The Milagro Beanfield War (1988)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Robert Redford

Writers:

John Nichols (novel)
John Nichols (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

18 March 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Drama

Tagline:

Milagro, New Mexico. Population 426. Nothing had changed here for 300 years. But there's something about this day...

Plot:

In Milagro, a small town in the American Southwest, Ladd Devine plans to build a major new resort development...

Plot Keywords:

Water | American Southwest | Small Town | Governor | Pig

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Rubén Blades	...	Sheriff Bernabe Montoya
Richard Bradford	...	Ladd Devine
Sonia Braga	...	Ruby Archuleta
Julie Carmen	...	Nancy Mondragon
James Gammon	...	Horsethief Shorty
Melanie Griffith	...	Flossie Devine
John Heard	...	Charlie Bloom
Carlos Riquelme	...	Amarante Cordova
Daniel Stern	...	Herbie Platt
Chick Vennera	...	Joe Mondragon
Christopher Walken	...	Kyril Montana
Freddy Fender	...	Mayor Sammy Cantu
Tony Genaro	...	Nick Rael
Jerry Hardin	...	Emerson Capps
Ronald G. Joseph	...	Jerry G
Mario Arrambide	...	Carl
Robert Carricart	...	Coyote Angel
Alberto Morin	...	The Senile Brigade
Federico Roberto	...	The Senile Brigade
Natividad Vacío	...	The Senile Brigade
Eloy Vigil	...	The Senile Brigade
Trinidad Silva	...	Milagro Townsperson
Consuelo Luz	...	Milagro Townsperson
Mike Gomez	...	Milagro Townsperson
Olga Merediz	...	Milagro Townsperson
Leandro Cordova	...	Milagro Townsperson
Eva Cantu	...	Milagro Townsperson
Astrea Romero	...	Milagro Townsperson
Donald Salazar	...	Milagro Townsperson
Reynaldo Cantu	...	Milagro Townsperson
Alfredo Romero	...	Milagro Townsperson
Arnold Berns	...	Milagro Townsperson
Cipriano Vigil	...	Milagro Townsperson
Rudy Fernandez	...	Milagro Townsperson
Victoria Plata	...	Milagro Townsperson
Fredrick Lopez	...	Milagro Townsperson
Cletus Tafoya	...	Milagro Townsperson
Marcos I. Martinez	...	Milagro Townsperson
Waldo Cantu	...	Milagro Townsperson
Eddie G. Baros	...	Milagro Townsperson
Ishmael A. Avila	...	Milagro Townsperson
Douglas Yanez	...	Milagro Townsperson
Jimmy Martinez	...	Milagro Townsperson
Bonnie Apodaca	...	Milagro Townsperson
Ruby Marchant	...	Milagro Townsperson
Adelita Sandoval	...	Milagro Townsperson
Marco A. Oviedo	...	Milagro Townsperson
Roberto Mondragon	...	Milagro Townsperson
Eric Treisman	...	Friend of Devine
Nat Shipman	...	Friend of Devine
Juanita Nichols	...	Friend of Devine
Margo Cutler	...	Friend of Devine
Patricio Chavez	...	Friend of Devine
China Bell	...	Friend of Devine
Basil Hoffman	...	In The Governor's Office
Phil Mead	...	In The Governor's Office
Gene Ornelas	...	In The Governor's Office
Ron Frazier	...	In The Governor's Office
Sam Vlahos	...	In The Governor's Office
Linda Witz	...	In The Governor's Office
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Governor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tom Connor	...	Dancing Angel
Julia Garcia	...	Milagro Townsperson (uncredited)
Pablo A. Trujillo	...	The Senile Brigade (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Redford

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
John Nichols		novel
John Nichols		screenplay
David S. Ward		writer (as David Ward)

Produced by
Moctesuma Esparza	....	producer
Gary Hendler	....	executive producer (as Gary J. Hendler)
Charles Mulvehill	....	co-producer
Robert Redford	....	producer

Original Music by
Dave Grusin

Cinematography by
Robbie Greenberg

Film Editing by
Dede Allen
Jim Miller

Casting by
Nancy Foy

Production Design by
Joe Aubel
Thomas L. Roysden		(as Tom Roysden)

Art Direction by
Brandy Alexander
Joe Aubel
Pamela Marcotte

Set Decoration by
Thomas L. Roysden

Costume Design by
Bernie Pollack

Makeup Department
Shirley Dolle	....	hair stylist
Tom Hoerber	....	makeup artist
Gary Liddiard	....	makeup artist

