Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)

Director:

Stephen Herek

Writers:

Chris Matheson (writer)
Ed Solomon (writer)

Release Date:

17 February 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

History is about to be rewritten by two guys who can't spell...

Plot:

Two seemingly dumb teens struggle to prepare a historical presentation with the help of a time machine.

Plot Keywords:

California | Beautiful Stepmother | Quirky | Suburban | Imagination

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Keanu Reeves	...	Ted Logan
Alex Winter	...	Bill S. Preston, Esq.
George Carlin	...	Rufus
Terry Camilleri	...	Napoleon
Dan Shor	...	Billy the Kid
Tony Steedman	...	Socrates
Rod Loomis	...	Dr. Sigmund Freud
Al Leong	...	Genghis Khan
Jane Wiedlin	...	Joan of Arc
Robert V. Barron	...	Abraham Lincoln (as Robert Barron)
Clifford David	...	Ludwig van Beethoven
Hal Landon Jr.	...	Captain Logan
Bernie Casey	...	Mr. Ryan
Amy Stock-Poynton	...	Missy Preston
J. Patrick McNamara	...	Mr. Preston
Frazier Bain	...	Deacon Logan
Diane Franklin	...	Princess Joanna
Kimberley Kates	...	Princess Elizabeth (as Kimberley LaBelle)
William Robbins	...	Ox Robbins (as Will Robbins)
Steve Shepherd	...	Randolf Shepherd
Anne Machette	...	Buffy
Traci Dawn Davis	...	Jody Davis
Duncan McLeod	...	Old West Bartender
John Clure	...	Tattooed Cowboy
Jim Cody Williams	...	Bearded Cowboy
Dusty O'Dee	...	Old West Ugly Dude
Heather Pittman	...	Kerry
Ruth Pittman	...	Daphne
Richard Alexander	...	Bowling Alley Manager (as Dick Alexander)
James Bowbitch	...	John the Serf
John Karlsen	...	Evil Duke
Jeanne Hermine Herek	...	Mother at Waterslides
Jonathan Bond	...	Waterslide Attendant
Jeff S. Goodrich	...	Music Store Salesman
Lisa Rubin	...	Girl at Mall
Marjean Holden	...	Student Speaker
Claudia Templeton	...	Aerobic Saleswoman
Carol Gossler	...	Aerobic Instructor
J. Donovan Nelson	...	Mall Photographer
Marcia Darroch	...	Store Clerk
Steven Rotblatt	...	Police Psychiatrist
Ed Solomon	...	Stupid Waiter
Chris Matheson	...	Ugly Waiter
Mark Ogden	...	Neanderthal #1
Tom Dugan	...	Neanderthal #2
Ron Althoff	...	Security Guard (as Ron R. Althoff)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Clarence Clemons	...	The Three Most Important People in the World
Martha Davis	...	The Three Most Important People in the World
Fee Waybill	...	The Three Most Important People in the World
Phillip V. Caruso	...	Dance Photographer (uncredited)
Tricia Porter	...	Bowling Score Keeper (uncredited)
Golan Ramras	...	Kid at Waterloo (uncredited)

Directed by
Stephen Herek

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Chris Matheson		writer
Ed Solomon		writer

Produced by
W.K. Border	....	associate producer
Robert W. Cort	....	executive producer
Stephen Deutsch	....	co-executive producer
Ted Field	....	executive producer
Scott Kroopf	....	producer
Michael S. Murphey	....	producer
Joel Soisson	....	producer

Original Music by
David Newman

Cinematography by
Tim Suhrstedt		(director of photography) (as Timothy Suhrstedt)

Film Editing by
Larry Bock
Patrick Rand

Casting by
Stanzi Stokes

Production Design by
Roy Forge Smith

Art Direction by
Gordon White

Set Decoration by
Jennifer Williams

Costume Design by
Jill M. Ohanneson		(as Jill Ohanneson)

