Gremlins [WS]

Director: Joe Dante Joe Dante

Overview

"Don't expose him to bright light. Don't ever get him wet. And don't ever, ever feed him after midnight." This sage advice is ignored midway through Gremlins, with devastating results. This comic Joe Dante effort is set in a Norman Rockwell-esque small town at Christmastime. Seeking a unique gift for his son an erstwhile inventor (Hoyt Axton) purchases a cute, fuzzy little "Mogwai" from a Chinatown shopkeeper's (Keye Luke) grandson (John Louie), who dispenses the above-mentioned warning before closing the deal. Meanwhile, young bank clerk Billy Peltzer (Zach Galligan) must suffer such antagonists as rich-bitch Mrs. Deagle (Polly Holliday) and priggish Gerald (Judge Reinhold) while pursuing his romance with Kate (Phoebe Cates). These and a variety of other plot strands are tied together when the lovable mogwai (named Gizmo) is exposed to bright light and gotten wet. In short order, the town is invaded by nasty, predatory Gremlins, who lay waste to everything in sight as Billy and Kate try to contain the destruction. Like most of Joe Dante's works, Gremlins is chock-full of significant cameo appearances: in this instance, such pop-culture icons as Dick Miller, Jackie Joseph, Chuck Jones, Scott Brady, Harry Carey Jr., Steven Spielberg (the film's executive producer) and even Robby the Robot all show up briefly on screen.

Product Details

Release Date:	05/15/2007
UPC:	0085391163152
Original Release:	1984
Rating:	PG
Source:	STUDIO DISTRIBUTION SERVS LLC
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:46:00
Sales rank:	4,234

Special Features

Over 10 minutes of never-before-seen footage; 2 commentaries: #1 - Director Joe Dante, Zack Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Dick Miller and Howie Mandel; #2 - Director Joe Dante, producer Michael Finnell and special effects artist Chris Walas; Behind-the-scenes documentary; Photo/storyboard gallery; Cast/crew film highlights; Theatrical trailer; Languages & subtitles: English (2 tracks), Français & Español (feature film only)

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Zach Galligan	Billy
Hoyt Axton	Rand
Frances Lee McCain	Lynn
Phoebe Cates	Kate
Polly Holliday	Mrs. Deagle
Scott Brady	Sheriff
Glynn Turman	Hanson
Keye Luke	Grandfather
John Louie	Chinese Boy
Dick Miller	Mr. Futterman
Jackie Joseph	Mrs. Futterman
Harry Carey Jr.	Mr. Anderson
Don Steele	Rockin' Ricky Rialto,Voices
Corey Feldman	Pete
Arnie Moore	Pete's Father
Belinda Balaski	Mrs. Harris
Judge Reinhold	Gerald
Jonathan Banks	Deputy Brent
Joe Brooks	Santa
Edward Andrews	Mr. Corben
Chuck Jones	Mr. Jones
Kenny Davis	Dorry
Jim McKrell	Lew Landers
Susan Burgess	Little Girl
Donald Elson	Man on Street
Daniel Llewelyn	Hungry Child
Lois Foraker	Bank Teller
Nick Katt	School Child,Schoolchild
Tracy Wells	School Child
John C. Becher	Dr. Molinaro
Gwen Willson	Mrs. Molinaro
Harry Carey	Actor
James MacKrell	Lew Landers
Howie Mandel	Gizmo
Mark Dodson	Special Vocal Effects
Michael Winslow	Special Vocal Effects
Peter Cullen	Special Vocal Effects
Bob Bergen	Voices
Bob Holt	Special Vocal Effects
Jerry Goldsmith	Actor,Composer
Susan Arnold	Actor
Mushroom	Barney
Jim Cummings	Special Vocal Effects
Fred Newman	Special Vocal Effects
Michael Sheehan	Special Vocal Effects
Steven Spielberg	Man in Electric Wheelchair (uncredited)

Technical Credits

Chris Columbus

Joe Dante	Director
Chris Columbus	Screenwriter
Michael Finnell	Producer
Steven Spielberg	Executive Producer,Producer
Kathleen Kennedy	Executive Producer
Frank Marshall	Executive Producer
Chris Walas	Special Effects
Rocco Gioffre	Special Effects
Warren Hamilton Jr.	Sound Effects
Mike McGaughy	Stunts
Rosemary Johnston	Stunts
Susan Arnold	Casting
Warren Hamilton	Sound Editor
Ken King	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

Chock full of wide-eyed furry creatures that were being aggressively marketed as stuffed animals, Gremlins undoubtedly sent a misleading message to a lot of parents. The affiliation of executive producer Steven Spielberg, who was fresh off the success of E.T., surely encouraged parents further, but many were left shielding their children's eyes as a gaggle of reptilian gnomes burst forth from a swimming pool and began smoking cigarettes, wielding chainsaws, and killing off townspeople. Gremlins is not appropriate for kids, and it drew a lot of complaints, but it has some jokey pleasures and plenty of satirical bite, as a Capra-esque small town is turned inside out on Christmas Eve. The film was a box-office smash and a cultural touch point, with the viewing public quickly learning the three steps to avoid transforming the impossibly precious Mogwais into the all-id gremlins. The violence against humans is mostly cartoonish and bloodless, but the gremlins don't get off so easy; in a memorable kitchen sequence, featuring a terrified Frances Lee McCain, a pair of pursuing baddies get offed in a microwave and a blender, their orange guts splattered hither and non. Although directed by Joe Dante, the film features the undeniably Spielberg-ian theme of imperiled innocence in middle America, as well as his love for imaginative creatures. And the special effects crew has a grand time bringing it all together, making for a taut horror fantasy with lasting appeal.