Scrooged (1988)

Director:

Richard Donner

Writers (WGA):

Mitch Glazer (written by) &
Michael O'Donoghue (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

23 November 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy

Tagline:

Bill Murray is back among the ghosts. Only this time, it's three against one.

Plot:

A cynically selfish TV executive gets haunted by three spirits bearing lessons on Christmas Eve.

Plot Keywords:

Christmas | Ghost | Christmas Carol | Executive | Hallucination

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

Bill Murray	...	Frank Cross
Karen Allen	...	Claire Phillips
John Forsythe	...	Lew Hayward
John Glover	...	Brice Cummings
Bobcat Goldthwait	...	Eliot Loudermilk
David Johansen	...	Ghost of Christmas Past
Carol Kane	...	Ghost of Christmas Present
Robert Mitchum	...	Preston Rhinelander
Nicholas Phillips	...	Calvin Cooley
Michael J. Pollard	...	Herman
Alfre Woodard	...	Grace Cooley
Mabel King	...	Gramma
John Murray	...	James Cross
Jamie Farr	...	Jacob Marley
Robert Goulet	...	Himself
Buddy Hackett	...	Scrooge
John Houseman	...	Himself
Lee Majors	...	Himself
Pat McCormick	...	TV Ghost of Christmas Past
Brian Doyle-Murray	...	Earl Cross (as Brian Doyle Murray)
Mary Lou Retton	...	Herself
Al 'Red Dog' Weber	...	Santa Claus
Jean Speegle Howard	...	Mrs. Claus
June Chandler	...	June Cleaver
Michael Eidam	...	Wally Cleaver
Mary Ellen Trainor	...	Ted
Bruce Jarchow	...	Wayne
Sanford Jensen	...	IBC Executive
Jeffrey Joseph	...	IBC Executive
Dick Blasucci	...	IBC Executive
Peter Bromilow	...	Archbishop
Bill Marcus	...	IBC Guards
Cal Gibson	...	IBC Guards
Damon Hines	...	Steven Cooley
Tamika McCollum	...	Shasta Cooley
Koren McCollum	...	Randee Cooley
Reina King	...	Lanell Cooley
Paul Tuerpe	...	Stage Manager (as Paul Tuerpé)
Lester Wilson	...	Choreographer
Ron Strang	...	Art Director
Kate McGregor-Stewart	...	Lady Censor
Jack McGee	...	Carpenters
Bill Hart	...	Carpenters
Kathy Kinney	...	IBC Nurse
Ralph Gervais	...	Mouse Wrangler
Alvin Hammer	...	Foreman
Tony Steedman	...	Headwaiter
Lisa Mende	...	Doris Cross
Ryan Todd	...	Frank as Child
Rebeca Arthur	...	Tina
Selma Archerd	...	Mrs. Claus at Party
Jay Byron	...	Man #2 at Party
Harvey Fisher	...	Party Guest
C. Ransom Walrod	...	Party Animal
James R. Miller	...	Security Guard at Party
Jennie Lew Tugend	...	Foo-Ling at Party (as Jennie Lew-Tugend)
Roy Brocksmith	...	Mike the Mailman
Shawn Michaels	...	Stage Manager - 'Frisbee'
Stella Hall	...	Lew Hayward's Secretary
Sachi Parker	...	Belle
Delores Hall	...	Hazel
Anne Ramsey	...	Woman & Man in Shelter
Logan Ramsey	...	Woman & Man in Shelter
Sydna Scott	...	Woman #2 in Shelter
Wendie Malick	...	Wendie Cross
Joel Murray	...	Guests
Mitch Glazer	...	Guests
Susan Isaacs	...	Guests
Lauri Kempson	...	Guests
Chaz Conner	...	Ghost of Christmas Future - TV (as Chaz Conner Jr.)
Miro Polo	...	Mary Lou's Coach
Ralph Bruneau	...	Nephew
Maria Riva	...	Mrs. Rhinelander
James Kindelon	...	Butler (as James E. Kindelon)
Raphael Harris	...	Older Calvin
Wayne A. Finkelman	...	Orderly (as Wayne Finkelman)
Susan Barnes	...	Harpy
Lynne Randall	...	Harpy
Gilles Savard	...	Waiter
Michael O'Donoghue	...	Priest
Dick McGarvin	...	Announcer
Tom Doak	...	Video Tape Director
Sam Drummy	...	Cameraman on Crane
Winfred Tennison	...	Marvin
Steve Kahan	...	Technicians (as Stephen Kahan)
Norm Wilson	...	Technicians
Henry Brown	...	Technicians (as Henry V. Brown)
Jeanine Jackson	...	IBC Technician
Amy Hill	...	IBC Technician
Miles Davis	...	Street Musicians
Larry Carlton	...	Street Musicians
David Sanborn	...	Street Musicians
Paul Shaffer	...	Street Musicians
The Caroling Company	...	Carolers
Solid Gold Dancers	...	Scroogettes
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Susanne Lavelle	...	(unconfirmed)
Peter Onorati	...	(unconfirmed)
Audrey K. Baranishyn	...	Solid Gold Dancer (uncredited)
Buck	...	Dog (uncredited)
Leslie Cook	...	Scroogette (uncredited)
J. Mills Goodloe	...	IBC Technician (uncredited)
Don LaFontaine	...	IBC Promo Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
Jamilah Lucas	...	Scroogette (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Donner