Makeup Department
Patti Brand	....	hair stylist
Everett Burrell	....	assistant makeup artist: Neanderthals
Vincent Fauci	....	assistant hair stylist
Vincent Fauci	....	assistant makeup artist
Daniel Marc	....	key hair stylist
Daniel Marc	....	key makeup artist
Darrell Redleaf-Fielder	....	assistant hair stylist (as Darrell Fielder)
Darrell Redleaf-Fielder	....	assistant makeup artist (as Darrell Fielder)
Debbie Reggo	....	hair stylist: Los Angeles
Debbie Reggo	....	makeup artist: Los Angeles
Kevin Yagher	....	makeup artist: Neanderthals

Production Management
W.K. Border	....	post-production supervisor
Anselmo Parrinello	....	production manager: Italy
Stefano Spadoni	....	unit manager: Italy
Scott White	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Eric Heffron	....	second assistant director
Fabio Jephcott	....	first assistant director: Italy
Steven Pearl	....	second second assistant director
Kristine Peterson	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Pier Luigi Basile	....	art director: Italy (as Pierluigi Basile)
James Blair	....	construction crew
David T. Cannon	....	swing gang: Los Angeles (as Dave Cannon)
Al Clarke	....	construction crew
Joe Cooper	....	construction crew
Giorgio Desideri	....	set decorator: Italy
Beth DeSort	....	lead person: Los Angeles
Eduardo H. Esparza	....	construction crew (as Eddie Esparza)
Charles Falconer	....	construction crew
Maureen Farley	....	assistant property master
Star Fields	....	carpenter
Tim Fox	....	construction crew
Lauri Gaffin	....	set decorator: Los Angeles
Lisa Gamel	....	assistant scenic artist
Joel S. Griffith	....	scenic artist (as Joel Griffith)
Richard Heck	....	construction crew
Bob Hlusak	....	assistant painter
Bill Holmquist	....	head carpenter
James Jerome Jaeger	....	construction crew (as James Jaeger)
Keith Johnson	....	construction crew
L.R. Kelly	....	swing gang
Terry Kempf	....	construction coordinator
Cliff Kirby	....	construction crew
Paolo Luciani	....	property master: Italy
Jim McDonald	....	construction crew (as James McDonald)
Jim Meyer	....	swing gang
Bruce Mink	....	property master
Robert Murray	....	construction crew
Aaron Newton	....	plasterer
Lynda Paradise	....	production designer: Los Angeles
Walter W. Parry Jr.	....	swing gang (as Walter Parry)
Theresa Pedemonte	....	set dresser
Steven Renick	....	construction crew
Vicki Riske	....	assistant painter
Samara Schaffer	....	art department assistant
Tim Sheedy	....	construction crew
Scott Thaden	....	construction crew
Benjamin Thompson	....	rigger
Rob Thorne	....	construction crew
Rick Toone	....	swing gang: Los Angeles
Blair Torrey	....	assistant painter
Dan Wahlman	....	swing gang
Doug Wood	....	construction crew
Stan Cockerell	....	assistant property master (uncredited)

