The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer (2003) (TV)

User Rating:

5.1/10   

Director:

Craig R. Baxley

Writers:

Stephen King (characters)
Ridley Pearson (novel)
(more)

Release Date:

12 May 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Now hear the ghost's story in her own words.

Plot:

Set at the turn of the century, this is the tale of Ellen Rimbauer who just received this mysterious mansion as a wedding gift from her new husband...

Plot Keywords:

Mansion | Gift | Suicide | Murder | Deliberate Cruelty

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Lisa Brenner	...	Ellen Gilcrest Rimbauer
Steven Brand	...	John Rimbauer
Kate Burton	...	Connie Posey
Tsidii Leloka	...	Sukeena (as Tsidii Le Loka)
Brad Greenquist	...	Doug Posey
Deirdre Quinn	...	Fanny
Tsai Chin	...	Madame Lu
Hans Altwies	...	Daniel
Courtney Taylor Burness	...	April Rimbauer (5 yrs) (as Courtney Burness)
Jacob Pearce Guzman	...	Adam Rimbauer (6 yrs) (as Jacob Guzman)
Karen Heaven	...	Tea Drinker #1
Betty Moyer	...	Tea Drinker #2
Kathryn Witt	...	Party Guest
Eric Keenleyside	...	Jack Finney
Tony Doupe	...	Worker #1
Amy Walton	...	Chambermaid
Deb Craig	...	Gail
Jennifer Mercein	...	Laura
Frank Buxton	...	Doctor
Shelly Lipkin	...	Detective
Claire Vardiel	...	Older Maid
Secunda Smith	...	Heartstopper
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Agostini	...	Ballroom Dancer (uncredited)
Ridley Pearson	...	Head Butler (uncredited)
Phil Scroggs	...	Butler (uncredited)
Kyle J.M. Thompson	...	Young Construction Worker (uncredited)

Directed by
Craig R. Baxley

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Stephen King		characters
Ridley Pearson		novel
Ridley Pearson		teleplay

Produced by
Thomas H. Brodek	....	producer
Mark Carliner	....	executive producer
Bruce Dunn	....	associate producer
Stephen King	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Gary Chang

Cinematography by
João Fernandes

Film Editing by
Sonny Baskin

Casting by
Lynn Kressel
Kathleen Tomasik
Heidi Walker

Production Design by
Craig Stearns

Art Direction by
Randy Moore

Set Decoration by
Brenda Meyers-Ballard

Costume Design by
Ronald Leamon

Makeup Department
E. Larry Day	....	key makeup artist
Akemi Hart	....	assistant makeup artist
Mary L. Pyanowski	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
Luis Patiño	....	post-production supervisor
Valley Via Reseigne	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Todd Guzze	....	second second assistant director
Eugene Mazzola	....	second assistant director
Craig Stearns	....	second unit director
Lynn Wegenka	....	second assistant director
Craig West	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Tyan Bardon	....	propmaker
Mary Buri	....	assistant props
Brady J. Condit	....	set dresser
Curtis Coyote	....	charge scenic
Randal R. Groves	....	general foreman
Gregory S. Hooper	....	set designer (as Gregory Hooper)
Melissa Matthies	....	property master
Kenneth Milfred	....	lead man
Richard Reseigne	....	construction coordinator
Stefanie Sparks	....	art department coordinator
Rachel M. Thompson	....	buyer

Sound Department
Kenneth R. Burton	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Ken Burton)
Misty Conn	....	boom operator
Ryan Darden	....	assistant sound editor
Jesse K-D. Dodd	....	adr mixer
Andre Perreault	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dean St. John	....	adr recordist
Richard Taylor	....	supervising sound editor
Douglas Tourtelot	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Bob Riggs	....	special effects supervisor (as Bobby Riggs)

Visual Effects by
Cheryl Bainum	....	executive producer: HATCH
Deak Ferrand	....	matte painter: HATCH
Richard Malzahn	....	visual effects supervisor

Stunts
Craig Baxley Jr.	....	stunt coordinator
Norman Howell	....	stunts
Ron Otis	....	stunts
Gary L. Schuler	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Edward Barnes	....	gaffer (as Ted Barnes)
Steve Barnes	....	first assistant camera (as Steven Barnes)
Robert Beaumont	....	key grip (as Bob Beaumont)
Gregory Paul Collier	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Bruce Alan Greene	....	Steadicam operator
Ian Jennings	....	best boy electric
Bruce Lawson	....	dolly grip
Norbert F. Quiban	....	lamp operator
Greg Schmitt	....	grip
Gregory D. Smith	....	best boy grip
James 'Biff' Thomsen	....	electrician

Casting Department
Kathleen Tomasik	....	casting associate
Heidi Walker	....	casting: Seattle (as Heidi L. Walker)
Dean Wein	....	voice casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mairi Chisholm	....	wardrobe production assistant
Danial Hellman	....	tailor
Henry Earl Lewis	....	costume supervisor
Marienne O'Brien	....	key costumer
Gerard Parr	....	costume department coordinator

Editorial Department
Bruce Pearson	....	color timer
Ron Rauch	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Sherry Whitfield	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Dan Fisher	....	transportation coordinator
Eric Solmonson	....	driver

Other crew
Alex Beauchamp	....	lead stand-in
Linda Bloom-Hedine	....	studio teacher
Rian R. Bosak	....	production assistant
Barbara Brown	....	script supervisor
Johanna Klingenberger	....	first assistant accountant
Joseph Lin	....	production secretary
Zita Mazzola	....	production coordinator
George Shockley	....	location manager
Anne Wilson	....	accountant
Tony Becerra	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Greengrass Productions
• Mark Carliner Productions
• Victor Television Productions Inc.

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (2003) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Argentina Video Home (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Nelonen (2008) (Finland) (TV)
• Net5 (2006) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment Finland Oy (2005) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Hatch Production (concept design and matte paintings)

Other Companies

• Corbis  stock footage
• Getty Images  stock footage
• Laser Pacific Media  electronic post-production
• Marshall/Plumb Research Associates  script research
• Technicolor Sound Services  post-production audio

MPAA:

Rated R for some sexual content.

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | Finland:K-11 | Argentina:16 | Germany:12 | Singapore:NC-16 | USA:R | Netherlands:16

Filming Locations:

Lakewood, Washington, USA

Company:

Greengrass Productions

Trivia:

The head butler is played by Ridley Pearson, the movie's writer.

Movie Connections:

Follows "Rose Red" (2002)

Failure.

This movie fails to capture any bit of the mystery and intrigue of the best selling book it was based upon. The acting was bland, the effects unappealing and the story uninteresting. I found myself flipping through the channels I was so bored with it. It's a shame the movie turned out so bad because the book was so wonderfully done that I found myself believing that Ellen Rimbauer actually existed and wrote those words herself. The movie did not capture Ellen's innocence and naiveness when she first entered into John's life nor her gradual descent into insanity. My advice is to pass seeing this and go read the book.