Writing credits (WGA)
Mitch Glazer		(written by) &
Michael O'Donoghue		(written by)
Charles Dickens		(novel "A Christmas Carol") (suggestion)

Produced by
Richard Donner	....	producer
Peter Frankfurt	....	associate producer
Raymond Hartwick	....	co-producer (as Ray Hartwick)
Jennie Lew Tugend	....	associate producer
Art Linson	....	producer
Stephen J. Roth	....	executive producer (as Steve Roth)

Original Music by
Danny Elfman

Cinematography by
Michael Chapman

Film Editing by
Fredric Steinkamp
William Steinkamp

Casting by
David Rubin

Production Design by
J. Michael Riva

Art Direction by
Virginia L. Randolph

Set Decoration by
Linda DeScenna

Costume Design by
Wayne A. Finkelman		(as Wayne Finkelman)

Makeup Department
Thomas R. Burman	....	special makeup effects artist (as Tom Burman)
Bari Dreiband-Burman	....	supervising makeup artist
Bob Grimaldi	....	hair stylist: New York (as Robert Grimaldi)
Edward Jackson	....	makeup artist: New York
Rolf John Keppler	....	special makeup effects artist
Robert Norin	....	makeup artist
Stephen Robinette	....	hair stylist
Marlene D. Williams	....	hair stylist supervisor (as Marlene Williams)

Production Management
Raymond Hartwick	....	unit production manager (as Ray Hartwick)
Roger Paradiso	....	unit production manager: New York

