Scenes from a Mall (1991)

User Rating:

4.9/10   

Director:

Paul Mazursky

Writers (WGA):

Roger L. Simon (written by) &
Paul Mazursky (written by)

Release Date:

22 February 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

On their 16th wedding anniversary, Deborah and Nick decided to work out all their differences ...in public.

Plot:

On their 16. anniversary, during a shopping stroll, the lawyer Nick Fifer confesses his wife Deborah some affairs...

Plot Keywords:

Shopping | Kicked In The Crotch | Mariachi Band | Dance Scene | Wedding Anniversary

Cast

Bette Midler	...	Deborah Fifer
Woody Allen	...	Nick Fifer
Bill Irwin	...	Mime
Daren Firestone	...	Sam
Rebecca Nickels	...	Jennifer
Paul Mazursky	...	Doctor Hans Clava
Gregory Moore	...	Barber Shop Quartet
Michael Brown	...	Barber Shop Quartet
Jonathan Guss	...	Barber Shop Quartet
David Frye	...	Barber Shop Quartet
Joseph Warren	...	Joe Cool & the Coolers (Rap Group)
Brian Warren	...	Joe Cool & the Coolers (Rap Group)
Darrell Mason	...	Joe Cool & the Coolers (Rap Group)
Marc Shaiman	...	Pianist
Augustin Bustamante	...	El Mariachi Bustamente
Leonel Cruz	...	El Mariachi Bustamente
Telmo Hernández	...	El Mariachi Bustamente
Steve Ortiz	...	El Mariachi Bustamente
Ramon Ponce	...	El Mariachi Bustamente
Fernando Quinones	...	El Mariachi Bustamente
Joan Delaney	...	Woman Interviewer
Amanda Bruce	...	Woman Interviewee
Betsy Mazursky	...	Information Woman
Jack Brodsky	...	Pharmacist
Glen Alterman	...	Owner Museum Shop
Marilyn Pasekoff	...	Woman at Book Store
Patrick Farrelly	...	Santa
Hidehiko Takada	...	Sushi Chef
Tichina Arnold	...	Ticket Seller
Wanakee Legardy	...	Dress Shop Saleswoman
Carol Harris	...	Waitress Nuvo Navajo
Vira Colorado	...	Security Guard
Billy Graham	...	Security Guard
Chun Long Zhang	...	Chinese Acrobat
Kamarr	...	Magician
Kathy Kamarr	...	Magician's Assistant
Robert Garrett	...	Bartender
Fabio	...	Handsome Man (as Fabio Lanzoni)
Steven Dominic Prestianni	...	Male Sikh
Heather Golden	...	Female Sikh
José Rafael Arango	...	Bus Boy
Bobby Caravella	...	Man in Parking Garage
Laura Baler	...	Chocolate Candy Girl
James Duane Polk	...	Man on Movie Line
Penny Gaston	...	Pharmacy Patrons
Minna Rose	...	Pharmacy Patrons
Stewart Russell	...	Pharmacy Patrons
Joe Viviani	...	Pharmacy Patrons
Larry Sherman	...	Man on Carphone
Shirô Oishi	...	Man on Carphone
Ron Barry-Barry	...	Man on Carphone
Michael Greene	...	Motorcyclist
Stuart H. Pappé	...	Motorcyclist (as Stuart Pappé)
Andre Philippe	...	Taxi Driver
Phillip Nozaki	...	Kid in Van
Donnie Kelber	...	Kid in Van
Rene Victor	...	(voice)
Anne Lockhart	...	(voice)
Pam Hayden	...	(voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jill Church	...	Babe (uncredited)
Terry Dinan	...	Shopper (uncredited)
Christopher Gambale	...	Book Store Clerk (uncredited)
Anibal O. Lleras	...	Janitor (uncredited)
Rob Moretti	...	Extra (uncredited)
Rich Pecci	...	Mall rat (uncredited)
Soon-Yi Previn	...	Woman in Line at the Mall (uncredited)
Robert P. Sullivan II	...	California Long Haired Man (uncredited)

Directed by
Paul Mazursky

Writing credits (WGA)
Roger L. Simon		(written by) &
Paul Mazursky		(written by)

Produced by
Pato Guzman	....	co-producer
Paul Mazursky	....	producer
Patrick McCormick	....	co-producer
Stuart H. Pappé	....	associate producer (as Stuart Pappé)