Sound Department
John H. Arrufat	....	sound editor (as John Arrufat)
Gary Blufer	....	sound effects recordist
Joe Dorn	....	assistant adr editor (as Joe R. Dorn)
Dean Drabin	....	foley mixer
Laurie Ecker	....	sound effects coordinator
John Michael Fanaris	....	sound effects coordinator
John P. Fasal	....	special sound designer
William G. Flick	....	boom operator: Los Angeles (as Bill Flick)
Frank A. Fuller Jr.	....	sound effects research and design
Joseph Geisinger	....	sound mixer: Los Angeles
Penny Green	....	machine room operator
Gary A. Hecker	....	foley artist (as Gary 'Wrecker' Hecker)
Michael Hoskinson	....	assistant sound editor (as Michael R. Hoskinson)
Scott D. Jackson	....	adr editor
Michael Jiron	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Leveque	....	sound editor
Glenn T. Morgan	....	sound editor
Sam Perry	....	boom operator
Jeffrey L. Sandler	....	sound editor
Stacy Saravo	....	sound effects research and design
Alicia Stevenson	....	foley artist
Allen L. Stone	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Allen Stone)
Becky Sullivan	....	adr supervisor
Shawn Sykora	....	adr editor
Marvin Walowitz	....	sound editor
Richard Weaver	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Dick Weaver)
Ed White	....	production sound mixer
David A. Whittaker	....	supervising sound editor
Karen G. Wilson	....	sound editor
Michael S. Wren	....	sound recordist
Richard E. Yawn	....	foley editor
Alessandro Zanon	....	production sound mixer: Italy
Tommy Goodwin	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Troy Porter	....	foley mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Bob Ahmanson	....	mechanical effects assistant: Image Engineering Inc. (as Robert Ahmanson)
Peter Chesney	....	mechanical effects coordinator: Image Engineering Inc. (as Peter M. Chesney)
Tom Chesney	....	special effects technician
Blaine Converse	....	mechanical effects coordinator: Image Engineering Inc.
Lenny Dalrymple	....	mechanical effects technician: Image Engineering Inc.
Robin L. D'Arcy	....	mechanical effects coordinator: Image Engineering Inc. (as Robin D'Arcy)
Phillip Hartmann	....	mechanical effects assistant: Image Engineering Inc.
Jim Kundig	....	mechanical effects assistant: Image Engineering Inc.
Matt Marich	....	mechanical effects assistant: Image Engineering Inc.
Scott Nesselrode	....	mechanical effects assistant: Image Engineering, Inc.
Rod Schumacher	....	key mechanical effects technician: Image Engineering Inc.
Robert E. Worthington	....	key mechanical effects technician: Image Engineering Inc.
Steve Sanders	....	model maker (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Cindy Brussolo	....	software programer: Perpetual Motion Pictures
John Brussolo	....	software programer: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Nina Chierichetti	....	effects animator: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Craig Clark	....	effects animator: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Rene Clark	....	production artist: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Peter Farson	....	technical designer: Omnibus Simulation Inc.
Charles L. Finance	....	visual effects production manager: Perpetual Motion Pictures
David Ginsberg	....	computer effects coordinator: Omnibus Simulation Inc.
Robert Habros	....	matte department supervisor: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Patrick Johnson	....	miniature construction: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Candace Lewis	....	effects animator: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Richard Malzahn	....	miniature photography supervisor: Perpetual Motion Pictures (as Richard S. Malzahn)
Richard Malzahn	....	software programer: Perpetual Motion Pictures (as Richard S. Malzahn)
Mauro Maressa	....	effects animator: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Sherry McKenna	....	visual effects producer
Barry Nolan	....	visual effects supervisor
Don Nolan	....	software programer: Perpetual Motion Pictures
January Nordman	....	effects animator: Perpetual Motion Pictures (as Jan Nordman)
Kathleen Quaife-Hodge	....	effects animator: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Jesse Silver	....	matte artist: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Kimberly Sylvester	....	administrative assistant: Perpetual Motion Pictures
Lynda Weinman	....	effects animator: Perpetual Motion Pictures
David S. Williams Jr.	....	optical department supervisor: Perpetual Motion Pictures

