Clueless (1995)

Director:

Amy Heckerling

Writer (WGA):

Amy Heckerling (written by)

Release Date:

19 July 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Sex. Clothes. Popularity. Is there a problem here?

Plot:

Jane Austen's Emma meets Beverley Hills 90210 in US West Coast teen lifestyle parody.

Plot Keywords:

Social Consciousness | Dysfunctional Family | Fashion | Fall Down Stairs | Teenage Girl

Awards:

6 wins & 8 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sat. July 26	9:00 PM	BRAVO
Sat. July 26	11:00 PM	BRAVO

Cast

Alicia Silverstone	...	Cher Horowitz
Stacey Dash	...	Dionne
Brittany Murphy	...	Tai
Paul Rudd	...	Josh
Donald Faison	...	Murray
Elisa Donovan	...	Amber
Breckin Meyer	...	Travis
Jeremy Sisto	...	Elton
Dan Hedaya	...	Mel Horowitz
Wallace Shawn	...	Mr. Wendell Hall
Twink Caplan	...	Miss Toby Geist
Justin Walker	...	Christian
Sabastian Rashidi	...	Paroudasm
Herb Hall	...	Principal
Julie Brown	...	Ms. Stoeger
Susan Mohun	...	Heather
Nicole Bilderback	...	Summer
Ron Orbach	...	DMV Tester
Sean Holland	...	Lawrence
Roger Kabler	...	College Guy
Jace Alexander	...	Robber
Josh Lozoff	...	Logan
Carl Gottlieb	...	Priest
Joseph D. Reitman	...	Student
Anthony Beninati	...	Bartender
Micki Duran	...	Dancer
Gregg Russell	...	Dancer
Jermaine Montell	...	Dancer
Danielle Eckert	...	Dancer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dicky Barrett	...	Himself (uncredited)
Christopher E. Cooper	...	Student (uncredited)
Amy Heckerling	...	Maid of Honor (uncredited)
Michael Klesic	...	Baggy Skater (uncredited)
Aida Linares	...	Lucy (uncredited)
Sam Maccarone	...	Baggy skater (uncredited)
Craig Ponder	...	Baggy Skater (uncredited)

Directed by
Amy Heckerling

Writing credits (WGA)
Amy Heckerling		(written by)

Produced by
Barry M. Berg	....	co-producer (as Barry Berg)
Twink Caplan	....	associate producer
Robert Lawrence	....	producer
Scott Rudin	....	producer
Adam Schroeder	....	co-producer

Original Music by
David Kitay

Cinematography by
Bill Pope

Film Editing by
Debra Chiate

Casting by
Marcia Ross		(as Marcia S. Ross)

Production Design by
Steven J. Jordan		(as Steven Jordan)

Art Direction by
William Hiney

Set Decoration by
Amy Wells

Costume Design by
Mona May

Makeup Department
Alan Friedman	....	makeup supervisor (as Alan 'Doc' Friedman)
Barbara Olvera	....	assistant hair stylist
Geri B. Oppenheim	....	assistant makeup artist (as Geri Oppenheim)
Nina Paskowitz	....	hair stylist
D.J. Plumb	....	assistant hair stylist
Cynthia Hernandez	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Barry M. Berg	....	unit production manager (as Barry Berg)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard Graves	....	first assistant director
Maura McKeown	....	dga trainee
Daniel Silverberg	....	second assistant director
Diana E. Williams	....	second second assistant director (as Diana Williams)

Art Department
Ken Abraham	....	set dresser
Tom Bartholemew	....	production painter
Gary Clark	....	paint foreperson (as Gary A. Clark)
Glen R. Feldman	....	assistant property master
Billy Frank	....	lead man
Petko D. Kadiev	....	illustrator (as Petko Kadiev)
Barry Kingston	....	construction coordinator
Mark Kusy	....	set dresser
James LaBarge	....	set dresser
Scott W. Leslie	....	assistant property master (as Scott Leslie)
Ronald MacDonald	....	construction labor foreman
Wendy Murray	....	set dresser
Charles Page	....	construction foreperson (as Charles G. Page)
Charles Phillips	....	construction general foreperson (as Charles G. Phillips)
Laurie Stevens	....	art department coordinator
Dean Wilson	....	property master
Tony Chavez	....	propmaker (uncredited)

