Lost in Yonkers (1993)

Director:

Martha Coolidge

Writers (WGA):

Neil Simon (play)
Neil Simon (screenplay)

Release Date:

14 May 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

In the summer of 1942 two young boys are sent to stay with their stern grandmother Kurnitz and their childlike aunt Bella in Yonkers, New York. |

Plot Keywords:

Yonkers New York | Grandmother | Aunt | Dysfunctional Family | Pulitzer Prize Source

Cast

Richard Dreyfuss	...	Louie Kurnitz
Mercedes Ruehl	...	Bella Kurnitz
Irene Worth	...	Grandma Kurnitz
Brad Stoll	...	Jay
Mike Damus	...	Arty
David Strathairn	...	Johnny
Robert Miranda	...	Hollywood Harry (as Robert Guy Miranda)
Jack Laufer	...	Eddie
Susan Merson	...	Gert
Illya Haase	...	Harry's Crony
Calvin Stillwell	...	Gas Station Attendant
Dick Hagerman	...	Truck Driver
Jesse Vincent	...	Danny
Howard Newstate	...	Kid in Store
Peter Gannon	...	Cop
Lori Schubeler	...	Teresa
Jean Zarzour	...	Flo
Mary Scott Gudaitis	...	Celeste
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chambers Stevens	...	Tough Guy (uncredited)

Directed by
Martha Coolidge

Writing credits (WGA)
Neil Simon		(play)
Neil Simon		(screenplay)

Produced by
Emanuel Azenberg	....	co-producer
Joseph M. Caracciolo	....	executive producer
Ray Stark	....	producer

Original Music by
Elmer Bernstein

Cinematography by
Johnny E. Jensen		(director of photography)
A. Troy Thomas		(interviews)

Film Editing by
Steven Cohen

Casting by
Jennifer Shull

Production Design by
David Chapman

Art Direction by
Mark Haack

Set Decoration by
Marvin March

Costume Design by
Shelley Komarov

Makeup Department
Linda Boykin-Williams	....	makeup artist
Susan Germaine	....	hair stylist
Susan V. Kalinowski	....	hair stylist
Carol Schwartz	....	makeup artist
Daniel C. Striepeke	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Joseph M. Caracciolo	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Janice Arrington	....	dga trainee
Randall Badger	....	first assistant director
Otie Brown	....	second second assistant director
Timothy J. Lonsdale	....	second assistant director (as Timothy Lonsdale)

Art Department
Jason Bedig	....	assistant property master
Aryn Chapman	....	art department coordinator
David Cunningham	....	construction foreman
Doug B. Dick	....	construction coordinator (as Douglas B. Dick)
Jack Eberhart	....	leadman
Jimmy Flores	....	location general foreman
Mark Garner	....	set designer
Thomas H. Paul	....	set designer
Jack E. Pelissier Jr.	....	assistant art director (as Jack E. Pelissier)
Jimmy Raitt	....	property master
Richard Robles	....	scenic painter
Chris Santini	....	construction foreman
Maurice Zuberano	....	production illustrator

Sound Department
Nicholas R. Allen	....	boom operator (as Nicholas Allen)
Christopher S. Aud	....	sound editor (as Christopher Aud)
Steve Borne	....	assistant sound editor (as Steve Born)
Chris Carpenter	....	sound re-recording mixer
David B. Cohn	....	supervising adr editor
Carlos Delarios	....	sound re-recording mixer
Roxanne Jones	....	supervising sound editor
Mark L. Mangino	....	sound editor
Tom C. McCarthy	....	supervising sound editor
Lee Orloff	....	production sound mixer
Sanford Ponder	....	sound editor
Aaron Rochin	....	sound re-recording mixer
Stacy Saravo	....	assistant sound editor

Special Effects by
Billy Myatt	....	special effects (as Bill Myatt)
Daniel Ottesen	....	special effects

Stunts
Lisa Cain	....	utility stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Don Duffield III	....	second assistant camera (as Don L. Duffield III)
Gary Holt	....	chief lighting technician (as Gary H. Holt)
Jimmy E. Jensen	....	first assistant camera (as Jim Jensen)
Bob E. Krattiger	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Robert E. Krattiger)
Hugh Langtry	....	best boy grip
Thomas R. Miller	....	dolly grip (as Thomas Miller)
Richard Moran	....	key grip
Zade Rosenthal	....	still photographer
A. Troy Thomas	....	camera operator: video camera
Mark Van Loon	....	camera operator