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tommy Burns	....	additional second second assistant director (as Thomas Burns)
Donald J. Lee Jr.	....	second second assistant director: New York
Gaetano Lisi	....	first assistant director: second unit, New York
Richard Patrick	....	additional second assistant director: New York
Mic Rodgers	....	second unit director
Adele Simmons	....	additional second second assistant director
James W. Skotchdopole	....	second assistant director
Chris Soldo	....	assistant director
Gabriela Vázquez	....	second second assistant director
Michael Thau	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Jack E. Ackerman	....	assistant property master
Michael Bird	....	property master: New York
Paul J. Campanella	....	production painter
Ralph Cava	....	scenic chargeperson: New York
Anthony Feola	....	labor foreperson (as Tony Feola)
David L. Glazer	....	assistant property master (as David Glazer)
Alan Hicks	....	set decorator: New York (as John Alan Hicks)
Richard Leon	....	property person
Tom McCown	....	property person
Ric McElvin	....	lead person
Erik L. Nelson	....	property master
Lee Orlikoff	....	property person
Nancy Patton	....	set designer
Tony Piller	....	property person
Ken Scaife	....	construction supervisor
Robert Scaife	....	construction coordinator (as Bob Scaife)
Terry Scott	....	construction foreperson
Alex Scutti Jr.	....	on-set plasterer (as Alex Scutti)
Tom Southwell	....	illustrator (as Thomas Southwell)
Ron Strang	....	scenic artist
William James Teegarden	....	set designer (as William Teegarden)
Matt Thompson	....	labor foreperson
Ed Verreaux	....	illustrator (as Edward S. Verreaux)
John Villarino	....	construction supervisor
Mike Villarino	....	construction foreperson (as Michael Villarino)
Dianne Wager	....	set designer
Leslie Warren	....	art department coordinator (as Leslie C. Warren)
Tom Warren	....	art director: New York (as Thomas Warren)
Clyde Zimmerman	....	paint foreperson

Sound Department
Rick Alexander	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Dick Alexander)
Carmen Baker	....	assistant adr editor (as Carmen Hocson)
Willie D. Burton	....	production sound mixer (as Willie Burton)
Virginia Cook-McGowan	....	sound editor
Teri E. Dorman	....	sound editor
Thom 'Coach' Ehle	....	sound stereo consultant: Dolby (as Thom Ehle)
Jay Engel	....	supervising adr editor
John P. Fasal	....	electronic sound effects (as John Paul Fasal)
Les Fresholtz	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert W. Harris	....	cable person (as Robert Harris)
Robert G. Henderson	....	supervising sound editor (as Robert George Henderson)
David M. Horton	....	sound editor (as D. Michael Horton)
Joseph A. Ippolito	....	sound editor
Marvin E. Lewis	....	boom operator (as Marvin Lewis)
Al Mian	....	sound mixer: New York
Karen Minahan	....	assistant sound editor
Alan Robert Murray	....	supervising sound editor
Walter Newman	....	sound editor
Greg Orloff	....	foley mixer
Vern Poore	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Roesch	....	foley artist
Alicia Stevenson	....	foley artist
Winfred Tennison	....	additional boom operator
Brooke H. Ward	....	assistant sound editor (as Brooke Henderson Ward)
Denise Whiting	....	adr editor
Marshall Winn	....	sound editor
Carolyn Tapp	....	foley recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Albert Delgado	....	special effects foreperson
Steven C. Foster	....	special effects (as Steven Foster)
Allen Hall	....	special effects coordinator (as Allen L. Hall)
Gary L. Karas	....	special effects
Joe Montenegro	....	special effects
Bill Traynor	....	special effects: New York (as William Traynor)
Mike Menzel	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Grant Reid	....	location assistant: special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Eric Brevig	....	visual effects supervisor
C. Marie Davis	....	visual effects editor (as Marie Davis)
Jim Dixon	....	network computer animation
David Goldberg	....	model shop supervisor (as Dave Goldberg)
Jeff Matakovich	....	optical supervisor
Craig Newman	....	effects production supervisor
Michael Shea	....	motion control photographer (as Mike Shea)
James Valentine	....	rotoscope supervisor
Allen Blaisdell	....	visual effects camera operator (uncredited)
George Muhs	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Michelle Porter	....	visual effects coordinator (uncredited)
Kathleen Quaife-Hodge	....	special effects animator (uncredited)
Jody Rogers	....	visual effects editor (uncredited)
Michael Talarico	....	motion control technician (uncredited)

