Spanking the Monkey (1994)

Director:

David O. Russell

Writer (WGA):

David O. Russell (written by)

Release Date:

15 July 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Get a grip on yourself.

Plot:

Raymond Aibelli is a promising medical student ready to begin a prestigious summer internship. But Susan...

Plot Keywords:

Traveling Salesman | Adultery | Mother Son Relationship | Dysfunctional Family | Female Rear Nudity

Awards:

3 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Jeremy Davies	...	Ray Aibelli
Elizabeth Newett	...	Bus Woman
Benjamin Hendrickson	...	Tom Aibelli
Alberta Watson	...	Susan Aibelli
Carla Gallo	...	Toni Peck
Liberty Jean	...	Motel Woman #1
Archer Martin	...	Motel Woman #2
Matthew Puckett	...	Nicky
Zak Orth	...	Curtis
Josh Phillip Weinstein	...	Joel
Judah Domke	...	Don
Nancy Fields	...	Dr. Wilson
Judette Jones	...	Aunt Helen
Carmine Paolini	...	Mailman
Neil Connie Wallace	...	Walter Hooten
Lleana Stratton	...	Fran Gibson
Jed Resnik	...	Fran's Son
Angela Grillo	...	Nurse
Jim Marcus	...	Dr. Marcos
Richard Husson	...	Dr. Peck
Ty-Ranne Grimstad	...	Secretary
William Keeler	...	Dean (Businessman)
Dean Silvers	...	Boss
John Schmerling	...	Trucker

Directed by
David O. Russell

Writing credits (WGA)
David O. Russell		(written by)

Produced by
Stanley F. Buchthal	....	executive producer
Janet Grillo	....	executive producer
Cheryl Miller Houser	....	associate producer
Jon Resnik	....	line producer
David O. Russell	....	executive producer
Dean Silvers	....	producer

Original Music by
David Carbonara

Cinematography by
Michael Mayers

Film Editing by
Pamela Martin

Casting by
Ellen Parks

Production Design by
Susan Block

Costume Design by
Carolyn Greco

Makeup Department
Evelyn Ortman	....	hair stylist (as Evelyn Ortmann)
Evelyn Ortman	....	makeup artist (as Evelyn Ortmann)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Chad Braden	....	assistant director: second unit
Chad Braden	....	second assistant director
Ashley Fierman	....	second second assistant director
John O'Rourke	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Sarah Berney	....	set dresser
Lars Bjornlund	....	set dresser
Michael DeCola	....	set dresser
Russell Glober	....	set dresser
Jami Kibel	....	property master
Todd Nicky	....	set dresser
Lucio Seixas	....	set dresser
Chantal Taub	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Jeff Kushner	....	sound editor
Reilly Steele	....	sound re-recording mixer
William Tzouris	....	sound mixer
Steven Visscher	....	supervising sound editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Quinton Johnson	....	best boy grip
Doug Luka	....	best boy electric (as Douglas Luca)
Claudia Lumier	....	first assistant camera (as Claudia Laumere)
Drew Olsen	....	gaffer
Tim Schellang	....	key grip
Mark Schmidt	....	cinematographer: second unit
Chris Sferrazza	....	second assistant camera (as Chris Sferuzza)
Carola Spadoni	....	second assistant camera
Emelia Stockdale	....	first assistant camera
Vincent Vinetti	....	first assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
John Morrisseau	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Kimberly K. Hammond	....	assistant editor
Scott Jaeger	....	apprentice editor
Nicole Monte	....	apprentice editor
Noëlle Penraat	....	negative matcher
Hilary Schroeder	....	assistant editor
Gene Zippo	....	color timer

Music Department
Bonnie Greenberg	....	music supervisor
Larry Saltzman	....	musician: solo guitar

Other crew
Orla Byrne	....	product placement
Allison Emmert	....	production assistant
Victor Glynn	....	executive vice president
Angela Grillo	....	additional craft service
Janet Grillo	....	location manager
Rio Dylan Hernandez	....	assistant to director
Carol Jennings	....	location manager
Gary Kauffman	....	legal services: The Law Offices of Dean Silvers
Linda Krantz	....	production assistant
George Larkin	....	assistant to producer (as George W. Larkin)
Edward LeHane	....	production assistant
Sean Madden	....	production assistant
Daniel Projansky	....	location manager (as Dan Projansky)
David O. Russell	....	dog trainer (as David Russell)
Margaret Schnipper	....	script supervisor
Natascha Tillmanns	....	production coordinator

