Cecil B. DeMented (2000)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

John Waters

Writer (WGA):

John Waters (written by)

Release Date:

2 August 2000 (France)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Demented forever!

Plot:

An insane independent film director and his renegade group of teenage filmmakers kidnap an A-list Hollywood actress and force her to star in their underground film.

Plot Keywords:

Drive In | Actress | Movie Star | Chase | Bong

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Melanie Griffith	...	Honey Whitlock
Stephen Dorff	...	Cecil
Alicia Witt	...	Cherish
Adrian Grenier	...	Lyle
Larry Gilliard Jr.	...	Lewis
Maggie Gyllenhaal	...	Raven
Jack Noseworthy	...	Rodney
Mink Stole	...	Mrs. Sylvia Mallory
Ricki Lake	...	Libby
Patricia Hearst	...	Fidget's Mom
Michael Shannon	...	Petie (as Mike Shannon)
Kevin Nealon	...	Himself
Eric Barry	...	Fidget (as Eric M. Barry)
Zenzele Uzoma	...	Chardonnay
Erika Lynn Rupli	...	Pam
Harriet Dodge	...	Dinah
Roseanne	...	Herself (as Rosanne)
Eric Roberts	...	Honey's Ex
Ray Felton	...	Roy Stillings
John Michaelson	...	Charles
Jewel Orem	...	Maid
Bill Grimmett	...	Mayor Adam Fenwick
Jeffrey Wei	...	William
Sloane Brown	...	Newscaster
Billy Green	...	Child A
Mia Walker	...	Child B
James Klingenberg	...	Child C
Ginger Tipton	...	Box Office Lady
Nathan Stolpman	...	Ticket Taker
Melanie Gorombol	...	Candy Counter Girl
Gary Wheeler	...	Theatre Manager
Joyce Flick Wendl	...	Puker
Tyler Mason Buckalew	...	Teen Boy
Tara Garwood	...	Charles Theater Girl
Marty Lodge	...	Film Commissioner
James Byrne Reed	...	Producer
Marlo Bernier	...	Studio Executive (as Mark Bernier)
Patsy Grady Abrams	...	Family Woman A
Rhea Feiken	...	Family Woman B
Shana Gelbard	...	Family Woman C
Susan Lowe	...	Family Lady A
Mary Vivian Pearce	...	Family Lady B
Michael Gabel	...	Film Delivery Driver
Mark Joy	...	Fidget's Dad
Alan J. Wendl	...	Security Teamster
Peter Gil	...	Director
Eric Richardson	...	D.P. Jean Pierre
Marybeth Wise	...	A.D.
Cynthia Webb	...	Large Lady (as Cynthia Webb-Manley)
Channing Wilroy	...	Shop Steward
Dan Morgan	...	Teamster
Delaney Williams	...	Teamster
Frank Ferrara	...	Teamster
Steve Mack	...	Teamster
Michael Willis	...	Teamster
G. Lee Fleming	...	Sniffles
Scott Morgan	...	Groupie
Tim Caggiano	...	Porno Fan
Judith Knight Young	...	Ticket Seller
Tyler Miller	...	Fan A
Geoffrey I. Grissett	...	Boy Fan
Brooke Houghton	...	Girl Fan
Joshua Billings	...	Drive-In Manager
Jeff Perryson	...	Jock A
Terry McCrea	...	Jock B
Conrad Karlson	...	Psychiatrist
Rosemary Knower	...	Cecil's Mom
Doug Roberts	...	Cecil's Dad
Nat Benchley	...	Swat Cop A
Dave Trovato	...	Swat Cop B
Billy Tolzman	...	Petie's Trick
Jonathan Fiorucci	...	Raven's Groupie
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Blumenstock	...	Grip / Teamster
Dennis Dermody	...	Porn Movie Watcher
Oscar Haynes	...	Cameraman
Anthony Wanzer	...	Lawyer
Michael Ahl	...	Police sniper (uncredited)
Ken Arnold	...	Swat Team Member (uncredited)
Chris Ashworth	...	News Camera man (uncredited)
Christopher T. Chase	...	Mayor's Bodyguard (uncredited)
Paul M. Clary	...	Gaffer 'Gumped Again' (uncredited)
Jacques Derosena	...	Photographer (uncredited)
Jeff Dignan	...	Movie Premiere Attendee (uncredited)
Brian Donahue	...	Teamster (uncredited)
Denny Dormody	...	Moviegoer in Apex Cinema (uncredited)
Brian Dragonuk	...	Theatre Patron (uncredited)
David A. Dunham	...	Movie Patron (uncredited)
Dani Englander	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Pamela Fischer	...	Socialite (uncredited)
Mimi Fletcher	...	Movie theatre patron; Panicked Drive-in Movie customer (uncredited)
Dan Franko	...	Drive-In Rioter (uncredited)
Nasi Glekas	...	Movie Theater Patron (uncredited)
George Hulse	...	Extra (uncredited)
Joe James	...	Movie Patron (voice) (uncredited)
Rick Kain	...	Movie Producer (uncredited)
Chilembwe M. Mason	...	Movie Theater Patron (uncredited)
Michael McKennitt	...	Movie Producer (uncredited)
Michael Noel	...	Movie Sequence Stalker (uncredited)
Jim Page	...	Waiter in Kitchen (uncredited)
Chris Puls	...	Extra (uncredited)
Alan Reese	...	Extra (uncredited)
John Sadowsky	...	Still Photographer (uncredited)
Ryan Slattery	...	Jock (uncredited)
David Stelzer	...	Heavy Metal Fan #2 (uncredited)
Mack Syler	...	Electrician 'Gumped Again' (uncredited)
Richard Tovish	...	Gumped Again Grip (uncredited)
Towanda Underdue	...	Honey Hater / Cecil Fan (uncredited)
John Waters	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Ron A. Williams	...	Celebrity Guest (uncredited)