Sound Department
Peter Austin	....	foley editor (as Peter Drake Austin)
Bill Baldwin	....	assistant sound editor
Peter Bergren	....	sound effects editor
Damon Cohoon	....	assistant sound editor
Virginia Cook-McGowan	....	adr editor
Chris David	....	sound re-recording mixer
Don Digirolamo	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dean Drabin	....	adr mixer
Andrew Ellerd	....	sound effects editor
Thomas Giordano	....	cable person
Dennis Gray	....	dialogue editor
Sonya Henry	....	dialogue editor
Shelley Rae Hinton	....	adr editor
Eileen Horta	....	adr editor
David Jobe	....	foley mixer
Trevor Jolly	....	supervising foley editor
Jay Kamen	....	supervising sound editor (as Uncle J. Kamen)
Gary Lewis	....	dialogue editor
Paul Massey	....	sound re-recording mixer
Alyson Dee Moore	....	foley artist
Patricia Nedd	....	foley artist
Ralph Osborn	....	dialogue editor (as Ralph Osbourne)
Andrew Patterson	....	foley editor (as Andrew G. Patterson)
Michele Perrone	....	adr editor
Charleen Richards	....	adr mixer
David M. Ronne	....	sound mixer (as David Ronne)
Solange S. Schwalbe	....	foley editor
Andrew Somers	....	dialogue editor
Bruce Tanis	....	sound effects editor (as Bruce Tannis)
Richard Taylor	....	foley editor
Cary Weitz	....	boom operator
Paul J. Zydel	....	adr mixer (as Paul Zydel)

Stunts
LaFaye Baker	....	stunts
Gidget Churchill	....	stunts
Woody Itson	....	stunts
Kevin L. Jackson	....	stunts (as Kevin Lemont Jackson)
Kelsee King-Devoreaux	....	stunts (as Kelsee Devoreaux)
Danny Mayer	....	stunts
Gary McLarty	....	stunts
Steve Picerni	....	stunts
Troy Robinson	....	stunts
Jimmy Romano	....	stunts
Pat Romano	....	stunt coordinator (as Patrick Romano)
Kealoha Rosecrans	....	stunts
Jill Stokesberry	....	stunts
Chet Thomas	....	stunts
Kelsee King-Devoreaux	....	stunt double: Stacey Dash (uncredited)
Jason Ybarra	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Mike Carter	....	grip (as Michael Carter)
Keith Collea	....	video operator
George Dunagan	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Kevin 'Rambo' Fitzgerald	....	grip (as 'Rambo' Fitzgerald)
Scot Gaal	....	lamp operator
Steven W. Gage	....	dolly grip
Joe Gallo	....	rigging gaffer (as Joseph Gallo)
Mark Gambino	....	second company grip
Norman Glasser	....	chief lighting technician (as Norm Glasser)
Lawrence Karman	....	camera operator
Elliott Marks	....	still photographer
Tony Mazzucchi	....	first company grip
Larry McCarron	....	grip
J. Michael Muro	....	steadicam operator (as Jim Muro)
Jerome L. Posner	....	lamp operator (as Jerry Posner)
John Shoemaker	....	lamp operator
Gregor Tavenner	....	first assistant camera
Matt Tonne	....	grip
Poly Veitzer	....	second assistant camera
Shawn Whelan	....	grip (as Shawn Whalan)
Greg Ulrich	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Amy Vincent	....	additional camera operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Jon Scott Strotheide	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Isabela Braga	....	costumer
Vickie Brinkford	....	set costumer (as Vickie Brinkkord)
Leesa Evans	....	assistant costume designer
Chic Gennarelli	....	costumer supervisor
Garet Reilly	....	set costumer
Karen Hare	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Jill Goularte	....	second assistant film editor
L. James Langlois	....	first assistant film editor
Mike Milliken	....	color timer
Theresa Repola Mohammed	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Bob Bornstein	....	music preparation
Arlene Fishbach	....	music clearance
Carl Fortina	....	orchestra contractor
Dan Garde	....	music editor (as Danny Garde)
Billy Gottlieb	....	music coordinator
Reg Powell	....	conductor (as Reginald Powell)
Reg Powell	....	orchestrator (as Reginald Powell)
Karyn Rachtman	....	music supervisor
John Richards	....	score mixer
Jay B. Richardson	....	music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Glenn Carter	....	picture car coordinator
Mike Fenster	....	transportation captain
Randy White	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Noah Ackerman	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Joseph Aspromonti	....	production assistant
Brigitte Bourque	....	production secretary
Mauni P. Caves	....	assistant location manager (as Mauni Caues)
Tanya Cohen	....	assistant: Mr. Lawrence
Sarah Connolly	....	assistant: Ms. Heckerling
Craig Conolly	....	production assistant
Robert Dawson	....	title designer
John Estrada	....	production assistant
Derek Evans	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Stuart Fink	....	unit publicist
Gary Goodman	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
David 'Cajun' Guilbeau	....	craft service
Raul Gutierrez	....	assistant: Mr. Rudin
Mary Ann Kellogg	....	choreographer
Edward Kitsis	....	assistant: Mr. Schroeder
Kevin Landry	....	production auditor
Darrin Lipscomb	....	assistant location manager
Dawn Miller	....	production assistant (as Dawn Mandell-Miller)
Irina Naydichev	....	payroll auditor
Yoli Poropat	....	production coordinator
Jean Quay	....	first aid
Elyse Allyn Ramsdell	....	assistant production coordinator
John Rash	....	assistant auditor
Jeffrey T. Spellman	....	location manager
Gene Strange	....	first assistant auditor
Barbara Treutelaar	....	assistant auditor
Esther Vivante	....	script supervisor
Steven Werbkay	....	production assistant
Louis Farah	....	set medic (uncredited)
Dori Greenberg	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Brian Rosenberg	....	assistant: Scott Rudin (uncredited)