Stunts
Gene Harrison	....	stunts
Larry Nicholas	....	stunts
Hugh Aodh O'Brien	....	stunts (as Hugh A. O'Brien)
Mic Rodgers	....	stunt coordinator
Mic Rodgers	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Walt Berry	....	lamp operator
Anthony Brook	....	first assistant camera: New York (as Anthony S. Brooke)
Ted Churchill	....	Steadicam operator: New York
George Dunagan	....	lamp operator
Brad Emmons	....	lamp operator
Raymond Fortune	....	best boy
Michael Genne	....	camera operator (as Michael A. Genne)
Adam Glick	....	set lighting technician
Louis Goldman	....	still photographer: New York
Larry Hezzelwood	....	first assistant camera
Ed Jackson	....	grip
David Katz	....	video assist operator
Billy Kerwick	....	grip
Kevin J. Lang	....	chief rigging electrician
Al LaVerde	....	first company grip (as Alexander LaVerde)
Steven C. McGee	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Steve McGee)
Peter Norman	....	additional director of photography: New York
Paul Postelnicu	....	second assistant camera: New York
Tom Priestley Jr.	....	camera operator: New York
Richard Quinlan	....	chief lighting technician: New York
Ed Quinn	....	first company grip: New York (as Edwin A. Quinn)
P. Scott Sakamoto	....	first assistant camera (as Scott Sakamoto)
Phelt M. Saucier	....	lamp operator (as Phelt Saucier)
John R. Shannon	....	still photographer (as John Shannon)
Stephen St. John	....	Steadicam operator
Ty Suehiro	....	grip
Gary Tandrow	....	chief lighting technician (as Gary B. Tandrow)
Michael Thau	....	video playback supervisor
Joseph Trammell	....	video assistant: New York (as Joe Trammell)
Joseph Trammell	....	video playback operator
Rand R. Vargas	....	second company grip
Greg Walters	....	second assistant camera (as Gregory Walters)
Clay H. Wilson	....	dolly grip (as Clay Wilson)
Stephen Ashley Blake	....	cinematographer: second unit (uncredited)

Casting Department
Lisa Beach	....	casting assistant
Franklyn Warren	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jennifer Butler	....	costumer
Philip Maldonado	....	costumer
Antonio Martínez	....	costumer
Jennifer L. Parsons	....	costume supervisor (as Jennifer Parsons)
Nava R. Sadan	....	assistant costumer (as Nava Sadan)
Guy Tanno	....	costumer: men, New York
Rose Trimarco	....	costumer: women, New York (as Rose Cuervo)

Editorial Department
Stuart Baird	....	post-production consultant
Debra Goldfield	....	assistant editor
Terry Haggar	....	color timer
Karl F. Steinkamp	....	assistant film editor
Michael T. Wilson	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
David Anderle	....	music supervisor
Bob Badami	....	music editor
Steve Bartek	....	orchestrator
Robert Fernandez	....	scoring mixer
Jimmy Iovine	....	music supervisor
Steven Scott Smalley	....	orchestrator
Shirley Walker	....	conductor

Transportation Department
Dan Anglin	....	transportation coordinator
Ron Hinsley	....	transportation captain
Harry J. Leavey	....	transportation captain: New York (as Harry Leavey)

