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Small Soldiers [1998]
Country of Origin: USA
Year of Production: 1997 - 1998
Running Times: 108 mins
Format: Technicolor Super 35mm
Ratio: 2.35:1
Sound: DTS Dolby Digital
SDDS
CREDITS
PRODUCTION
Production Companies: Amblin Entertainment / DreamWorks SKG / Universal
Pictures
Executive Producer: Walter F. Parkes
Producers: Colin Wilson, Michael Finnell
Co-Producer: Paul Deason
SCRIPT
Script: Gavin Scott, Adam Rifkin, Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio
DIRECTION
Director: Joe Dante
2nd Unit Director: Jim Arnett
1st Assistant Director: Benita Allen-Honess
2nd Unit 1st Assistant Director: C.C. Barnes
2nd Assistant Directors: Dieter Busch, Rebecca Strickland
2nd 2nd Assistant Director: Nancy L. Ventura
DGA Trainee: Marisa Ferrey
PHOTOGRAPHY
Director of Photography: Jamie Anderson
2nd Unit Directors of Photography: Rexford L. Metz, Robert LaBonge
Camera Operator: Robert La Bonge
Steadicam Operator: Harry K. Garvin
1st Assistant Camera: Michael S. Endler
2nd Unit 1st Assistant Camera: Andrea Moraz
2nd Assistant Camera: Jimmy Ferguson
2nd Unit 2nd Assistant Camera: Mary F. Stankiewicz
Camera Loader: Erica Froker
Additional Camera Operator: George B. Stephenson
Assistant Chief Lighting Technician: Michael J. Bailey
Musco Lighting Technician: Paul Ciancetta
Gaffer: David Morton
Rigging Gaffer: Francis X. Valdez III
Universal Best Boy: O'Shana Walker
Key Grip: Al LaVerde
Grips: James Conroy, John Bertram, Rick Harris, Scott Rubin
Dolly Grip: R. Scott Judge
Best Boy Grip: Michael Ronald Heath
Stills: Bruce W. Talamon
2nd Unit Stills: Darren Michaels
Key Technician: Darin Bouyssou
24 Frame Video Operator: Ian Kelly
Re-Shoots Video Assist Operator: Mauriece Jacks Jr
Video Engineer: Ian Kelly
Colour Timer: Gloria Kaiser
Cameras and Lenses: Panavision
Camera Cranes and Dollies: Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment Inc
Musco Light Provided By: Musco Mobile Lighting Ltd
EDITING AND POST PRODUCTION
Editors: Marshall Harvey, Michael Thau
Additional Editor: Dale Beldin
1st Assistant Editor: James Dean Schulte
2nd Assistant Editor: Tracy Adams
Post-Production Executive: Martin Cohen
Post-Production Supervisor: Brad Goodman
Post-Production Coordinator: Lisa Marie Serra
Negative Cutter: Mo Henry
MUSIC
Music / Conductor: Jerry Goldsmith
Additional Music: Richard Strauss [from Also sprach Zarathustra]; Richard
Wagner [from Die Walküre]; Franz Waxman [from Bride of Frankenstein
[1935]]
Orchestrator: Alexander Courage
Songs Performed By: The Spice Girls [Wannabe]; Rush [Tom Sawyer]; Led
Zeppelin [Communication Breakdown]; Pat Benatar [Love Is A Battlefield];
Gary Glitter [Rock And Roll [Part 2]]; Queen, Wyclef Jean [Another One
Bites The Dust [Small Soldiers Remix]]; Cheap Trick [Surrender]
Executive in Charge of Music: Todd Homme
Orchestral Scoring Recordist: John Rodd
Y4 Scoring Engineer: John Rotondi
Music Editor: Darrell Hall
Music Contractor: Sandy DeCrescent
Music Programmer: Nick Vidar
Music Preparation: Jo Anne Kane Music Services
Score Recorded At: The Newman Scoring Stage, Twentieth Century Fox Studios
SOUND
Sound Designer: John Pospisil
Production Sound Mixer: Ken King
Boom Operator: Randy Johnson
Sound Technician: Mark C. Grech
Re-Recording Mixers: Elliot Tyson, Michael Herbick, Robert J. Litt
Additional Re-Recording Mixer: Ron Bartlett
Supervising Sound Editor: Eric Lindemann
Co-Supervising Sound Editor: Mark A. Mangini
USA / Canada TV Conform Sound Editor: Norval D. Crutcher III
Assistant Sound Editors: Elijah Schkeiban, Nancy Barker
Supervising Dialogue Editor: Julia Evershade
ADR Recordist: Michael Miller
