Stealing Harvard (2002)

Director:

Bruce McCulloch

Writers (WGA):

Martin Hynes (story) and
Peter Tolan (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

13 September 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Their intentions were honorable. Their methods were criminal.

Plot:

A middle-class man turns to a life of crime in order to finance his niece's first year at Harvard University.

Plot Keywords:

Harvard | Scheme | Promise | Workout Video | Brother Sister Relationship

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jason Lee	...	John Plummer
Tom Green	...	Walter P. 'Duff' Duffy
Leslie Mann	...	Elaine Warner
Dennis Farina	...	Mr. Warner
Megan Mullally	...	Patty Plummer
John C. McGinley	...	Detective Charles
Tammy Blanchard	...	Noreen Plummer
Chris Penn	...	David Loach
Richard Jenkins	...	Honorable Emmett Cook
Seymour Cassel	...	Uncle Jack
Zeus	...	Rex
Ken Magee	...	Butcher
Martin Starr	...	Liquor Store Clerk
Mary Gillis	...	Duff's Mom
Bruce McCulloch	...	Fidio the Lawyer
Ashlynn Rose	...	Younger Noreen
Lorna Scott	...	Aunt Jean
Bobby Harwell	...	Uncle Dave
Jeanette Miller	...	Grandma
Gabe Laskin	...	Underage Kid
Ashley Bishop	...	Underage Kid
Pamela Gordon	...	Loretta
Tracy Ryan	...	Toy Store Salesperson
Marshall Manesh	...	Toy Store Manager
Nick Offerman	...	Electrician
Paul Feig	...	Electrician
Shane Wayton	...	Chainsaw Kid in Tree
Vinnie Curto	...	Loach's Friend
Don 'The Dragon' Wilson	...	Loach's Friend (as Don Wilson)
Gilbert Rosales	...	Loach's Bandit
Thomas Rosales Jr.	...	Loach's Bandit (as Thomas Rosales)
Steffiana De La Cruz	...	Loach's Girlfriend (as Steffiana Dela Cruz)
Ernie Grunwald	...	Lineup Man
Channing Chase	...	Neighbor Lady
Brian Galyean	...	Phone Sales
Suzanne Solari	...	Phone Sales (as Susan Solari)
Courtney Black	...	Phone Sales
Terita Jackson	...	Noreen's Harvard Roommate
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jeremy Galeaz	...	Choir Member (uncredited)
Geoffrey Gould	...	Mr. Leon (uncredited)
Gary Sievers	...	Liquor Store Customer (uncredited)

Directed by
Bruce McCulloch

Writing credits (WGA)
Martin Hynes		(story) and
Peter Tolan		(story)
Peter Tolan		(screenplay)

Produced by
Chris Brancato	....	executive producer
Susan Cavan	....	producer
Marty P. Ewing	....	co-producer
Howard Lapides	....	executive producer
Maureen Peyrot	....	executive producer
Bert Salke	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Christophe Beck

Cinematography by
Ueli Steiger

Film Editing by
Malcolm Campbell

Casting by
Juel Bestrop
Jeanne McCarthy

Production Design by
Gregory P. Keen

Art Direction by
Steven Schwartz
James E. Tocci		(supervising art director) (as Jim Tocci)

Set Decoration by
Leslie Morales

Costume Design by
Betsy Heimann

Makeup Department
David Atherton	....	supervising makeup artist
Sheryl Blum	....	key hair stylist
Mary L. Mastro	....	supervising hair-stylist
Rebecca Wachtel	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Marty P. Ewing	....	unit production manager
Carey Len Smith	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Melissa V. Barnes	....	second assistant director
Jim Goldthwait	....	assistant director
Michael Neumann	....	first assistant director (as Michael T. Neumann)
Drew Ann Rosenberg	....	first assistant director
Kenneth Roth	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Dena Allen	....	buyer
Larry Clark	....	paint supervisor
Eduardo H. Esparza	....	locations foreman
Neil Gahm	....	propmaker
Bill Holmquist	....	construction coordinator
Jeff Khachadoorian	....	prop shop
Steven Ladish	....	set dresser
Al Lewis	....	art department coordinator
Don Miloyevich	....	property master
Jeff Ogg	....	prop shop
Frank Piercy	....	paint foreman
Mark Poll	....	set designer
Steve Roll	....	carpenter
Lee Ross	....	on-set scenic
Brett C. Smith	....	leadman
Adam Tankell	....	graphic designer
Dylan Martens	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
James Ashwill	....	foley mixer
Odin Benitez	....	sound effects editor
Don Coufal	....	boom operator
John T. Cucci	....	foley artist
Robert Fitzgerald	....	dialogue editor
Richard C. Franklin	....	sound effects supervisor (as Rick Franklin)
David Grimaldi	....	sound effects editor
Randall Guth	....	sound effects editor
Michael Hilkene	....	supervising sound editor
Linda Lew	....	foley recordist
Dan O'Connell	....	foley artist
Philip Rogers	....	adr recordist
Pernell L. Salinas	....	first assistant sound editor
Jeff Wexler	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Larry Fioritto	....	special effects
Virgil Sanchez	....	special effects
Doyle Smiley	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Shaina Holmes	....	digital compositor