Original Music by
Marc Shaiman

Cinematography by
Fred Murphy

Film Editing by
Stuart H. Pappé		(as Stuart Pappé)

Casting by
Joy Todd

Production Design by
Pato Guzman

Art Direction by
Steven J. Jordan

Set Decoration by
Leslie Bloom		(as Les Bloom)

Costume Design by
Albert Wolsky

Makeup Department
Annette Bianco	....	additional hair stylist
Fern Buchner	....	makeup artist (as Fern Buckner)
Shirley Crawford	....	hair stylist: Los Angeles
Romaine Greene	....	hair stylist (as Romaine Green)
Barbara Lorenz	....	hair stylist: Ms. Midler
Michael Lorenz	....	makeup artist: Los Angeles
Bob Mills	....	makeup artist: Ms. Midler
Rosemary Zurlo	....	additional makeup artist (as Rosemarie Zurlo)

Production Management
Patrick McCormick	....	unit production manager
Lenny Vullo	....	assistant unit production manager: Los Angeles

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Henry Bronchtein	....	first assistant director (as Henry J. Bronchtein)
Bruce Carter	....	second second assistant director: Los Angeles
Vicki Cherkas	....	dga trainee
Rick Feder	....	DGA trainee: Los Angeles
Bettiann Fishman	....	second second assistant director
Jill Frank	....	second second assistant director
Jane Paul	....	second assistant director
Tim Williams	....	additional second assistant director

Art Department
Joseph Alfieri	....	stand-by carpenter
Mark Bachman	....	scenic artist
Jane Bogart	....	set decorator: Los Angeles
Dennis Bradford	....	assistant art director
Gary J. Brink	....	set dresser (as Gary Brink)
Conrad V. Brink Jr.	....	set dresser (as Conrad Brink)
Kevin Brink	....	set dresser
Scott Chambliss	....	assistant art director
Lorenzo Contessa	....	storyboard artist
Ann Cudworth	....	assistant art director (as Ann Latham Cudworth)
George DeTitta Jr.	....	additional set decorator
John R. Ford	....	props (as John Ford)
Jim Fredericks	....	set dresser (as James Fredricks)
Tim Galvin	....	assistant art director
Robert Griffon Jr.	....	property master
Russ J. Griffon	....	props (as Russ Griffon)
Casey Hallenbeck	....	lead man: Los Angeles (as Casey C. Hallenbeck)
Rich Hobaica	....	assistant property master: Los Angeles
Lane Hurwitz	....	graphic artist
Bill MacSems	....	property master: Los Angeles
John McDonnell	....	props
Ron Petagna	....	construction coordinator
Steve Saklad	....	assistant art director
Bruce Swanson	....	lead man (as Bruce E. Swanson)
Richard A. Ventre	....	scenic charge man (as Richard Ventre)
Frank Didio	....	head carpenter (uncredited)
Christine Donohue-Pace	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Steven Curtis Husch	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Dierdre Kane	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Ken Scaife	....	construction coordinator (uncredited)
Michael Scarola	....	construction grip (uncredited)

