Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Howard Deutch

Writer:

John Hughes (written by)

Release Date:

27 February 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Before they could stand together, they had to stand alone.

Plot:

A young tomboy, Watts, finds her feelings for her best friend, Keith, run deeper than just friendship...

Plot Keywords:

School | Tomboy | Boyfriend | Best Friends | School Life

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Eric Stoltz	...	Keith Nelson
Mary Stuart Masterson	...	Watts
Lea Thompson	...	Amanda Jones
Craig Sheffer	...	Hardy Jenns
John Ashton	...	Cliff Nelson
Elias Koteas	...	Skinhead
Molly Hagan	...	Shayne
Maddie Corman	...	Laura Nelson
Jane Elliot	...	Carol Nelson
Candace Cameron Bure	...	Cindy Nelson (as Candace Cameron)
Chynna Phillips	...	Mia
Scott Coffey	...	Ray
Carmine Caridi	...	Museum Guard
Lee Garlington	...	Gym Instructor
Laura Leigh Hughes	...	Holly
Laura Tubelle	...	Laura's Friend
Amy Lynne	...	Laura's Friend
Michael Bergman	...	Skinhead's Friend
Megan Daniels	...	Skinhead's Friend
Dale L. Evans	...	Skinhead's Friend
Peter Elbling	...	Maitre 'D
Patricia Gaul	...	Mrs. Gale
Kenneth Kimmins	...	Detention Teacher
James MacDonald	...	Hardy's Friend (as James G. Macdonald)
J. Patrick McNamara	...	Fight Teacher
Jonathan Schmock	...	Carparker
James Vallely	...	Carparker
Lita Stevens	...	Amanda's Friend
Christine Spiotta	...	Waitress
Tom Ashton	...	The March Violets
Laurence Elliott	...	The March Violets
Cleo Murray	...	The March Violets
Andy Tolson	...	The March Violets
Steve Alterman	...	Party Guest
Pamela Anderson	...	Party Guest
Cathy Cavadini	...	Party Guest
Ike Eisenmann	...	Party Guest
Deborah Fallender	...	Party Guest
Noelle Harling	...	Party Guest
Barbara Harris	...	Party Guest (as Barbara Iley)
David McCharen	...	Party Guest
Paige Pollack	...	Party Guest (as Paige Nan Pollock)
Bryan Scott	...	Party Guest
Vernon Scott	...	Party Guest
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Spezzano	...	Lawn kid (uncredited)

Directed by
Howard Deutch

Writing credits
John Hughes		(written by)

Produced by
Michael Chinich	....	executive producer
Ronald Colby	....	executive producer
John Hughes	....	producer

Original Music by
Stephen Hague
John Musser

Cinematography by
Jan Kiesser		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Bud S. Smith		(as Bud Smith)
M. Scott Smith		(as Scott Smith)

Casting by
Judith Weiner

Production Design by
Josan F. Russo		(as Josan Russo)

Art Direction by
Gregory Pickrell		(as Greg Pickrell)

Set Decoration by
Linda Spheeris

Costume Design by
Marilyn Vance		(as Marilyn Vance-Straker)

Makeup Department
Zoltan Elek	....	makeup artist (as Zoltan)
Michael Germain	....	additional makeup artist (as Perry M. Germain)
Marina Pedraza	....	hair stylist
Bren Plaistowe	....	additional hair stylist

Production Management
Jerry A. Baerwitz	....	unit production manager (as Jerry Baerwitz)
Bill Brown	....	post-production supervisor
Ronald Colby	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bryan Denegal	....	second assistant director
Vicki Jackson-Lemay	....	second assistant director (as Vicki LeMay)
Kimberly Sizemore	....	dga trainee
Jerry Ziesmer	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Carl Aldana	....	illustrator
Jerry Allen	....	propmaker foreperson
Rubin Andreatta	....	greensperson
Robert Bonino	....	construction foreperson
Edmond Brown	....	lead person
John Hutchinson	....	production painter
Richard Leon	....	assistant property master
Jeff Passanante	....	construction supervisor
Edmund Villa	....	property master
Han Xin	....	portrait painter

Sound Department
Pamela Bentkowski	....	foley supervisor
James Beshears	....	adr supervisor
Steve Bowerman	....	boom operator (as Steven R. Bowerman)
Dominick De Stefano	....	cable person
Don Digirolamo	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mike Dobie	....	supervising sound editor
Julia Evershade	....	sound editor
Robert Glass	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Bob Glass)
Kimberly Harris	....	sound editor (as Kimberly Ann Harris)
Devon Heffley Curry	....	assistant sound editor
Robert Knudson	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Buzz Knudson)
David MacMillan	....	sound mixer (as David Macmillan)
Judee Margules	....	assistant sound editor
David Pettijohn	....	sound editor
Gary Wright	....	sound editor
Edward M. Steidele	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Louis R. Cooper	....	special effects coordinator (as Louis Cooper)