Sound Effects Editors: David Grimaldi, Donald Flick, Elliott Koretz,
John Kwiatkowski, Michael Geisler, Susan Dudeck
Sound Effects Wrangler: Steve Lee
Foley Supervisor: Thom Brennan
Foley Artists: Hilda Hodges, John Roesch
Foley Recordist: Carolyn Tapp
Foley Mixer: Mary Jo Lang
Machine Room Recordists: Jack Keller, Marsha Sorce
Digital Sound Editing: Weddington Productions
Re-Recorded At: Warner Hollywood Studios
MAKE UP AND COSTUMES
Make Up Department Head: Christina Smith
Assistant Make Up: Cynthia Barr-Bright
Hair Department Head: Judith A. Cory
Assistant Hair: Karyn Huston
Costume Designer: Carole Brown-James
Specialty Costumes: Michael Burnett
Costume Supervisor: Kent James
Key Costumer: Chris Burrows
Costumer: Marcie Olivi
SPECIAL MAKE UP EFFECTS
Make Up Effects Supervisor: John Rosengrant
SPECIAL EFFECTS
Action Figures and Animatronic Design: Stan Winston Studio
Key Animatronic Designer: Bob Mano
Animatronic Design and Effects: Stan Winston
Character Designers: Jim Charmatz, Mark 'Crash' McCreery
Special Effects Coordinator: Ken Pepiot
Special Effects Foremen: Frank Schepler, Gintar Repecka
Special Effects: David Covarrubias, John Calpin, Jeff Pepiot, Joseph
C. Sasgen, Kim Derry, Mark Lilienthal, Thomas R. Ward, Paul Mejias
Puppeteers: Paul Mejias, David Monzingo
2nd Unit Special Effects: Daniel P. Murphy
Special Effects Leadman: Larz Anderson
Special Effects Office Coordinator: Jane E. Pepiot
Special Effects Technical Director: Felix Balbas
Lab Technician: Grady Holder
VISUAL EFFECTS
Visual Effects Supervisors: Jeff Matakovich, Stefen Fangmeier
Visual Effects Co-Supervisor: Ellen Poon
Visual Effects Producer: Kim Bromley
Sequence Supervisors: Joel Aron, Sean Schur
Production Visual Effects Coordinator: Leslie Barnett
Animation Supervisor: David Andrews
Computer Animator: David Latour
Animators: Felix Balbas, Heather Knight, Jacques Muller, Scott Benza
Character Designer: David Monzingo
Character Animator: Si Tran
Digital Artists: Bruce Powell, John Stillman, Matt Wallin
Computer Graphics Consultant: Liz Radley
Compositing Supervisor: Scott Frankel
Digital Effects Compositor: Ken Ziegler
Visual Effects Art Director: George Hull
Assistant Concept Artist: Beth D'Amato
Senior Technical Director: Terrence Masson
Visual Effects Technical Director: Mohen Leo
Production Engineering Supervisor: Joe Takai
Production Software Engineer: Ari Rapkin
Production Visual Effects Editor: Chris Baird
Visual Effects Assistant Editor: Paul Vega
Main Titles Designer: Robert Dawson
Main Title Digital Artist: Rob Blue
Plate Unit: Geary McLeod
Opticals: Digiscope; Optical Illusions Inc; Pacific Title/Mirage
Industrial Light and Magic
Special Visual Effects and Animation: Industrial Light and Magic
Visual Effects Coordinator: Amanda K. Montgomery
Digital Effects: Jeff Shank
Animator: Jason Ivimey
Digital Artist: Deborah Fought, Jennifer McKnew
Digital Model Supervisor: Tony Hudson
Character Modeller: Edward Taylor IV
3D Camera Matchmove Artist: R.D. Wegener
Matchmovers: Jeff Saltzman, Randy Jonsson
Lead Digital Compositor: Marshall Richard Krasser
CG Technical Support: Michelle Motta
Software Developer: Stewart Birnam
DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Production Designer: William Sandell
Supervising Art Director: Mark W. Mansbridge
Art Director: Bradford Ricker
Lead Set Designer: Harry E. Otto
Set Designers: Bill Taliaferro, Stan Tropp
Set Decorator: Rosemary Brandenburg
Property Master: Gerald Moss
Assistant Property Master: Andrew Petrotta
Buyer: Shana Sigmond
Construction Coordinator: Marvin Salsberg
Construction Foreman: Stuart John
General Foreman: David Gabrielli
Paint Foreman: Kent Jones
Construction Accountant: Charlie Araki
