Diamond Men (2000)

Director:

Dan Cohen

Writer:

Dan Cohen (writer)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The story of a salesman who must mentor a young replacement when his company downsizes.

Plot Keywords:

Mentor | Downsizing | Traveling Salesman | Female Nudity | Robbery

Awards:

4 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Robert Forster	...	Eddie Miller
Donnie Wahlberg	...	Bobby Walker
Bess Armstrong	...	Katie Harnish
Jasmine Guy	...	Tina
George Coe	...	Tip Rountree
Jeff Gendelman	...	Brad
Douglas Allen Johnson	...	John Ludwig
Kristin Minter	...	Cherry
Nikki Fritz	...	Fran
Shannah Laumeister	...	Amber
Katie Rimmer	...	Priscilla
Paul Price	...	Carl
Kateri Walker	...	Melody
Kathleen Conner	...	Angel
Melissa Greenspan	...	Krystal
Bruce Smirnoff	...	Executive
Kate Forster	...	Customer
Jana Ferner	...	Emily
KaDee Strickland	...	Monica
Miriam Elizabeth Hyde	...	Sharon
Irving Simons	...	Jeweler
Glenn Phillips	...	Mick
Paul Hewitt	...	Fess
Leonard Kelly-Young	...	Brennan
James C. Burns	...	Detective (as James Burns)
Al Vicente	...	Cab Driver
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Myquan Jackson	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)

Directed by
Dan Cohen		(as Daniel M. Cohen)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Dan Cohen		writer

Produced by
Dan Cohen	....	producer
Rick Derby	....	co-producer
Robert Field	....	executive producer
Kate Forster	....	associate producer
Robert Forster	....	executive producer
Lynda E. Lester	....	line producer (as Lynda E. Lester)

Original Music by
Garrett Parks

Cinematography by
John Huneck

Film Editing by
Rick Derby

Casting by
Linda Berger

Production Design by
Randal P. Earnest

Art Direction by
Brad Douglas

Set Decoration by
Tim Woodruff		(as Timothy Woodruff)

Costume Design by
Katherine Swartz		(as Katharine Swartz)

Makeup Department
Anthea Grutsis	....	assistant hair stylist
Anthea Grutsis	....	assistant makeup artist
Dami Hamilton	....	makeup department head
James Hamilton	....	key hair stylist
James Hamilton	....	key makeup artist
Johnna Lentz	....	assistant hair stylist
Johnna Lentz	....	assistant makeup artist
Stella Tzanidakis	....	assistant hair stylist
Stella Tzanidakis	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Kevin Wyrauch	....	production supervisor (as Kevin Anthony)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Rick Derby	....	first assistant director
Benjamin Scissors	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Greg Guinasso	....	set dresser
Irving Simons	....	property master

Sound Department
Robert Fernandez	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Rob Fernandez)
Peter Halbert	....	sound mixer
Jaya Jayaraja	....	boom operator (as Jaya Ramalingam)
Michele Mercure	....	boom operator
Harry Peck Bolles	....	dialogue editor
Dan Sable	....	supervising sound editor
Christopher Young	....	sound mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
David Coralnick	....	grip
Daniel Deschamps	....	best boy electric
Bobby Foster	....	dolly grip (as Robert Foster)
Mary Haverstick	....	director of photography: second unit
Jody Hutchins	....	swing grip
Michele Mercure	....	assistant camera: second unit
Jamie Midgley	....	still photographer
Steve Onodera	....	second assistant camera
Chris B. Schnitzer	....	best boy grip
George Tannouriji	....	electrician
Kenneth W. Thornton	....	first assistant camera
Chris Warren	....	gaffer
Gene Warren III	....	key grip

Casting Department
Janice Maiorana	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jane Mannfolk	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Joel Bender	....	post-production consultant
Karl Dawson	....	assistant editor
Herbert L. Strock	....	negative cutter
John Travers	....	negative researcher
Glenn Whitten	....	color timer

