The Curse of the Jade Scorpion (2001)

Director:

Woody Allen

Writer (WGA):

Woody Allen (written by)

Release Date:

24 August 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery

Tagline:

Love stings

Plot:

An insurance investigator and an efficency expert who hate each other are both hypnotized by a crooked hypnotist with a jade scorpion into stealing jewels.

Plot Keywords:

Insurance Investigator | Thief | Scorpion | Magician | 1940s

Awards:

1 win

Cast

John Tormey	...	Sam
John Schuck	...	Mize
Woody Allen	...	CW Briggs
Elizabeth Berkley	...	Jill
Kaili Vernoff	...	Rosie
Brian Markinson	...	Al
Maurice Sonnenberg	...	Office Worker
John Doumanian	...	Office Worker
Peter Gerety	...	Ned
Helen Hunt	...	Betty Ann Fitzgerald
Kevin Cahoon	...	Lunch Delivery Man
Philip Levy	...	Rocky's Waiter (as Phil Levy)
Wallace Shawn	...	George Bond
Dan Aykroyd	...	Chris Magruder
Vince Giordano	...	Rainbow Room All Star
Howard Alden	...	Rainbow Room All Star
Ted Sommer	...	Rainbow Room All Star
Randy Sandke	...	Rainbow Room All Star
Peter Ecklund	...	Rainbow Room All Star
Joel Helleny	...	Rainbow Room All Star
Chuck Wilson	...	Rainbow Room All Star
Raymond Beckenstein	...	Rainbow Room All Star (as Ray Beckenstein)
Lawrence Feldman	...	Rainbow Room All Star
Ken Peplowski	...	Rainbow Room All Star
Dick Hyman	...	Band Leader
David Ogden Stiers	...	Voltan
Carole Bayeux	...	Voltan's Assistant
Kenneth Edelson	...	Voltan's Participant
Brian McConnachie	...	Voltan's Participant
Judy Gold	...	Voltan's Participant
Herb Lovelle	...	Night Guard
Carmen	...	Rose Kensington
Patrick Horgan	...	Kensington Guest
Howard Erskine	...	Kensington Guest
Ira Wheeler	...	Kensington Guest
Tina Sloan	...	Kensington Guest
Ramsey Faragallah	...	Fingerprint Detective
Bob Dorian	...	Mike
Arthur J. Nascarella	...	Tom (as Arthur Nascarella)
Trude Klein	...	Kensington Maid
Charlize Theron	...	Laura Kensington
Irwin Corey	...	Charlie (as Professor Irwin Corey)
Michael Mulheren	...	Herb Coopersmith
Peter Linari	...	Joe Coopersmith
Ray Garvey	...	Police Station Cop
Bruce Brown	...	Radio Announcer
Dan Moran	...	Street Contact
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Fabrizio Fante	...	Sam's Co-Worker (uncredited)
Greg Stebner	...	Cop (uncredited)
Noah Weisberg	...	Rainbow Room Dancer (uncredited)

Directed by
Woody Allen

Writing credits (WGA)
Woody Allen		(written by)

Produced by
Letty Aronson	....	producer
Charles H. Joffe	....	co-executive producer
Helen Robin	....	co-producer
Jack Rollins	....	co-executive producer
Datty Ruth	....	co-executive producer
Stephen Tenenbaum	....	executive producer

Cinematography by
Fei Zhao		(director of photography) (as Zhao Fei)

Film Editing by
Alisa Lepselter

Casting by
Laura Rosenthal
Juliet Taylor

Production Design by
Santo Loquasto

Art Direction by
Tom Warren

Set Decoration by
Jessica Lanier

Costume Design by
Suzanne McCabe

Makeup Department
Milton Buras	....	hair stylist
Eva Polywka	....	makeup artist
Werner Sherer	....	hair stylist
Rosemary Zurlo	....	makeup artist (as Rosemarie Zurlo)
Sanja Milic	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)
Mary Anne Spano	....	additional makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Helen Robin	....	unit production manager
Janice Williams	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joan G. Bostwick	....	second assistant director
Laurel Cobble	....	dga trainee
Sam Hoffman	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Mark Bachman	....	assistant art director
Paul Brush Jr.	....	stand-by carpenter (as Paul Brush)
Eric Cheripka	....	assistant property master
Frank Didio	....	head carpenter
Peter Gelfman	....	property master
Gerrit Gillis	....	art department/shop assistant (as Gerritt Gillis)
W. Steven Graham	....	assistant art director
Regina Graves	....	assistant set decorator
Daniel K. Grosso	....	leadman
Vincent Guarriello	....	chief construction grip
Hinju Kim	....	assistant art director
Glenn Lloyd	....	art department coordinator
Sarah Maine	....	art department/shop assistant
Robin McAllister	....	assistant property master
Jeffrey D. McDonald	....	assistant art director
Ron Petagna	....	construction coordinator (as Ronald Petagna)
Renée Plamondon	....	art department/shop assistant
Carlos Rossi	....	art department/shop assistant
Chinyere Ryan	....	scenic artist
Cliff Schorr	....	stand-by scenic artist
James Sorice	....	master scenic artist
Margot Therre	....	scenic artist
Robert Antalocy	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Amy Dholakia-Jorand	....	industrial scenic (uncredited)
Andrew Rossig	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Peter Yesair	....	assistant art director (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gary Alper	....	production sound mixer
Michael Barry	....	re-recording mixer
Ryan Collison	....	foley recording engineer
Mick Gormaley	....	assistant sound editor
Frank Graziadei	....	boom operator
Robert Hein	....	supervising sound editor
Bradford L. Hohle	....	consultant: Dolby Stereo (as Brad Hohle)
Sylvia Menno	....	dialogue editor
Todd Milner	....	foley editor
Glenfield Payne	....	sound effects editor
Brian Vancho	....	foley artist
David Wahnon	....	assistant sound editor
Jerry Yuen	....	cable man

Special Effects by
John Ottesen	....	special effects coordinator
Ron Ottesen	....	special effects coordinator (as Ronald Ottesen)

Visual Effects by
Addison Pettit	....	computer artist

Camera and Electrical Department
David E. Baron	....	first assistant camera
John Clifford	....	still photographer
Ray Collins	....	second assistant camera (as Raymond Collins)
David Flanigan	....	camera loader
Michael Green	....	camera operator
Chris Hammond	....	best boy electric
James Pollard	....	key grip (as Jim Pollard)
Michael Proscia Jr.	....	gaffer
Rory Walsh	....	best boy grip
Michael Gallart	....	dimmer board operator (uncredited)
Michael Gallart	....	rigging best boy (uncredited)
James Harker	....	electrician (uncredited)
Billy Kerwick	....	key rigging grip (uncredited)
Balint Pinczehelyi	....	grip (uncredited)
Joshua Van Praag	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Karen E. Etcoff	....	extras casting: Kee Casting
Patricia Kerrigan DiCerto	....	casting associate
Bill Tripician	....	extras casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Michael Adkins	....	wardrobe supervisor
Marisa Armstrong	....	costume assistant
Susan Carrano	....	assistant costume designer
James Hammer	....	assistant costume designer (as Jim Hammer)
Kelly Harrigan	....	costume assistant
John Mitchell	....	costume assistant
Melissa Stanton	....	wardrobe supervisor
Thomas Stokes	....	shop wardrobe supervisor (as Tom Stokes)
Stephanie Biear	....	seamstress (uncredited)
Lisa R. Frucht	....	costumer (uncredited)
Kirsten Mogg	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Sara Corrigan	....	first assistant editor
Jennifer Lilly	....	assistant editor
Lila Place	....	apprentice editor
Dale E. Grahn	....	color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
Jill Meyers	....	music clearances

Transportation Department
John Mulligan	....	transportation co-captain
Peter Tavis	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Leon Adair Jr.	....	parking coordinator (as Leon Adair)
John Alagna	....	titles and opticals: The Effects House
Sarah Allentuch	....	assistant: Woody Allen
Abby Bailey	....	assistant production accountant
Robert Cavalluzzo	....	location scout
Kay Chapin	....	script supervisor
Philip Douglas	....	set production assistant
Leo Driver	....	parking coordinator
Steve Gilbaud	....	payroll accountant (as Steve Guilbaud)
Jason Ivey	....	set production assistant
Cary Lin	....	assistant: Mr. Zhao
Pietro Lorino Jr.	....	production accountant
Dedra Mack	....	craft service
Les McDonough	....	set production assistant
Christie Mullen	....	assistant location manager
Currie Person	....	location scout
Kate Rorick	....	production office assistant
Angela Soon	....	craft service
Louis Spoto	....	legal services: Loeb & Loeb
Diane Sunderlin	....	assistant production coordinator
Irwin Tenenbaum	....	legal services: Loeb & Loeb (as Irwin J. Tenenbaum)
Carl Turnquest Jr.	....	projectionist
Jeremy Kipp Walker	....	production office assistant (as Jeremy Walker)
Steven Weisberg	....	location scout (as Steve Weisberg)
Marcus Patrick Witte	....	set production assistant
Tom Yeager	....	location manager
John Alagna	....	title designer (uncredited)
Michael J. Harker	....	completion bond representative (uncredited)
Jeff Lomaglio	....	shop craftsmen (uncredited)
Nancyana Racker	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Rodney Tait	....	parking security (uncredited)
Joseph Taylor	....	location scout (uncredited)
John Verni	....	location scout (uncredited)
Joseph White	....	location assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Steve Garfinkel	....	the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank: Kodak Motion Picture Film
Stefanie Hufschmidt	....	thanks
Robert C. Janiszewski	....	the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank: Hudson County executive
Greg Johnson	....	thanks
Carmel Malin	....	thanks

Production Companies

• DreamWorks SKG (as DreamWorks Pictures) (in association with)
• Perido Productions (uncredited)