Art Department Coordinator: Molly Click
Illustrators: Jim Bandsuh, Robin Richesson
Storyboard Artists: David Lowery, Paul S. Power, Tracey Wilson
Lead Person: Brett C. Smith
Greensperson: Frank McEldowney
MISCELLANEOUS
Additional Script Supervisor: Mary Anne Seward
Production Controller: Jim Turner
Production Accountant: Elena Holden Bress
Post-Production Accountant: Maria DeVane
Production Office Coordinator: Robert West
Production Secretary: Don Wygal
Production Assistant: Francis Meade Warner
2nd Unit Production Assistant: Andrew Ward
Assistant to Adam Rifkin: Lisa Perkins
Assistant to Stan Winston: Amie Griffith-Chiu
Transportation Coordinator: Denny Caira
Transportation Captain: Mike Shannon
Unit Publicist: Alex L. Worman
Animal Trainer: Gary Gero
Craft Service: Tim Gonzales
Catering: Rick Brainin Catering Inc
Military Advisor: Dale Dye
Project Consultant: Kathryn Zatarga
Projectionist: René González
Studio Teachers: Jack Stern, Judith Jennings, Pat Jackson
LOCATIONS
Locations: Orange, California, USA; Yosemite Valley, California, USA
Location Manager: Kokayi Ampah
Assistant Location Manager: Rhonda Baer
STUNTS
Stunt Coordinator: Jim Arnett
Assistant Stunt Coordinator: Pat Romano
Utility Stunts: Seth James Arnett, Cinda-Lin James, Shawn Robinson
CASTING
Casting: Denise Chamian
Extras Casting: Central Casting
Voice Casting: Barbara Harris
Casting Assistant: Kara Katsoulis
CAST
Gregory Smith [Alan Abernathy]
Kirsten Dunst [Christy Fimple]
Jay Mohr [Larry Benson]
David Cross [Irwin Wayfair]
Denis Leary [Gil Mars]
Kevin Dunn [Stuart Abernathy]
Ann Magnuson [Irene Abernathy]
Phil Hartman [Phil Fimple]
Tommy Lee Jones [voice of Major Chip Hazard]
Frank Langella [voice of Archer]
Ernest Borgnine [voice of Kip Killagin]
Jim Brown [voice of Butch Meathook]
Bruce Dern [voice of Link Static]
George Kennedy [voice of Brick Bazooka]
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Christina Ricci [voice of Gwendy Dolls]
Clint Walker [voice of Nick Nitro]
Christopher Guest [voices of Slamfist / Scratch-It]
Michael McKean [voice sof Insaniac / Freakenstein]
Harry Shearer [voice of Punch-It]
Alexandra Wilson [Ms Kegel]
Dick Miller [Joe]
Jacob Smith [Timmy Fimple]
Jonathan David Bouck [Brad]
Wendy Schaal [Marion Fimple]
Archie Hahn [satellite dish installer]
Robert Picardo [Ralph]
Julius Tennon [Toy World supervisor]
Belinda Balaski [neighbour]
Rance Howard [husband]
Jackie Joseph [wife]
Marcia Mitzman Gaven [voice of Globotech announcer]
Gregory Itzin [Mr Florens]
Stand-Ins: Bryan Mathews, Kenleen Creech, Anthony Genovese
SUMMARY
A new range of action figure toys, The Commando Elite and the alien
Gorgonites, have been accidentally fitted with a top-secret military
computer chip. The toys develop a life of their own and, believing that
they really are at war, set about settling their grievances in a quite
American suburb.
CAPSULE REVIEW
Not by any means the best of Dante's work, but great fun nonetheless.
The first half is rather undistinguished fare, but it picks up in the
closing stages. It never quite develops its potentially excellent central
conceit to any degree of satisfaction, but the effects are very good,
the cast are great and the whole thing is done with tongue firmly in
cheek with just a hint of satire and irony thrown in.
AVAILABILITY
Argentina
Theatrical Distributors: UIP
Video Distributors: Argentina Video Home
Australia
Video Distributors: CIC-Taft Home Video
Finland
Theatrical Distributors: UIP
France
Theatrical Distributors: UIP
Germany
Theatrical Distributors: UIP
DVD Distributors: Universal
Portugal
Theatrical Distributors: Filmes Lusomundo
Spain
Theatrical Distributors: United International Pictures y Cía.
S.R.C.