Stunts
Ron Althoff	....	stunts (as Ron R. Althoff)
Hank Baumert	....	stunts
Dan Bradley	....	stunt coordinator
Scott Alan Cook	....	stunts
Robert Cota	....	stunts (as Bob Cota)
Franco Daddi	....	stunt coordinator: Italy
John Escobar	....	stunts
George Fisher	....	stunts
Whitey Hughes	....	stunts
Jeff Imada	....	stunts (as Jeffrey Imada)
Keith Johnson	....	stunts
Al Jones	....	stunts
Ray Lykins	....	stunts
James Donovan Nelson	....	stunts
Noon Orsatti	....	stunts
Lori Lynn Ross	....	stunts
Don Ruffin	....	stunts (as Donald Ruffin)
Vaughn Shafer	....	stunts
Rodd Wolff	....	stunts
Joe Davis	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Alberto Altibrandi	....	gaffer: Italy
George Ball	....	electrician
William D. Barber	....	additional assistant camera (as William Barber)
Adolfo Bartoli	....	camera operator: Italy
Luigi Bernardini	....	first assistant camera: Italy
Shunil Borpujari	....	key grip
Phillip V. Caruso	....	still photographer
Peter Lyons Collister	....	camera operator: Los Angeles
Steve Dubin	....	camera operator: second camera
Bob Field	....	best boy electric (as Robert Field)
Rachel A. Flores	....	best boy grip (as Rachel Flores)
Samuel Buddy Fries	....	additional assistant camera (as Buddy Fries)
Elwin 'Bub' Greer	....	grip
Scott Guthrie	....	gaffer
Ron Halpern	....	additional assistant camera
Thor Hanson	....	still photographer: Los Angeles
Mark Karen	....	first assistant camera
Cindy Lagerstrom	....	electrician
Adrian Licciardi	....	second assistant camera
Thomas Loizeaux	....	camera operator: second camera
Kyle T. MacDowell	....	grip (as Kyle MacDowell)
Danny McCallum	....	electrician (as Danny MacCallum)
Martin Miller	....	grip
James G. Moriarty	....	grip (as James Moriarty)
James Neilan	....	electrician
Agostino Pascarella	....	key grip: Italy
Pat Peach	....	electrician
Robert A. Preston	....	electrician (as Bob Preston)
Paul Ronald	....	still photographer: Italy (as Paul Roland Pellet)
Randolph Sellars	....	camera operator: second camera
Rick Spears	....	electrician
Tom Countryman	....	camera car operator (uncredited)
Michael Saperton	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Animation Department
Kevin Kutchaver	....	animator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Glenis Wootton Gross	....	casting assistant: Los Angeles (as Glenis Gross)
Barbara Harris	....	voice casting
Robin Monteiro	....	extras casting
Claudia Santiago	....	extras casting
Steve Schemmel	....	extras casting
Sherry Serra	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mary Ann Ahern	....	costumer: women
Jean Aiken	....	wardrobe assistant
Elizabeth Boyd	....	wardrobe assistant
Giorgio Desideri	....	costumer: Italy
Sara Markowitz	....	costume supervisor
Harold O'Neal	....	costumer: men
Alberto Tosto	....	wardrobe master: Italy
Chantal Jacob Tynes	....	wardrobe assistant (as Chantal Tynes)

Editorial Department
Tracy Trout Herek	....	apprentice editor
Timothy Nett	....	apprentice editor
Rebekah Rudd	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Tim Boyle	....	scoring mixer
Scott Grusin	....	music editor
David Kershenbaum	....	music supervisor
Krystyna Newman	....	assistant to composer (as Krys Newman)
Sara Sheranian	....	assistant music editor
Jeff Atmajian	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Patrick Russ	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Tom Villano	....	music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Larry Alexander	....	transportation coordinator
Mike Buck	....	driver
Connie Colbert	....	driver
William 'Fleet' Eakland	....	transportation captain (as William Eakland)
George 'Beco' Gerhart	....	driver
Doug Hiserodt	....	driver
Beth Hoffman	....	driver
Coby Jordan	....	driver
Kristine Kaspari	....	driver
Jim Lucas	....	driver
Jeanne Mascia	....	driver
Bruce Simballa	....	driver
David Walden Sr.	....	driver: honeywagon (as David Walden)

