Sister Act (1992)

Director:

Emile Ardolino

Writer (WGA):

Joseph Howard (written by)

Release Date:

29 May 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Music

Tagline:

No booze! No sex! No drugs!... No way!

Plot:

When a worldly singer witnesses a mob crime, the police hide her as a nun in a traditional convent where she has trouble fitting in.

Plot Keywords:

Choir | Convent | Singer | Nun | Murder

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 7 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Whoopi Goldberg	...	Deloris Van Cartier / Sister Mary Clarence
Maggie Smith	...	Mother Superior
Kathy Najimy	...	Sister Mary Patrick
Wendy Makkena	...	Sister Mary Robert
Mary Wickes	...	Sister Mary Lazarus
Harvey Keitel	...	Vince LaRocca
Bill Nunn	...	Lt. Eddie Souther
Robert Miranda	...	Joey
Richard Portnow	...	Willy
Ellen Albertini Dow	...	Choir Nun
Carmen Zapata	...	Choir Nun
Pat Crawford Brown	...	Choir Nun
Prudence Wright Holmes	...	Choir Nun
Georgia Creighton	...	Choir Nun
Susan Johnson-Kehn	...	Choir Nun (as Susan Johnson)
Ruth Kobart	...	Choir Nun
Susan Browning	...	Choir Nun
Darlene Koldenhoven	...	Choir Nun
Sheri Izzard	...	Choir Nun
Edith Diaz	...	Choir Nun
Beth Fowler	...	Choir Nun
Rose Parenti	...	Sister Alma
Joseph Maher	...	Bishop O'Hara
Jim Beaver	...	Detective Clarkson
Jenifer Lewis	...	Michelle
Charlotte Crossley	...	Tina
A.J. Johnson	...	Lewanda
Desreta Jackson	...	Teenage Girl #1
Zatella Beatty	...	Teenage Girl #2
Skye Bassett	...	Teenage Girl #3
Lois De Banzie	...	Immaculata
Isis Carmen Jones	...	Little Deloris
Max Grodénchik	...	Ernie
Joseph G. Medalis	...	Henry Parker
Michael Durrell	...	Larry Merrick
Robert Jimenez	...	Reporter
Toni Kalem	...	Connie LaRocca
Kevin Bourland	...	Pilot
David Boyce	...	Croupier
Tim Pedegana	...	Gambler (as Timothy J. Pedegana)
Terry Wills	...	Salesman
David Parker	...	Bartender (as David M. Parker)
Nicky Katt	...	Waiter
Mike Jolly	...	Biker #1
Jeremy Roberts	...	Biker #2
Eugene Greytak	...	The Pope
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jeanne Basone	...	(unconfirmed)
Guy Boyd	...	Det. Tate (uncredited)
Aric Cushing	...	Student (uncredited)
Alexander Kanellakos	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Mario Lara	...	Parishioner (uncredited)
Terriel Lara	...	Nun (uncredited)
Gary Rodriguez	...	Bar patron (uncredited)

Directed by
Emile Ardolino

Writing credits (WGA)
Joseph Howard		(written by)

Produced by
Cindy Gilmore	....	associate producer
Mario Iscovich	....	co-producer
Scott Rudin	....	executive producer
Teri Schwartz	....	producer

Original Music by
Marc Shaiman

Cinematography by
Adam Greenberg

Film Editing by
Colleen Halsey
Richard Halsey

Casting by
Lynda Gordon
Judy Taylor

Production Design by
Jackson De Govia

Art Direction by
Eve Cauley

Set Decoration by
Thomas L. Roysden

Costume Design by
Molly Maginnis

Makeup Department
Michael Germain	....	makeup artist
Robert L. Stevenson	....	key hair stylist
Julia L. Walker	....	hair stylist (as Julia Walker)
Michael F. Blake	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Nancie Marsalis	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
John J. Smith	....	production manager
David Hoberman	....	executive in charge of production: Walt Disney Studios (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joe Camp III	....	first assistant director
Parnes Cartwright	....	second second assistant director
Seth Cirker	....	additional second assistant director
Ian Woolf	....	second assistant director
Timothy J. Lonsdale	....	first assistant director: second unit (uncredited)

