Swingers (1996)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Doug Liman

Writer:

Jon Favreau (written by)

Release Date:

18 October 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

cocktails first. questions later.

Plot:

Wannabe actors become regulars in the stylish neo-lounge scene; Trent teaches his friend Mike the unwritten rules of the scene.

Plot Keywords:

Friend | Actor | Baby | Swing Dancing | Bar

Awards:

3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Jon Favreau	...	Mike
Vince Vaughn	...	Trent
Ron Livingston	...	Rob
Patrick Van Horn	...	Sue
Alex Désert	...	Charles (as Alex Desert)
Heather Graham	...	Lorraine
Deena Martin	...	Christy
Katherine Kendall	...	Lisa
Brooke Langton	...	Nikki
Blake Lindsley	...	Girl with Cigar
Kevin James Kelly	...	Vegas Dealer
Stephanie Ittleson	...	Vegas Waitress
Vernon Vaughn	...	$100 Gambler
Joan Favreau	...	$5 Winner
Rio Hackford	...	Skully
Caitlyn Tyler Cole	...	Girl at Party (as Jan Dykstra)
Maddie Corman	...	Peek-a-Boo Girl
Marty & Elayne	...	Dresden Lounge Act
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy	...	Derby Band
Sheri Rosenblum	...	$100 Gambler
Stasea Rosenblum	...	$100 Gambler
Pamela Shaw	...	$5 Gambler
Tom Alley	...	Pit Boss
Reverend Phil Dixon	...	Lounge Lizard
Ashley M. Rogers	...	Bartender
Jay Diola	...	Skully's Crew / Derby Dancer
Nicholas Gagliarducci	...	Skully's Crew
David Gould	...	Skully's Crew
Bill Phillips	...	Skully's Crew
Mensur Hamud	...	Pink Dot Guy
Ahmed Ahmed	...	Party Mystery Guy
Eufemia Plimpton	...	Derby Lady
Melinda Starr	...	Derby Lady
Samantha Lemole	...	Dresden Lady
Jessica Buchman	...	Dresden Lady
Caroline O'Meara	...	Diner Waitress
Gary Aurbach	...	Derby Doorman
Brad Halvorson	...	Derby Doorman
Christopher R. Joyce	...	Diner Patron
Edward Rissien	...	Diner Patron
Jenna Rissien	...	Diner Patron
Mark Smith	...	Diner Patron
John Abraham	...	Derby Dancer (as John Abrham)
Rachael Lin Gallaghan	...	Derby Dancer (as Rachel Gallaghan)
Lisa Guerriero	...	Derby Dancer
Thomas Hall	...	Derby Dancer
Damiana Kamishin	...	Derby Dancer
Curtis Lindersmith	...	Derby Dancer
Jennifer Lucero	...	Derby Dancer
Pinki Marsolek	...	Derby Dancer
Rhonda Martin	...	Derby Dancer
Martina Migenes	...	Derby Dancer
Paul Mojica	...	Derby Dancer
Sam Mollo	...	Derby Dancer
Jacob Morris	...	Derby Dancer
Michael Scott	...	Derby Dancer
Bernard Serrano	...	Derby Dancer
Rosalind Smith	...	Derby Dancer
Molly Stern	...	Derby Dancer
Johnny Walker	...	Derby Dancer
Lisa Wolstein	...	Derby Dancer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nicole LaLoggia	...	Michelle on Phone (voice) (uncredited)
Steve J. Termath	...	Derby Patron (uncredited)

Directed by
Doug Liman

Writing credits
Jon Favreau		(written by)

Produced by
Jon Favreau	....	co-producer
Nicole LaLoggia	....	line producer (as Nicole Shay LaLoggia)
Avram Ludwig	....	associate producer
Vesco Razpopov	....	associate producer (as Avant-Garde Studios)
Bradford L. Schlei	....	associate producer
Victor Simpkins	....	producer
Cary Woods	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Justin Reinhardt

Cinematography by
Doug Liman		(photographed by)

Film Editing by
Stephen Mirrione

Casting by
Linda Francis

Production Design by
Brad Halvorson

Costume Design by
Genevieve Tyrrell

Makeup Department
Eric Polito	....	hair stylist (as Eric A. Polito)
Eric Polito	....	makeup artist (as Eric A. Polito)
Molly Stern	....	hair stylist (as Molly B. Stern)
Molly Stern	....	makeup artist (as Molly B. Stern)