Stunts
Erik Cord	....	stunts
Dana Dru Evenson	....	stunts
Sasha Jenson	....	stunts
Pamela Manganaro	....	stunts
Steve Morey	....	stunt double
Steve L. Morey	....	stunts
Edward J. Ulrich	....	stunts (as Ed Ulrich)
Sasha Jenson	....	stunt double: Craig Sheffer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Albert Bettcher	....	camera operator (as Al Bettcher)
Doug Cook	....	second company grip (as Douglas Cook)
Lowell Crisp	....	electrical lighting technician (as Lowell E. Crisp)
Lowell Crisp	....	electrician
Michael Gershman	....	camera operator (as Michael E. Gershman)
Clyde Hart	....	first company grip
O.T. Henderson	....	dolly grip
Calvin Maehl	....	chief lighting technician
Charles E. Nippell	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Charles Nippell)
Aaron Pazanti	....	first assistant photographer
Ed Reilly	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Joyce Rudolph	....	still photographer
Robert Samuels	....	second assistant photographer (as Robert B. Samuels)
Eddie Taylor	....	chief rigging electrician

Casting Department
Barbara Flinn	....	extras casting
Steven Jacobs	....	casting associate: New York
Ruth Lambert	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Elinor Bardach	....	assistant to costume designer
Greg Hall	....	costumer: men
Silvio Scarano	....	costume supervisor: men
Barbara Siebert	....	costume supervisor: women (as Barbara Siebert Bolticoff)
Victoria Snow	....	costumer: women

Editorial Department
Richard Alderete	....	assistant editor
Seth Flaum	....	associate editor
Kim Nolan	....	apprentice editor
Robert Raring	....	color timer (as Rob Raring)

Music Department
The Apartments	....	performer: song "The Shyest Time"
Dan Carlin Sr.	....	music editor
Furniture	....	performer: song "Brilliant Mind"
Tarquin Gotch	....	music supervisor
The March Violets	....	performer: song "Turn To The Sky"
Ron Payne	....	music coordinator

Transportation Department
Todd Connolly	....	transportation co-captain
Dan Marrow	....	transportation coordinator
Gaston Veilleux	....	transportation captain (as Gaston 'Gus' Veilleux)

Other crew
Pamela Alch	....	script supervisor
James Bailey	....	first aid (as Jim Bailey)
Bruce A. Block	....	filmic consultant
Tony Bowers	....	location manager (as Anthony Bowers)
Robin Citrin	....	location manager
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer
David Gonzales	....	production associate
Doris Hellmann	....	production secretary (as Doris Helman)
Gus Hill	....	caterer
Arthur 'Clondike' Jones	....	craft service (as Art 'Klondike' Jones)
Tim McNeal	....	production assistant (as Timothy K. McNeal)
Billy Moore	....	drumming instructor
Don Petrie	....	production auditor
Fredell Pogodin	....	publicity coordinator
Kathryn Rhodes	....	production assistant
Nanette Siegert	....	production coordinator
Susan Smith	....	production assistant
Elena Spiotta	....	production associate
Ron Stack	....	assistant production auditor
Douglas E. Stoll	....	location manager (as Doug Evan Stoll)
Jane Vickerilla	....	assistant: John Hughes
Jeanne Webber	....	technical consultant (as Jeanne Weber)

Production Companies

• Hughes Entertainment
• Paramount Pictures (presents)

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures

Other Companies

• Central Casting  extras casting
• K!SSPROOF Entertainment  cast appearance booking
• MCA Records  soundtrack
• Pacific Title  opticals
• Reel People Inc.  negative cutting

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | Canada:PG | Finland:K-8 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:7 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Hollywood Bowl - 2301 N. Highland Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Hughes Entertainment

Trivia:

Maddie Corman, like Elias Koteas, was discovered by John Hughes in New York and also suggested she'd be cast in this film.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Watts is walking away from Keith and Amanda at the end, she wipes away the tears on her right cheek. When Keith calls her name, and she turns around, the tears reappear on her face.

Quotes:

Watts: Get your skag and let's go.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Fly Papers: The Buzz on Hollywood's Scariest Insect (2000) (TV)

Soundtrack:

The Hardest Walk

Role models, social conscience, and a fab soundtrack

As a twelve year old girl, I had a hard time finding role models. I lived on the outskirts of what was basically a country club neighborhood, but was not that kind of gal. So I found it wonderfully refreshing to find a role model in the pre-"Girl-Power" girl power of Watts. I fell in love along side her (and to this day, harbor a special place in my heart for Eric Stoltz), begged my parents to let me learn the drums, and knew every line by heart. She was tough, witty, and (according to my older brother) incredibly sexy. Eric Stoltz is dreamy in a working class kind of way and puts in a performance of true depth and character. This movie has heart without being sickly sweet. It delves into family relationships, friendships, and romance. Most notably, it tackles something that the current teen fair seems to lack, social consciousness. It's not afraid to break stereotypes or point out social injustice. Not to mention, it has one of the best soundtracks of the '80s. I give it an A++!!!