Casting Department
Kathy Binns	....	extras casting
Beth Cooper	....	extras casting (as Beth Cooper-Koenig)
Phil Poulos	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sandy Berke Jordan	....	wardrobe: women (as Sandy B. Jordon)
Marilyn Madsen Brands	....	key costumer (as Marilyn Brands)
Robert Iannaccone	....	wardrobe: men (as Robert Ianneccone)

Editorial Department
Chris Brookshire	....	apprentice editor (as Christopher A. Brookshire)
Kate McGowan	....	first assistant film editor
Alexis Seymour	....	assistant film editor
Scot Deer	....	telecine colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Kathy Durning	....	music editor
Steven L. Smith	....	music preparation

Transportation Department
Edwin Bowden Jr.	....	transportation co-captain (as Edwin Bowden)
John Orlebeck	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Anica Alvarez	....	assistant: Ms. Coolidge
Irene Brafstein	....	studio teacher
Daniel Burns	....	production assistant
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer
Alan Forbes	....	location manager
Ellen Gannon	....	production secretary
Don Gillespie	....	production assistant
David J. Grant	....	assistant: Mr. Caracciolo
Wendi Haas	....	production coordinator
Rob Harris	....	unit publicist
Chris Holt	....	production assistant
Greg Hyman	....	production assistant
Barry Kirschner	....	production assistant (as Barry S. Kirschner)
Kurt Kulhanek	....	production assistant (as Kurt T. Kulhanek)
Margaret Mitchell	....	production accountant (as Margaret A. Mitchell)
Billy Pittard	....	title designer (as Pittard Sullivan Fitzgerald)
Suzie Sax-Horowitz	....	script supervisor
M. Clayton Simmons	....	production assistant
Simone Study	....	assistant: Ms. Coolidge
Ted Yonenaka	....	craft service
Nichol Simmons	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation
• Rastar Pictures

Distributors

• Columbia TriStar Films AB (1994) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Svenska Filminstitutet (SFI) (1994) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Columbia Pictures
• Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International (Argentina)
• Filmayer (Spain)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (Argentina) (video)

Other Companies

• Cinema Research  opticals
• Donah Bassett and Associates  negative cutting (as Donah Bassett & Associates)
• Pittard Sullivan Fitzgerald  title design
• Sony Pictures Studios  sound services
• Tomkats Catering  catering (as TomKats)
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack

Also Known As:

Neil Simon's Lost in Yonkers

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements and mild language.

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Norway:10 | Netherlands:MG6 | Australia:PG | USA:PG (certificate #32189) | Iceland:L | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Germany:6 | Peru:PT | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Augusta, Kentucky, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Mercedes Ruehl won the 1991 Tony Award (New York City) for Actress in a Musical for "Lost in Yonkers" and recreated her role in the movie based on the play.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The movie is supposedly set in 1942 but some of the cars seen in the movie are post World War II models. For example, when Bella is hanging up laundry out in the yard.

Quotes:

Aunt Bella: Do ya, do you know what color my eyes are, Johnny?
Johnny: No, what?
Aunt Bella: You're lookin' right at 'em.
Johnny: Oh, uh. I'm a little color blind.
Aunt Bella: You have beautiful eyes.
Johnny: Naw. Men don't have beautiful eyes.
Aunt Bella: Oh, yes, they do. Don't tell me. Wanta kiss me?
Johnny: Yeah. Yeah I do, I really would.
Aunt Bella: Then, kiss me.
Johnny: I will.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Features Now, Voyager (1942)

Soundtrack:

Now Voyager

Wonderful Film

The mistake most often made when approaching a Neil Simon piece is the thought-line "if Simon wrote it - it must be a comedy". LOST IN YONKERS like THE GINGERBREAD LADY (filmed as ONLY WHEN I LAUGH) is most certainly not a comedy - not that it's not funny. What it is is a heartbreaking story about two brothers who by circumstance end up in the care of their severe Grandmother. Thanks to the powers that be - both Mercedes Ruehl and Irene Worth reprise thier stage roles in the film. Both won the Tony for the stage. Both deserved and Oscar for the film. There are several funny bits amidst this disfunctional family fest - and some very tender moments as well. I highly recommend it - just don't sit down with a bucket of popcorn and expect THE ODD COUPLE. Simon's writing has matured far beyond those days and is rich and wonderful.