UK
DVD Distributors: Universal [UDR90101]
USA
Theatrical Distributors: DreamWorks Distribution LLC / Red Feather Photoplays
Laserdisc Distributors: Image Entertainment [ID 5914 DW]
DVD Distributors: Dreamworks [Signature Selection 84161]; Dreamworks
[84672]
CENSORSHIP HISTORY
Argentina
Rating: Atp
Australia
Rating: PG
Chile
Rating: TE
Finland
Rating: K-12/9
France
Rating: U
Germany
Rating: 12 [w]
Ireland
Rating: 15
Netherlands
Rating: AL
Norway
Rating: 11
Portugal
Rating: M/12
Sweden
Rating: 11
Switzerland
Rating: 12
UK
Rating: PG
USA
Rating: PG-13 [for some menacing action/violence and brief drug references]
AWARDS
1998
Catalonian International Film Festival, Sitges, Spain
Best Original Soundtrack [Jerry Goldsmith] - winner
Best Special Effects [Stan Winston, Stefen Fangmeier] - winner
Best Film [Joe Dante] - nominated
YoungStar Awards, USA
Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Comedy Film [Gregory
Smith] - nominated
1999
Young Artist Awards, USA
Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actor [Gregory
Smith] - nominated
Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress [Kirsten
Dunst] - nominated
TIMELINE
1997
October
31: USA – filming begins
1998
March
Day Unknown: USA – filming ends
July
10: Canada, USA – theatrical release
August
13: Hong Kong – theatrical release
September
3: Singapore – theatrical release
6: France – shown at the Deauville Film Festival
17: Australia – theatrical release
23: Philippines – theatrical release
24: New Zealand – theatrical release
October
2: Brazil – theatrical release
8: Argentina – theatrical release
9: Denmark, Iceland, Spain, Switzerland [German speaking region] –
theatrical release
14: Belgium – theatrical release
15: Germany, Netherlands – theatrical release
16: Austria, Finland, Italy, Norway, Portugal – theatrical release
17: Indonesia – theatrical release
21: France – theatrical release
22: Hungary, Slovakia – theatrical release
23: Mexico, UK – theatrical release
30: Russia – theatrical release
November
18: Kuwait – theatrical release
December
8: USA - DVD release [Dreamworks [Signature Selection 84161]]
10: Israel – theatrical release
23: Japan – theatrical release
1999
February
12: Sweden – theatrical release
July
6: USA – DVD release [Dreamworks [84672]]
August
17: USA - laserdisc release [Image Entertainment [ID 5914 DW]]
2001
February
12: UK - DVD release [Universal [UDR90101]]
March
1: Germany - DVD release [Universal]
POSTER TAGS
The few, the proud, and the small.
Big Movie!
Smart, Funny and Action-Packed
ALTERNATIVE TITLES
The Commando Elite - working title
Pequenos Guerreiros – Portugese title
Pequeños guerreros – Argentinian / Spanish
title
Petits soldats – French Canadian title
Pienet soturit – Finnish title
Små soldater – Swedish title
LINKS
INCLUDES FOOTAGE FROM
Bride of Frankenstein [1935]
The Trollenberg Terror [1958]
SEE ALSO
2001: A Space Odyssey [1968]
Phantasm II [1988]
Spice World [1997]
Terminator 2: Judgment Day [1991]
Toy Story 2 [1999]
REFERENCES
MAGAZINES
Ciné Live October 1998 p.38 [France]
review [by Arnold]
Empire November 1998 p.38 [UK]
review [by Caroline Westbrook]
epd Film vol.15 no.11 [1 November 1998] p.44 [Germany]
review [by Frank Arnold]
Film Review November 1998 p.26 [UK]
review [by Ian Calcutt]
Notícias Vídeo April 1999 p.41 [Portugal]
review [by José De Matos-Cruz]
NEWSPAPERS
Correio da Manhã 16 October 1998 [Portugal]
review [by Vitoriano Rosa]
Diário de Notícias, DNmais 9 July 1999
[Portugal]
review [by José De Matos-Cruz]
Diário de Notícias, DNmais 17 October
1998 [Portugal]
review [by José De Matos-Cruz]
Expresso, Cartaz 17 October 1998 [Portugal]
review [by Jorge Leitão Ramos]
Svenska Dagbladet 12 February 1999 [Sweden]
review [Små soldater är sina egna fiender by Jan Söderqvist]
KEYWORDS
action figures, artificial intelligence, chainsaws, children, crossbows,
electro-magnetic pulses, flame throwers, lasers, microchips, military,
nail guns, scientists, sieges, slingshots, soldiers, teenagers, toys,
toy stores
Last Updated:
6 March, 2007
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