Sound Department
Ron Bartlett	....	sound editor
Michael Bedard	....	sound recordist
David Behle	....	sound recordist
Liz Carlin	....	assistant adr editor
Jane E. Carpenter	....	sound editor
Gabriel Cubos	....	cable person: Los Angeles
Burness Dembrowski	....	sound editor
Andrea Horta	....	adr editor (as Andrea L. Horta)
Jack Keller	....	sound recordist
Les Lazarowitz	....	sound mixer (as Les Lezarowitz)
Robert J. Litt	....	sound re-recording mixer
Colin C. Mouat	....	foley editor (as Colin Mouat)
Linda Murphy	....	boom operator
Lisa M. Risen	....	adr editor
Greg P. Russell	....	sound re-recording mixer
Norman B. Schwartz	....	post-production dialogue
Charles Ewing Smith	....	sound editor
Mary Ruth Smith	....	sound editor
John Stacy	....	supervising sound editor
Pat Suraci	....	boom operator: Los Angeles
Michael Tyler	....	assistant sound editor
Elliot Tyson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bill Weinman	....	assistant sound editor
David A. Whittaker	....	supervising sound editor
Karen G. Wilson	....	sound editor
John Roesch	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Carolyn Tapp	....	foley recordist (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bruce Atwater	....	grip
Herb Ault	....	key grip: Los Angeles
Martin G. Beazell	....	second assistant camera: Los Angeles (as Marty Beazell)
Glynis Burke	....	electrician
John Burke	....	electrician
Michael Burke	....	electrician
Michael Caracciolo	....	second assistant camera
Ken Connors	....	best boy (as Kenneth Conners)
Craig DiBona	....	Steadicam operator
Craig DiBona	....	additional camera operator
David Dubois	....	best boy: Los Angeles
Brad Edmiston	....	additional first assistant camera: Los Angeles
Russell Engels	....	gaffer (as Rusty Engels)
Brian Fitzsimons	....	grip (as Brian Fitzsimmons)
Dennis Gamiello	....	key grip (as Dennis Gambiello)
Brad Goss	....	grip
Michael Green	....	first assistant camera
Kurt Grossi	....	best boy grip: Los Angeles
Richard Guinness Jr.	....	dolly grip
Brian Hamill	....	still photographer
Danny Jimenez	....	dolly grip: Los Angeles
Ian Kincaid	....	gaffer: Los Angeles
Joseph Labue	....	grip
John Lowry	....	best boy grip
Thomas Lowry	....	grip
Tim Lowry	....	grip (as Timothy Lowry)
Robert McGavin	....	electrician
Dick Mingalone	....	camera operator (as Richard Mingalone)
Randy Nolen	....	Steadicam operator: Los Angeles (as Randy Nolan)
Ronald Plant	....	grip
Paul Prince	....	second assistant camera: Los Angeles
Scott Rathner	....	additional first assistant camera (as 'Scotty Dog' Rathner)
Robert Sciretta	....	electrician
James F. Walsh Jr.	....	electrician (as James Walsh Jr.)
Nils Johnson	....	24 frame video operator (uncredited)
Patrick J. McIntyre	....	grip (uncredited)
Randy Nolen	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Grant Wilfley	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
William A. Campbell	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Bill Campbell)
Bill Christians	....	costumer: Mr. Allen
Irene Ferrari	....	wardrobe supervisor
Diana Wilson	....	wardrobe supervisor: Los Angeles
Pamela Wise	....	costumer: Ms. Midler

Editorial Department
Megan B. Agosto	....	assistant editor
Elizabeth Gazzara	....	assistant editor
Moonstar Greene	....	assistant editor
Paula McKee	....	first assistant editor
Robert Raring	....	color timer (as Bob Raring)

Music Department
Dan Carlin Sr.	....	supervising music editor
Dan Garde	....	music editor
Hummie Mann	....	additional orchestrator
Joel Moss	....	music mixer
Joel Moss	....	music recordist
Marc Shaiman	....	orchestrator
Sam Ward	....	additional music recordist

Transportation Department
Tom Briggs	....	transportation captain: Los Angeles
Thomas Buckman	....	transportation co-captain
James Giblin	....	transportation captain
Tom F. Thomas	....	transportation coordinator: Los Angeles (as Tom Thomas)

Other crew
Robert C. Albertell	....	production assistant
Erika Aronson	....	production assistant
Judy Arthur	....	unit publicist
Heidi August	....	production accountant
Carlyn Bochicchio	....	assistant coordinator
Jay Cannold	....	assistant accountant
Bobby Caravella	....	production assistant
Mary Beth Carroll	....	assistant accountant
Christopher Chadman	....	choreographer
Stephen Cody	....	production assistant
Annemarie Costello	....	assistant: P. McCormick
Carol Dauber	....	production assistant
David DeClerque	....	location manager
Anthony D'Esposito	....	production assistant
Dominic Fidelibus	....	supervising copyist
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer
Craig Gering	....	production assistant
Dori Greenberg	....	production assistant
Jennifer Greenhut	....	production assistant
Pam Hayden	....	adr voice
Holly Hughes	....	production office assistant: Los Angeles (as Holly D. Hughes)
Doug Kanter	....	production assistant
Yehonatan Koenig	....	production assistant
Lisa Kolasa	....	production office assistant
Kenneth M. Kroll	....	assistant accountant
David B. Leener	....	production assistant (as David Blake Leener)
Patti Lewis	....	production assistant
Anne Lockhart	....	adr voice (as Ann Lochart)
Lillian O. MacNeill	....	script supervisor (as Lillian MacNeil)
Mandy Marsh	....	production coordinator: Los Angeles
Jane Read Martin	....	assistant: W. Allen (as Jane Martin)
Taman McCall	....	location manager: Los Angeles
Michelle Morrissey	....	production office coordinator (as Michelle Weinberg)
Amy Ness	....	location manager: Los Angeles
Jono Oliver	....	production assistant
Juan Ros	....	set production assistant
Gina Salerno	....	production assistant
Jon C. Scheide	....	production assistant
Jeri Simon	....	assistant: P. Mazursky
David H. Venghaus Jr.	....	production assistant (as David Venghaus Jr.)
Alexander Wardwell	....	production assistant
Nadine F. Wilson	....	assistant accountant (as Nadine Wilson)
Robert E. Wozniak	....	production accountant: Los Angeles
Chuck Dudley	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Christopher Gambale	....	location manager (uncredited)
Ethan Goldman	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Todd Rathner	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Silver Screen Partners IV
• Touchstone Pictures

