Mr. Saturday Night (1992)

Director:

Billy Crystal

Writers (WGA):

Billy Crystal (written by) and
Lowell Ganz (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

23 September 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

It's lonely at the middle.

Plot:

Buddy Young was the comic's comic, beloved by everyone. Now, playing to miniscule crowds in nursing homes...

Plot Keywords:

Abbreviation In Title | Period In Title | Day In Title | Real TV Show Shown In Fictional Situation | Bloopers During Credits

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 5 nominations

Cast

Billy Crystal	...	Buddy Young, Jr.
David Paymer	...	Stan
Julie Warner	...	Elaine
Helen Hunt	...	Annie Wells
Mary Mara	...	Susan
Jerry Orbach	...	Phil Gussman
Ron Silver	...	Larry Meyerson
Sage Allen	...	Mom
Jason Marsden	...	Buddy, age 15
Michael Weiner	...	Stan, age 18
Larry Gelman	...	Mr. Gimbel
Kay Freeman	...	Mrs. Gimbel
Howard Mann	...	Stage manager
Julius Branca	...	Stage manager
Liz Georges	...	Script girl
Bill Wendell	...	Announcer (as William Wendell)
Hartley Haverty	...	Susan, age 6
Will Jordan	...	Ed Sullivan
Josh Byrne	...	Buddy, age 6
Ben Diskin	...	Stan, age 9
Irving Wasserman	...	Uncle Moe
Phil Forman	...	Uncle Julius
Joe Shea	...	M.C.
Michael Ben-Edward	...	Fat guy in audience
Carl Ballantine	...	Freddie
Slappy White	...	Joey
Richard Mehana	...	Sidney
Mark Lonow	...	Producer
Conrad Janis	...	Director
Tim Russ	...	Assistant director
Marc Shaiman	...	Lucky Zindberg
Cantor Chayim Frenkel	...	Cantor at funeral
Jan Lucas	...	Karen (casting director)
Daniel Tisman	...	Reece
Peter Kim	...	Maitre d'
Greg Paik	...	Owner
Eugene Kaufmann	...	Old man
Miranda Garrison	...	Apache dancer
Alberto Toledano	...	Apache dancer
Richard Kind	...	Reporter
Jerry Lewis	...	Guest
Edith Fields	...	Woman in commercial
Adam Goldberg	...	Eugene Gimbel
Maria A. Ferrari Olivo	...	Fat guy's wife
Talbot Perry Simons	...	Man at Catskills
Lonnie Burr	...	TV show dancer
Randy Doney	...	TV show dancer
Joe A. Giamalva	...	TV show dancer
Birl Jonns	...	TV show dancer
Shadoe Stevens	...	Fred
Bert Copello	...	Sulivan A.D.
Lindsay Crystal	...	Screaming girl
Dana Lipsic	...	Other screaming girl
Jerry Gadette	...	Stagehand
William T. Yamadera	...	Japanese client
Lowell Ganz	...	Writer #1
Babaloo Mandel	...	Writer #2
Gary Grossman	...	Backstage man
Bob Yerkes	...	Acrobat
Marinela Cimpoeru	...	Acrobat
Costin Csizmas	...	Acrobat
Voinea Dumitru	...	Acrobat
Adrian Smertcov	...	Acrobat
Steven Kravitz	...	Young comic
Randy Crenshaw	...	Buddy, Buddy singer
Geoff Koch	...	Buddy, Buddy singer
Steve Lively	...	Buddy, Buddy singer
Rick Logan	...	Buddy, Buddy singer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jackie Gayle	...	Gene
Joe Mays
Rene Beard	...	NYC Cabbie (uncredited)
Walton Goggins	...	Shaky kid (uncredited)
Michael Pasby	...	Cameraman at game show (extra) (uncredited)
David Pires	...	Young Woody Allen (uncredited)
Steven Rozic	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Cari Shayne	...	(uncredited)
Marc Ian Sklar	...	Family Member (uncredited)
Barry Squitieri	...	Cab Driver (uncredited)
Tami Zweig	...	Woman in catskills audience (uncredited)

Directed by
Billy Crystal

Writing credits (WGA)
Billy Crystal		(written by) and
Lowell Ganz		(written by) &
Babaloo Mandel		(written by)

Produced by
Billy Crystal	....	producer
Lowell Ganz	....	executive producer
Babaloo Mandel	....	executive producer
Peter Schindler	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Marc Shaiman

Cinematography by
Donald Peterman		(as Don Peterman)

Film Editing by
Kent Beyda

Casting by
Pam Dixon

Production Design by
Albert Brenner

Art Direction by
Carol Winstead Wood

Set Decoration by
Kathe Klopp

Costume Design by
Ruth Myers

Makeup Department
Kim Adrissi	....	makeup artist
Audrey L. Anzures	....	hair stylist
Steve LaPorte	....	key makeup artist
Steve LaPorte	....	makeup department head
Todd McIntosh	....	makeup artist/prosthetics
Peter Montagna	....	makeup artist
Peter Montagna	....	makeup department head
Mike Smithson	....	fabrication
Dayne Johnson	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)
Louis Lazzara	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Michael Maddi	....	prosthetics designer (uncredited)

