Mystery Train (1989)

Director:

Jim Jarmusch

Writer:

Jim Jarmusch (written by)

Release Date:

7 November 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

Plot:

Three stories are connected by a Memphis hotel and the spirit of Elvis Presley.

Plot Keywords:

Hotel | Three Stories | Elvis Presley | Japanese | Liquor Store

Awards:

1 win & 8 nominations

Cast

Masatoshi Nagase	...	Jun (segment "Far From Yokohama")
Youki Kudoh	...	Mitsuko (segment "Far From Yokohama")
Screamin' Jay Hawkins	...	Night Clerk (segment "Far From Yokohama")
Cinqué Lee	...	Bellboy (segment "Far From Yokohama")
Rufus Thomas	...	Man in Station (segment "Far From Yokohama")
Jodie Markell	...	Sun Studio Guide (segment "Far From Yokohama")
William Hoch	...	Tourist Family (segment "Far From Yokohama")
Pat Hoch	...	Tourist Family (segment "Far From Yokohama")
Joshua Elvis Hoch	...	Tourist Family (segment "Far From Yokohama")
Reginald Freeman	...	Conductor (segment "Far From Yokohama")
Beverly Prye	...	Streetwalker (segment "Far From Yokohama")
Nicoletta Braschi	...	Luisa (segment "A Ghost")
Elizabeth Bracco	...	Dee Dee - Charlie's Sister (segment "A Ghost")
Sy Richardson	...	Newsvendor (segment "A Ghost")
Tom Noonan	...	Man in Arcade Diner (segment "A Ghost")
Stephen Jones	...	The Ghost (segment "A Ghost")
Lowell Roberts	...	Lester (segment "A Ghost")
Sara Driver	...	Airport Clerk (segment "A Ghost")
Richard Boes	...	2nd Man in Arcade Diner (segment "A Ghost")
Darryl Daniel	...	Waitress in Arcade Diner (segment "A Ghost")
Calvin Brown	...	Pedestrian (segment "A Ghost")
Jim Stark	...	Pall Bearer at Airport (segment "A Ghost")
Elan Yaari	...	Pall Bearer at Airport (segment "A Ghost")
Joe Strummer	...	Johnny aka Elvis (segment "Lost In Space")
Rick Aviles	...	Will Robinson (segment "Lost In Space")
Steve Buscemi	...	Charlie the Barber (segment "Lost In Space")
Vondie Curtis-Hall	...	Ed (segment "Lost In Space")
Royale Johnson	...	Earl (segment "Lost In Space")
Winston Hoffman	...	Wilbur (segment "Lost In Space")
Rockets Redglare	...	Liquor Store Clerk (segment "Lost In Space")
Marvell Thomas	...	Pool Player 1 (segment "Lost In Space")
Charles Ponder	...	Pool Player 2 (segment "Lost In Space")
D'Army Bailey	...	Pool Player 3 (segment "Lost In Space")
Tom Waits	...	Radio D.J (segment "Lost In Space") (voice)

Directed by
Jim Jarmusch

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Jim Jarmusch		written by

Produced by
Kunijiro Hirata	....	executive producer
Demetra J. MacBride	....	associate producer (as Demetra MacBride)
Rudd Simmons	....	line producer
Jim Stark	....	producer
Hideaki Suda	....	executive producer

Original Music by
John Lurie

Cinematography by
Robby Müller		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Melody London

Production Design by
Dan Bishop

Set Decoration by
Dianna Freas

Costume Design by
Carol Wood

Makeup Department
Robert Laden	....	special makeup (as Bob Laden)
Meredith Soupios	....	hair stylist supervisor
Meredith Soupios	....	makeup supervisor

Production Management
Kathie Hersch	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Eric Heffron	....	first assistant director (as Eric 'Elvis' Heffron)
Constance L. Hoy	....	second assistant director (as Connie Hoy)

Art Department
Jeff Butcher	....	prop master
Dianna Freas	....	hotel room paintings
Eric Gruber	....	construction coordinator
Takuya Matsuyama	....	special props: Tokyo
Tom Mittlestadt	....	assistant props

Sound Department
Gina Alfano	....	dialogue editor
Jeanne Atkin	....	apprentice sound editor
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist (as Marco Constanza)
Rick Dior	....	sound re-recording mixer: Todd A/O East
Eugene Gearty	....	sound effects editor
Mark Goodermote	....	boom operator
Robert Hein	....	supervising sound editor
Mary Hickey	....	assistant sound editor
Frank Kern	....	dialogue editor
Lori Kornspun	....	adr editor
Drew Kunin	....	location sound mixer
Deborah Martin	....	apprentice sound editor
Ahmad Shirazi	....	dialogue editor
Sylvia Waliga	....	dialogue editor