Art Department
Robert M. Beall	....	set designer
Howard Fannon	....	assistant property master
Ann Harris	....	set designer
Ronald C. Jacobs	....	lead man
John R. Jensen	....	construction coordinator
Nikita Knatz	....	production illustrator
George Denes Suhayda	....	production illustrator
Tommy 'Tom' Tomlinson	....	property master
Christopher Windisch	....	construction foreman
Mark A. Mancinelli	....	hod plasterer (uncredited)
James Passanante	....	paint supervisor (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bruce Bell	....	foley mixer
Denis Blackerby	....	dubbing recordist
Charles J. Bond	....	cable person
Thomas Burke	....	sound editor
John K. Carr	....	sound editor
Bruce Foster	....	sound assistant
David Gertz	....	foley mixer
Jeremy J. Gordon	....	sound editor (as Jeremy Gordon)
David Grannis	....	sound assistant
Catherine Harper	....	foley sound effects
David J. Hudson	....	sound re-recording mixer
C. Darin Knight	....	sound mixer (as Darin Knight)
Jimmy Ling	....	sound editor
Mel Metcalfe	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bill Phillips	....	supervising sound editor
Terry Porter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Sean Rush	....	boom operator
Jeffrey Wilhoit	....	foley sound effects
Jim Yant	....	sound editor
Vincent Zabaly	....	sound transfer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Rocky Gehr	....	special effects

Stunts
Steven Chambers	....	stunts
Justin De Rosa	....	stunts
Sandi Gross	....	stunts
Alan Oliney	....	stunt coordinator
Gary Price	....	stunts
Kym Washington	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Mike Benson	....	camera operator
Charles John Bukey	....	best boy
Alan Cohen	....	second assistant camera
Michael A. FauntLeRoy	....	first assistant camera
Ken Fisher	....	Steadicam assistant (as Ken W. Fisher)
Edward Gold	....	camera operator
Robert Gray	....	key grip
Suzanne Hanover	....	still photographer
Dennis J. Laine	....	first assistant camera
Kevin J. Lang	....	best boy
Moshe Levin	....	camera operator
Brian Liberman	....	grip
Steven C. McGee	....	chief lighting technician
Alan Shultz	....	dolly grip
Daniel E. Teaze	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (as Danny Teaze)
Elizabeth Ziegler	....	Steadicam operator
Bill Pelkey	....	electrician: San Francisco (uncredited)
Michael T. Travers	....	best boy grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Nicole Gelbard	....	casting assistant
Barbara Harris	....	adr voice casting
Marshall Peck	....	location casting
Shannon Dunn	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gala Autumn	....	costumer
Elaine Ramires	....	supervising costumer
Mary Elizabeth Still	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Dale E. Grahn	....	color timer
Neil Kirk	....	assistant editor
Dan Miller	....	apprentice editor (as Daniel Miller)
Theresa Repola Mohammed	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Daniel Allan Carlin	....	music consultant (as Dan Carlin Jr.)
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor
Artie Kane	....	conductor
Darlene Koldenhoven	....	production vocal coach & contractor
Joseph Magee	....	music recording engineer
Tom Malone	....	orchestrator: score
Hummie Mann	....	orchestrator: score
Mark McKenzie	....	orchestrator: score
Joel Moss	....	music mixer
Joel Moss	....	music producer
Joel Moss	....	music recordist
Joel Moss	....	orchestrator: score
Seth Riggs	....	vocal coach: Ms. Goldberg
Andrea Robinson	....	singing voice: Wendy Makkena
Curtis Roush	....	supervising music editor
Marc Shaiman	....	music producer
Marc Shaiman	....	orchestrator: score
Nick Vidar	....	music programmer
Jimmy Vivino	....	music coordinator
Jimmy Vivino	....	orchestrator: score
Fred Vogler	....	music recording producer
Lester Wilson	....	musical staging
Brian L. McCarty	....	music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Al J. Hersh	....	transportation captain
Tom F. Thomas	....	transportation coordinator
Alan Kaminsky	....	driver generator operator (uncredited)

