The Missing (2003/I)

Director:

Ron Howard

Writers (WGA):

Thomas Eidson (novel)
Ken Kaufman (screenplay)

Release Date:

26 November 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Thriller | Western

Tagline:

How far would you go, how much would you sacrifice to get back what you have lost?

Plot:

In 1885 New Mexico, a frontier medicine woman forms an uneasy alliance with her estranged father when her daughter is kidnapped by an Apache brujo.

Plot Keywords:

New Mexico | Apache | Grandfather Granddaughter Relationship | Gagged And Bound | Barn

Awards:

1 win & 8 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Wed. Feb. 17	11:00 AM	FX
Sun. Feb. 21	1:30 PM	MyNetwork

Cast

Tommy Lee Jones	...	Samuel Jones / Chaa-duu-ba-its-iidan
Cate Blanchett	...	Magdalena Gilkeson
Evan Rachel Wood	...	Lilly Gilkeson
Jenna Boyd	...	Dot Gilkeson
Aaron Eckhart	...	Brake Baldwin
Val Kilmer	...	Lt. Jim Ducharme
Sergio Calderón	...	Emiliano
Eric Schweig	...	Pesh-Chidin / El Brujo
Steve Reevis	...	Two Stone
Jay Tavare	...	Kayitah
Simon Baker	...	Honesco, Kayitah's son
Ray McKinnon	...	Russell J. Wittick
Max Perlich	...	Isaac Edgerly
Ramon Frank	...	Grummond
Deryle J. Lujan	...	Naazhaao / 'Hunter'
Matthew E. Montoya	...	Tsi Beoyuao / 'Blowing Tree' (as Matthew Montoya)
Joe Saenz	...	Mba'tsu-Naabitin / 'Wolf Trail'
Gandi Shaw	...	Izhashe / 'Bird'
Rod Rondeaux	...	Hudlao / 'The One Who Laughs'
Juddson Keith Linn	...	Chauaiao / 'Evening Time' (as Juddson Linn)
Alvin William 'Dutch' Lunak	...	Aii Sionzilo / 'Wild Horse' (as Dutch Lunak)
Elisabeth Moss	...	Anne
Josephine Schwan	...	Sally
Alexandra Elich	...	Sally
Yolanda Nez	...	Lii Dahit'een - Dancing Horse
Heather Gulas	...	Captive Girl
Scarlett McAlister	...	Captive Girl
Aura Jensen-Curtis	...	Captive Girl
Shelby Kocurek	...	Captive Girl
Molly McAlister	...	Captive Girl
Angelina Torres	...	Esmerelda Nunez (as Angelina C. Torres)
Deborah Martinez	...	Maria Nunez
Clint Howard	...	Sheriff Purdy
Rance Howard	...	Telegraph Operator
Arron Shiver	...	Rancher
David Midthunder	...	Apache Scout
Paul Scallan	...	Stokley
Jerry King	...	Drunk Soldier
James Tarwater	...	Drunk Soldier (as Jim Tarwater)
David Garver	...	Barker
Clemente Spottedhorse	...	Captured Apache
Brian Brown	...	Mexican Slave Trader
Toby Holguin	...	Mexican Slave Trader
Eddie J. Fernandez	...	Mexican Slave Trader (as Eddie Fernandez)
Jason Rodriguez	...	Mexican Slave Trader
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tom Berto	...	Rangler Gang Boss
Ace	...	Bird (uncredited)
Richard Barela	...	Townsperson (uncredited)
Lewis Culbreth	...	Townsperson (uncredited)
Cliff Russell	...	Townsperson (uncredited)
Chris Talley	...	Townsperson (uncredited)

Directed by
Ron Howard

Writing credits (WGA)
Thomas Eidson		(novel "The Last Ride")
Ken Kaufman		(screenplay)

Produced by
Sue Berger	....	co-producer (as Sue Berger Ramin)
Steve Crystal	....	executive producer
Thomas Eidson	....	co-producer
Brian Grazer	....	producer
Todd Hallowell	....	executive producer
Ron Howard	....	producer
Kathleen McGill	....	associate producer
Daniel Ostroff	....	producer
Aldric La'Auli Porter	....	associate producer
Louisa Velis	....	associate producer

Original Music by
James Horner

Cinematography by
Salvatore Totino		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Daniel P. Hanley		(as Dan Hanley)
Mike Hill
Ron Vignone		(extended version)

