Matinee (1993)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Joe Dante

Writers (WGA):

Jerico (story) and
Charles S. Haas (story) ...

Release Date:

29 January 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Lawrence Woolsey presents the end of civilization as we know it. Make that... Proudly Presents!

Plot:

A small-time film promoter releases a kitschy horror film during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Plot Keywords:

Cuban Missile Crisis | B Movie | Helicopter | Mushroom Cloud | Nurse Uniform

Awards:

1 win

Cast

John Goodman	...	Lawrence Woolsey
Cathy Moriarty	...	Ruth Corday / Carole
Simon Fenton	...	Gene Loomis
Omri Katz	...	Stan
Lisa Jakub	...	Sandra
Kellie Martin	...	Sherry
Jesse Lee Soffer	...	Dennis Loomis (as Jesse Lee)
Lucinda Jenney	...	Anne Loomis
James Villemaire	...	Harvey Starkweather
Robert Picardo	...	Howard, the Theater Manager
Jesse White	...	Mr. Spector
Dick Miller	...	Herb Denning
John Sayles	...	Bob
David Clennon	...	Jack
Lucy Butler	...	Rhonda

MPAA:

Rated PG for language, and for mild violence and sensuality.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Brazil:Livre | Iceland:L | Germany:12 | UK:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Key West, Florida Keys, Florida, USA

Company:

Falcon Productions

Trivia:

James Villemaire plays the hood named Harvey Starkweather. The name comes from Charles Starkweatherr, a real-life serial killer of that time.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: The aircraft shown flying along the beach are A-4 Skyhawks, which flew with the US Navy and Marine Corps from 1956 until 2003. Marine Attack Squadron 242 (VMA-242)based at Cherry Point, NC deployed to NAS Key West, Fla during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, therefore the aircraft shown are the actual models flown during the time depicted in the movie.

Quotes:

Gene Loomis: Y'know, it's hard to believe you're a grown-up.
Ruth Corday: No kidding.
Lawrence Woolsey: You think grown-ups have it all figured out? That's just a hustle, kid. Grown-ups are making it up as they go along, just like you. You remember that, and you'll do fine.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Cutting Edge: The Magic of Movie Editing (2004)

Soundtrack:

Main Title

Who was the original of the John Goodman character, Woolsley?

Other commentators have likened producer Woolsley to Roger Corman and Ed Wood perhaps in connection with intent to shock and low-rent operation, but the John Goodman character is really based on William Castle, producer of The Tingler. Castle invented the scheme of wiring some theater sets with electric buzzers to provide a tingle at appropriate moments.

I think Matinee succeeds wonderfully in attaining two objectives: recreating the atmosphere of the Cuban missile crisis and satirizing the shocker drive-in movies of the period. I laughed so hard it hurt. Cathy Moriarty deserves high praise for her supporting role as second in command and as special "nurse" for ministering to patrons overcome by fright.