Production Management
Alan Noel Vega	....	general production manager
Eden Wurmfeld	....	production manager (as Eden H. Wurmfeld)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Avram Ludwig	....	first assistant director
Brad Minnich	....	second assistant director

Art Department
David Gould	....	art department work
Diana Pederson	....	property master
Stephen Scarlata	....	swing

Sound Department
Larry Benjamin	....	sound re-recording mixer
David Cook	....	boom operator (as David A. Cook)
Michael P. Cook	....	dialogue editor
Ross Davis	....	sound re-recording mixer
Paul Dugre	....	sound recording engineer
Inga Larsen	....	dialogue editor
Renee Sabath	....	sound editor
Alan B. Samuels	....	production sound
Alan B. Samuels	....	sound mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Lorna Leslie	....	first assistant camera
Vladimir Melnik	....	key grip
Sabrina Merics	....	second assistant camera
Arlene Pachasa	....	still photographer
Michael Pescasio	....	grip
Roderick Spencer	....	gaffer
Jim Towne	....	still photographer
Ken Rudolph	....	title photographer (uncredited)

Casting Department
Kathryn Marsh	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kathleen Beaton	....	wardrobe assistant
Tish Beckman	....	wardrobe assistant
Melinda Starr	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Xochilt Baez	....	apprentice editor
Amber Pfeiffer	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Julianne Jordan	....	music supervisor (as Julianne Kelley)
Justin Reinhardt	....	musician: piano
Bart Samolis	....	musician
Barry G. Thomas	....	music consultant (as Barry Thomas)

Other crew
Paul S. Alcus	....	script supervisor
Anthony Barrios	....	production assistant
Jay Diola	....	production assistant
Denee Edwards	....	production assistant
Christophe Farber	....	production assistant
Nicholas Gagliarducci	....	production assistant
Damiana Kamishin	....	dance coordinator
Kelly Kincaid	....	location manager
Bradford L. Schlei	....	production coordinator
Lizzie Schwartz	....	assistant: Mr. Woods
Tyrone Scott Alexander Wells	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Independent Pictures (II)
• The Alfred Shay Company Inc.

Distributors

• Miramax Films (1996) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cipa (1998) (France) (theatrical)
• Kinowelt Filmverleih (1997) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Laurenfilm (1997) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Pathé (1997) (UK) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1997) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2003) (Canada) (DVD)
• Alliance Home Video (1997) (Canada) (video)
• New Films International

Other Companies

• Clairmont Camera  camera systems provided by (as Clairmont)
• Magic Film Works  negative cutting
• Melrose Titles & Opticals  opticals (as Melrose Title and Optical)
• Nichol Moon Entertainment  production services
• Raleigh Studios  post-production facilities
• Ruben and Company  avid provided by (as Ruben & Co.)
• Ryder Sound  additional sound
• Title House  opticals

MPAA:

Rated R for language throughout.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:MA (original rating) | Australia:M (DVD rating) | Canada:14A | France:U | Spain:7 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

5874 Franklin Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Independent Pictures (II)

Trivia:

The "Bear" monologue that Trent delivers to Mike is almost verbatim something actor Vince Vaughn told Jon Favreau one night at a bar. Favreau liked it a lot and incorporated it into the script.

Goofs:

Continuity: The food and orange juice on the table during the diner scene.

Quotes:

[playing a hockey video game]
Trent: I wish they still had fights in this game so I could bitch-slap Wayne.
Mike: What? They don't have fighting anymore?
Trent: Doesn't that suck?
Mike: Why'd they get rid of the fighting? It was the best part of the old version.
Sue: I think kids were hittin' each other or somethin', man.
Trent: Yeah but you know what, Mike? You can make their heads bleed in this one.
Mike: Make somebody's head bleed.
Sue: No man, we're in the playoffs.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in 'Elf' Jukebox (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Magic Man

Not completely "money" but still good

Perhaps I would have loved this movie if I was more into the cocktail, or lounge, culture portrayed here. I don't mind retro, but this movement turns me off. Still, as a guys romantic comedy, this is good. As one critic said, this works because it understands most romantic comedy takes place before boy meets girl(in that respect, this movie reminds me of DINER, which was also a study of guys trying to relate to women, though that one was better). Unlike many, I thought the answering machine scene went on too long, but otherwise, I liked Favreau(as everyone else pointed out, who can't identify with him?), and of course liked Vaughan a lot. And I loved the RESEVOIR DOGS and GOODFELLAS parodies, and of course that final scene is a classic.