Punchline (1988) - Turner Classic Movies

Brief Synopsis

Drama about the pressurized, often unglamorous world of the stand-up comic, centering around one talented, caustic comedian trying to be discovered, and a suburban housewife yearning to be funny.

Cast & Crew

Read More

David Seltzer

Sally Field

Tom Hanks

John Goodman

Mark Rydell

Taylor Negron

Film Details

Also Known As

Punch Line

MPAA Rating

Genre

Comedy

Drama

Release Date

1988

Production Company

Mark R Jennings

Distribution Company

Sony Pictures Releasing

Location

Los Angeles, California, USA; Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA; New Jersey, USA; Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Technical Specs

Duration

2h 3m

Synopsis

Drama about the pressurized, often unglamorous world of the stand-up comic, centering around one talented, caustic comedian trying to be discovered, and a suburban housewife yearning to be funny.

Director

David Seltzer

Cast

Sally Field

Tom Hanks

John Goodman

Mark Rydell

Taylor Negron

Paul Kozlowski

Barry Sobel

Damon Wayans

Mac Robbins

Rich Ramirez

Michael Pollock

Robert Britton

Dottie Archibald

Laura Jacoby

Bob Zmuda

Susan Avants

Susan Michael

Melissa Tufeld

Scott Lawrence

Casey Sander

Paul Mazursky

Barry Neikrug

Katie Rich

Marty Pollio

Christiane Eden

Darunee Doa Hale

George Novogroder

Richard Parker

Susie Essman

Andrea Adams

Candace Cameron Bure

George Wallace

Joey Vega

Randy Fechter

Cameron Thor

Wanda Balay

Bianca Rose

Joycee Katz

John Kirby

Howard Weller

Kim Greist

Consuela Nance

Kim Ryusaki

George Wallace

Sam H Ginsburg

Ron Ulstad

Scott Williams

Crane Jackson

Ben Hartigan

Andrew Parker

Robina Suwol

Jimmy Brogan

Tiffany Terry

Renna Bogdanowicz

Angela Bennett

C James Lewis

Eva Dunlap

Carin Badger

Max Alexander

Mark Goldstein

Charles David Richards

Mark Helm

Sharon Lyn Borne

Suzanne Rains

Marcy Del Campos

Angel Salazar

Mike Starr

George Michael Mcgrath

Pam Matteson

Barbara Collier

Crew

Gary Anderson

Dottie Archibald

Technical Advisor

Scott Arundale

Assistant Editor

Jerry A. Baerwitz

Associate Producer

Jerry A. Baerwitz

Unit Production Manager

Diane Bandolas

Production Auditor

James A Barbarino

Transportation Captain

Kevin Bartnoff

Bruce Birmelin

John S Boyd

Ricky Bravo

Camera Operator

Paul Brinkman

Location Manager

Jackie Burch

Gene S Cantamessa

Steve Cantamessa

Daniel Allen Carlin

Ferne Cassel

Casting Associate

Ted Churchill

Steadicam Operator

Virginia Cook-mcgowan

Ed Crocitto

Location Manager

Peg Cummings

Ray De La Motte

Camera Operator

Jackson Degovia

Production Designer

Noori Dehnahi

Production Assistant

Dennis Dewaay

Construction Coordinator

Don Digirolamo

Alan Disler

Assistant Camera Operator

Gary Dodd

Bobby Dolan Jr.

Lighting Technician

Jay Dranch

Patrick Drummond

Candy Edwards

Assistant Camera Operator

Susie Essman

Technical Advisor

Randy Fechter

Technical Advisor

Wayne Fitzgerald

Christopher Gegen

Michael Gershman

Camera Operator

William Goldenberg

Assistant Editor

Louise Goodspeed

Bruce Green

Robert Grieve

Charles Gross

Margaret Guinee

Lee Harmon

Wilt Henderson

Phil Hetos

Ellen Heuer

Tim Hill

Transportation Coordinator

Joe Hubbard

Jeannie Jeha

Production Coordinator

Mark R Jennings

John R Jensen

Steven J Jordan

Robert Knudson

Douglas Kor

Technical Advisor

Greg Long

Production Assistant

Craig Lyman

Beth Lynk

Aggie Lyon

Costume Supervisor

Harry Madsen

Dennis Maitland

Kim Maitland

Ira Marvin

Unit Production Manager

Ira Marvin

Production Supervisor

Ricardo Mtndez Matta

Felix Mauras

Jim Mcgrath

Princess Mclean

Assistant Director

Daniel Melnick

Michael Milgrom

Property Master

Gina Mittelman

Assistant Editor

Dan Moore

Costume Supervisor

Jay Moore

Ooty Moorehead

Production Coordinator

Greg Orloff

Michael Pollock

Kaye Pownall

Michael I Rachmil

James Raitt

Property Master

Andrea Ross

Scott Rubin

Technical Advisor

John Rusk

Liz Ryan

Assistant Director

Solange Schwalbe

David Seltzer

Frank Smathers

Dialogue Editor

Peter Lansdown Smith

Barry Sobel

Technical Advisor

Rich Steven

Dialogue Editor

Gary Tandrow

Lighting Technician

Jonas Thaler

Assistant Editor

Robert Topol

Jim Van Wyck

Associate Producer

Jim Van Wyck

Assistant Director

Reynaldo Villalobos

Director Of Photography

Karen Wookey

Script Supervisor

Janice Yarbrough

Associate Producer

Film Details

Also Known As

Punch Line

MPAA Rating

Genre

Comedy

Drama

Release Date

1988

Production Company

Mark R Jennings

Distribution Company

Sony Pictures Releasing

Location

Los Angeles, California, USA; Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA; New Jersey, USA; Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Technical Specs

Duration

2h 3m

Quotes

Trivia

Miscellaneous Notes

Released in United States Fall September 30, 1988

Released in United States on Video March 16, 1989

Released in United States September 23, 1988

Re-released in United States on Video February 14, 1995

Wide Release in United States October 7, 1988

Formerly distributed by RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video.

Began shooting March 9, 1987.

Fogwood Films is Sally Field's production company.

Re-released in United States on Video February 14, 1995

Released in United States on Video March 16, 1989

Released in United States September 23, 1988 (World premiere in Los Angeles September 23, 1988.)

Released in United States Fall September 30, 1988

Wide Release in United States October 7, 1988

By using this site, you agree to our updated Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use