Anaconda (1997)

User Rating:

4.2/10   

Director:

Luis Llosa

Writers (WGA):

Hans Bauer (written by) and
Jim Cash (written by) ...
(more)

Release Date:

11 April 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Thriller | Horror | Adventure | Action

Tagline:

You can't scream if you can't breathe.

Plot:

A "National Geographic" film crew is taken hostage by an insane hunter, who takes them along on his quest to capture the world's largest - and deadliest - snake.

Plot Keywords:

Snake | Boat | Anaconda | Jungle | Film Crew

Awards:

3 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Jennifer Lopez	...	Terri Flores
Ice Cube	...	Danny Rich
Jon Voight	...	Paul Sarone
Eric Stoltz	...	Dr. Steven Cale
Jonathan Hyde	...	Warren Westridge
Owen Wilson	...	Gary Dixon
Kari Wuhrer	...	Denise Kalberg
Vincent Castellanos	...	Mateo
Danny Trejo	...	Poacher
Frank Welker	...	Voice of Anaconda (voice)

Directed by
Luis Llosa

Writing credits (WGA)
Hans Bauer		(written by) and
Jim Cash		(written by) &
Jack Epps Jr.		(written by)

Produced by
Andy Fickman	....	associate producer
Verna Harrah	....	producer
Carole Little	....	producer
Beau Marks	....	co-producer
Leonard Rabinowitz	....	producer
Stelvio Rosi	....	line producer
Susan Ruskin	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Randy Edelman

Cinematography by
Bill Butler

Film Editing by
Michael R. Miller

Casting by
Mindy Marin

Production Design by
Kirk M. Petruccelli

Art Direction by
Barry Chusid

Set Decoration by
Daniel Loren May		(as Daniel L. May)

Costume Design by
Kathy Monderine

Makeup Department
Ken Diaz	....	makeup artist: Mr. Voight
Dino Ganziano	....	hair stylist: Mr. Voight
Donna Barrett Gilbert	....	key hair stylist
Joel Harlow	....	special makeup effects artist
Rob Hinderstein	....	makeup artist
Dayne Johnson	....	makeup artist
Jim Kail	....	key makeup artist (as James Kail)
Sônia Silva	....	make up: Brazil (as Sonia Regina Silva)

Production Management
Valeria Costa Amorim	....	assistant production manager
Jim Dyer	....	unit production manager (as James R. Dyer)
Caique Martins Ferreira	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Xochi Blymyer	....	second assistant director
Bruce Carter	....	second assistant director
K.C. Colwell	....	first assistant director
Kátia Lund	....	first assistant director: Brazil
Beau Marks	....	second unit director
Lisanne Sartor	....	second second assistant director
Rosemarie Unite	....	second second assistant director: Los Angeles

Art Department
Jon Aguilar	....	set dresser
Randy Bostic	....	lead man
Cristina Cirne	....	set dresser: Brazil
Elixandro Diaz Jr.	....	plaster supervisor
Joseph C. Fama	....	general foreman (as Joe Fama)
Tracy Farrington	....	property master
John French	....	gang boss
Joey Genitempo	....	on-set scenic: re-shoots
Serge Genitempo	....	stand-by painter
Peter Gornstein	....	concept artist
Thomas W. Lay Jr.	....	production illustrator
Adam Martyn	....	sculptor-mouldmaker
Louis Medrano	....	painter
Barbara Mesney	....	set designer
Michael Muscarella	....	construction coordinator (as Michael A. Muscarella)
David Napoli	....	set dresser
David J. Negron Jr.	....	storyboard artist
Andrew Neskoromny	....	set designer
Tom Reta	....	assistant art director
Michael Sarley	....	storyboard artist
John Sweeney	....	assistant propmaster
Ron Ashmore	....	paint supervisor (uncredited)
Glen Harmon	....	greens supervisor (uncredited)
Monica Rochlin	....	assistant props: Brazil (uncredited)
Robert Silcock	....	prop maker (uncredited)