Production Management
Kelly Van Horn	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Julie A. Bloom	....	assistant director
David Cass Jr.	....	assistant director
James Chory	....	assistant director (as Jim Chory)
John E. Gallagher	....	assistant director
Sean Hobin	....	assistant director

Art Department
Brad Curry	....	drapemaster
Richard Bryan Douglas	....	construction foreman
Amy Feldman	....	set dressing buyer
Steve A. Hagberg	....	construction coordinator
John Kasarda	....	art director: New York
C.J. Maguire	....	property master
Bruce Richter	....	carpenter
Paul Stanwyck	....	head painter
John Hammer Maxwell	....	on-set dresser (uncredited)
Rudy Reachi	....	assistant property master (uncredited)

Sound Department
James Ashwill	....	foley mixer
Steve Bowerman	....	boom operator
Michael Dressel	....	foley editor
Robert Grieve	....	supervising sound editor
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steve Mann	....	sound effects editor
Dan O'Connell	....	foley artist
Kevin O'Connell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Roy Seeger	....	assistant sound editor
Robert L. Sephton	....	sound editor
Alicia Stevenson	....	foley artist
Jeff Wexler	....	sound mixer
John Roesch	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
David P. Kelsey	....	special effects

Stunts
Brian Burrows	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Phil Abraham	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera, New York
Brian S. Cooper	....	electrician
Scott Crabbe	....	video operator
Ken Fisher	....	assistant camera
Gábor Kövér	....	director of photography: second unit
Bruce McBroom	....	still photographer
Randy Nolen	....	Steadicam operator
Brad Peterman	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Andrew D. Schwartz	....	still photographer: New York

Casting Department
Jessica Roulston	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Danna Edwards	....	costumer
Marcie Olivi	....	costumer: Mr. Crystal

Editorial Department
Thomas Calderon	....	assistant editor
Dale E. Grahn	....	color timer
Wilt Henderson	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Brad Dechter	....	orchestrator
Alex Gibson	....	music editor
Mark McKenzie	....	orchestrator
Steven L. Smith	....	music preparation
Nick Vidar	....	music programmer
Sherry Whitfield	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Michael Avallon	....	driver
Jerry Sidwell	....	driver

Other crew
Todd J. Adelman	....	production medic
Laurie Arnow-Epstein	....	construction accountant
Elaine Bass	....	title designer
Saul Bass	....	title designer
Bonnie Belknap	....	food stylist
Judith M. Brown	....	studio teacher
Pam Ellington	....	first assistant production accountant
Cindy Franke	....	assistant production coordinator
Michael Greenwood	....	production assistant
Lisa Lynn Kearsley	....	production coordinator
Adam Lustig	....	property graphics
Gail Martin-Sheridan	....	production accountant
Tricia Miles	....	production assistant
Gail Rose	....	assistant production accountant
Lauren Ross	....	location manager
Larry Vigus	....	stand-in: Conrad Janis
Christopher Waters	....	office production assistant (as Darren Waters)
William Woff	....	adr loop group
David L. Yen	....	craft service
Lynnanne Zager	....	adr voice (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Castle Rock Entertainment
• Face Productions
• New Line Cinema

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1992) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1996) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1997) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Aquarius TV (2000) (Greece) (TV)
• Image Entertainment (laserdisc)
• New Line Home Video (video)
• PolyGram Video (USA) (DVD)
• Starlight

Other Companies

• Big Screen Records  soundtrack
• Inter Video  24 frame video services
• ShowBiz Enterprises  draperies

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Iceland:L | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Australia:M | Germany:6 (f) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #32002)

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Castle Rock Entertainment

Trivia:

There is one scene where Buddy Young, Jr. is watching "Your Show of Show" starring Sid Caesar and wincing. Ironically, Billy Crystal has cited Sid Caesar for his reason wanting to get into comedy.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Stan explains that rating for Buddy's Saturday night TV show are sliding because the show is opposite Davy Crockett, a serial that actually ran midweek for three weeks on a TV's Disneyland show.

Quotes:

Buddy Young, Jr.: For me, my family was like, uh, Dances With Jews. Oh sure, we had names for our relatives like they had in that movie.
Reporter: What do you mean?
Buddy Young, Jr.: Well, we had "Eats With His Hands," "Spits When He Talks," "Makes Noise When He Bends," "Sweats Like a Pig," "Whines In a Cab," "Never Buys Retail," "Shaves His Back."

Movie Connections:

References The Sunshine Boys (1975)

ONE TRULY, TRULY REMARKABLE MOTION PICTURE!!!!