Casting by
Jo Edna Boldin
Janet Hirshenson
Jane Jenkins

Art Direction by
Guy Barnes

Set Decoration by
Wendy Ozols-Barnes

Costume Design by
Julie Weiss

Makeup Department
Ozzy Alvarez	....	special makeup effects artist
Jeri Baker	....	hair stylist: Mr. Jones
John Blake	....	makeup artist: Mr. Jones
John Blake	....	makeup department head
Leslie Devlin	....	key makeup artist
Jamie Kelman	....	special makeup effects artist
Miia Kovero	....	key hair stylist
Ryan McDowell	....	prosthetic makeup technician
Emanuel Millar	....	hair stylist: Ms. Blanchett (as Emanuel Manny Millar)
Matthew W. Mungle	....	makeup designer and creator: Chidin
Bill Myer	....	makeup artist
Elaine L. Offers	....	makeup artist: Ms. Blanchett (as Elaine Offers)
Gary J. Perticone	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
Eva Burkley	....	production supervisor: second unit
Kathleen McGill	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William M. Connor	....	first assistant director: second unit
Todd Hallowell	....	second unit director
Jeani Harris	....	additional second assistant director
David Hyman	....	second assistant director
Chemen Ochoa	....	second second assistant director
Kristen Ploucha	....	second assistant director: second unit
Aldric La'Auli Porter	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Bradley Barnes	....	on-set dresser
Maurice Burns	....	assistant art director
John C. Cameron	....	props
Jason Davis	....	property master: second unit
Ralph Diaz	....	on-set greens
Joel Goodell	....	set dresser
Caylen Johnson	....	property maker
Jonathan Lantry	....	sculptor
Sara M. Lewis	....	art department assistant
Johnny Long	....	lead greens
Ben Lowney	....	assistant property master
John Mann	....	storyboard artist
P. Allen McDougal III	....	set dresser
Amy Morrison	....	buyer
James F. Oberlander	....	set designer
Chris Painter	....	props
Gary Petersen	....	propmaker
Upton Shipley	....	painter
Peter Tosti Stephenson	....	set dresser
Alan Swain	....	set dresser
Stan Torres	....	greensman
Keith Walters	....	property master
Christopher Windisch	....	construction coordinator

Sound Department
Andrew Adams	....	production sound mixer: second unit
David Barnaby	....	foley editor
Phillip Blackford	....	mix assistant
Stan Bochner	....	dialogue co-editor
Travis Call	....	sound recordist
Bayard Carey	....	production sound mixer
Louis Cerborino	....	sound editor
Bob Chefalas	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
Anthony J. Ciccolini III	....	supervising sound editor
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist
Frank Fleming	....	sound recordist
Sean Garnhart	....	sound editor
Eytan Mirsky	....	sound editor
Branka Mrkic	....	dialogue editor
Angela Organ	....	assistant adr editor
Daniel Pagan	....	sound effects editor
Lynn Sable	....	assistant sound editor
David Schneider	....	boom operator
David A. Smith	....	boom operator
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
Lieven Van Hulle	....	sound utility
Steven Visscher	....	supervising foley editor
Tony Volante	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
Deborah Wallach	....	supervising adr editor
David Warzynski	....	foley assistant (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Robert Clark	....	key sculptor
Ken Gorrell	....	gang boss
Scott Hastings	....	special effects technician
Joel Hobbie	....	special effects technician
Geoffrey C. Martin	....	special effects technician
James L. Roberts	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Victor Aguirre	....	facilities production assistant: Digital Domain
Bron Barry	....	visual effects production assistant
Nancy Bernstein	....	visual effects executive producer: Digital Domain
Alette Boyce	....	digital compositor
Steve Caldwell	....	digital compositor
Craig Cannon	....	scanning and recording operator: Digital Domain
Benjamin Cinelli	....	senior character animator
Dan Cobbett	....	digital compositor
Chad E. Collier	....	scanning and recording operator: Digital Domain
Jason Doss	....	3D integration lead: Digital Domain
Jamieson Fry	....	digital artist: Digital Domain
Chris Gelles	....	visual effects producer: & Company
David Geoghegan	....	digital optical compositor
R.J. Harbour	....	digital compositor
Brad Herman	....	digital artist: Digital Domain
Timothy Hoffman	....	digital artist
Shaina Holmes	....	digital compositor
Christopher Holsey	....	scan record supervisor
Joel Hynek	....	visual effects supervisor
Todd Isroelit	....	visual effects producer: Digital Domain
David Isyomin	....	visual effects supervisor: & Company
Brad Kalinoski	....	digital compositor
John Karner	....	digital artist
Patrick Keenan	....	digital compositor: Pacific Title Digital
Markus Kurtz	....	CG supervisor: Digital Domain
Julian Levi	....	visual effects producer
Lori C. Miller	....	title design
Heather J. Morrison	....	visual effects editor: Digital Domain
Colleen Murphy	....	digital production coordinator
Adam Osterfeld	....	digital artist: & Company
Patrick Perez	....	digital artist
Brian Peyatt	....	digital production manager
Darren Poe	....	compositing supervisor
Kelly Port	....	plate supervisor
Laurie Powers	....	digital art director
Chad Roen	....	digital artist
Todd Sarsfield	....	digital color grader
Tess Spaulding	....	system administrator
Bryan Taylor	....	visual effects artist
Scott Tessier	....	digital artist: Digital Domain
Shin-Yee Yau	....	digital artist
Todd Daugherty	....	senior systems engineer (uncredited)
Jason Hughes	....	facilities production assistant: Digital Domain (uncredited)
Thomas Mathai	....	data manager (uncredited)
Brian Openshaw	....	render coordinator (uncredited)