Production Management
David Wisnievitz	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charles Myers	....	first assistant director (as Myers)
Kaaren F. Ochoa	....	second second assistant director
W. Thomas Snyder	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Craig B. Ayers Sr.	....	greensman (as Craig Ayers)
Roy Barnes	....	set designer
Larry Boyd	....	lead man
Charles A. Carlsen	....	greensman assistant
Jimmy Day	....	key labor boss (as Jim Day)
Gordon Fletcher	....	construction foreman
Trish Gallaher Glenn	....	property master (as Trisha B Gallaher)
David L. Glazer	....	assistant property master
Antoinette J. Gordon	....	set designer
George E. Hanson	....	stand-by painter
James Hegedus	....	sketch artist
Cecily Hughes	....	set dresser
Ronald C. Jacobs	....	lead man
Nikita Knatz	....	sketch artist
Frederic Lopez	....	property assistant
William Maldonado	....	construction coordinator (as Billy Maldonado)
Willie O. Martinez	....	labor foreman
Richard McKenzie	....	set designer
Joe Mendoza	....	drapery man
Leonard Monfredo	....	paint boss
Tony Paolone	....	paint boss
Angel Perez	....	shop foreman
Pablo Valdez	....	labor foreman
Billy Ray	....	carpenter (uncredited)

Sound Department
William C. Carruth	....	adr editor
Crew Chamberlain	....	boom operator
Lucy Coldsnow-Smith	....	foley editor (as Lucy Coldsnow)
William Ferson	....	cable person
Shelley Rae Hinton	....	adr editor
Spike Allison Hooper	....	assistant sound editor
David M. Horton	....	sound editor (as David Horton)
Matthew Iadarola	....	sound re-recording mixer
Laura Krumholz	....	sound assistant
William F. MacPherson	....	sound
Michael Minkler	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kim Nolan	....	assistant sound editor
Richard Oswald	....	sound editor
Kay Rose	....	supervising sound editor
Jack Schrader	....	foley editor
Chester Slomka	....	sound editor
Paul C. Warschilka	....	assistant sound editor
James E. Webb	....	sound mixer
Butch Wolf	....	foley editor
Ken Dufva	....	foley artist (uncredited)
John Roesch	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Mike Reedy	....	assistant special effects
Paul Russell	....	assistant special effects
Thomas R. Ward	....	special effects (as Tom Ward)

Visual Effects by
Peter Jamison	....	visual effects supervisor

Stunts
Mickey Gilbert	....	stunt coordinator
Rick Kahana	....	stunts
Jim Wilkey	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Barrere	....	grip
Joseph Caramico	....	electrician
Jack Couffer	....	cinematographer: second unit
Chris Espeset	....	grip
Conrad W. Hall	....	first assistant camera (as Conrad Hall)
Brian P. Hauck	....	electrician
Dale Holmen	....	electrician
Danny Jimenez	....	dolly grip
Elliott Marks	....	still photographer
Melton Maxwell	....	gaffer
Tim McDonald	....	electrician
Jack E. McLean Jr.	....	electrician (as Jack McLean)
David P. O'Brien	....	grip
Tom Ramsey	....	key grip
Josh Rich	....	grip
Michael J. Selph	....	second assistant camera
Chuck Sharp	....	best boy electric (as Charles W. Sharp)
Tim Staubs	....	best boy grip
Joseph D. Steuben	....	camera operator
Stephen St. John	....	Steadicam operator
Mike Thomas	....	second assistant camera
John Toll	....	camera operator

Casting Department
Lucy Cavallo	....	casting assistant
Barbara Harris	....	adr voice casting
Sally Jackson	....	background casting
Tom Joslin	....	casting assistant
Victoria Plata	....	background casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mary Ann Holt	....	seamstress
Patrick R. Norris	....	costumer: men
Kathy O'Rear	....	costumer: women
Teri R. Salazar	....	wardrobe assistant
Nick Scarano	....	costumer: men
Vincent Sembera	....	tailor

Editorial Department
Donah Bassett	....	negative cutter
Eric L. Beason	....	associate editor (as Eric Beason)
Mellissa Bretherton	....	assistant editor
James Flamberg	....	associate editor
Nancy Frazen	....	associate editor
Stanley Frazen	....	additional editor
David Koeppel	....	assistant editor
Mary Jo Markey	....	apprentice editor
Karen Rasch	....	first additional editor
Lauren A. Schaffer	....	assistant editor
Brent White	....	apprentice editor