Other crew
David Avadon	....	card sequence
Don Brown	....	caterer
Laura Cartwright	....	assistant production accountant (as Laura McGillicuddy)
Nick Chaput	....	production assistant
Janet Elsasser	....	production assistant
Russ Fega	....	location scout
Steve Feinberg	....	production assistant
Norah Goebel	....	assistant production accountant (as Norah Goebel-George)
Adrienne Hamalian-Mangine	....	script supervisor (as Adrienne Hamalian)
Marjean Holden	....	production assistant
Constance L. Hoy	....	production assistant (as Connie Hoy)
Brad Jeffries	....	choreographer
Penny Key	....	assistant: Mr. Kroopf
Elisabeth Landon	....	marketing consultant
David Linck	....	unit publicist
Ramon Luna	....	caterer
Diane MacDowell	....	craft service
Cristie Miele	....	animal trainer (as Cristi Miele)
Alfredo Miserocchi	....	production assistant
James D. Nelson	....	assistant: Mr. Soisson and Mr. Murphey
Stanley Newton	....	location manager: Los Angeles
Carol Perini	....	production medic
Manuela Pineskj	....	production coordinator: Italy (as Manuela Pineski-Berger)
Larry Rhoe	....	stand-in
Bill Roberts	....	stand-in
Sharon Roesler	....	assistant: Mr. Herek
Rick Rothen	....	location manager
Marjorie Rubin	....	production secretary: Los Angeles
Florian Schereck	....	production accountant
Mari Scott	....	production assistant
Enzo Sisti	....	production auditor: Italy
Kristin Smith	....	production secretary
Julie Theiring	....	set nurse: Los Angeles
Gary Van Fleet	....	location manager: Los Angeles
Robert Warner	....	stand-in
Lou Weinert	....	runner
Patricia Whitcher	....	production coordinator (as Patty Whitcher)
Jason Wisch	....	production assistant
Larry Bartels	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Fabiomassimo Dell'Orco	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG)
• De Laurentiis Film Partners
• Interscope Communications
• Nelson Entertainment (presents)
• Soisson/Murphey Productions (in association with)

Distributors

• Orion Pictures Corporation (1989) (USA) (theatrical)
• Fox Network (1992) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Capital Filmes (Brazil) (VHS)
• Hoyts Distribution
• LK-TEL (Argentina) (video)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (video)
• RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video

Other Companies

• Phoenix Film Office  special thanks

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French | German

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Canada:G | Sweden:7 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:6 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

AMF Tempe Village Lanes - 4407 S. Rural Road, Tempe, Arizona, USA

Company:

De Laurentiis Entertainment Group (DEG)

Trivia:

The rescue scene of Bill and Ted (their comrades pretending to be executioners and escaping on a horse-drawn carriage) is the same way that D'Artagnan is rescued in The Three Musketeers (1993), which was also directed by Stephen Herek.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the end of the film, onstage during the presentation, the phone booth antenna is undamaged and shows no traces of the "gum and cans" repair done earlier in the film.

Quotes:

Bill, Ted: Excellent.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Homestarrunner.com: Everything Else, Volume 2 (2006) (V)

Soundtrack:

Walk Away

"Whoa..."

Despite the success of such films as "Speed" and "The Matrix" trilogy, to a lot of people, Keanu Reeves will ALWAYS be Ted, the taller, darker half of the Bill & Ted duo. And it would seem that Ted, of all Reeves many characters, is possibly the only one where he really seemed to have put himself into the role and felt like a natural.

One of the great dopey dude slacker classics, the title characters Bill (Alex Winter) and Ted (the aforementioned Reeves) are a pair of aspiring musicians, the Wild Stallions, who are in danger of being both separated if Ted can't pull up a good enough grade (which = military school) and flunking history class in general. But since they are destined to be "the 2 Great Ones" who's music will unite the Earth and even alien races together in universal harmony, the most excellent dude Rufus (George Carlin) shows up and gives them a time traveling phone booth to help them pass their history class by bringing back real historical figures like Billy the Kid, Abraham Lincoln, Napoleon, Joan of Ark and what not. Now all they have to do is keep them from getting separated and jailed before they have to pass history! Along the way, Bill & Ted also fall in love with two sexy virgin princesses from the medieval circa.

Yeah it's not great cinema, but it's a fun romp of slacker dude madness thanks to the energy and enthusiasm of Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves as the title characters.

Followed by "Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey".