Rushmore (1998)

Director:

Wes Anderson

Writers (WGA):

Wes Anderson (written by) &
Owen Wilson (written by)

Release Date:

5 February 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

"She was my Rushmore"

Plot:

The king of Rushmore prep school is put on academic probation.

Plot Keywords:

Teacher | Prep School | Friendship | Student | Private School

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 13 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Jason Schwartzman	...	Max Fischer
Bill Murray	...	Herman Blume
Olivia Williams	...	Rosemary Cross
Seymour Cassel	...	Bert Fischer
Brian Cox	...	Dr. Nelson Guggenheim
Mason Gamble	...	Dirk Calloway
Sara Tanaka	...	Margaret Yang
Stephen McCole	...	Magnus Buchan
Connie Nielsen	...	Mrs. Calloway
Luke Wilson	...	Dr. Peter Flynn
Dipak Pallana	...	Mr. Adams (as Deepak Pallana)
Andrew Wilson	...	Coach Beck
Marietta Marich	...	Mrs. Guggenheim
Ronnie McCawley	...	Ronny Blume
Keith McCawley	...	Donny Blume
Hae Joon Lee	...	Alex
Adebayo Asabi	...	Mr. Obiomiwe
Al Fielder	...	Ernie
Colin Platt	...	Boy Portraying Frank Serpico
George Farish	...	O'Reilly
Francis Fernandez	...	Burnum
McCauley Penderdast	...	Fields
Eric Weems	...	Willie
Dalton Tomlin	...	Wrestler
Wallace Wolodarsky	...	Referee (as Wally Wolodarsky)
Kim Terry	...	Mrs. Blume
Ella Pryor	...	Woman Back Stage
Paul Schiff	...	Waiter
Antoni Scarano	...	Small Boy Artist
Brian Tenenbaum	...	Contractor
Thayer McClanahan	...	School Reporter / George
Patricia Winkler	...	Mrs. Whitney
Manning Mott	...	Mr. Halsted
J.J. Stonebraker	...	Woody
Donny Caicedo	...	40 Ounce
Ali Ktiri	...	Benjamin
Michael Maggart	...	Concierge
Robbie Lee	...	Isaac
Morgan Redmond	...	Bellman
Ed Geldart	...	Security Guard
David Moritz	...	Dynamite Salesman
John Killalea	...	Tommy Stalling (as J.J. Killalea)
William Lau	...	Mr. Yang
Lucille Sadikin	...	Mrs. Yang
Steve Eckelman	...	Tennis Pro
Eric Chase Anderson	...	Architect
Danny Fine	...	Coach Fritz
Kyle Ryan Urquhart	...	Regis
Kumar Pallana	...	Mr. LittleJeans
Stephen Dignan	...	Reuben
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Reggie Dees II	...	High School student with football jersey on in hallway (uncredited)
Nathaniel Holt	...	Audience member (uncredited)
Erich Lane	...	Student (uncredited)
Trey Lefarge	...	Student Wrestling Spectator (uncredited)
Frank Page	...	Professor Murray (uncredited)
Brandon Trost	...	Vietnamese Soldier with Rocket Launcher (uncredited)
Jason Trost	...	Party Kid (uncredited)
Sarah Trost	...	Make-up artist (uncredited)

Directed by
Wes Anderson

Writing credits (WGA)
Wes Anderson		(written by) &
Owen Wilson		(written by)

Produced by
Wes Anderson	....	executive producer
John Cameron	....	co-producer
Barry Mendel	....	producer
Paul Schiff	....	producer
Owen Wilson	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Mark Mothersbaugh

Cinematography by
Robert D. Yeoman		(as Robert Yeoman)

Film Editing by
David Moritz

Casting by
Mary Gail Artz
Barbara Cohen

Production Design by
David Wasco

Art Direction by
Andrew Laws

Set Decoration by
Sandy Reynolds-Wasco		(as Alexandra Reynolds-Wasco)

Costume Design by
Karen Patch

Makeup Department
Frances Hannon	....	hair stylist: Bill Murray
Frances Hannon	....	makeup artist: Bill Murray
Bob Harper	....	key hair stylist (as Robert W. Harper)
Bob Harper	....	key makeup artist (as Robert W. Harper)
Sally J. Harper	....	key hair stylist
Sally J. Harper	....	key makeup artist
Terri Harper	....	hair stylist (as Theresa Harper)
Terri Harper	....	makeup artist (as Theresa Harper)
Bart Mixon	....	prosthetic makeup artist (as Bart J. Mixon)

Production Management
John Cameron	....	unit production manager
Christine C. Fransen	....	production supervisor (as Christine Fransen)
Alex Schwartz	....	production executive: Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael Cedar	....	first assistant director
Conte Matal	....	second assistant director
Donald Murphy	....	second second assistant director (as Donald W. Murphy)

Art Department
Amanda Anderson	....	assistant set decorator
David M. Bowen	....	assistant property master
Daniel Bradford	....	set designer
Austin Gorg	....	assistant art director
Nicole Gorg	....	art department assistant
Jeffrey B. Hartmann	....	lead man (as Jeffrey B. Hartman)
Chad Loucks	....	construction foreman
Melissa Matthies	....	property master
David Melito	....	art department assistant
Roy Metcalf	....	construction coordinator
E. Colleen Saro	....	on-set dresser
Wallace R. Symns	....	greens coordinator (as Wallace R. Syms)
Ric Trzeciak	....	assistant property master
Mark Van Stone	....	calligrapher
Archie Hankins	....	stand-by carpenter (uncredited)
Kelley A. Hankins	....	signwriter (uncredited)
Spanky Lofland	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Christopher Stull	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
David Franklin Bergad	....	dialogue editor
Mark Berger	....	supervising re-recording mixer
Yin Cantor	....	assistant sound effects editor
Kyrsten Mate Comoglio	....	sound effects designer
Malcolm Fife	....	foley editor
Grant Foerster	....	sound re-recording room supervisor
Steve Fontano	....	foley mixer (as Steven Fontano)
Aura Gilge	....	sound effects editor
Doc Kane	....	adr recordist
Larry Mann	....	loop group editor
Marnie Moore	....	foley artist
John Nutt	....	supervising sound editor
Margie O'Malley	....	foley artist
Jim Pasque	....	machine room operator
Frank Rinella	....	foley recordist
Michael Semanick	....	sound re-recording mixer
David A. Smith	....	boom operator (as David Smith)
Scott Streetman	....	cable utility
Pawel Wdowczak	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Ron Trost	....	special effects coordinator
Brandon Trost	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
David Ridlen	....	animator

Stunts
David Sanders	....	stunt coordinator
Jackson Burns	....	assistant stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Mark Chavarria	....	stunts (uncredited)
Lin Oeding	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
John Boccaccio	....	first assistant camera
Buzzy Burwell	....	best boy electric
Layne Chaney	....	grip
Doug Chartier	....	dolly grip
Cheryl Clarson	....	rigging best boy electric
Peter Clarson	....	rigging gaffer
Dennis Clay	....	key rigging grip
Steven A. Guerrero	....	grip (as Steven Guerreo)
Edison Jackson	....	electrician
Kurt Kornemann	....	rigging grip
Jimmy Lindsey	....	second assistant camera (as Jimmy W. Lindsey)
Billy MacTavish	....	electrician (as W.K. MacTavish II)
Doug Mercer	....	best boy rigging grip
Vojislav Mikulic	....	gaffer (as Voya Mikulic)
Danny Navarette	....	electrician
Van Redin	....	still photographer
Mike Sheeren	....	best boy grip (as Michael Sheeren)
Ferrell A. Shinnick	....	key grip
Kevin Sims	....	electrician
Val Sklar	....	camera loader
Peter J. Verrando	....	24 frame video operator (as Peter Verrando)
Sean Wright	....	grip (as Sean R. Wright)
Jeff Lanes	....	dimmer board operator (uncredited)
Wally Rowell	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Andy Stefanek	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Juel Bestrop	....	additional casting
Nancy Doyle	....	casting: Northeast
Liz Keigley	....	local casting
Debra Secher	....	casting associate
Beth Sepko	....	extras casting
Maura Tighe	....	casting: Northeast
Debra Zane	....	additional casting
Angela Dee	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Cathie Filian	....	costume supervisor (as Catherine Allen Busch)
Jamelle Flowers	....	wardrobe assistant
Jennifer Long	....	on-set costumer
Leeann Radeka	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Lin Coleman	....	assistant editor (as Lin Coleperson)
Terry Hubbard	....	assistant editor
Gloria Kaiser	....	color timer
Daniel R. Padgett	....	first assistant editor
Ron Radvinsky	....	apprentice editor