Directed by
John Waters

Writing credits (WGA)
John Waters		(written by)

Produced by
Fred Bernstein	....	executive producer
Joseph M. Caracciolo Jr.	....	producer
Anthony DeLorenzo	....	executive producer
John Fiedler	....	producer
Pat Moran	....	associate producer
Mark Tarlov	....	producer

Original Music by
Basil Poledouris
Zoë Poledouris

Cinematography by
Robert M. Stevens

Film Editing by
Jeffrey Wolf

Casting by
Kerry Barden
Billy Hopkins
Pat Moran
Suzanne Smith

Production Design by
Vincent Peranio

Art Direction by
Rob Simons

Set Decoration by
Barbara Haberecht

Costume Design by
Van Smith

Makeup Department
Gina W. Bateman	....	makeup artist
Elisabeth Fry	....	makeup artist
Anne Marie Izner-Preston	....	hair stylist
Amanda Johnson	....	makeup artist
Cheryl 'Pickles' Kinion	....	makeup artist
John O'Brian	....	assistant hair stylist
Howard 'Hep' Preston	....	key hair stylist
Molly Stern	....	makeup artist: Stephen Dorff (as Molly R. Stern)

Production Management
Molly Bradford	....	post-production supervisor
Joseph M. Caracciolo Jr.	....	unit production manager (as Joe Caracciolo Jr.)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Benita Allen	....	first assistant director (as Benita Allen-Honess)
J. David Brightbill	....	key second assistant director
Steve M. Davison	....	second unit director
Dylan Hopkins	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Robert Barnaby	....	set dressing lead man
Edward Bellafiore	....	art department assistant
Jennie Bell	....	painter
Steven Blake	....	propmaker
Randy Bobbitt	....	art department coordinator
Patty Burgee	....	painter
William Catania	....	set dresser
Bobby Deal	....	paint foreman
Brian Deran	....	painter
Brent Lee Farley	....	propmaker
Susanna Glattly	....	charge scenic
Wesley Goodwin	....	propmaker
Jeffrey Pratt Gordon	....	assistant property master
Ruth Grizzard	....	painter
Eric Lichtfuss	....	set dresser
Ted Lubonovich II	....	propmaker
John Mills	....	on-set dresser (as John 'Pumper' Mills)
Sheila Muccio	....	set dresser
Ron Napier	....	construction foreman
Ted Nolan	....	propmaker (as Edward Nolan)
Scott T. Pina	....	construction coordinator (as Scott Pina)
Lester Poser	....	weapon specialist
Willy Richardson	....	painter
Dale V. Swavely	....	propmaker (as Dale Swavely)
Becky Weidner	....	set dresser
Ricky Wright	....	propmaker
Brook Yeaton	....	property master

Sound Department
Rick Angelella	....	production sound mixer
David Franklin Bergad	....	dialogue editor
Scott Cannizzaro	....	additional adr recordist
Frank Canonica	....	supervising sound recordist: mix stage
Kyrsten Mate Comoglio	....	sound effects editor
Ben Conrad	....	foley recordist
Tobin Davis	....	assistant dialogue editor (as Tobin John De Luca Davis)
Carol Everson	....	boom operator
Grant Foerster	....	machine room operator
Steve Fontano	....	foley recordist
Anna Geyer	....	assistant dialogue editor (as Ann Geyer)
Aura Gilge	....	assistant sound effects editor (as Aura Belle Gilge)
Jesse Hammer	....	adr mixer
Sondra James	....	adr group mixer
Rick Kahn	....	transfer room operator
Bob Mellor	....	cable
Marnie Moore	....	foley artist
John Nutt	....	supervising sound editor
Dan Olmsted	....	sound re-recording mixer
Margie O'Malley	....	foley artist
David Parker	....	sound re-recording mixer
Patti Tauscher	....	foley editor
Hoku Uchiyama	....	apprentice sound editor (as Chris Hokuala Uchiyama)