This movie didn't get a big audience and it is a shame, but that's no surprise. It doesn't have the makings of a big box office hit. This is a hilarious film, and I laughed nonstop, but it's not entirely a comedy. It has a great human element. Not your usual Hollywood fluff. I mean, I enjoy comedies like "There's Something About Mary" that do virtually nothing for civilization, yet make you laugh out loud, but it's always a great incentive to watch a comedy that keeps its ear to the ground, that's down to earth. Few times have I watched a film that made me laugh so hard, yet touched my heart in the most poignant fashion. "Mr. Saturday Night" is a real gem!

I've always been a big Billy Crystal fan, but this is his best work ever! It's easy for a stand-up comic like Billy Crystal to co-write, direct and act in a movie about a stand-up comic. But the film also flaunts his range as an artist. Needless to say, it shows off his more serious side. I'm sure some elements of the story were inspired by his origins as an up-and-coming stand-up comedian. And he brings us into all aspects of this fictional comedian's life. What people tend to overlook is the fact that most comedians...don't live very happy lives. They may seem very jovial on stage, but what goes on off-stage is an entirely different story. Buddy Young (Crystal) doesn't have luck with family, friends or anyone in his life. Sometimes it is his fault, sometimes it's not. Sometimes the people in his life just fail to understand the real Buddy and his sort of mentality. I've heard several reviews stating that it's hard to get engaged in a film where the main character is an insulting, unappealing soul. I personally didn't find his character unappealing at all. Then again, I don't know Buddy personally. But I always enjoy watching movies about characters that are hated much more than movies about characters that are loved. What's compelling about a story about someone who everyone loves? If you watch a movie about someone who has his flaws, it gives you more to think about. Why does this person behave this way? Was there a pivotal moment that caused him to be this way?

But I can respect a man like Buddy Young. So his jokes are very negative. They're funny! Some may not prefer his type of humor; if you don't, that's your prerogative. All I know is I never seen a comedy that was so consistently funny. Often when I watch a movie where I get big laughs in the first act, the laughs wear out as the film goes along. When you make a comedy that starts out really funny, you have to keep that consistency. The upcoming gags have to be either just as funny or funnier. Never did I feel the comedy lagged. There's tons of lines and scenes that will stick in my mind forever. One absolute gem is a scene in a restaurant. Billy takes pieces of bread and does all sorts of impressions. For example, he takes two long pieces of bread, puts them on each side of his head and impersonates a Hasidic Jew. And later on, he impersonates an interview with a basketball player in the locker room, which is too racy for me to mention.

Here are some memorable lines:

"Hey, old lady. Moses called. He said you're a great f**k!"

(to an enormously overweight man) "You look like New Jersey in pants!"

(pertaining to Jewish food) "These are diseases with prices!"

David Paymer's Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor was very well-deserved! He delivers an incredible performance! Paymer often plays second banana to a group of great actors in the movies that he does, and this is one film where he actually had a significant role, even failing to be upstaged by the great Billy Crystal. Paymer delivers a powerful, subtle performance in which his facial expressions are much more compelling than the words he speaks.

The chemistry between Crystal and Paymer is excellent. Though they don't share much of a resemblance, they are extremely believable as lifelong brothers. I was raised an only child, but I'm sure many siblings can relate to their love-hate relationship. Crystal is the aggressive type, whereas Paymer is simply there to ride his coattails and criticize him. Buddy Young is not the perfect individual, but he has a strong personality, whereas his brother Stan secretly envies that strength and constantly fires his insecurities at him. There is a great scene, where Buddy reveals to his brother that Stan wishes he could've lived the same life, wishes he could've been the one who had the guts to perform on stage, wishes he could've been the one to ask Elaine (his current wife) out that time he hooked the two of them up. And though Stan doesn't agree with his brother, you know he agrees. He wishes he was as successful and had the guts to do what he did. And Buddy was simply doing him a favor by giving him a taste of what it's like to be a celebrity by letting him be his agent for many years.

The minor flaw: the overdone makeup job on Crystal in his later years. I felt the makeup jobs on Paymer and Julie Warner were done just right. Their aging is more convincing, whereas Crystal looks like Peter Falk in "Roommates." He doesn't look old, he looks like Billy Crystal behind loads of makeup. But Crystal delivers such a credible performance that it's easy to overlook that minor goof for most of the film.

Watching a film like this makes me feel that I wish there were more comics like Buddy Young nowadays. In one scene, Buddy watches TV and sees a guy--dressed like a hippi--telling all sorts of mindless jokes about drugs. He comments, "You call these jokes?" Exactly what I'm thinking. So many modern comedians just don't have that magic that comedians of the yesteryear had. And they play themselves out, depending too much on subjects involving sex and bodily functions. Buddy Young is like a cross between Don Rickles and Rodney Dangerfield. The kind of comedian that makes you laugh hysterically, no matter how many times you see him perform. Never does he run out of steam, just like Rickles and Dangerfield.

"Mr. Saturday Night" is like nothing you'll ever see! It's hard nowadays to find a comedy that's even funny. This is movie that's not only funny, but it's hilarious. And it's not only hilarious, but it's touching and powerful. A must-see!

My score: 9 (out of 10)