Music Department
Michael Baber	....	music editor
Robert Casale	....	score recordist
Mark Mothersbaugh	....	orchestrator
Kathy Nelson	....	executive in charge of music: Buena Vista Motion Picture Group
Christopher S. Parker	....	music coordinator (as Chris Parker)
Randall Poster	....	music supervisor
Danping Wong	....	musician contractor
Bruce Young Berman	....	musician: guitar solos (uncredited)
Brian King	....	musician (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Fred Davis	....	transportation co-captain
Ron Kern	....	transportation coordinator
Marti Wells	....	transportation captain
Rick Damazio	....	driver (uncredited)
Jimmy Ray Pickens	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Carrie Albers	....	production assistant
Monica Allen	....	assistant: Mr. Mendel, Texas (as Monica Ann Allen)
Linda Brattain	....	payroll accountant
Ted Broden	....	assistant: Mr. Schiff, Texas
Craig Busch	....	location manager (as Craig Allen Busch)
Cecilia Cardwell	....	teacher (as Cecilia M. Cardwell)
Lydia Cedrone	....	post-production accountant
Jessica Dailey	....	production assistant
Virginia Díaz	....	assistant location manager (as Virginia Diaz)
Steve Eckelman	....	assistant: Mr. Schwartzman
Moira Gill	....	assistant: Mr. Anderson (as Moira C. Gill)
Michael Grigsby	....	accountant
Jason Hawkins	....	assistant: Mr. Schiff, Los Angeles
Jonathan Hennessey	....	production assistant
Kalen Hoyle	....	bee wrangler
Vicki Daniels Johnson	....	medic
Vicki V. Johnson	....	medic (as Vickie Daniels Johnson)
Victor Lacour	....	production assistant
Angela Laux	....	stand-in: Miss Williams
Stephen Light	....	assistant production coordinator
Tammy Lorkovic	....	unit publicist
Scott Peterson	....	script supervisor
Renee Roth	....	dog trainer
Rip Russell	....	first assistant accountant
Jennifer Simpson	....	assistant: Mr. Mendel, Los Angeles
Doug Terranova	....	animal wrangler
Linell Kathleen Townes	....	production assistant
Melissa Wiechmann	....	production coordinator
Michael R. Wohlfield	....	bee wrangler (as Michael R. Wohlfeld)
Mikayla Abromowitz	....	intern (uncredited)
Thom Buckley	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Waleed Hassan	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Laura King	....	on-set medic (uncredited)
Mike Le	....	assistant: Owen Wilson (uncredited)

Thanks
Julie Ansell	....	thanks
James L. Brooks	....	thanks
J.H. Lartique	....	thanks: photos
Davia Nelson	....	thanks

Production Companies

• American Empirical Pictures
• Touchstone Pictures

Distributors

• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (1999) (Finland) (VHS)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2003) (Finland) (DVD)
• Buena Vista International (Argentina)
• Buena Vista Pictures
• Criterion Collection, The (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Filmes Lusomundo (Portugal)
• Gativideo (1999) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Gaumont Buena Vista International (GBVI) (France)