Special Effects by
Hank Atterbury	....	special effects assistant
David Blitstein	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Jennifer Basnyat	....	title designer

Stunts
Jennifer Caputo	....	stunt double: Honey
Jeffrey J. Dashnaw	....	utility stunts (as Jeff Dashnaw)
Steve M. Davison	....	stunt coordinator
Brian Donahue	....	utility stunts
Andy Duppin	....	utility stunts
Tony Guida	....	utility stunts
Mick O'Rourke	....	utility stunts
Shawn Robinson	....	utility stunts
Troy Robinson	....	stunt double: Petie
Michael Russo	....	utility stunts (as Mike Russo)
Keith Siglinger	....	utility stunts
Tim Trella	....	utility stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
James Bartolomeo	....	first assistant camera (as Jim Bartolomeo)
Jonathan Blandin	....	best boy electric
Dean Citroni	....	best boy grip
Dena Cruz	....	video assist operator
Bob Dorsey	....	director of photography: second unit
Max Fischer	....	assistant camera
Rodney French	....	key grip (as Rodney G. French)
Joseph Gallagher	....	camera operator
Abbot Genser	....	unit still photographer
Frank Gil	....	grip
Gabriel Goodenough	....	camera loader
David Insley	....	camera operator: "b" camera
David Insley	....	director of photography: second unit
Brian T. Leach	....	grip (as Brian Leach)
Eric Martin	....	electrician
Lauren Schaub	....	second assistant camera
Josh Spring	....	gaffer
Wes Sullivan	....	electrician

Casting Department
Susan Allenback	....	casting assistant (as Susan Allenbach)
Deborah Maxwell Dion	....	casting associate: Los Angeles
John Strawbridge	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Linda M. Boyland	....	set costumer (as Linda Boyland)
David Davenport	....	wardrobe supervisor
Bebe Ferro	....	set costumer
Rolande Glicenstein	....	key costumer
Bruce Reik	....	set costumer
Nava R. Sadan	....	costumer: Melanie Griffith (as Nava Sadan)

Editorial Department
Samara Levenstein	....	apprentice editor
Andrew Pratt	....	negative cutter (as Andy Pratt)
Bill Scott	....	color timer
Andrew Weisblum	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Larry Benicewicz	....	music consultant
Carl Bennett	....	music consultant
Robb Boyd	....	music editor
Tim Boyle	....	score mixer
Christopher Brooks	....	executive music producer
Mi Chaing	....	music score producer (as Mi Kyoung Chaing)
Jerome Dillon	....	musician: live drums
Carvin Knowles	....	composer: song "Seduction"
Basil Poledouris	....	music score producer
Zoë Poledouris	....	music score producer

Transportation Department
David Adams	....	driver: Melanie Griffith
Charles Artley	....	driver
Jim Collick	....	driver
Lenny Davis	....	driver
James Day Sr.	....	driver
Steve Elgert	....	driver
Sam Furrow	....	driver
Stan Furrow	....	driver
James Daniel Hubbard	....	driver
Greg Jacobs	....	transportation co-captain
Jerry H. Jordan	....	driver
Barbara Kastner	....	picture car coordinator
John W. Kirschke	....	driver
Frank R. Matkins	....	driver: Stephen Dorff
Stephen W. McDonough	....	driver
Frank Metts Sr.	....	driver
Francis Raimondo	....	transportation coordinator
Wade Stout	....	driver
Jennifer Weiland	....	driver
Foard J. Wilgis	....	transportation coordinator (as Foard Wilgis)
Wayne Wright	....	driver
Bruce Zamzow	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Annie Noel Applegarth	....	assistant location manager
Abby Bailey	....	assistant production accountant
Mat Bainbridge	....	set production assistant
Denise A. Beale	....	set production assistant (as Denise Beale)
James M. Brothers	....	construction medic
John Brothers	....	construction medic
Laurie Cardonick	....	assistant: Stephen Dorff
Lynda M. Clarke	....	contracts administrator
Brian Cooper	....	production secretary
John 'JR' Craigmile	....	accountant
Debra Donaldson	....	location manager
Michael Faulkner	....	set production assistant
George Figgs	....	projectionist
Rosemary Hygate	....	assistant: Melanie Griffith (as Rosie Hygate)
Tudor Jones	....	production assistant
Joy Kecken	....	accounting assistant (as Joy Lusco)
Brian Maas	....	legal services
Christine Moore	....	script supervisor
Elena Moscatt	....	craft service
Chris Nicastro	....	location assistant
Sean Oliver	....	adr loop group
Kate Reckner Ridgley	....	assistant production coordinator
Gina Roose	....	assistant: Mark Tarlov
Jevon Rousch	....	production assistant
Roy Segal	....	executive vice president: Saul Zaentz Film Center
Colleen Roome Shelton	....	assistant: John Waters
Steve Shurtz	....	general manager: Saul Zaentz Film Center
Karen L. Sirota	....	production coordinator
Josh Slates	....	production office assistant
Brandon Speace	....	office production assistant
Michael Ventresco	....	title designer: main titles
Jeremy Walker	....	publicist
Scott Wallace	....	set medic
Jeff Whittle	....	transfer room supervisor
Zach Wolf	....	adr loop group
David H. Kramer	....	adr loop group (uncredited)
Christopher H. Myers	....	double (uncredited)
Peter Pamela Rose	....	adr loop group (uncredited)