Sound Department
Douglas B. Arnold	....	sound mixer
John H. Arrufat	....	dialogue editor
Steve Birkett	....	boom operator
Destiny Borden	....	first assistant sound editor
Simon Coke	....	sound effects editor
Ronald Eng	....	dialogue editor
Ed Fassl	....	sound effects editor
Richard C. Franklin	....	supervising sound editor
Nerses Gezalyan	....	foley mixer
Hector C. Gika	....	sound effects editor
Avram D. Gold	....	adr editor
Kimberly Harris	....	adr supervisor (as Kimberly Harris-Rivolier)
Gary A. Hecker	....	foley artist
Drake Jenevein	....	assistant sound editor
Daniel J. Leahy	....	sound re-recording mixer
Larry Mann	....	foley editor
Tony Negrete	....	assistant sound editor
Mark Pappas	....	foley editor
Monique Salvato	....	adr assistant
Gregory H. Watkins	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jeffrey Wilhoit	....	foley artist
Gary Wright	....	dialogue editor
David Yaffe	....	sound mixer: replacement mixer

Special Effects by
Tony Allard	....	special effects technician
Steve Blumenkrantz	....	animatronic effects
Ty Boyce	....	animatronic snakes
Ty Boyce	....	electrical/hydraulic designer
Dave Caldwell	....	animatronic effects
Terry Chapman	....	special effects foreman
Walt Conti	....	animatronics effects
Manuel Contreras	....	animatronic effects
Alan Cooney	....	animatronic effects
Charles E. Dolan	....	special effects foreman
Stephanie Englert	....	animatronic effects
Chuck Gaspar	....	special effects supervisor
Joss Geiduschek	....	animatronic effects
Jonathan Horton	....	animatronic effects
Tom Hsiu	....	animatronic effects
Dana Klaren	....	special effects technician
David Knight	....	animatronic effects
Krissy Luster	....	animatronic effects
John Raff	....	animatronic effects
Gary Reyes	....	animatronic effects
Edward Roberts	....	animatronic effects
Alan Schier	....	animatronic effects
John Titus	....	animatronic effects
Tim Walkey	....	special effects foreman
John Williams	....	animatronic effects
Rich E. Cordobes	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Garth Patil	....	special effects (uncredited)
Dirk Rogers	....	special effects technician: Altered Anatomy EFX (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Elisabeth Arko	....	technical assistant
Bill Houston Ball	....	visual effects
Jacquie Barnbrook	....	visual effects coordinator
Travis Baumann	....	digital artist: CFC
Jim Berney	....	technical director: SPI
John Berri	....	assistant visual effects editor
Allen Blaisdell	....	visual effects photography
Colin Campbell	....	compositing lead
Rusty Case	....	senior systems architect
Anthony Ceccomancini	....	pre-visualization coordinator
John Decker	....	digital artist
Thomas R. Dickens	....	lead prop modeler: SPI
Rob Engle	....	software developer
Robin Griffin	....	visual effects producer
Michael S. Harbour	....	digital artist
Ralph Horan	....	executive producer: visual effects
Martin A. Kline	....	visual effects art director
Kelvin Lee	....	lead animator
John Nelson	....	visual effects supervisor
Felix Ojeda	....	digital artist
Janek Sirrs	....	visual effects
Serge Sretschinsky	....	supervising technical director
David Tanner	....	software engineer
Aileen Timmers	....	visual effects producer
Audrea Topps Harjo	....	software production coordinator
Michael J. Travers	....	digital artist: SPI
Barry Weiss	....	senior staff: SPI
Manny Wong	....	creature animator
Terrence Masson	....	animation consultant (uncredited)
Paul McGhee	....	film scanning and recording (uncredited)
Hal Miles	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Lance Powell	....	technical coordinator (uncredited)
Attila Veress	....	film scanner operator (uncredited)