Stunts
Julie Adair	....	stunt performer
Rio Alexander	....	stunt performer
Tony Lee Boggs	....	stunt performer (as Tony Boggs)
Samantha Brainard	....	stunt performer
Mary Davenport	....	stunt performer
Robert Harman	....	stunt performer
Jason Rodriguez	....	stunts
Ann Scott	....	stunt performer
Walter Scott	....	stunt coordinator
Julie Adair	....	stunt double: Jenna Boyd (uncredited)
Brian Brown	....	stunts (uncredited)
Eddie J. Fernandez	....	stunts (uncredited)
Juddson Keith Linn	....	stunts (uncredited)
Deryle J. Lujan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Rod Rondeaux	....	stunts (uncredited)
Wesley Scott	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Dominic Aluisi	....	assistant camera
Michael Anderson	....	second key grip
Jeff Andrus	....	rigging grip
Will Arnot	....	Steadicam operator
Will Arnot	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Liza Bambenek	....	assistant camera
Steve Banister	....	additional assistant camera
Brian Bartolini	....	electrician: second unit
Theodore Y. Bott	....	electrician
Theodore Y. Bott	....	lamp operator
Dante Cardone	....	lighting programmer
David Cummings	....	grip
Michael S. Endler	....	assistant camera: second unit
Peter Geraghty	....	assistant camera
Russell Griffith	....	electrician: second unit
Bruce Hamme	....	dolly grip
Hank Herrera	....	grip
Michael Herron	....	video assist operator
Leonard E. Hoffman	....	rigging electrician
Dale Holmen	....	rigging gaffer
Robert Jason	....	chief lighting technician
Robert Johnston	....	grip
David Katz	....	digital video assist operator
Steve Koster	....	camera operator: SpaceCam
Jordan Lapsansky	....	best boy electric
Bill-Brady Majors	....	best boy grip
Stephen Mullen	....	rigging gaffer
Jeff Murrell	....	gaffer: second unit
David Jaxx Nagro	....	rigging grip
Ray Ortega	....	electrician
Ian Pauly	....	video assist operator
Keith Peterman	....	director of photography: second unit
Steve Reinhardt	....	assistant chief lighting technician: second unit
Alejandro Snodgrass	....	grip
James Walton	....	rigging grip
Peter Weidenfeller	....	grip
Corey Weintraub	....	camera production assistant
Chuck Whelan	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera, second unit
James M. Sterba	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Michelle Lewitt	....	casting associate
Amaris Meyer	....	casting assistant (uncredited)
Jocelyn E. Thomas	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Aleah Ames	....	costume assistant
Marsha Barton	....	head seamstress
Laurie Hudson	....	key set costumer
Dan Moore	....	costume supervisor
Daniela Moore	....	costumer: Ms. Blanchett
Nina Risolio	....	costumer: Mr. Jones (as Ninalou Risolio)
Cathy Smith	....	specialty costumes