Special Effects by
Gary L. King	....	special effects coordinator (as Gary King)

Camera and Electrical Department
Katherine M. Butler	....	second assistant camera (as Kate Butler)
Paul Ferrara	....	key grip
Mark Higashino	....	assistant still photographer
Paul Leonard	....	additional grip
Chris Lombardi	....	first assistant camera (as Cris Lombardi)
David Mackay	....	third electrician
John Joseph Minardi	....	third grip (as John Minardi)
Robert O'Bleness	....	additional electrician
Christopher Porter	....	gaffer
Melvin Pukowsky	....	best boy (as Melvin Pukowsky Jr.)
Masayoshi Sukita	....	still photographer
Eric Wilson	....	additional electrician
Naomi Wise	....	fourth electrician
Elan Yaari	....	best boy

Casting Department
Noriko Murao	....	casting: Tokyo, Meries Casting Co.
Novella Smith	....	local casting
Kohta Yamada	....	casting: Tokyo, Meries Casting Co.

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Daryl Kerrigan	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Tim Brennan	....	negative matcher
Dana Congdon	....	apprentice film editor
Jay Rabinowitz	....	assistant film editor
Gene Zippo	....	color timer

Music Department
Doug Bowne	....	musician: drums (as Douglas B. Bowne)
Tony Garnier	....	musician: bass
Valerie Goodman	....	score coordinator
Tom Lazarus	....	music recording engineer
John Lurie	....	musician: guitar and harmonica
Marc Ribot	....	musician: guitar and banjo

Transportation Department
Pat Stubbs	....	transportation
Charles Walsh	....	transportation

Other crew
Jamaine Bell	....	production assistant: Memphis
Beth Bernstein	....	assistant production coordinator
Michael Berry	....	location manager
Molly Bradford	....	assistant to producer
Steve Carroll	....	production insurance: Albert G. Ruben, Inc.
Peggy Craven	....	production assistant: New York
Anna Doyle Jefferson	....	production assistant: Memphia
Karen Eisenstadt	....	production auditor
Yoshiko Furusawa	....	interpreter
Richard Heller	....	legal services: Frankfurt, Garbus, Klein and Selz
Donna Hester	....	assistant location manager
Sam Jackson	....	adr voice
Bobby Jay	....	adr voice
Georgia Kacandes	....	production coordinator
Tina Klein	....	production assistant: New York
Lisa Krueger	....	script supervisor
Karen Longwell	....	adr voice
Ian MacDougall	....	translator: English
Elisabeth Myles	....	script supervisor
Kazuki Omori	....	translator: Japanese (as Kazuki Oomori)
Todd Pfeiffer	....	key set production assistant
Stacy Robison	....	assistant auditor
Christa Saredi	....	world sales: Saredi Film
Kerry Sherin	....	office coordinator: New York
Paul Snow	....	production assistant: Memphis
Danielle Sotet	....	post-production auditor
Tom Stocker	....	adr voice
Jeff Taylor	....	production assistant: Memphis
Ralph Wakefield	....	adr voice
George Walden	....	production insurance: Albert G. Ruben, Inc.
Jan Walker	....	assistant location manager
Noel Wiggins	....	production assistant: Memphis
Sherman Willmot	....	production assistant: Memphis

Thanks
Don Donigi	....	special thanks: processing and prints
Al Gore	....	special thanks (as Senator Albert Gore)
Gary Hardy	....	special thanks
Bill Nisselson	....	special thanks: Sound One
Phil Sodano	....	special thanks: processing and prints
Irwin Young	....	special thanks: processing and prints

Production Companies

• JVC Entertainment Networks
• Mystery Train

Distributors

• Orion Classics (1989) (USA) (theatrical)
• Pyramide Distribution (1989) (France) (theatrical)
• Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI) (1989) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Image Entertainment (1990) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Orion Home Video (1990) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2000) (USA) (VHS)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
• Madman Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
• Madman Entertainment (2005) (New Zealand) (DVD)
• Barrandov Biografia (2005) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Artificial Eye (????) (UK) (VHS)
• Criterion Collection, The (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• Palace Films (????) (Australia) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Albert G. Ruben and Company  production insurance (as Albert G. Ruben)
• Another Roadside Attraction  catering
• Du Art Film Laboratories  processing and prints (as Du Art Film Labs)
• Frankfurt, Garbus, Klein and Selz  legal services
• Frieder Hochheim & Kino Flo  special lighting equipment
• Meries Casting Co.  casting: Tokyo
• Optical House, The  titles
• Otto Nemenz International  Arriflex cameras and Zeiss lenses provided by
• Saredi Film  world sales
• Todd-AO Studios (East)  editing facilities (as Todd A/O East)
• Todd-AO Studios (East)  sound re-recording mixing (as Todd A/O)

