Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Chris Columbus

Writers (WGA):

Anne Fine (novel)
Randi Mayem Singer (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

24 November 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Family

Tagline:

She will rock your world.

Plot:

After a bitter divorce, an actor disguises himself as a female housekeeper to spend secret time with his children held in custody by his Ex.

Plot Keywords:

Divorce | Custody | Nanny | Disguise | Party

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 8 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Robin Williams	...	Daniel Hillard / Mrs. Euphegenia Doubtfire
Sally Field	...	Miranda Hillard
Pierce Brosnan	...	Stuart 'Stu' Dunmeyer
Harvey Fierstein	...	Uncle Frank Hillard
Polly Holliday	...	Gloria Chaney
Lisa Jakub	...	Lydia 'Lydie' Hillard
Matthew Lawrence	...	Christopher 'Chris' Hillard
Mara Wilson	...	Natalie 'Nattie' Hillard
Robert Prosky	...	Jonathan Lundy
Anne Haney	...	Mrs. Sellner - the Social Worker
Scott Capurro	...	Aunt Jack Hillard
Sydney Walker	...	Bus Driver
Martin Mull	...	Justin Gregory
Terence McGovern	...	A.D.R. Director Lou
Karen Kahn	...	Employee
Eva Gholson	...	Employee
James Cunningham	...	Employee
Ralph Peduto	...	Cop
Scott Beach	...	Judge
Juliette Marshall	...	Miranda's Attorney
Drew Letchworth	...	Daniel's Attorney
Jessica Myerson	...	Granny 'Warden' - Miranda's Mother
Sharon Lockwood	...	Alice
Jim Cullen	...	Thug
Kenneth Loo	...	Staring Boy #1
Jeff Loo	...	Staring Boy #2
Betsy Monroe	...	Stunning Woman
Joseph Narducci	...	Delivery Boy
James Cranna	...	Ron
Dr. Toad	...	Bartender
Adele Proom	...	Lundy's Secretary
Rick Overton	...	Maitre D'
Dan Spencer	...	Cook
Paul Guilfoyle	...	Head Chef
Molly McClure	...	Housekeeper
Andy Prosky	...	T.V. Director (as Andrew L. Prosky)
William Newman	...	Mr. Sprinkles - the Mailman
Chris Pray	...	Puppeteer / Voice of 'Kovacs' the Chimp
Geoff Bolt	...	Lundy's Waiter
Dick Bright	...	Stuart's Waiter
Adam Bryant	...	Man in Men's Room
Tavia Cathcart	...	Hostess Tanya
C. Beau Fitzsimons	...	Valet
Jeff Moeller	...	Valet
Benne Alder	...	Woman in Restroom
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joe Bellan	...	T.V. Boss (uncredited)
Smadar Hanson	...	Waitress (uncredited)
Lori Moegling	...	Chris' Friend at Party (uncredited)

Directed by
Chris Columbus

Writing credits (WGA)
Anne Fine		(novel "Alias Madame Doubtfire")
Randi Mayem Singer		(screenplay) and
Leslie Dixon		(screenplay)

Produced by
Joan Bradshaw	....	co-producer
Linda Jones Clough	....	animation producer
Paula DuPré Pesman	....	associate producer (as Paula DuPré)
Stephen Fossatti	....	animation associate producer (as Stephen A. Fossati)
Mark Radcliffe	....	producer
Matthew Rushton	....	executive producer
Marsha Garces Williams	....	producer
Robin Williams	....	producer

Original Music by
Howard Shore

Cinematography by
Donald McAlpine		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Raja Gosnell

Casting by
Janet Hirshenson
Jane Jenkins

Production Design by
Angelo P. Graham		(as Angelo Graham)

Art Direction by
W. Steven Graham

Set Decoration by
Garrett Lewis

Costume Design by
Marit Allen

Makeup Department
Roland Blancaflor	....	crew: Cannom Creations
Greg Cannom	....	special makeup designer
Mitch Devane	....	crew: Cannom Creations
Stephan Dupuis	....	assistant makeup artist
Virginia G. Hadfield	....	hair stylist
John Logan	....	crew: Cannom Creations
Ve Neill	....	key makeup artist
Steve Prouty	....	crew: Cannom Creations
Yolanda Toussieng	....	key hair stylist
Todd Tucker	....	crew: Cannom Creations
Keith VanderLaan	....	crew: Cannom Creations
Pamela S. Westmore	....	makeup artist: Sally Field