Editorial Department
Glenn Allen	....	assistant editor
Guy Barresi	....	assistant editor
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Tom Elkins	....	apprentice editor
Nathan R. Fitzgerald	....	digital intermediate editor
Richard Friedlander	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Ramiro Belgardt	....	music editor
Bob Bornstein	....	music preparation
Stephen Coleman	....	music librarian
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor
Michael Fisher	....	musician: ethnic percussion
Nancy Fogarty	....	assistant music editor
Jim Henrikson	....	supervising music editor
Randy Kerber	....	orchestrator
Brian Kilgore	....	musician: ethnic percussion
J.A.C. Redford	....	orchestrator
Justin Reeve	....	music coordinator
Simon Rhodes	....	music scoring mixer

Transportation Department
William Ballard	....	transportation captain
Jason LaFontain	....	driver
James William Ray	....	driver: honeywagon
Patrick A. Reynolds Jr.	....	driver
Eric Rivera	....	driver
Gary Shephard	....	transportation coordinator
Larry Shephard	....	transportation coordinator
Kenny Youngblood	....	driver captain

Other crew
Aleah Ames	....	production assistant
Jeff Andrus	....	diver
Michelle Brattson	....	assistant production coordinator
Michelle Brattson	....	production coordinator: second unit
R.J. Brodkin	....	morse code specialist
Judith M. Brown	....	studio teacher
Eva Burkley	....	assistant: Mr. Hallowell
Nathaniel Campbell	....	production assistant
David Carrico	....	re-enactor coordinator
David Carrico	....	re-enactor
Tim Carroll	....	livestock coordinator
Celli Crawford	....	production assistant
J.J. Dalton	....	production assistant
Tom Dames	....	assistant accountant
Michael Dellheim	....	location manager
Jim Dunlap	....	assistant accountant
Gregg Edler	....	production coordinator
Douglas Elsass	....	production assistant
Brooke Fair	....	production assistant
Daniel Luke Fitch	....	set security (as Luke Fitch)
Sherry Gallarneau	....	script supervisor
Craig Grossmueller	....	second unit assistant
Ben Hammock	....	on-set production assistant
Jai James	....	production assistant
Dawn Jones	....	assistant: Mr. Jones
Randy Kerber	....	synthesizer programmer
Stevie Lazo	....	production accountant
Alex Leimone	....	production assistant
David Manzanares	....	location liaison
Amy Marsh	....	production assistant
Benn Martenson	....	assistant: Mr. Howard
John Nasraway	....	production assistant
Haley Rae Norris	....	cast production assistant
Kathie E. Norris	....	accounting clerk
Richard G. Orozco	....	office production assistant: additional photography
Liz Probst	....	payroll accountant
Miguel Raya	....	assistant: Mr. Grazer
Elizabeth Rinella	....	production assistant
Dr. Scott Rushforth	....	consultant: Apache
Marissa Salgado	....	set medic
Jimmy Ray Sorrells	....	second assistant accountant
Mollie Stallman	....	production assistant
Rowan Stanland	....	set production assistant
Lucas Stein	....	production assistant
Kathleen Switzer	....	production secretary
Ian Underwood	....	synthesizer programmer
Mindy Weissman	....	travel coordinator
Gary 'Little G' Williams	....	assistant: Mr. Howard (as Gary Williams)
Danlee Winegar	....	assistant: Ms. Blanchett (as Danlee A. Winegar)
Joseph Bearman	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Aimie Olson	....	medic (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Revolution Studios
• Imagine Entertainment
• Daniel Ostroff Productions (in association with)

Distributors

• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (2003) (worldwide) (all media)
• Columbia Pictures (2003) (USA) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2004) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film Distributors International (2004) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film Distributors (2004) (UK) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (2004) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (2004) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2004) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Italia (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (2004) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (video)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2004) (UK) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Digital Domain (special visual effects and digital animation)
• Pacific Title (visual effects)
• & Company (visual effects)
• Custom Film Effects (visual effects)

Other Companies

• ARRI  camera equipment provided by
• Casting Company, The  casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• EFilm  digital intermediate
• No Stone Unturned Security & Investigative Services  set security (as Angel Security)
• Pacific Title  titles
• Sony Classical  soundtrack published by
• Sony Music Soundtrax  soundtrack published by
• Todd-AO Studios  sound post-production

Also Known As:

The Last Ride (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence.

Runtime:

137 min | 154 min (extended version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Malaysia:18SG (uncut) | Malaysia:U (cut) | South Korea:15 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 (certificate 96827/K) | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Philippines:R-13 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #40119)

Filming Locations:

New Mexico, USA

Company:

Revolution Studios

Trivia:

Tommy Lee Jones, Eric Schweig, David Midthunder and Val Kilmer have all appeared in the Lonesome Dove films. Jones appeared in 'Lonesome Dove (1989) (TV)', Schweig appeared in "Dead Man's Walk (1996) (TV)', and Midthunder and Kilmer appeared in 'Comanche Moon (2008) (TV)'.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The "Brujo" scaling the cliff side is attached to a rappelling rope (visible in the three alternate endings).