Stunts
Jennifer Badger	....	stunts
Sandy Berumen	....	stunts
Nick Brett	....	stunts
Phil Culotta	....	stunts
J. Mark Donaldson	....	stunts
Richard Epper	....	stunts
Stephanie Finochio	....	stunt double
Mickey Giacomazzi	....	stunts
Terry Jackson	....	stunt double: Jonathan Hyde
Terry James	....	stunts
Hugh Aodh O'Brien	....	stunts (as Hugh O'Brien)
Chuck Picerni Jr.	....	stunts
Denney Pierce	....	stunts
Jeff Podgurski	....	stunts
Dennis Scott	....	stunts
Mike Smith	....	stunts
Patrick J. Statham	....	stunts
Dain Turner	....	stunts
Tierre Turner	....	stunts
Eddie L. Watkins	....	stunts (as Eddie Watkins)
April Weeden-Washington	....	stunts (as April Weeden)
Webster Whinery	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Wayne Baker	....	underwater assistant camera
Gary A. Beaird	....	grip (as Gary 'Bullet' Beaird Jr.)
Roy Bean	....	video assist operator
Robert C. Carlson	....	Steadicam assistant
Laurence Cropley	....	lighting technician
Thomas M. Dangcil	....	lighting technician
Walt Fraser	....	camera operator
Casey Jones	....	grip
Ron Kunecke	....	night light operator
Amy La Licata	....	second assistant camera
David Maddux	....	gaffer
Joe Martens	....	lighting technician
John Martens	....	lighting technician
Marcos Menescal	....	second assistant camera: Brazil
Michael Douglas Middleton	....	still photographer: Sony Imageworks Publicity
Edward Peters	....	dolly grip
Gu Ramalho	....	camera loader
Gu Ramalho	....	second assistant camera
Van Redin	....	still photographer
Pete Romano	....	underwater photographer
Walter Royle	....	best boy grip (as Walter Royle Jr.)
Toca Seabra	....	aerial camera operator: Brazil
Eduardo Segovia	....	gaffer: Brazil
Rick Senteno	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Philip Sloan	....	key grip
Cliff Sperry	....	best boy grip
Alex Touyarot	....	first assistant camera
Robert Ulland	....	Steadicam operator
Nilo Vital	....	key grip: Brazil
Tim Collins	....	grip (uncredited)

Animation Department
David Simmons	....	animator
David B. Vallone	....	animator

Casting Department
Debora Da Silva Medeiros	....	extras casting: Brazil
John Papsidera	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gala Autumn	....	set costumer
Roberto Carneiro	....	costumer
Bridgitte Ferry	....	costumer
Maria Beatriz B. Salgado	....	wardrobe assistant: Brazil
Inéz Salgado Miranda	....	wardrobe assistant: Brazil

Editorial Department
Dale E. Grahn	....	color timer
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Lisa Kramer	....	apprentice editor
Margaret Liu	....	assistant film editor
Gregg London	....	additional film editor
Benjamin Rapoport	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Elton Ahi	....	scoring engineer
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor
Joanie Diener	....	music editor
Gary A. Hecker	....	anaconda vocal effects
Stephen Lotwis	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Lizette Martins de Lima	....	transportation office manager: Brazil
Robert Hunter Jr.	....	transportation captain (as Robert Hunter)
Greg Nutt	....	transportation captain
Gregory Nutt	....	transportation co-captain
Leo Wery	....	transportation captain: Brazil

