Barton Fink (1991)

Director:

Joel Coen
(more)

Writers:

Joel Coen (written by) &
Ethan Coen (written by)

Release Date:

21 August 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Between Heaven and Hell There's Always Hollywood!

Plot:

In 1941, New York intellectual playwright Barton Fink comes to Hollywood to write a Wallace Beery wrestling picture...

Plot Keywords:

Writer | Writers Block | Wrestling | Hotel | Playwright

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 13 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

John Turturro	...	Barton Fink
John Goodman	...	Charlie Meadows
Judy Davis	...	Audrey Taylor
Michael Lerner	...	Jack Lipnick
John Mahoney	...	W.P. Mayhew
Tony Shalhoub	...	Ben Geisler
Jon Polito	...	Lou Breeze
Steve Buscemi	...	Chet
David Warrilow	...	Garland Stanford
Richard Portnow	...	Detective Mastrionotti
Christopher Murney	...	Detective Deutsch
I.M. Hobson	...	Derek
Meagen Fay	...	Poppy Carnahan (as Megan Faye)
Lance Davis	...	Richard St. Claire
Harry Bugin	...	Pete
Anthony Gordon	...	Maitre D'
Jack Denbo	...	Stagehand
Max Grodénchik	...	Clapper Boy
Robert Beecher	...	Referee
Darwyn Swalve	...	Wrestler
Gayle Vance	...	Geisler's Secretary
Johnny Judkins	...	Sailor
Jana Marie Hupp	...	USO Girl
Isabelle Townsend	...	Beauty
William Preston Robertson	...	Voice (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joe James	...	Mailman (voice) (uncredited)
Frances McDormand	...	Stage Actress (voice) (uncredited)
Barry Sonnenfeld	...	Page calling for Barton Fink (uncredited)
Vincent Tumeo	...	Dancer (uncredited)

Directed by
Joel Coen
Ethan Coen		(uncredited)

Writing credits
Joel Coen		(written by) &
Ethan Coen		(written by)

Produced by
Ben Barenholtz	....	executive producer
Ethan Coen	....	producer
Bill Durkin	....	executive producer
Jim Pedas	....	executive producer
Ted Pedas	....	executive producer
Graham Place	....	co-producer
Joel Coen	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Carter Burwell

Cinematography by
Roger Deakins		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Ethan Coen		(as Roderick Jaynes)
Joel Coen		(as Roderick Jaynes)

Casting by
Donna Isaacson
John S. Lyons		(as John Lyons)

Production Design by
Dennis Gassner

Art Direction by
Robert C. Goldstein		(as Bob Goldstein)
Leslie McDonald

Set Decoration by
Nancy Haigh

Costume Design by
Richard Hornung

Makeup Department
Fríða Aradóttir	....	hair stylist (as Frida Aradottir)
Jean Ann Black	....	makeup artist (as Jean Black)
Sarah Gaye Deal	....	makeup assistant (as Sarah Deal)
Keith Edmier	....	special makeup assistant
Scott Frelick	....	hair assistant
Peggy Hannaman	....	assistant hair stylist
Tom Hinds	....	hair assistant
Rick Lazzarini	....	special makeup effects artist
Denise Van Arsdale-West	....	assistant makeup artist
Julie A. Welsh	....	makeup assistant (as Julie Ann Welsh)
Joel Harlow	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)

Production Management
James DeMeaux	....	post-production supervisor
Alma Kuttruff	....	production manager
Ron Neter	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joe Camp III	....	first assistant director
Tom Gamble	....	second second assistant director
Randall Newsome	....	second assistant director

Art Department
J. Todd Anderson	....	storyboard artist
Paige Augustine	....	assistant decorator
Alice Baker	....	on-set dresser
Randall Baughman	....	construction foreman
Bobby Bednar	....	carpenter
Barbara Benz	....	property master
Karla Bergstrom	....	set painter
Ella St. John Blakey	....	carpenter
Beth Bronson	....	set painter
Robert Brown	....	carpenter
Linda Cathey	....	swing gang
Bryan Corbett	....	carpenter (as Bryan K. Corbett)
Michael T. Daigle	....	scenic artist (as Michael Daigle)
Frank Darlington	....	set painter
Michael D'Imperio	....	assistant property master (as Michael Dimperio)
Charles Faithorn	....	set painter
Richard Fernandez	....	set designer
Gerard Forrest	....	carpenter
Jodi Fuchs	....	set painter
Kristen Gassner	....	props assistant
Claire Gaul	....	assistant decorator
Robert Greenfield	....	leadman
Keith Hill	....	carpenter
John Hirtle	....	carpenter
Gilbert Johnquest	....	stand-by scenic
Allan F. Johnson	....	carpenter (as Allan Johnson)
Jim Landis	....	set dresser
Leslie 'Tinker' Linville	....	set dresser
Kim McDonald	....	construction coordinator
Louis Medrano	....	set painter
Scott Plauche	....	assistant art director
Elizabeth Prejean	....	set painter
Anthony Simonaitis	....	carpenter
Chris Snyder	....	construction foreman
Chris L. Spellman	....	swing gang (as Chris Spellman)
Joseph Torres	....	carpenter
Andy Wedemeyer	....	carpenter
Wallace W. Wright	....	assistant scenic artist (as Wallace Wright)