Distributors

• A-Film Distribution (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• DreamWorks Distribution (2001) (USA) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (UK) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (200?) (Netherlands) (video)
• Aquarius TV (2006) (Greece) (TV)
• Aquarius TV (2007) (Greece) (DVD)
• Europa Filmes (Brazil) (DVD)
• Europa Filmes (Brazil) (VHS)
• GAGA
• GAGA (2001) (Japan) (all media)
• Laurenfilm (Spain)
• Líder Films (Argentina)
• Medusa Distribuzione
• New Films International
• Odeon (2001) (Greece) (all media)
• ottfilm GmbH (Germany)

Other Companies

• A.B. Dick Company  thanks: original vintage mimeographs
• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance (as AON/Albert G. Ruben Inc.)
• Amlock Locker Services/ALSS  thanks
• Artistic Office Products  thanks
• Axium Payroll Services  payroll services
• Bragman Nyman Cafarelli (BNC)  thanks
• Cartier  thanks
• Coca-Cola Company, The  grateful acknowlegement and thanks (as Coca Cola)
• Effects House, The  titles and opticals
• Helen Uffner Vintage Clothing  vintage clothing rentals (uncredited)
• Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders  grateful acknowlegement and thanks
• Hunter Douglas Window Fashions  thanks
• International Film Guarantors  completion guaranty
• J.G. Films  negative matching
• John Schneerman Studio  grateful acknowlegement and thanks
• Kee Casting  extras casting
• Kodak  grateful acknowlegement and thanks (as Kodak Motion Picture Film)
• Loeb & Loeb  legal services
• Monterey Fashion  thanks
• New Jersey Transit  grateful acknowlegement and thanks (as NJ Transit Corporation)
• New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theater & Broadcasting, The  grateful acknowlegement and thanks
• New York Daily News  grateful acknowlegement and thanks
• Orbit Digital  avid equipment
• PMK Public Relations  publicity
• Premiere Catering  grateful acknowlegement and thanks (as Premiere Caterers)
• SG London Branch  bank financing
• Sound One Corporation  re-recording mixing
• Stephen Herdemian Antique Jewelry  thanks
• United Distillers & Vintners  thanks

Also Known As:

"Im Bann des Jade Skorpions" - Germany
"El beso del escorpión" - Mexico, Peru
"La maldición del escorpión de Jade" - Argentina (imdb display title), Spain (imdb display title)
"Проклятие нефритового скорпиона" - Russia
"A Maldição do Escorpião Jade" - Portugal
"A jade skorpió átka" - Hungary
"I katara tou prasinou skorpiou" - Greece (transliterated ISO-LATIN-1 title)
"Im Bann des Jade Skorpions" - Austria
"Jadeskorpionin kirous" - Finland
"Klatwa skorpiona" - Poland
"La maledizione dello scorpione di Giada" - Italy (imdb display title)
"Le sortilège du scorpion de Jade" - France (imdb display title)
"Le sortilège du scorpion de jade" - Canada (French title)
"Nefriitskorpioni needus" - Estonia
"O Escorpião de Jade" - Brazil
"Prokletstvo skorpiona od zada" - Serbia (imdb display title)
"Skorpionens förbannelse" - Sweden
"Skorpionens forbandelse" - Denmark

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some sexual content

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS (Mono) | Dolby Digital (Mono) | SDDS (Mono)

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #38071) | UK:12A | Iceland:L | Hungary:14 | Brazil:Livre | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Canada:PG | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:6 (bw) | Italy:T | Netherlands:AL | Peru:PT | Spain:T | Sweden:Btl | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

DreamWorks SKG

Trivia:

In its opening weekend, the film played at slightly over 900 screens, the largest opening engagement for any Woody Allen film. However, the box office take that weekend was only $2.5 million.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The copy of "The New York Times" in the film lacks a hyphen in its name, although the hyphen wasn't dropped from "The New-York Times" until 1971.

Quotes:

C.W.:Are you divorced or widowed? Did your husband commit suicide? I could understand that.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Nastroyshchik (2004)

Soundtrack:

Sophisticated Lady

Funny With A Good Cast

Here's an entertaining crime story set in 1939 with nice atmosphere and colors and the normal Woody Allen wacky humor.

If you enjoy man-versus-woman insult exchanges, you'll love this as Allen and Helen Hunt trade clever barbs back and forth at a rate that reminded of an old Marx Brothers film. Many of the lines are funny with Allen, since it's his film, delivering most of them.

The story goes on a bit too long but overall keeps your interest. The women in here, from Hunt to the office girl (Elizabeth Berkely) to Charlize Theron playing a Veroncia Lake-lookalike are all glamorous.

Dan Akroyd, David Ogden-Stiers, Wallace Shawn and John Schuck are all veteran comedians who know their trade so the movie offers a lot of quality yuks. I'm surprised this movie isn't better known. I really enjoyed it the first time but laughed even more on the second viewing. Silly, but fun.