Thanks
Catherine Batavick	....	special thanks
Debbie Billings	....	special thanks
Scott Fleischer	....	special thanks
C. Richard Gamper Jr.	....	special thanks
Jack Gerbes	....	special thanks
Tom Kiefaber	....	special thanks
Jack Machen	....	special thanks
Deana Markowsky	....	special thanks
Peter Schnitzler	....	special thanks
Debbie Smith	....	special thanks
Mike Styer	....	special thanks
Beth S. Tarquint	....	special thanks
Glenn Vanderlinden	....	special thanks
D. Vogel	....	special thanks
Ron Windsor	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Artic Productions LLC
• Canal+
• Ice Cap Production
• Polar Entertainment Corporation

Distributors

• A-Film Distribution (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Cinema Mondo (2001) (Finland) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (video)
• Advanced (Germany)
• Artisan Entertainment (2000) (USA) (all media)
• Bac Films (France)
• DHE Castle (????) (Finland) (VHS)
• Europa Filmes (2001) (Brazil) (VHS) (DVD)
• Europafilm AS
• Lions Gate Films (2003) (North America) (all media)
• Madman Entertainment (2003) (Australia) (DVD)
• Momentum Pictures
• Planet Media Home Entertainment (Germany) (DVD)
• Prénom H Co. Ltd.
• SBP (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• SubTV (2007) (Finland) (TV)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2001) (Argentina) (VHS)
• United King Films (Israel)
• Vértigo Films (Spain)

Special Effects

• Pacific Title (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Andy Pratt's Negative Cutting  negative cutting
• Axium  payroll services
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Effects House, The  titles and opticals
• Film Finance  completion bond
• Great Northern Brokerage Services  insurance
• Jeremy Walker + Associates  unit publicity
• Mobtown Props  property
• Saul Zaentz Film Center  sound post-production services
• Saul Zaentz Film Center  sound re-recording

Also Known As:

Cecil B. Demented (France)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong crude sexual content, violence, language and drug use.

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

France | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Argentina:16 | Brazil:18 (DVD rating) | New Zealand:R16 | Australia:MA | Canada:18A | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Company:

Artic Productions LLC

Trivia:

John Waters had an interview with him published before this film was made in which the headline referred to him as "Cecil B. Demented". Waters thought the title was too good to pass up.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When they set Honey's hair on fire when atop of the building at the drive in theater, she's obviously wearing a badly-disguised wig/prosthetic in the wide shots.

Quotes:

Cecil: There are no rules in underground cinema, only edges.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Sunset Blvd. (1950)

Soundtrack:

Cow

"I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMented"

After the bloody awful "Pecker", John Waters made this hilarious satire about a radical independent director, Cecil B. DeMented (Stephen Dorff) and his wild crew (Maggie Gyllenhaal, Adrian Grenier and Alicia Witt, among others) who kidnap a spoiled Hollywood starlet (Melanie Griffith, self-parodying her career of once successful turned B-list name) and force her to star in an underground film. In a world where the spoofs are made for the teenage audience and with the only purpose of recreating blockbusters' popular scenes (the "Scary Movie" series and its lame imitators - even the work of "cult" names like Kevin Smith - "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" - jumped on the same bandwagon), it's refreshing to watch a satire that's really funny and kitsch, but also very witty. DeMented's crew worships directors like Sam Peckinpah, Kenneth Anger, Pedro Almodóvar, Samuel Fuller, David Lynch and Rainer Werner Fassbinder, and not everybody will realize the irony in the end, but for film buffs who like these tidbits, "Cecil B. DeMented" is an absolute riot. 9/10.