Sound Department
Allan Byer	....	production sound mixer
Jean Marie Carroll	....	sound recordist
Missy Cohen	....	apprentice sound editor
Randall Coleman	....	assistant sound editor (as Randy Coleman)
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist
Lee Dichter	....	sound re-recording mixer
William Docker	....	assistant sound editor (as Bill Docker)
Harry Higgins	....	sound re-recordist
Bradford L. Hohle	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Kerry Kelley	....	sound re-recordist
Frank Kern	....	sound editor
Peter F. Kurland	....	boom operator
Blake Leyh	....	sound editor
Skip Lievsay	....	supervising sound editor
Marissa Littlefield	....	sound editor
Bruce Pross	....	foley supervisor
Anne Sawyer	....	assistant sound editor
Gail Showalter	....	adr editor
Philip Stockton	....	dialogue supervisor
Dominick Tavella	....	foley mixer
Steven Visscher	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Roy Goode	....	special effects
Tom Griep	....	special effects
Donald Krause	....	special effects (as Don Krause)
Donn Markel	....	special effects
Robert L. Olmstead	....	special effects
Laurel Schneider	....	special effects coordinator
Robert Spurlock	....	special effects supervisor
Richard Stutsman	....	special effects foreman
Joe Viskocil	....	special effects foreman (as Joseph Viskocil)

Visual Effects by
Scott Schneider	....	model maker (uncredited)

Stunts
Billy Bates	....	stunts
Christine Anne Baur	....	stunts (as Christine Baur)
Michael Carr	....	stunts
Fernando Celis	....	stunts
George B. Colucci	....	stunts (as George Colucci)
David Efron	....	stunts (as Dave Efron)
Lance Gilbert	....	stunts
Mickey Gilbert	....	stunts
John Gillespie	....	stunts
Ben Jensen	....	stunts
Ethan Jensen	....	stunts
Gary Jensen	....	stunt coordinator
Kim Robert Koscki	....	stunt rigger (as Kim Koscki)
A. Michael Lerner	....	stunts
Hugh McAfee	....	stunts
Dennis Motes	....	stunts
Billy Oliver	....	stunts (as Bill Oliver)
David Powledge	....	stunts
Keith Tellez	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Kevin T. Caffrey	....	grip (as Kevin Caffrey)
Saul Cohen	....	electrician
Melinda Sue Gordon	....	production still photographer
Bruce Hamme	....	dolly grip
Toulouse Holliday	....	grip
Jeremy Knaster	....	electrician
Robena Malicoat	....	grip
Joey McCalla	....	camera department assistant
Charlie McIntyre	....	electrician (as Chuck McIntyre)
Mark O'Kane	....	Steadicam operator
Bill O'Leary	....	gaffer
Susan Pollack	....	second assistant camera
Scott Andrew Ressler	....	first assistant camera (as Scott Ressler)
Brian H. Reynolds	....	key grip (as Brian Reynolds)
Joe Ritter	....	Steadicam assistant
Jonathon E. Salzman	....	electrician (as Jon Salzman)
Don Simandl	....	best boy grip (as Donny Simandl)
Scott Williams	....	best boy electric
Darwin Montana Browne	....	grip (uncredited)
Robin Melhuish	....	assistant camera: "b" camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Michael Heit	....	extras casting
Christine Sheaks	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kimberly Adams-Galligan	....	assistant costume designer (as Kimberly Adams)
Bo Boreanaz	....	costume assistant
Marsha Bozeman	....	assistant wardrobe supervisor (as Marsha Brand)
Mark Bridges	....	assistant costume designer
Eden Clark Coblenz	....	costume assistant (as Eden Clark)
Jan Finnell	....	costume assistant
Alexandria Forster	....	costume assistant
Steven McDermott	....	costume assistant
Lahly Poore	....	wardrobe supervisor
Jana Stern	....	wardrobe assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Michael Berenbaum	....	associate editor
Tricia Cooke	....	assistant editor
Tom Salvatore	....	color timer