Other crew
Hyatt Bass	....	production assistant
Lee J. Bognar	....	production assistant
Samuel Bokebza	....	assistant production accountant
Sue Bokobza	....	production accountant
Alisabeth Brown	....	production assistant
Susan J. Brubaker	....	assistant coordinator
Kelly Ching	....	production assistant
Sarah Connolly	....	production assistant
Lee Dollar	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Dominic Fidelibus	....	supervising copyist
Rhoda Fine	....	studio teacher
Ada Geraghty	....	technical advisor
Jill Rene Gilbert	....	assistant: Mr. Iscovich
Debra A. Girard	....	location assistant: San Francisco
Martin Greenlaw	....	technical advisor
Alonzo Greer	....	production assistant (as Alonzo E. Greer)
Jane Harrison	....	first assistant accountant
George Herthel	....	location manager
Brian Jochum	....	production assistant
James R. Maceo	....	assistant location manager
Ron McGee	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Morgan Moore	....	unit publicist
Lisa Mordente	....	additional choreographer
Peter Pav	....	production assistant
Tim Pedegana	....	assistant: Mr. Ardolino (as Timothy J. Pedegana)
Trish Pfeiffer	....	assistant: Ms. Gilmore
Heather Sands	....	location assistant: Reno
Jill Simpson	....	production coordinator
John J. Smith	....	production assistant
Philip E. Thomas	....	assistant: Ms. Schwartz
Mike Thompson	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Wally Uchida	....	assistant location manager (as Wallace Uchida)
Nick Vidar	....	MIDI consultant
Esther Vivante	....	script supervisor
Leon Watkins	....	production assistant
Robert 'Bobby Z' Zajonc	....	helicopter pilot
Tom Lent	....	adr voice (uncredited)
Jon Sperry	....	dialect coach (uncredited)
Leon Watkins	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Erik Westby	....	assistant production coordinator: Reno (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Touchstone Pictures

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures (1992) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1995) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Buena Vista International (Sweden) (1992) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Abril Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
• C.B. Films (Spain)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (video)
• Touchstone Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)

Other Companies

• Buena Vista Optical and Perpetual Motion Pictures  opticals
• Buena Vista Sound  sound re-recording
• City of Reno, Nevada  thanks
• City of San Francisco  thanks
• Fitzgeralds Hotel & Casino  thanks
• Greenberg/Schluter  titles
• Hollywood Records  soundtrack
• Otto Nemenz International  camera equipment provided by
• Segue Music  music editing
• St. Pauls Church, San Francisco  thanks
• The Fitzgeralds Group Inc.  thanks
• Walt Disney Pictures and Television  for purposes of copyright law in the United Kingdom this picture was created by

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild violence and language.

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Canada:G (Quebec) | South Korea:12 | New Zealand:PG | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Norway:10 | Peru:PT | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG (certificate #31803)

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Touchstone Pictures

Trivia:

An opening scene shows Dolores as a young girl, played by Isis Carmen Jones. Jones had previously played a "de-aged" version of Goldberg's character Guinan, in an episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987)

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Sister Mary Clarence/Dolores is escaping from Joey and Willy, towards the end of the film, she is shot at. We hear the shot but, although the pistol is on screen at the same time, we don't see it being fired.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[in a classroom in 1968]
Nun: Who can name all the apostles? Yes, Deloris?
Little Delores: John, Paul, George... and Ringo!
[the children laugh]
Nun: Deloris Wilson, you are the most unruly, disobedient girl in this school! Now, I want you to march right up to that blackboard and write the names of all the apostles alphabetically.
[Little Deloris walks up to the blackboard and writes "John, Paul, Peter" and "Elvis" in big letters, underlined. The children laugh again]
Nun: This is enough! You are hopeless, and I wash my hands of you. Mark my words, Deloris. If you continue on this disruptive track, it will lead straight to the devil. Have you any idea what girls like you become?
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: (#8.66)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave

Sister Act

I think sister act is fantastic! Whoopie Goldberg does a terrific job as playing sister Mary Clarence, but i think what makes the movie is Wendy Makkenna in playing sister Mary Robert. She has a fantastic voice and is entertaining, i love the way in which at the beginning she's shy then through gaining confidence in her singing she turns into a diva although through sister act and sister act 2 she's timid and very light hearted and this is what makes me love her more! Also the way in which she is easy to watch and is very pretty, so i think. Wendy Makkenna (Mary Robert) makes me want to watch the movie over and over again.

Vicky