Thanks
Tim Devine	....	thanks
Gary Gersh	....	thanks
Doug Herzog	....	thanks
Judy McGrath	....	thanks
Craig Perry	....	thanks
Victor Rinaldo	....	thanks
Todd Ruff	....	thanks
Wendy Taeuber	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1995) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1998) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• CIC-Taft Home Video (Australia) (VHS)
• Filmes Lusomundo (Portugal)
• Paramount Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (Argentina)
• United International Pictures (Spain)

Other Companies

• Capitol Records  soundtrack released by
• Inter Video  computer and video playback
• Pacific Title  opticals
• Paramount Pictures Scoring Stage M  orchestra mixed at
• Paramount Pictures Scoring Stage M  orchestra recorded at
• Todd-AO Studios  sound post-production and sound editing

Also Known As:

I Was a Teenage Teenager (USA) (working title)
No Worries (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sex related dialogue and some teen use of alcohol and drugs.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #33483) | South Korea:12 | Iceland:L | Canada:14 (New Brunswick/Nova Scotia/Prince Edward Island) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Belgium:KT | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Chile:14 | Denmark:12 | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:6 (w) | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:AL | Norway:7 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:12

Filming Locations:

Beverly Hills, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

During the film, there are 53 different kinds of tartan/plaid used, seven of which are worn by Cher, and twelve by other major characters.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Some of the crew and director Amy Heckerling can be seen (briefly) reflected in a shop window through which Cher is looking.

Quotes:

Amber: [makes W with her hands] Whatever.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Simpsons: Hit & Run (2003) (VG)

Soundtrack:

THIS TIME

Easy to like

Director Amy Heckerling knows a thing or two about high school flicks, having directed the highly successful `Fast Times at Ridgemont High'. Heckerling put her talents to work thirteen years later for the next generation of high schoolers, writing and directing this hilarious satire of life at Beverly Hills H.S. Heckerling takes a different approach from `Fast Times', which found its comedy in the absurdity of reality, depicting situations into which teenagers really get themselves. Here Heckerling's comedy mostly comes from mocking the superficiality of the high school `in-crowd'. While this is not the first time this has been done, few have ever done it with such blistering wit. This film became the standard for a spate of 1990's high school flicks set on the west coast that borrowed many of its elements.

The story focuses on Cher Horowitz (Alicia Silverstone), who is the most popular girl at Beverly Hills H.S. Cher seems to be a superficial airhead, but this belies her conniving and manipulative skills at getting what she wants. Superficial yes, airhead no! In a plot derived in part from Jane Austen's `Emma', Cher works behind the scenes to arrange love matches between various students. She even orchestrates a relationship between two teachers to improve their moods so they don't grade so harshly. Like Emma, she is a master of love for everyone but herself.

Heckerling does a fantastic job of presenting what seems on the surface to be a cotton candy story with lightweight characters, but really runs much deeper revealing subtle truths about human nature. Her direction of the fledgling cast is superb, milking every ounce of comedy out of each scene.

Silverstone sparkles in the role, which is probably not far from a reality with which she is very familiar. She actually attended Beverly Hills H.S. with co-star Breckin Meyer, although she didn't graduate due to career commitments (she received a G.E.D.). This film catapulted her to teen prominence with two MTV movie awards and an American Comedy Award as funniest actress in a leading role. She plays Cher with both arrogance and vulnerability, and her comic timing is impeccable. She also has a knack for physical comedy, with a broad range of contorted facial expressions and amusing use of body language. The rest of the teen cast is also great, especially Brittany Murphy as Tai and Breckin Meyer as Travis. Dan Hedaya is also priceless as Cher's work obsessed attorney father.

This film is easy to like. It is a light and funny spoof, but it still has nuance. I rated it an 8/10. For those who enjoy high school comedies, this is required viewing.