Music Department
John Carbonara	....	music supervisor
John Carbonara	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Claude Fong-Ging	....	transportation production assistant: second unit
Sean Glenn	....	transportation captain
David 'Bear' Ortiz	....	driver
John Proctor	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Sylvia Arinello	....	assistant coordinator
Dan Cohen	....	errand boy
Donna Crawford	....	production coordinator
Donna Drew	....	production assistant
Ronald Frazier	....	production assistant
Dave Haws	....	set production assistant (as David Haws)
David 'Bear' Ortiz	....	fueler
Mattie Rogers	....	production assistant
Leah A. Smyk	....	production assistant
Suzanne Surtees	....	script supervisor
George J. Tasch III	....	location manager (as George Tasch)
Patrick Walsh	....	key set production assistant

Thanks
Manley M. Cohen	....	in memory of

Production Companies

• Artist View Entertainment
• DMC Films
• Half Fast Films
• Shiprock Productions
• Sidekick Entertainment

Distributors

• Lions Gate Films
• Panorama Entertainment (2001) (USA)
• Xscapade Pictures Ltd. (UK)

Also Known As:

The Altoona Riding Club (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

USA:R | Australia:MA

Filming Locations:

Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Artist View Entertainment

Quotes:

Bobby Walker: I tell ya, the girls in these shitholes, they got nothing better to do. It's not like they're living in Harrisburg or something.
Eddie Miller: I got a lot of good customers in these "shitholes". What do you think you're gonna do, waltz in there and somebody's gonna hand you an order? Who's gonna buy from you?
Bobby Walker: Your customers are gonna buy from me.
Eddie Miller: MY customers?
Bobby Walker: Yeah, they said they were going to give them to me.
Eddie Miller: Oh, that's not how it works. They can't give you my customers. Same way you can't give me your girlfriends. It doesn't work that way. I guess they didn't cover that in Providence.

Soundtrack:

Berlucci

The awakening of a salesman

This little gem of a film was shown on cable. Since I don't think it ever had a commercial run, at least locally, it was a delight that came out of nowhere. Dan Cohen, working with his own material, has dome wonders with this buddy/road picture in which two different men with different mentalities and background, come together as they touch each other's lives in more ways than expected. If you haven't seen this film, please stop reading.

Eddie Miller is an old salesman who loses his job after having a mild heart attack. The firm he has been working for years suddenly decide to fire him because he cannot be insured any more. Eddie is in a difficult position; his wife has died and left him with debts that he must repay. This is a decent man who has done honest work for his company and suddenly finds he must either stay for a few weeks training the new guy, who is going to inherit his job, or else, go into an unknown future, probably doing menial work.

The new man, Bobby is a happy go lucky kind of guy who enjoys his time on the road as it gives him the opportunity to play around all over his territory with waitresses, bar maids, or other women who are willing to have a good time with a handsome fellow. The contrast between Eddie and Bobby is notorious. Eddie prefers to stay in the motel room and solve puzzles rather than go drinking with the apprentice.

This is a story of contrasts between two different generations. What makes the film so endearing is the great work by the two principals. Robert Forster has been around, behind the stars for quite a while. He is a reliable character actor who is dependable, does his work well, but one never sees him in a lead role such as the one in here. Donnie Wahlberg, the new partner, is excellent in that he is just the opposite of the older man, but one can see the rapport between them. Donnie Wahlberg makes a magnificent contribution to the movie.

Bess Armstrong, makes the most with the small role of Katie, the woman who meets Eddie in the worst possible circumstances, but immediately recognizes this man is honest and decent. Eddie is the answer to her prayers and hopes. The two have incredible charisma and ease in their scenes together. Also, in a small part, Jasmine Guy, who is the kind hearted Tina, the owner of the "house of leisure" where Bobby convinces Eddie in going. Ms. Guy does wonders with her small time in front of the camera.

This is a film with an unpredictable ending. Director Cohen takes us into a wonderful road trip all over the state of Pennsylvania, and what a treat it turns out to be for those willing to embark in this adventure.