Production Management
Joan Bradshaw	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Carol Bawer	....	additional second assistant director
Stephen Lee Davis	....	second second assistant director
Geoffrey Hansen	....	first assistant director (as Geoff Hansen)
Cherylanne Martin	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Michael Anderson	....	construction shop manager
Emilio R. Aramendia	....	swing gang
Kristin Argue	....	drapery
Daniel R. Bentley	....	assistant props
Todd McCune Bray	....	lead scenic artist
Richard W. Clot	....	construction coordinator
Joanne Desmond	....	construction shop liaison
Lisa Devlin	....	stand-by painter (as Lisa M. Devlin)
Harold Fuhrman	....	set designer
Stephen J. Gardner	....	assistant props
Hank Giardina	....	paint foreman
Robert C. Goldstein	....	set designer
Geoffrey Lake	....	assistant greensman (as Geoff Lake)
George F. Mauricio	....	assistant props
Ray Mondoux	....	assistant construction coordinator (as Raymond E. Mondoux)
Ray Mondoux	....	shop foreman (as Raymond E. Mondoux)
James J. Murakami	....	assistant art director
Marie Noonan	....	construction accountant
Kristen Ross	....	art department coordinator
Steve Saklad	....	set designer
Eugene M. Texeira	....	swing gang
Don Watson	....	swing gang
Steven Wolff	....	set designer
Mark Woods	....	lead man
John Zemansky	....	property master
George Zimninsky	....	greensman
J. Michael Davis	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Guy Hietala	....	painter (uncredited)
Ken Sly	....	propmaker (uncredited)

Sound Department
C.J. Appel	....	adr editor
Sandina Bailo-Lape	....	foley editor
Tom Barwick	....	foley artist
Sara Bolder	....	dialogue editor
Gloria S. Borders	....	supervising sound editor
Christopher Boyes	....	foley recordist
Clare C. Freeman	....	assistant sound editor (as Clare Freeman)
Scott Guitteau	....	assistant sound editor
Lora Hirschberg	....	assistant sound designer
Tom Johnson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Scott Kinzey	....	additional cable person
Kevin Rose-Williams	....	assistant sound editor
Fred Runner	....	boom operator
Gary Rydstrom	....	sound designer
Gary Rydstrom	....	sound re-recording mixer
Claire Sanfilippo	....	dialogue editor
Robert Shoup	....	sound effects editor (as Bob Shoup)
Conrad Slater	....	cable person
Dianna Stirpe	....	assistant sound editor
Nelson Stoll	....	sound mixer
Gary Summers	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ewa Sztompke	....	dialogue editor
Patti Tauscher	....	assistant sound editor
Dennie Thorpe	....	foley artist
Marian Wilde	....	foley editor
Stephen Balliet	....	boom operator (uncredited)
George Daugherty	....	sound designer: animation sequence (uncredited)
Jeff Kliment	....	sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Geoff Heron	....	special effects
Leo Loverro	....	special effects
John McLeod	....	special effects
Frank W. Tarantino	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Geoff Heron	....	stage technician

Stunts
Pat Banta	....	stunts
Troy Brown	....	stunt coordinator
Leon Delaney	....	stunts
David Draves	....	stunts (as David Lyle Draves)

Camera and Electrical Department
Phil Bray	....	still photographer
Marty Brenneis	....	video playback operator
Chuck Brown	....	dolly grip
Dave Childers	....	best boy grip (as David Childers)
Tom Cloutier	....	electrician
Jonathan Doff	....	video assistant
Joseph Emanuele	....	rigging best boy electric
William Hampton	....	electrician
Frank Helbig	....	electrician
Philip Ho	....	grip (as Philip Y.C. Ho)
Rod M. Janusch	....	rigging grip
Robin P. Knight	....	key grip
Brett Laumann	....	electrical best boy
John Loveless	....	crane operator
Kim Marks	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Steve Mathis	....	gaffer
Patrick McArdle	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Robert 'Boomer' McCann	....	dolly grip: "b" camera
John O'Donnell	....	rigging electrician
Kate O'Neill	....	camera loader
Orlando Orona	....	rigging grip best boy (as Orlando J. Orona)
Vance Piper	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Bobby Powell	....	rigging gaffer
Douglas Ryan	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Paul Sanchez	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
John Schoening	....	rigging grip
John A. Small	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Kevin Thompson	....	electrician (as Kevin A. Thompson)
Michael Whitehurst	....	grip

