Life Stinks (1991)

Director:

Mel Brooks

Writers (WGA):

Mel Brooks (story) &
Ron Clark (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

26 July 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot:

A filthy rich businessman bets a corporate rival that he can live on the streets of L.A. without the comforts of home or money, which proves to be tougher than he thought.

Plot Keywords:

Bet | Wealth | Betrayal | Homelessness | Male Female Relationship

Cast

Mel Brooks	...	Goddard 'Pepto' Bolt
Lesley Ann Warren	...	Molly
Jeffrey Tambor	...	Vance Crasswell
Stuart Pankin	...	Pritchard
Howard Morris	...	Sailor
Rudy De Luca	...	J. Paul Getty
Teddy Wilson	...	Fumes
Michael Ensign	...	Knowles
Matthew Faison	...	Stevens
Billy Barty	...	Willy
Brian Thompson	...	Mean Victor
Raymond O'Connor	...	Yo
Carmine Caridi	...	Flophouse Owner
Sammy Shore	...	Reverend at Wedding
Frank Roman	...	Spanish Interpreter
Marvin Braverman	...	Dr. Kahahn
Robert Ridgely	...	Fergueson
John Welsh	...	Dodd
Stanley Brock	...	Store Owner
James Van Patten	...	Wheelchair Attendant
Mike Pniewski	...	Male Nurse
Marianne Muellerleile	...	Head Nurse
Anne Betancourt	...	Nurse
Kathryn Skatula	...	Nurse
Robin Shepard	...	Nurse
Angela Gordon	...	Capacity Nurse
Mary Watson	...	Newscaster
Saida Pagan	...	Newscaster
Tamara Taylor	...	Newscaster
Henry Kaiser	...	Newscaster
Danny Wells	...	Mercedes Driver
Larry Cedar	...	Paramedic
Christopher Birt	...	Paramedic
Brad Grunberg	...	Burrito-Eating Bum (as Johnny Cocktails)
Clifton Wells	...	Taco Stand Driver
Paul Brinegar	...	Old Bellboy
George Berkeley	...	Derelict Outside Flophouse
Anthony Messina	...	Policeman
David Correia	...	Policeman
Helene Winston	...	Society Patron
Terrence Williams	...	Boy Dancing in Doorway
Joan Crosby	...	Woman at Fire
Ira Miller	...	Man at Fire
Jim Mapp	...	Blind Man (as James Mapp)
Sam Menning	...	Old Wino
Ralph Ahn	...	Chinese Cook
Stu Gilliam	...	Desmond
Darrow Igus	...	Maynard
James Martinez	...	Dancing Vagrant at Party
Rose DuCaine	...	Dancing Dowager at Party
Raf Mauro	...	Hors d'Oeuvres Vagrant at Party (as Ralph Mauro)
Danny Dayton	...	Dirty Bum at Party
Jack DeLeon	...	Pompous Party Guest (as Christopher Weeks)
S. Scott Bullock	...	Outraged Party Guest
Martin Charles Warner	...	Dirty-Faced Vagrant at Party
Anthony Thomas Mitchell	...	Nibbler Driver
Patrick Valenzuela	...	Street Person at Fight
Carmen Filpi	...	Pops (elevens-up)
Casey King	...	Shopping Cart Chauffeur
Ronny Graham	...	Priest (voice)
Jere Laird	...	Stock Market Reporter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Eugene Jackson	...	Office Janitor (uncredited)
Jennifer Warren	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Mel Brooks

Writing credits (WGA)
Mel Brooks		(story) &
Ron Clark		(story) &
Rudy De Luca		(story) (as Rudy DeLuca) &
Steve Haberman		(story)
Mel Brooks		(screenplay) &
Rudy De Luca		(screenplay) (as Rudy DeLuca) &
Steve Haberman		(screenplay)

Produced by
Mel Brooks	....	producer
Kim Kurumada	....	associate producer
Ezra Swerdlow	....	executive producer

Original Music by
John Morris

Cinematography by
Steven Poster

Film Editing by
Michael Mulconery
David Rawlins
Anthony Redman

Casting by
Bill Shepard
Todd M. Thaler

Production Design by
Peter S. Larkin

Art Direction by
Josan F. Russo

Set Decoration by
Marvin March

Costume Design by
Mary Malin

Makeup Department
Fred C. Blau Jr.	....	head makeup artist (as Fred Blau)
Mark Bussan	....	makeup artist
Carolyn Elias	....	hair stylist
Barbara Lorenz	....	hair stylist
Dianne Roberson	....	hair stylist
Eugenia Weston	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Kim Kurumada	....	production manager
Leah Zappy	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mitchell Bock	....	first assistant director
Albert Cho	....	second assistant director
Bryan Dresden	....	dga trainee
Martha M. Elcan	....	second assistant director
David R. Ellis	....	second unit director
Catherine Schlesinger	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Kevin Constant	....	art department coordinator
Jack Eberhart	....	lead man
Carroll Johnston	....	set designer
Roger Knight	....	assistant property master
Keith A. Kropf	....	head painter
Basil Lombardo	....	stand-by painter
Jack M. Marino	....	property master
Luigi Mugavero	....	set dresser
Randy Severino	....	set dresser
Steve Willis	....	construction foreman
S. Bruce Wineinger	....	construction coordinator