Quotes:

Lieutenant: Any man found looting... will have the value of their property deducted from his pay.

Movie Connections:

Edited into New Frontiers: Making 'The Missing' (2004) (V)

surprising hero, substantial villain

This movie is about New Mexico, not Arizona, and therefore deals with some elements of Southwestern frontier life that either are left out of most "Westerns" or are portrayed in a completely different way.

The first element is "mixed blood" persons. Although it is never clear whether Tommie Lee Jones' character is a white man living as an Apache, or is a "mixed blood," of bi-racial parents, who tries to live as both white and Apache, it doesn't matter. What matters about is that we see that only the bad people, of both races, resent him. The good people of each race -- eventually -- accept him for who he is.

The second element is the general representation of English settlers. Whenever an English person is shown in a Western movie it is either as a silly dude or an arrogant gunslinger. But most English were, like Mr. John Tunstall the rancher, from Canada, and were accustomed to the roughness of frontier life. So, here, Cate Blanchett first appears on-screen in an outhouse holding a wad of catalog paper.

The third element is the matter of social hypocrisy. Oscar Wilde (who once visited the American West) said, "Hypocrisy is the tribute vice pays to virtue." Thus, Cate Blanchett insists her occasional bed-mate never sleep with her when visitors are present on the homestead. Rather, he should keep up appearances, and sleep in his usual bed, in the bunk house. In other frontier movies unmarried cohabitation is either flaunted or causes great anxiety and guilt for the participants. But here, the characters of Cate Blanchett and Aaron Eckhart realistically consider their behavior to be decent and civilized.

The fourth difference has to do with the U.S. Army of the day (the 1880s). Val Kilmer is perfect as a well-intentioned officer who is unable or unwillling to take charge of them. To him, the mission must be defined by headquarters, not by the obvious facts. Thus stripped of initiative, he becomes more of a hindrance to peace in New Mexico Territory than a help. Some viewers may find themselves wishing, "At least he could be evil!" but it is not to be. Kilmer's character embodies that great grayness of real life that Western movies try to clarify as black and white.

Five: Sexual slavery. Yup, folks, girls are being kidnapped and sold into slavery elsewhere, for sexual purposes. This was not unusual in New Mexico. This movie makes it horribly clear that for sexual purposes a stupid girl is as good as a smart one, an ugly one as good as a pretty one, an unpleasant one as good as a pleasant one. Nope, these girls are kidnapped for only one quality, which as girls they all have equally.

The sixth element which distinguishes this from other Westerns is the relationship of death and heroism. The heroism here is not the usual kind in Westerns because it requires the hero to die. Otherwise, even if he was successful in his mission, he would've been simply more powerful than the villain, or luckier, and neither of those are moral qualities. The only other stories where this is typical behavior is in Nordic stories -- the only Viking heroes are dead, and they are heroes because they willingly died in order to achieve their goals. The Norse heaven, Valhalla, is filled with men who died trying.

The last difference is the substance of the villain. The bad guy here is a "brujo," an Apache witch-man. But he is not the usual "renegade medicine man" or fiercely-proud-but-understandably-misguided warrior. Nope, he captains supernatural forces that most viewers normally associate with wolfmen, vampires and so on. He really is evil, and his skills are greater than Cate Blanchett's (she's a Christian healer). He is brilliantly portrayed by Eric Schweig, whom most viewers probably have seen only as the young Mohican in 1992's "The Last of the Mohicans." Schweig is one of those actors who are usually assigned Indian roles because of their faces -- and probably become dispirited after a few years, when they realize that no one can or will write a role for them that is anything more than the usual. There are only a handful of actors, of any race, who could've done justice to this this "brujo" role. Schweig is so good here that the movie would've been a "tour de force" for him had not Tommie Lee Jones' dramatic experience stood in his way. In real life, Schweig is a mixed-blood Canadian, and a maker of excellent masks. No one will ever let him play Hamlet, because of his race, but maybe now screenwriters will see that serious roles can actually be written for actors such as he.

In short, if you know New Mexico you'll deeply appreciate this movie, and tip your hat to director Ron Howard if you ever see him.