Thanks
Eleanor Ambrose	....	special thanks
Leonard Black	....	special thanks
Rosalie Black	....	special thanks
Fred Bogin-Farber	....	special thanks
Nina Bogin-Farber	....	special thanks
Paul Brennen	....	special thanks
Tod Scott Brody	....	special thanks (as Tod Brody)
Bob Busby	....	special thanks
Craig Busby	....	special thanks
Scott Busby	....	special thanks
Valerie Busby	....	special thanks
Carl Craig	....	special thanks
Jennifer Craig	....	special thanks
Jennifer Craig	....	special thanks
Paul Demartino	....	special thanks
Nancy Elghanayan	....	special thanks
Dean Fachias	....	special thanks
Jennifer Fish	....	special thanks
Peter Fish	....	special thanks
Ricardo Freixa	....	special thanks
Alex Georges	....	special thanks
Gregory Goodman	....	special thanks
Toni Gori	....	special thanks
Bob Gosse	....	special thanks
Matt Greenberg	....	special thanks
Angela Grillo	....	special thanks
Priscilla Guastavino	....	special thanks
Michael Harpster	....	special thanks
George Harrington	....	special thanks: Generators by George
Craig Paul Harris	....	special thanks: generator operator
Marlen Hecht	....	special thanks
Cindy Hornickel	....	special thanks
Cheryl Miller Houser	....	special thanks
Victor Houser	....	special thanks
Nancy Hoving	....	special thanks
Tom Hoving	....	special thanks
Kivi Katz	....	special thanks
Melissa L. Klohm	....	special thanks
Mark L. Lange	....	special thanks
Caroline Laskow	....	special thanks
John Lesher	....	special thanks
Trea Leventhal	....	special thanks (as Trea Hoving)
Nina Mankin	....	special thanks
David McCarthy	....	special thanks
Jim McCarthy	....	special thanks
Joan McCarthy	....	special thanks
Julie A. McGowan	....	special thanks
Larry Meistrich	....	special thanks
Mark Milich	....	special thanks
Bill Nisselson	....	special thanks: Sound One
D.J. Paul	....	special thanks
Dave Pearson	....	special thanks
Sara Risher	....	special thanks (as Sara E. Risher)
Lee Rothberg	....	special thanks
David Rubin	....	special thanks
David Rubin	....	special thanks
Bernard D. Russell	....	special thanks
Maria Russell	....	special thanks
Laurence Schwartz	....	special thanks
Don Sgaggero	....	special thanks
Susan Sgaggero	....	special thanks
Ben Silvers	....	special thanks
Forrest Silvers	....	special thanks
Marc Silvers	....	special thanks
Sylvia Silvers	....	special thanks
Tyler Silvers	....	special thanks
Richard Skeete	....	special thanks
Mayor Slokum	....	special thanks
Betty Smith	....	special thanks
Roger Smith	....	special thanks
Steven Starr	....	special thanks
Jeff Sternfeld	....	special thanks
Louis Tancredi	....	special thanks (as Lewis Tancredi)
Adriana Trigiani	....	special thanks
Nanette Walsh	....	special thanks
Alexandra White	....	special thanks
Gloria Wood	....	special thanks
Jack Wood	....	special thanks
Jim Young	....	special thanks
Linda Young	....	special thanks
Lauren Zalaznick	....	special thanks
Jeremy Zimmer	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Buckeye Films
• Swelter Films

Distributors

• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• Fine Line Features
• New Line Home Video (video)

Other Companies

• Pinnacle Pictures  sales agency

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

New Zealand:R18 | Argentina:18 | Australia:R | Canada:14A | UK:18 | USA:Unrated

Filming Locations:

Pawling, New York, USA

Company:

Buckeye Films

Trivia:

Director David O. Russell cast 'Jeremy Davies' based on the actor's performance in a Suburu commercial.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: Boom mic clearly visible when Mr Aibelli first phones Ray from the hotel room.

Movie Connections:

References Slacker (1991)

Soundtrack:

Mary, Won't You Call My Name

Good tragedy – not a film you'll see too often

Ray comes home for 2 days to look after his mother before going back to his new town to take up an internship in his summer break from MIT. However his father informs him that he will need to stay much longer than that to care for her as she has broken her leg. While in the house Ray becomes increasingly frustrated and fins himself drawn into lust for his mother with devastating results.

This independent film is refreshingly straightforward but has enough quirk in it to have an edge of humour. The drama is sort of Shakespearean as Ray finds his life controlled by his mother who he becomes filled with desire for after rubbing her legs, showering her etc. This quickly finds him in a situation where, unable to masturbate due to the family dog following him everywhere and unable to have sex with a young girl because he is too rough he is increasingly drawn to mum!

This is not a comedy but a tragedy that deals with a very taboo subject. It deals with it gradually and in such a way that you can understand why it happens. Even when it happens there is no judgement – Ray is more sensitive after that and his mother seems nonplussed altogether. The fact that people hated it because they were expecting a teen comedy shows not a weakness in the film but a fault from the audience.

That's not to say this is a classic – it has flaws, some characters and scenes appear to have no meaning and the ending wasn't as concrete as I'd hoped for. But it still handles the central theme well and is a good tale of a young man who slowly loses a lot due to lust. The performances are all good – expect Gallo who is a little directionless in her character.

Overall THIS IS NOT A TEEN COMEDY! But it is a good drama on a taboo subject. It may be a little light on basic plot but the underlying themes will give you plenty to consider after you watch it.