Animation Department
Debra Armstrong	....	assistant animator
Charlotte Clark	....	checker
Susan Goldberg	....	assistant animator
Duane Gretsky	....	animator (as Dwayne Gressky)
Chuck Jones	....	animation supervisor
Bill Littlejohn	....	animator
Barrie Nelson	....	animator (as Barry Nelson)
Ralph Newmann	....	animator
Silvia Pompei	....	assistant animator (as Sylvia Pompei)
Claude Raynes	....	animator
Tom Ray	....	animator
Rick Reinert	....	animation background artist
Tom Roth	....	animator
Deborah Rykoff-Bennett	....	checker (as Debra Rykoff)
Pat Sito	....	checker (uncredited)

Casting Department
Michael Hirshenson	....	casting associate
Schuler Kent	....	casting assistant
Nancy Hayes	....	extras casting: San Francisco (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Michael Becker	....	on-set costumer
James P. Cullen	....	costume supervisor: Mr. Williams (as Jim Cullen)
Barbara Hartman-Jenichen	....	on-set costumer
Christine Peters	....	costume supervisor
Nancy Servin	....	seamstress (as Nancy Hart Servin)
Mary Elizabeth Still	....	on-set costumer
Deirdre N. Williams	....	costume supervisor (as Deirdre Nicole Williams)

Editorial Department
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Alexandra Fitzpatrick	....	editorial production assistant
Tara McKinley	....	assistant editor
Dennis McNeill	....	color timer
Donald Ord	....	apprentice editor
Kevin D. Ross	....	assistant editor: lightworks
Tim Silano	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Sandy DeCrescent	....	musician contractor
Jo Ann Kane	....	music preparation
Robin Katz	....	music editor
Ellen Segal	....	supervising music editor
Howard Shore	....	orchestrator
Fred Steiner	....	composer: cartoon music
Fred Steiner	....	conductor: cartoon music
Dan Wallin	....	score mixer

Transportation Department
Maylon Houston	....	transportation co-captain
Robert Neilson	....	transportation coordinator
James C. Taylor	....	transportation captain
Billy Kane	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Saundra Marie Ardito	....	accounting assistant
Linda Benevente-Notaro	....	body suit: Mrs. Doubtfire
Oscar Briones	....	location assistant
Carol DePasquale	....	script supervisor
Christopher Desmond	....	paramedic coordinator
Bruce Devan	....	location manager
Elizabeth Devereux	....	assistant: Mr. Columbus
Mary Duann	....	assistant production coordinator
Ron Fode	....	projectionist
Jennifer Garces	....	office production assistant
Gary Gero	....	animal handler
Debra A. Girard	....	assistant location manager (as Debra Girard)
Susannah Greason	....	location assistant
John Halko	....	caterer
Curtis Hamlin	....	caterer
Bryndon Hassman	....	opera coach: Mr. Williams
Christopher Hoffman	....	office production assistant
Dione Holden	....	office production assistant
Bonnie Hudson	....	studio teacher
Cindy Ichikawa	....	set production assistant
Lisa Lacuesta	....	office production assistant
Cynthia LaPointe	....	location assistant
Dirk Q. Long	....	caterer
Cyndi McHale Margolis	....	assistant: Mrs. Garces Williams
Ellen Pasternack	....	unit publicist
Randol Perelman-Taylor	....	location assistant
Bill Powers	....	caterer
Mayda Renizzi-Holt	....	assistant accountant
Darin Rivetti	....	set production assistant
Jay Roberts	....	payroll
Myra Rosenthal	....	studio teacher
Erik Ross	....	office production assistant
Ken Ryan	....	production accountant
Nina Saxon	....	title designer
Elena Servi	....	diction coach: Italian, Mr. Williams
Jacqueline A. Shea	....	production coordinator
Rebecca Erwin Spencer	....	assistant: Mr. Williams
Steve Watson	....	caterer
James J. Wilhelm	....	craft service
John D. Bair	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Kimberly Cooper	....	production executive: Fox (uncredited)
Gabe de Kelaita	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Jesse Merz	....	market researcher (uncredited)
Stephanie Siemiller	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Nancy A. Terriberry	....	extras wrangler (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Blue Wolf (as A Blue Wolf Production)
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (presents) (as Twentieth Century Fox)

