Ernest Saves Christmas (1988)

Director:

John R. Cherry III

Writers (WGA):

Ed Turner (story)
B. Kline (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

11 November 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Comedy

Tagline:

A holiday comedy unlike any other!

Plot:

Ernest helps Santa Claus as he searches for his successor.

Plot Keywords:

Christmas | Santa Claus | Holiday | Sequel | Lifting Person In Air

Cast

Jim Varney	...	Ernest P. Worrel / Astor Clementh - the governor's assistant / Auntie Nelda / Mrs. Brock / The Snake Guy
Douglas Seale	...	Santa Claus / 'Seth Applegate' / 'Mr. Santos'
Oliver Clark	...	Joe Carruthers
Noelle Parker	...	Harmony Star / 'Pamela Trenton'
Gailard Sartain	...	Chuck
Bill Byrge	...	Bobby
Billie Bird	...	Mary Morrissey
Robert Lesser	...	Marty Brock
Key Howard	...	Immigration Agent
Jack Swanson	...	Businessman
Buddy Douglas	...	Pyramus
Patty Maloney	...	Thisbe
Beecher Martin	...	Agent Skippy
Barry Brazell	...	Cab Passenger
George Kaplan	...	Mr. Dillis
Bill Welter	...	Walter (as Bill Christie)
Joe Candelora	...	Arresting Officer
Danny Dillon	...	Booking Officer
Lindsey Alley	...	Patsy
Phran Gauci	...	Lacy
Bill Cordell	...	Carl
Larry Francer	...	Brad
Jackie Welch	...	Animal Officer #1
Daniel Butler	...	Animal Officer #2
Antonio Fabrizio	...	Mean-Looking Man
Bob Norris	...	Police Chief Spenks
Carmen J. Alexander	...	Police Officer
Miriam P. Saunders	...	Receptionist
Cyndi Vicino	...	Make-up Artist
Tom Nowicki	...	Crew Member
Michael O. Smith	...	Studio Guard
Jesse Stone	...	Elderly Man
Angelique Walker	...	Girl
Zachary Bowden	...	Boy
Donna Phillip Miller	...	Mom
Paul Darby	...	Ticket Agent
Cynthia Ergenbright	...	Museum Person
Bob Barnes	...	Controller #1
Mike Hutchinson	...	Monster
Douglas Brush	...	Commander
D. Christian Gottshall	...	Controller #2
Ray Russell	...	Stage Hand
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jon Freda	...	Tourist (uncredited)
Rosa Nevin	...	Business Person at Work Building (uncredited)

Directed by
John R. Cherry III

Writing credits (WGA)
Ed Turner		(story)
B. Kline		(screenplay) and
Ed Turner		(screenplay)

Produced by
Joseph Akerman	....	executive producer
Doug Claybourne	....	producer
Martin Erlichman	....	executive producer
Justis Greene	....	co-producer
Stacy Williams	....	producer

Original Music by
Mark Snow

Cinematography by
Peter Stein

Production Design by
Ian D. Thomas

Costume Design by
Peter Mitchell

Makeup Department
Robert Hallowell II	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
Carol Sue Byron	....	unit production manager
Justis Greene	....	unit production manager
Daniel J. Heffner	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Patrice Leung	....	first assistant director
Douglas A. Raine	....	second assistant director
Todd Turner	....	assistant director

Art Department
Robert Beck	....	assistant property master
Sandi Cook	....	scenic artist

Sound Department
Vanessa Theme Ament	....	foley artist
Mark Berger	....	supervising re-recording mixer
Todd Boekelheide	....	sound re-recording mixer
Sharon Smith Holley	....	sound
Mark Levinson	....	dialogue editor
David Parker	....	sound re-recording mixer
Philip Rogers	....	sound recordist

Visual Effects by
Paul Lasaine	....	matte artist

Camera and Electrical Department
Armanda Costanza	....	assistant camera
Jeff Hurst	....	best boy electric
Jeff Hurst	....	gaffer: second unit
D.L. 'Pete' Peterson	....	crane operator
Nik Petrik	....	assistant camera: second unit

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Shawn Barry	....	costume supervisor
Lynda Foote	....	set costumer

Music Department
Joanie Diener	....	music editor (as Joanie Diener Rowland)
William Ross	....	orchestrator

Transportation Department
Andy Burr	....	driver
A. Welch Lambeth	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Robert J. Dietze II	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Lisa S. Girolami	....	associate production executive (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Silver Screen Partners IV
• Touchstone Pictures

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures (1988) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1991) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Touchstone Home Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Touchstone Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Saul Zaentz Film Center  sound re-recording

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Company:

Silver Screen Partners IV

Trivia:

The only Ernest movie in which Vern "appears".

Goofs:

Continuity: After Ernest runs over the spike strip, the truck continues rolling, but a few seconds later it is shown sitting directly on the spike strip.

Quotes:

Santa Claus, aka 'Seth Applegate': This is Ernest. I'm Santa Claus.
[odd silence]
Ernest P. Worell: Surprised?
Harmony Star: Uh, no. No, not - not really.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Star Wars (1977)

Good Christmas movie. You got to love Ernest

Ernest rules! Ernest always can make a good movie for all seasons. I mean, you got....

1. Ernest Goes To Camp-Good Summer movie.

2. Ernest Saves Christmas-Good Christmas movie.

3. Ernest Scared Stupid-Good Halloween movie.

You got to love Ernest. Watch this movie. But it will get you into a Christmas mood. Nothing wrong with that.