Sound Department
Dwayne Avery	....	sound editor
Kenneth R. Burton	....	sound effects editor
Willie D. Burton	....	sound mixer
Michael P. Cook	....	sound editor
Mike Goodman	....	adr supervisor (as Michael Goodman)
Robert W. Harris	....	utility sound
Edward Hirsch	....	sound editor
Bess Hopper	....	foley artist
Adam Johnston	....	sound editor
Marvin E. Lewis	....	boom operator
Andy Nelson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steve Pederson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tom Perry	....	sound re-recording mixer
Alan Schwartz	....	sound editor
Greg Stacy	....	sound editor
Casey Troutman	....	foley artist
Clancy T. Troutman	....	sound editor
James Troutman	....	supervising sound editor (as Jim Troutman)
James Bailey	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Ted Johnston	....	sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Yarek Alfer	....	sculptor
Curtis Decker	....	special effects
David Fletcher	....	special effects technician
David P. Kelsey	....	special effects
Raymond Robinson	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Syd Dutton	....	matte painter
Leslie Ekker	....	model shop crew chief
Scott Schneider	....	model maker
Robert Spurlock	....	special effects model maker
Mark Stetson	....	special effects model maker
Bill Taylor	....	matte painter
Laurel Schneider	....	miniature effects production coordinator (uncredited)

Stunts
Steve Boyum	....	stunts
Steve M. Davison	....	stunts (as Steve Davison)
Justin De Rosa	....	stunts
David R. Ellis	....	stunt coordinator (as David Richard Ellis)
Richard M. Ellis	....	stunts
Larry Frazier	....	stunts
Dennis Frick	....	stunts
Billy Hank Hooker	....	stunts (as Bill Hooker)
Gary McLarty	....	stunts
Don Pulford	....	stunts
Denise Lynne Roberts	....	stunts
Jesse Wayne	....	stunt double: Mel Brooks
Jesse Wayne	....	stunts
Dick Ziker	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
John Armstrong	....	generator operator
Todd Braden	....	lighting technician
Alicia Brauns	....	second assistant camera
David Burnett	....	best boy electric
Brad Chelesvig	....	lighting technician
Robert Gray	....	key grip (as Bob Gray)
Lindsay P. Hill	....	video playback operator
John Koester	....	additional camera operator
George Kohut	....	camera operator
Mike Moyer	....	chief lighting technician
Norman Parker	....	first assistant camera
Brian T. Pitts	....	second assistant camera
Paul Plannette	....	second assistant camera
Rick Rader	....	best boy grip
Peter Sorel	....	still photographer

Casting Department
Barbara Harris	....	voice casting
Daren Hicks	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Roberto Carneiro	....	costumer
Carlane Passman	....	costumer
Lori Stilson	....	set costumer
Paki Wolfe	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Albert Coleman	....	assistant editor
Phil Hetos	....	color timer
Darren T. Holmes	....	assistant editor
Dennis Newman	....	assistant editor
Ben Williams	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Ralph Burns	....	dance orchestrator
Jack Hayes	....	orchestrator
Eugene Marks	....	music editor
John Richards	....	score mixer

Transportation Department
Jim Chesney	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
John Armstrong	....	location manager
Paula Benson-Himes	....	production coordinator
Ron Chesney	....	production assistant
Dyan Conway	....	assistant: Mr. Brooks
Robert L. Dohan	....	assistant location manager
Jan Garner	....	production accountant
Miranda Garrison	....	assistant choreographer
Victoria Halboth	....	production assistant
Daren Hicks	....	assistant: Ezra Swedlow
Jeffrey Hornaday	....	choreographer
Jim Jaffe	....	product placement
Linden Johnson	....	assistant accountant
Saul Kahan	....	publicist
Michael Kanter	....	production assistant
Sean King	....	production assistant
Barbara Lortie	....	first aid
Sarah McAnally	....	secretary: writer
Colleen O'Neill	....	production assistant
Scott Rosencrans	....	production assistant
Richard W. Scarpone	....	craft service
Kathi Scharer	....	assistant accountant
Gina E. Sforza	....	assistant: Ms. Warren
J.T. Thayer	....	production assistant
Leslie A. Tokunaga	....	assistant production coordinator
Judi Townsend	....	script supervisor
Angel Trujillo	....	caterer
RaeAnn Emery	....	body double: Lesley Ann Warren (uncredited)
RaeAnn Emery	....	stand-in: Leslie Ann Warren (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Brooksfilms
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
• Pathe Communications

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1991) (USA) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1992) (USA) (laserdisc)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Manuel Salvador (Spain)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes and dollies
• Evergreen Recording Studios  music recorded at
• Hollywood Rental Company  grip and lighting equipment
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals

Also Known As:

Life Sucks (USA) (alternative title)

Runtime:

92 min | Finland:96 min (theatrical version)

Country:

USA

Language:

Spanish | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-3 (cinema release) (1991) | Finland:S (video rating) (1991) | Iceland:L | Australia:M | Norway:10 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Culver Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Brooksfilms

Trivia:

The film's original title, "Life Sucks", was changed at the studio's insistence.

Quotes:

Vance Crasswell: An office is no place to do business.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Matrix Revolutions (2003)

Soundtrack:

EASY TO LOVE

Adventures on the streets of Downtown LA

Growing up around downtown LA as a kid in the seventies didn't look much different than it does today as far as the kinds of odd characters you'll run into while passing through it and I think this movie really captures some of the authentic types of characters you meet when you really get to know them, but you also run into those other types that are always looking for trouble as also depicted in this Mel Brooks movie who brings a lighter and even comical side to this scenario that is so prevalent and filmed in downtown Los Angeles.

Mel Brooks also stars as Goddard Bolt, a ruthless billionaire who soon begins to experience how the other half lives by unintentionally making a bet with his conniving business associates, from there he goes from riches to rags and meets some strange, funny but good hearted souls on the streets as well as endless comical mishaps, but with the help of a bag lady (Lesley Ann Warren) he begins to discover what really matters most unlike his former business associates.

Although this is one of my favorite movies, I still think the ending could have been done much better, but the comedy throughout never ends.