)

Stunts
Michael Barnett	....	stunts
Steve Morey	....	stunt double
Eddie Paul	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Bob Munoz	....	best boy grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
April Ferry	....	costumes: Cher
Marla Denise Schlom	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Lisa Zeno Churgin	....	first assistant editor
Éva Gárdos	....	supervising editor (as Eva Gardos)
David Williams	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Robb Navrides	....	music editor: restoration

Transportation Department
John Tuell	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Jim Gerwig	....	caterer
Bill McCamey	....	nurse: second unit
David C. Thomas	....	location manager

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1985) (USA) (theatrical)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1985) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• CIC Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Universal Home Video (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)

Other Companies

• K!SSPROOF Entertainment  cast appearance booking

Also Known As:

Peter Bogdanovich's Mask (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

120 min | USA:127 min (director's cut)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | West Germany:12 (f) | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-10 | France:U | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Australia:M | Netherlands:AL

Filming Locations:

Azusa, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

Bruce Springsteen's music was chosen for several reasons. It was the real Rocky's favorite music, and it served to denote the passage of time. Springsteen wanted his music used in the original release, but the owners of his catalog at that time could not agree on a royalty rate with the studio. The music was reinstated for the Director's Cut when Springsteen himself pushed for its inclusion.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Diana wears a wristwatch in a number of scenes - an item that would be of little use to a blind person.

Quotes:

[after Rocky gave impressive speech on how Trojan War started]
Eric: That wasn't bad, Dennis. How about you tutor me?
Rocky Dennis: Tutor you?
Eric: Yeah. Cooley almost failed me last year.
Rocky Dennis: Ok. But it will cost you $3 an hour.
Eric: Three bucks?
[classroom falls silent and looks back at the two because of the sudden outburst]
Eric: [kinda tense] It's a deal.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Greg the Bunny: Blue Velveteen (#2.3)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Tutti Frutti

Very underrated!

This is an excellent film with an excellent story played by an excellent cast! Rocky, a teenager with a horribly disfigured skull tries to fit in. His mother, ably played by Cher, portrays a biker babe who loves her son but little else. Sam Eliot plays her biker boyfriend but also has a soft spot for Rocky. Rocky loves a blind girl, played wonderfully by Laura Dern. All in all, this is a touching, but not overly sappy film! This one is worth a watch.