Stunts
Michael Adams	....	stunts
Jacob Chambers	....	stunt double
Terry Jackson	....	stunt double: John C. McGinley
Shawn Lane	....	stunt double: Tom Green/Jason Lee
Webster Whinery	....	stunt coordinator
Tad Griffith	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Gary J. Wayton	....	stunt performer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Al Bruce	....	grip
Gary L. Camp	....	Steadicam operator
Gary L. Camp	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Michael James Fahey	....	best boy grip
Jim Grce	....	gaffer
Anthony T. Marra II	....	key grip
Tim Nash	....	grip
Max Neal	....	assistant camera
Bill O'Drobinak	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Georgia Packard	....	additional camera operator
Donald Reynolds Jr.	....	best boy rigging grip
Reid Russell	....	assistant camera
Joe Sanchez	....	key first assistant camera
Michael A. Savage	....	grip
Sandi Sissel	....	director of photography: second unit
Jeffrey P. Soderberg	....	chief rigging electrician
Mark Suveg	....	video assist operator
James B. Walsh	....	grip
Scott C. Williman	....	electrician

Casting Department
Blythe Cappello	....	casting associate
Kathleen Chopin	....	casting: New York
Nadia Lubbe	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Joyce Kogut	....	costume supervisor
Erin Lenk	....	set costumer
Hayley Stuppel	....	costumer
Catherine Peña	....	set costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
James A. Brewer	....	first assistant editor
Paul Kieran	....	assistant editor
Dennis McNeill	....	color timer
Ron Orenstein	....	dailies colorist
Jonathan Poirier	....	assistant editor: avid
Heather Rafferty	....	apprentice editor: film
Kevin D. Ross	....	additional editor
Janet Ogletree	....	first assistant editor: avid (uncredited)

Music Department
Fernand Bos	....	supervising music editor
Christopher S. Parker	....	music clearances
Manish Raval	....	music supervisor
Gary Raymond	....	music playback operator: ProTools
Douglas Romayne	....	conductor
Douglas Romayne	....	orchestrator
Steven L. Smith	....	music preparation
Casey Stone	....	music scoring mixer
Adrian Van Velsen	....	music editor
Tom Wolfe	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
David R. Blakely	....	driver
Beau Reed	....	driver
Michael Vieira	....	driver

Other crew
Alan J. Bloom	....	personal assistant
Julia Cohen	....	assistant: Ms. Cavan
Jennifer Cormier	....	production assistant
Anna Culp	....	assistant: Brian Grazer
Rhonda DeVictor	....	production coordinator
Shelley Kirkwood	....	unit publicist
Peter Kusic	....	assistant: Mr. Green
Carrie L.A.	....	key assistant location manager
James Linville	....	assistant accountant
Jana Lundy	....	production assistant: re-shoots
Lisa Merkel	....	assistant: Mr. Lapides
Lucas Moore	....	studio teacher
Robert Murphy	....	assistant: Mr. Brancato & Mr. Salke
Irene O'Donnell	....	assistant: Mr. McCulloch
Ian Porter	....	production assistant
Janell M. Sammelman	....	key set production assistant: re-shoots
Patrick J. Smith	....	key set production assistant
Anthea Strangis	....	assistant production coordinator
Carla Swanson	....	title designer
Judi Townsend	....	script supervisor
Jay Traynor	....	key location manager
Carrie Tyson	....	production secretary
Alistair Vogan	....	script consultant
Chris Wade	....	assistant: Ms. Peyrot
Aubree Watson	....	assistant: Mr. Lee

Production Companies

• Revolution Studios
• Imagine Entertainment

Distributors

• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (2002) (worldwide) (all media)
• Columbia Pictures (2002) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cascade Film (200?) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film Distributors (2003) (UK) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Italia (2003) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Senator Film (2003) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Toho-Towa (2003) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2003) (Argentina) (all media)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2003) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2003) (USA) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar (200?) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (200?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (2003) (Argentina) (VHS)
• RTL Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing) (RTL7)
• Universal Pictures (2003) (Germany) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Custom Film Effects  opticals

Also Known As:

Say Uncle (USA) (working title)
Stealing Stanford (USA) (working title)
The Promise (USA) (working title)
Uncle (USA) (working title)
You Promised (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, language and drug references.

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Netherlands:6 | Argentina:13 | Canada:PG | Denmark:7 | Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:7 | Sweden:7 | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 (certificate #38106) | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Revolution Studios

Trivia:

Even though the movie is set and filmed in the US, a few distinctly Canadian items do appear in the movie, such as cases of Moosehead beer and a Canada 3000 handbag.

Goofs:

Continuity: When John, Noreen and Patty are watching the old home movie, Noreen pauses the video with a remote control and soon turns around to inform John that she has been accepted into Harvard. Moments later when they return to watching the home movie, it is still running even though nobody continued the movie with the remote.

Quotes:

Duff: We're going skiing.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

Soundtrack:

Giddy Up

Here's the thing...

I really loved this movie. Most of my friends really loved this movie. But it takes a rather rare breed to appreciate the type of comedy it employs. I'd definitely recommend it to anybody who likes Jason Lee--he's stellar as always.

Tom Green fans may not like it, though, because the comedy is rather subdued and very devoid of gross humor.

The jokes rely heavily on the chemistry between the slapstick guy and the straight man--Tom and Jason being phenomenal examples of these categories, respectively.

I say give it a try: if you hate it, you wasted less than 2 hours--big deal. But if you like it, chances are you'll love it.