Also Known As:

One Night in Memphis (USA) (original script title)

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA | Japan

Language:

English | Japanese | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Singapore:M18 | Australia:M | Sweden:15 | France:Unrated | USA:TV-MA (cable rating) | Finland:K-12 | Portugal:M/12 | USA:R | Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Arcade Cafe - 540 S. Main Street, Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Company:

JVC Entertainment Networks

Trivia:

The hotel where the three stories converge is no longer standing, so many fans of the movie have made pilgrimages to the site only to find that it no longer exists. It can, however, be seen in the background of the scene in Great Balls of Fire! (1989), in the scene where Alec Baldwin is preaching from his broken-down car.

Quotes:

Night Clerk: [hearing a radio ad for seafood, disgusted at what he is hearing] "Jiffy Squid"? Turn that damn thing off! "Jiffy Squid"
[grimaces in dislike and shakes his head]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Heimat 3 - Chronik einer Zeitenwende: Das glücklichste Volk der Welt - 1989 (#1.1)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Get Your Money Where You Spend Your Time

Jarmusch Delivers An Original

Memphis is the setting, and the specter of Elvis pervades a trio of stories in `Mystery Train,' written and directed by Jim Jarmusch. The three episodes that make up the movie are told separately and in their entirety, though they happen simultaneously in time, and share nothing more than a common local which serves as the hub around which the stories revolve. And with them, Jarmusch does what he does best: he invites the audience in to share some time with the individuals who populate his landscape, as he places them under the microscope to study the minutiae of their lives. In his hands, the details of everyday existence become fresh and new, like the first time you see a new city or make the acquaintance of a total stranger who forever after becomes a part of your life. It's an intimate style of filmmaking, almost voyeuristic, wherein the camera becomes the eyes of the audience and makes the viewer more than a mere onlooker; it places you in the scene, which allows you to experience what the characters are experiencing, to live what they are living. When someone is walking down the street, you're on that street with them, feeling the pavement beneath your feet; in the train depot, you drink in the atmosphere, feeling the texture of the walls, of the aged wood of the benches, smelling the age-old scents of time that hang on the air. You're there with the young couple from Japan, in Memphis to see Sun Studios and Graceland; and with the young widow from Rome, passing through with the casket of her late husband awaiting transport at the airport; and with three young men who have too much to drink and within a few hours find out how quickly life can become so complicated. Jarmusch works with such precision that it makes everything that happens seem spontaneous; it's an innate sense of knowing what works, and how to make that necessary connection with the audience by making all that transpires real. He's a skilled craftsman who knows what he wants and exactly how to deliver it. He creates the proper atmosphere, then introduces you to the characters through which his story will be told. And once the stage is set, Jarmusch knows that `who' these people are and what makes them unique is as important as the story itself, for in a sense, the characters `are' the story. It's an examination of human nature; of traits and of how people function under certain circumstances. And through each character the viewer gets a different perspective on what is happening, along with some insight into how we all relate to one another in a given situation, from the mundane to the bizarre. To tell his tale, Jarmusch has assembled a talented, eclectic cast of actors, including Masatoshi Nagase (Jun) and the charismatic Youki Kudoh (Mitsuko), the couple from Japan with opposing perspectives of Memphis; Nicoletta Braschi (Luisa), the widow awaiting a flight back to Rome; Elizabeth Bracco (Dee Dee), a young woman whose life is in transition; Tom Noonan (Man in Diner), a man with a menacing presence and a strange tale to tell; Steve Buscemi (Charlie), a regular guy led astray by trusting indifference, along with Rick Aviles (Will Robinson) and Lowell Roberts (Lester); Stephen Jones, a dead-ringer for Elvis who is extremely effective here as his ghost; and the two whose characters are pivotal to the story, Screamin' Jay Hawkins (Hotel Night Clerk), and Cinque Lee (The Bellboy). And--heard, but not seen-- Tom Waits (Voice of the Radio DJ). Thoroughly engrossing and highly entertaining, `Mystery Train' is vintage Jarmusch; a director whose minimalist techniques and style make for a satisfying and rewarding movie-going experience. He will not dazzle you with ILM F/X or feed you endless lines of witty dialogue; instead, he gives you more: A film that is artistically and cleverly rendered, with an engaging story and characters that are `real.' An independent filmmaker who stays true to his personal `vision,' Jarmusch gives you that which is rarely found in Hollywood. A film that is truly original. I rate this one 8/10.