Music Department
Scott Ansell	....	additional music engineer
Emile Charlap	....	musicians contractor
Gary Chester	....	additional music engineer
Edmund Choi	....	assistant to composer
Michael Farrow	....	music scoring mixer
Todd Kasow	....	music editor
Sonny Kompanek	....	conductor

Transportation Department
Robert K. Johnson	....	driver: camera sound (as Rob Johnson)
Stephen A. Latina	....	driver: production van (as Stephen Latina)
Dan Marrow	....	transportation captain
Kenny Searle	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Alex Albanese	....	production assistant
Catherine Anderson	....	production assistant
Lissa Barker	....	assistant location manager
Carl Beyer	....	production assistant
Dior Chase	....	purchaser
John Cummings	....	production assistant
Suzanne De Grandis	....	controller (as Suzanne DeGrandis)
Genevieve Duraire	....	assistant auditor
Robert Grindrod	....	auditor
Tom Hoeck	....	medic set production assistant
Brian Jochum	....	production assistant
Thomas Johnston	....	script supervisor
Sidney J. Lambert	....	craft service (as Sid Lambert)
Bill Landrum	....	choreographer
Jacqui Landrum	....	choreographer
Tracy McCollum	....	assistant production coordinator
Amy Ness	....	location manager
Judi Rosner	....	production coordinator
Joan Schneider	....	production assistant
David Weissman	....	Mark Silverman fellow
Larry Wilcox	....	source arrangements
Stephanie Zessos	....	production assistant
Randall Balsmeyer	....	title designer (uncredited)

Thanks
Senor Greazer	....	special thanks (as Señor Greazer)
Jan Kelly	....	special thanks
Hilary Nye	....	special thanks (as Hilary Ney)
Rob Taub	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Circle Films
• Working Title Films

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1991) (USA) (theatrical)
• Charlie's Bratislava (1992) (Czechoslovakia) (theatrical)
• Finnkino (1991) (Finland) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (1997) (USA) (laserdisc)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (VHS)
• Abril Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Bac Films (France)
• CBS/Fox (1992) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (UK) (video)
• Finnkino Video (1992) (Finland) (VHS)
• Fox Video (1996) (USA) (VHS)
• Laurenfilm (Spain)
• Rank Film Organization (UK)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (Argentina) (video)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1997) (2004) (Finland) (TV)

Special Effects

• Character Shop
• Stetson Visual Services Inc.

Other Companies

• All Star Motion Picture Catering  location catering
• Balsmeyer and Everett  main and end titles
• Bon Bon  payroll services
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Effects House, The  opticals
• Film Finances  special thanks
• Filmtrucks  location equipment
• Helen Uffner Vintage Clothing  special thanks (vintage clothing rentals)
• L.A. Casting Express  extras casting
• N.D. Film Services  negative cutting
• Otto Nemenz International  camera equipment
• R/Greenberg Associates  opticals
• Sound One Corporation  post-production services

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some scenes of violence.

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

France:U | Brazil:16 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-14 | Germany:16 (bw) | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #31095) | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Ambassador Hotel - 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Circle Films

Trivia:

The Coen brothers cite as a major influence for Barton Fink the Roman Polanski film Le locataire (1976). (Watching The Tenant, according to one writer, will give you a lot better idea of what's in the mysterious kraft-paper-wrapped box in Barton Fink.)

Goofs:

Continuity: When Charlie comes out of the elevator, the two detectives have just come out of Barton's room, and only a little way down the corridor. Charlie chases the second cop a good way down the corridor, but when he walks up to the fallen cop, he's still only at the door to Barton's room - we can see him walk past the door from Barton's POV.

Quotes:

Geisler: Wallace Beery. Wrestling picture. What do you need, a roadmap?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Simpsons: Hit & Run (2003) (VG)

Soundtrack:

DOWN SOUTH CAMP MEETING

Classic dark comedy spoofs Hollywood hacks, literati alike

This is a satire which really eviscerates its main character, nebbish Barton Fink, a semi-successful, very Jewish New York playwright who comes to Hollywood to make his dreams come true, which in his case is definately not writing the next Wallace Beery wrestling picture. There are just too many funny things in this movie to mention them all, so I won't mention any. But this is a movie that is going to stand up to the test of time; it may be the Coen brothers' best movie, because it is both dead funny and dead serious.

Turturro gives the performance of a lifetime as Barton, and Goodman proved with this movie that he was a first class acting talent (what made the Coens think of him in this role, anyway? surely a mark of genius). Davis also shows herself off extremely well, in one of this underrated actresses finest roles.

There is, simply put, no better satire of Hollywood, and none that I can think of that so successfully manages to also spoof the pretentions of those who despise it.