Music Department
Else Blangsted	....	supervising music editor
James Flamberg	....	supervising music editor
Ángel Romero	....	musician: solo guitar
Ellen Segal	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Steve Boyd	....	transportation captain
Steven R. Molen	....	transportation coordinator
Billy Kaundart	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Julie Adams	....	dialogue coach
Cassandra Barrere	....	script supervisor
Sarah Black	....	production consultant
Billy Brashier	....	location projectionist
Reynaldo Cantu	....	location liaison assistant
Jim Day	....	key labor boss
Michael Dellheim	....	location liaison
Felicito de Navarez	....	production assistant
Mary Lou Devlin	....	assistant accountant
Mary Lou Devlin	....	production secretary: Santa Fe
Jim Ealy	....	first aid
Gregg Fienberg	....	production coordinator
Rodney Gallegos	....	production assistant
Henry J. Golas	....	technical advisor
Anthony Goldschmidt	....	title designer: main titles
Anthony Goldschmidt	....	title montage
Celeste Gose	....	production assistant
Michael Helfand	....	second unit coordinator
Rebecca Hilliard	....	assistant accountant (as Beccie Hillard)
Rebecca Hilliard	....	assistant production accountant
Peter Jamison	....	visual consultant
Keith Jones	....	production assistant
Marilyn Keach	....	production assistant
Leon Lebow	....	assistant wrangler
Kenneth Lee	....	animal trainer (as Kenny Lee)
Jim McCarthy	....	production accountant
Sammye Meadows	....	production assistant
Carla Meyer	....	dialogue coach
Robbie Miller	....	assistant: Mr. Redford
Felito de Navaraez	....	production assistant
Ralph Ortega	....	assistant wrangler
James Parks	....	production consultant
Angel Perez	....	shop foreman
Donnette Perkins	....	production assistant
Pilar	....	production assistant
Billy Dan Riley	....	craft service
Reid Rosefelt	....	unit publicist
Phil Smith	....	animal trainer
Thomas Thanangadan	....	production assistant
Jessica Tice Warner	....	production secretary: Los Angeles
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer (uncredited)

Thanks
David Ochoa	....	special thanks
Ralph Segura	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Esparza
• Universal Pictures

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1988) (USA) (theatrical)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2008) (Australia) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Great Northern Brokerage Services  insurance
• Inter Video  24 frame video services
• Intl. Film Mgmt. Systems  computers
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Studios  foley recording
• Northstar Media Inc.  production sound transfers
• Optical Illusions  mattes
• PMK Public Relations  public relations
• Pacific Title  opticals
• Sound West  re-recording facilities
• TAJ Soundworks  foley recording

Also Known As:

The Milagro Beanfield War (Australia)

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #29090) | Singapore:PG | Iceland:12 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Espanola, New Mexico, USA

Company:

Esparza

Trivia:

In a scene at one of the local Milagro stores where John Heard's lawyer character is dropping off his newspapers, a woman is shopping for Newman's Own salad dressing. The store owner tells her, that's no good, buy something else - an obvious in-joke in which director Robert Redford tweaks his longtime friend and frequent co-star Paul Newman.

Goofs:

Continuity: As Bernie pulls up to the Forest Service office during the scene with Joe's cow, his truck creates a large dust cloud which sweeps over everyone. In the next shot, the cloud is completely gone.

Quotes:

Nancy Mondragon: I'll hit you so hard they'll arrest you in El Paso for speeding.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Thing That Couldn't Die (#9.5)" (1997)

The lost Redford film...

Although I have not seen this film for over a decade, it still resonates in my memory. Given the success of all Redford's other directing projects (yes, I know that The Legend of Bagger Vance did not perform well at the box office relative to the marketing and stars involved, but it was quite a good film-- despite the mediocre reviews), it always astounded me that The Milagro Beanfield War gets little mention even in the recapping of Redford's career. Redford's other three films not aforementioned, Ordinary People, A River Runs Through It, and Quiz

Show, all were critical darlings and each received nominations at the Academy Awards. I know that The Milagro Beanfield War won for its score, but that was its lone nomination.

The film is somewhat obscure relative to its storyline. Yet, there is quite a magical quality to the manner in which the narrative unfolds. It most closely resembles The Legend of Bagger Vance in regards to its tone (not necessarily

its social commentary though). I am constantly surprised that this film is not shown on cable, both basic cable and subscription movie channels. Although

its impact on the viewer is not nearly as emotionally intimate as Ordinary

People, it is almost as good, a little better if you consider the uniqueness of the story. It is far superior in comparison to A River Runs Through It, especially given that A River Runs Through It has serious problems with Craig Scheffer's perfomance and the horrible casting of Emily Lloyd. Of course, I find A River Runs Through It almost unwatchable, with the exception of the beautiful Oscar- winning cinematography by Rousselot, one of the best cinematographers

working today (He has outclassed many of his peers in a variety of films: We're No Angels; Dangerous Liasons; Interview With a Vampire; Mary Reilly; and

Flesh and Bone).

I know very few people who have seen this film and I always try to persuade

them to search it out at their local DVD/video store. If you have not seen this film, check it out. It is not a masterpiece, but Redford is one of the most

consistent filmmakers (in his role as director, not as an actor).