Distributors

• Abril Vídeo (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Pictures
• Gativideo (Argentina) (video)
• Warner Bros. (Germany)
• Warner Bros. (Spain)

Other Companies

• Bald Eagle Sound Inc.  sound effects
• Camera Service Center  grip and lighting equipment
• Central Casting  extras casting
• Cinema Research  opticals
• Dialogue Services Inc.  voice casting
• Kaufman Astoria Studios  filmed at
• TAJ Soundworks  foley recorded at
• Taubman Company Inc.  thanks
• Warner Hollywood Studios  sound re-recording

Also Known As:

Ein ganz normaler Hochzeitstag (Austria) (Germany) [de]
Ægteskab for åbent tæppe (Denmark) [da]
Alisveris manzaralari (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Cenas Conjugais (Portugal) [pt]
Cenas em um Shopping (Brazil) [pt]
Drôles de scènes (Belgium: French title) [fr]
Escenas de un centro comercial (Mexico) [es]
Escenas en un centro comercial (Argentina) [es]
Escenas en una galería (Spain) [es]
Jelenetek egy áruházból (Hungary) [hu]
Kohtauksia tavaratalossa (Finland) [fi]
Scènes de ménage (Canada: French title) [fr]
Scènes de ménage (dans un centre commercial) (France) [fr]
Scener från en galleria (Sweden) [sv]
Sceny z mallu (Poland) [pl]
Storie di amori e infedeltà (Italy) [it]

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/12 (DVD rating) | Portugal:M/16 (original rating) | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:12 | Peru:14 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | UK:15 | USA:R | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia)

Filming Locations:

Beverly Center - 8500 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Silver Screen Partners IV

Trivia:

Most of the film's mall scenes where filmed on a sound stage in Queens, New York. It was a two-level set nearly a quarter mile long with over 150 fully stocked stores. Scenes with elevators and escalators where filmed at a real mall in Stamford, Connecticut. Some exterior shots where filmed at the actual Beverly Center Mall in Los Angeles.

Quotes:

Nick Fifer: Well, now I feel like the scumbag of all time.
Deborah Fifer: You are.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Family Matters: Scenes from a Mall (#5.12)" (1993)

Soundtrack:

DECK THE HALLS

How Do You Screw That Up?!

This is a "comedy" that pairs two of the funniest, fieriest Jewish comedians alive. It is about a bickering married couple that works out all their marital problems during a trip to the mall. Sounds great! Get to work. Wait. What is this? This is crap! Fix it! What? You can't? You already filmed it with a second-rate crew in just the past couple of days? What the hell is wrong with you?!

I can understand it if Paul Mazursky wasn't as successful as one would think with this film because he didn't want to make the screwball comedy that everyone would expect, but what is so pathetic about this is that there are many moments where the film truly does believe it is being funny, such as the scenes with the irritating mime.

Like most modern marriages, after about half an hour you might really want to reconsider your vows with this film, because although it starts blandly enough, you still feel that you can expect the laughs to start piling up, but they never ever do. Not once. Bette and Woody aren't even very good. What do they have with which to work? They can't spark off of one another in spite of generally giving as much as they can to these two-dimensional characters.

Overall, this is quite an unnecessary film, a contrived effort to cash in, but with no juices at all except the anticipation of having Bette and Woody in the same film. It's almost unbelievable how bad it is. I understand if one does not trust the almost unanimous bashing this film gets until one actually sees it, because I am guilty of this. Woody Allen, as a writer and director, has never made a bad film. Even his worst film is twice as good if not more than this waste of talent.