Other crew
Fred Aghajanian	....	production assistant
Elizabeth S. Barton	....	script supervisor (as Elizabeth Barton)
Wade Beckett	....	production assistant
Helio Bodini	....	production assistant: Brazil
Kevin A. Canamar	....	construction medic
Flavio Chaves	....	location manager: Brazil
Craig Comstock	....	production assistant
Pat Curtin	....	marine coordinator: Brazil
Alison Ferber	....	assistant: Mr. Llossa
Tiffany Fraser	....	first assistant accountant (as Tiffany Reinhard)
Helen Gabrielle Gliniak	....	production assistant (as Gabrielle Gliniak)
Jane E. Graves	....	assistant location manager
Vanessa Grayson	....	stand-in
Richard Harrah	....	production executive
Justine Hebron	....	assistant production coordinator
Rebecca Hilliard	....	assistant: Mr. Marks
Todd Johnson	....	craft service
Karen Juncosa	....	assistant: Ms. Harrah
Ricardo Karam	....	location liaison: Brazil
Gene Kelly	....	production accountant
Kristen Kurczak	....	production assistant
Deborah Laub	....	location manager
Marcus Le Bov	....	production assistant
Jim Marquette	....	technical supporter
Kris Fullan Martinez	....	production coordinator
Bertram McCann	....	marine coordinator
Phil Minsky	....	caterer
Michael Neal	....	payroll accountant
Pete Nichols	....	marine water coordinator: Brazil
Adeniyi Paris	....	production assistant
Ronn Riser	....	assistant: Ice Cube (as Ronald Riser)
Arlene Rodriguez	....	assistant: Ms. Lopez
Nancy Rosing	....	production coordinator: re-shoots
Betsy Sullenger	....	assistant: Ms. Ruskin
Gloria Tacchino	....	assistant: Mr. Stoltz
Mira Tweti	....	unit publicist
Leone Marucci	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Ernest Rister	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Napoleon A. Chagnon	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Cinema Line Film Corporation
• Columbia Pictures Corporation
• Iguana Producciones
• Middle Fork Productions
• Skylight Cinema Foto Art
• St. Tropez Films

Distributors

• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (1997) (worldwide) (all media)
• Columbia Pictures (1997) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film (1997) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (1997) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (1997) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de España (1997) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Falcon (1997) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1998) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1997) (USA) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (199?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (2000) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• V8 (2001) (Netherlands) (TV)

Special Effects

• Computer Film Company, The (CFC) (wire removal)
• Edge Innovations (animatronic effects)
• Sony Pictures Imageworks (SPI)
• Steve Johnson's XFX (prosthetic & additional animatronic effects)

Other Companies

• Behind the Scenes  shipping by
• Howard A. Anderson Company  titles and opticals
• Nina Saxon Film Design  titles
• Sony Pictures Studios  sound services

Also Known As:

Anaconda (Peru)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense adventure violence, and for brief language and sensuality.

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA | Brazil | Peru

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR | SDDS (8 channels)

Certification:

South Korea:12 | Philippines:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Finland:K-14 | Germany:16 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #34328) | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Amazonas, Brazil

Company:

Cinema Line Film Corporation

Trivia:

During the filming of one scene the controls for the animatronic Anaconda shorted out, causing it to completely lose control. Some of the footage is included in the movie.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Near the beginning of the film, when the monkeys are "warning" the documentary makers, you can see in close-up shots that several of the monkeys are tethered to the branches they are perched on with a fine cord.

Quotes:

Paul Sarone: This river can kill you, in a thousand ways.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid (2004)

Soundtrack:

Dio Che Nell'alma Infondere

Good, mindless entertainment.

A documentary film crew sails down the Amazon in search of a mystical and elusive tribe known as the Shirishama. They end up being terrorized and gobbled up by an enormous snake after having already been fatally waylaid by mystery man Paul Serone (Jon Voight).

"Anaconda" is simple-minded fun at its core. It might be too silly for the tastes of some viewers, but for me it's really good for laughs. The scares and suspense don't really exist and the special effects are variable (the animatronic snake(s) being more convincing than the computer-animated one). It *is* slickly made (director Luis Llosa keeps the movie moving well) and the location work and photography are quite impressive. The cast, including J-Lo, Eric Stoltz, Ice Cube, Owen Wilson, Jonathan Hyde, and Kari Wuhrer, is enjoyable to a point, but they are all playing it straight, whereas Voight, as the campy human villain, is so outrageous that he walks away with the entire movie. When all else fails, he can be counted on to provide this film with some entertainment value.

Although filmed on location in Brazil for over 70 minutes of running time, the climax was actually shot in L.A. County's Arboretum, which the filmmakers "dressed up" to try to pass it off as the jungle.

"Anaconda" can be fun to watch provided you go in with low (or no) expectations. I've seen it before and I still get a (mild) kick out of it.

Followed last year by "Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid", a sequel in name only.

6/10