Other Companies

• Buena Vista Negative Cutting  negative cutting
• Halo Productions  animation and models furnished by
• London Records  soundtrack published by
• Loop Troop  additional voices performed by
• Mutato Muzika  score recording
• Pacific Title/Mirage  titles and opticals
• Saul Zaentz Film Center  sound editing, foley and re-recording at
• St. John's School  thanks

Also Known As:

Çilgin liseliler (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Academia Rushmore (Spain) [es]
Gostam Todos da Mesma (Portugal) [pt]
Rushmore (France) [fr]
Rushmore - Tres es multitud (Argentina) (festival title) [es]
Rushmore - akatemian älypää (Finland) [fi]
The World of Max the Genius (Japan) [ja]
Tres son multitud (Argentina) (video title) [es]

MPAA:

Rated R for language and brief nudity.

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Latin

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Canada:14A (Ontario) | Iceland:L | South Korea:12 | Sweden:11 (DVD rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:6 | Ireland:15 | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Baytown, Texas, USA

Company:

American Empirical Pictures

Trivia:

Director Trademark: [Wes Anderson] [peanuts]Max's dad is a barber, as was Charlie Brown's & "Peanuts" creator Charles Schulz's. Max flies a kite, which Charlie Brown was often seen attempting. Max is seen wearing a winter cap and carrying a plant, similar to a scene with Charlie Brown in A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) (TV). In the beginning of the "December" sequence in the barber shop, a musical interlude from A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) (TV) can be heard playing in the background.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Ms. Cross is grading papers in the library, before Max comes to refill her lemonade you see her grade a paper with a yellow paper under it, and her smiley face stamp to the right of her hand. In the next shot when Max refills her Lemonade there is no yellow paper under the one she is grading, and her smiley face stamp is far off to her left.

Quotes:

Max Fischer: I saved Latin. What did you ever do?

Movie Connections:

References Heat (1995)

Soundtrack:

Here Comes My Baby

"Sic Transit Gloria Mundi": So the glory of this world fades

I used to think that Royal Tenenbaums was Anderson's first good film. I thought Bottle Rocket wore its' rookie status on it's sleeve; I thought Rushmore was flawed; and I thought Tenenbaums finally showed that Anderson had honed his craft and he would start making great films. I then rewatched Tenenbaums and found it to be even more satisfying on additional viewings. I realized that Anderson had actually crafted one of those rare pieces of cinema that reveals itself more and more upon repeat viewings. So I of course decided to give Rushmore a second look.

Now that I've had a chance to see the DVD, I've had a much different experience viewing the film. Perhaps because I saw it on Pan and Scan VHS previously? Or perhaps because Anderson's vision requires an adjustment period?

Some people will never like Anderson's films. They simply will not appeal to those out there who want clichéd Hollywood fodder. Some people will love Anderson's films from the moment they see them. Others, like myself, will need to see the films more than once to truly appreciate them. Anderson breaks convention in ways no one has done before - One has to understand that his films are deep where most films are shallow, and shallow where most films are deep. This will throw A LOT of people off, as evidenced by many of the comments on the message boards. Anderson's films begin where others end. In Rushmore, we see Max's fall from grace, not his climb up to become head of every club in his school. In Tenenbaums, we see the aftermath of the child prodigies, not their glory years. Again, this will throw a lot of people off, and indeed I heard this criticism of Tenenbaums quite a lot. Anderson constructs the world of his films around a cinema storybook. They are episodic, told in chapters. Some will find Anderson at first glance to be a rather egotistical filmmaker, as I once did. However, upon second glance, you can begin to see the rich text woven deeper in the films that might be hidden beneath quirkiness or drastic breaks from convention. The first time I saw Rushmore, I felt shock, embarrassment and confusion (Mostly at Max and Rosemary's bizarre interaction). I was lost and unfamiliar with this world Anderson has created. The second time I saw the film I felt Passion, Love, Tragedy and ultimate Redemption. I found the heart in Anderson's film.

If you felt Rushmore was not all it could have been the first time you saw it, please give it another chance. You'll find which side you fall on.