Other crew
Vibeke Arntzen	....	location liaison: New York
Rebecca Baehler	....	assistant: Bill Murray
Alexander B. Collett	....	assistant: Richard Donner
Patti Dalzell	....	script supervisor (as Patricia Dalzell)
James Fred Donelson	....	crew: Video Image (as Fred Donelson)
Tad Driscoll	....	accounting assistant
Mary Fellows	....	production assistant
Anthony Goldschmidt	....	title designer: main titles
Rhonda C. Gunner	....	video displays: Video Image
Greg Harms	....	crew: Video Image
Richard Harner	....	production assistant
Craig Harris	....	craft service
Ellen M. Hillers	....	production coordinator: New York (as Ellen Hillers)
Richard E. Hollander	....	video displays: Video Image
Michele Imperato	....	assistant production office coordinator
Aaron Katz	....	crew: Video Image
David Katz	....	crew: Video Image (as Dave Katz)
Mike Keeler	....	crew: Video Image
Jan Kemper	....	script supervisor
Lynn Kuwahara	....	location manager (as Lynn M. Kuwahara)
Shari Leibowitz	....	production office coordinator
Pete Martinez	....	crew: Video Image
Gregory L. McMurry	....	video displays: Video Image (as Gregory L. McMurray)
William J. Meshover	....	assistant: Stuart Baird (as William Meshover)
Kool Moe Dee	....	misc crew
Cynthia Neber	....	secretary: Richard Donner
Scott Nimerfro	....	video coordinator
Lou Phillips	....	production auditor (as Louis B. Phillips)
Jeffrey Pittle	....	parking wrangler
June Popowich	....	assistant: Bill Murray
Steven Ritt	....	dog trainer
Patti Roberts-Nelson	....	assistant to producer
Marsha Robertson	....	unit publicist
Carolyn Rothstein	....	production secretary
Chris Schutsky	....	location assistant
Ilyse Selwyn	....	secretary: Richard Donner
Bruce Shultz	....	crew: Video Image
Jerry Smith	....	crew: Video Image
Mark Snovell	....	research coordinator
Tim Sullivan	....	production assistant
Monte Swann	....	crew: Video Image
Susan Towner	....	assistant production auditor
Jim Vatis	....	production assistant (as James Vatis)
John C. Wash	....	video displays: Video Image
Lester Wilson	....	choreographer
Greg Knapp	....	set medic (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures (presents)
• Mirage Productions

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1988) (USA) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1988) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1988) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• CIC Video (19??) (Germany) (VHS)
• CIC Video (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• CIC-Taft Home Video (19??) (Australia) (VHS)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1991) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2000) (UK) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (1989) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Paramount Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Phillips (1992) (Germany) (video) (laserdisc)

Special Effects

• Dream Quest Images

Other Companies

• A&M Records  soundtrack
• Pacific Data Images (PDI)  network computer animation
• Pacific Title  opticals
• Reel People Inc.  negative cutting
• TAJ Soundworks  foley by

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Iceland:12 | Netherlands:AL | Netherlands:6 | Australia:M | Finland:K-14 | Ireland:12 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

The trivia game played by Frank's brother is "what's the name of the boat on "Gilligan's Island" (1964)?" Director Richard Donner was one of the original directors on the show.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When Grace is taking her son home, she can be seen exiting the 45th Rd-Courthouse Sq station in Queens. But when the Ghost of Christmas Present takes Frank to see Grace and her family, she says she's taking him to Harlem, which is in Manhattan.

Quotes:

Frank Cross: I get it, you're here to show me my past and I'm supposed to get all dully eyed and mushy. Well forget it pal, you got the wrong guy.
Ghost of Christmas Past: That's exactly what Atilla the Hun said. But when he saw his mother, Niagra Falls.

Movie Connections:

Featured in A Hollywood Christmas (1996) (V)

Soundtrack:

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)

I get it now!

I just finished watching this film (on TNT) for the countless time. What a fine seasonal offering. It's so much better than a lot of the pulp and smarmy c*** that passes for Christmas classics.

Bill Murray exclaims at the end of the movie, "I get it now!" Apparently, some folks watched this flick and didn't get it. The movie is essentially a star turn for Murray, who's in almost every frame - and that's fine with me because he can carry a film. Trivial quibbles over the movie's name and reference to the original work, the lack of faithfulness to the book and other complaints miss the point of the project. While staging a production of 'A Christmas Carol,' a TV executive experiences the very same circumstances as one of the characters in the novel. That alone makes it work. A few reviews question the overall harsh tone of the movie, or more specifically, Murray's role. Frankly, I would not have minded had it been even a little darker. There's a lot of water to carry in that bucket of trying to measure the callous and thoughtless manner in which some folks act on all but the most treasured of holidays. Murray's demeanour boils it down into one strong mean spirit and evaporates it with a truly positive and well-wishing finale.

Scrooged is, along with Groundhog Day, among his best work.