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1993) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Netherlands (1994) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (1994) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (1994) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Fox Filmes do Brasil (1994) (Brazil) (theatrical)
• Manuel Salvador (1994) (Spain) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Brazil) (VHS)
• Fox Network (1996) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Gativideo (2003) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (VHS)
• Kabel 1 (????) (Germany) (TV)
• Pro 7 (????) (Germany) (TV)
• Sat.1 (199?) (Germany) (TV)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (1994) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-Ray Disc)

Other Companies

• Chapman Equipment  cranes and dollies (as Chapman L.A.)
• Chuck Jones Film Productions  animation sequence
• DeLuxe Laboratories  color timing (as Deluxe)
• Film Unit @ The Post Group, The  post-production services
• Fox Records  soundtrack published by
• Industrial F/X  thanks (as Industrial F/X L.A.)
• Jo Anne Kane Music Services  music preparation (as Jo Ann Kane Music Services)
• KTVU  thanks
• Nina Saxon Film Design  title design
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Panavision  camera equipment provided by
• Skywalker Sound  post-production sound services
• Ted Bemiller & Sons  animation camera

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some sexual references.

Runtime:

125 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Canada:G (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:PG (Nova Scotia) (re-rating) (1994) | Iceland:L | Ireland:PG | South Korea:12 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Brazil:Livre | Chile:TE | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:6 | Norway:10 | Peru:PT | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:PG (cut) | USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | UK:12 (original rating) | UK:PG (re-rating) (2003) (uncut)

Filming Locations:

2640 Steiner Street, San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Blue Wolf

Trivia:

The San Francisco Municipal Railway (Muni) bus used for Route 22 (Fillmore) is a real 1989 New Flyer bus built in Canada for the Muni fleet.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Daniel/Mrs. Doubtfire is in the kitchen looking in the fridge, the cameraman is reflected in the frying pan that he picks up.

Quotes:

Daniel: How about we take a vacation, take the kids, get you away from work, you'll see that you're a different person. You are. You're great.
Miranda: But our problems would be waiting for us when we got back.
Daniel: Well we'll move, and hopefully our problems won't follow us.
Miranda: Daniel, please don't joke. We're far apart. We're different. We have nothing in common.
Daniel: Sure we do. We love each other... We love each other... Don't we?
Miranda: I want a divorce.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Incredible Melting Man (#8.4)" (1996)

Soundtrack:

Walk Like A Man

Wonderful buxom British nanny hilariously captures your heart

For me, this was the funniest movie I ever saw. Not normally a huge fan of comedy, I was just about rolling in the theatre aisles during this gem. Robin Williams is brilliant in his 'dual role' as the rejected husband, Daniel, and the buxom British nanny, Mrs. Doubtfire.

This movie tells the story of a bitter separation, when Miranda insists on a divorce from her immature, goofy husband. Daniel, denied custody and given only limited visitation, concocts a female nanny character for himself in order to gain daily access to his three children. The kids grow to love and depend on their unusual but very concerned and efficient new nanny, Mrs. Doubtfire, who really gets the household running extremely smoothly. Of course meanwhile Miranda has a new love interest named Stu.

Williams' portrayal of Mrs. Doubtfire is hilarious in every way, shape, and form. The wig, stockings, dress, make up...it's all too amusing, watching Daniel transform for the part. Wait till you see Mrs. Doubtfire cooking! The most insanely funny scene is at a restaurant where Daniel / Mrs. Doubtfire must quickly be in two places at the same time, so he / she is forced to alternate between personae at lightning speed, sometimes forgetting which one he / she is at any given moment. I won't give away the plot, but I nigh expired from laughing.

Sally Field charmingly plays Daniel's now separated wife, Miranda, and Pierce Brosnan is suitably unsympathetic as her new love interest, Stu. We cheer for Daniel through his assorted antics as he tries to shoo away this romantic competitor for his ex wife's affections and especially, this new male threatening to usurp his role as father to his kids.

Desite being a comedy, this film does on the serious side reveal the devastating effects of divorce on children's lives and also particularly on the noncustodial parent. Daniel is distraught as he misses seeing his kids every day. Furthermore, the entrance of a new love interest naturally adds to the general strife.

Where did Mrs. Doubtfire get her unusual name? Does she live on or fizzle out at movie's end? Will Daniel and Miranda get back together, or will Stu prevail? I won't divulge any spoilers, but I guarantee you'll fall in love with this lovable large nanny and wish you could have her babysit your own kids. Mrs. Doubtfire will certainly live on in your heart.