Sleepless In Seattle


1h 45m 1993
Sleepless In Seattle

Brief Synopsis

A motherless boy uses a radio talk show to find a new wife for his father.

Film Details

Also Known As
Nuits blanches à Seattle, Sintonma de amor, Sömnlös i Seattle
MPAA Rating
Genre
Comedy
Drama
Romance
Romantic Comedy
Release Date
1993
Production Company
Robert Balzarini
Distribution Company
TriStar Pictures
Location
Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York City, New York, USA; Seattle, Washington, USA

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 45m

Synopsis

It's Christmas Eve and radio talk show psychologist Marcia Fieldstone has asked her listening audience what they are wishing and dreaming of during this season of hope. A little boy, who is tuned in from Seattle calls in his wish, a new wife for his father who has been widowed for a year and a half. Meanwhile, all the way across the country, punching buttons on her car radio as she drives from Baltimore to Washington, D.C., Annie Reed hears Jonah and is immediately captivated by him and his selfless Christmas wish. Jonah and his dad are immediately besieged by countless letters from listeners reaching out to help, including thousands of marriage proposals from women across the country. Meanwhile, Annie becomes convinced that it is her destiny to meet Sam, Jonah's lovely dad. And as Annie sees it, there are just two minor problems. First, she is presently engaged to marry another man whom she does love. And, of course, Jonah's dad does not even know yet that he and Annie are made for each other.

Crew

Kimberly Adams-galligan

Assistant Costume Designer

Harold Adamson

Song

Robin Agron

Assistant Location Manager

Richmond Aguilar

Lighting Technician

Leroy Anderson

Song

Jeff Arch

Story By

Jeff Arch

Screenplay

Jeff Arch

From Story

Harold Arlen

Song

Dana Armonda

Production Assistant

Louis Armstrong

Song Performer

Gene Autry

Song Performer

Gene Autry

Song

Tamara Bally

Production Accountant

Robert Balzarini

Cable Operator

Bruce Barbour

Stunts

Jane Bartelme

Associate Producer

Barbara Bass

Other

Eve Battaglia

Casting Associate

Jack Bauer

Dolly Grip

Charley Beal

Art Director

Sally Sue Beisel

Production Assistant

Janey Bergam

Assistant

Walter Bernard

Titles

Louis Bertini

Sound Editor

Lucas Bielan

Camera Assistant

Stan Bochner

Sound Editor

Deborah Boyd

Production Assistant

Linda Boyland

Costumes

James S Brown

Post-Production Assistant

Judith Brown

Other

Mary Buri

On-Set Dresser

Rick Butler

Assistant Art Director

Kenny Cabrera

Craft Service

Colleen Callaghan

Hair Stylist

Jennifer Campbell

Assistant Production Coordinator

Kristin Capp

Assistant Location Manager

Hoagy Carmichael

Song

Amy Caton-ford

Extras Agent/Coordinator

Paul Caven

Lighting

Al Cerullo

Helicopter Pilot

Agnès Challe-grandits

Assistant Editor

Ray Charles

Song Performer

Robert Chestnut

Transportation Captain

Calvin Chin

Transportation Coordinator

Terri Clemmons

Production Coordinator

Joe Cocker

Song Performer

Jay Schlosberg Cohen

Special Thanks To

Nat King Cole

Song Performer

Harold Collins

Construction Coordinator

Kay Colvin

Other

Betty Comden

Song

Harry Connick

Song Performer

Harry Connick

Song

Jeff Cronenweth

Assistant Camera Operator

Patrick Crowley

Unit Production Manager

Patrick Crowley

Executive Producer

Charlie Daboub

Set Designer

Peter Damien

Foreman

Mitchell Dauterive

Production Coordinator

Foster Denker

Best Boy

Lee Dichter

Rerecording

Celine Dion

Song Performer

Mort Dixon

Song

Daren R. Dochterman

Visual Effects

Debra Donaldson

Assistant Location Manager

Walter Donaldson

Song

Paul Drost

Costumes

Andrea Dupras

Other

Jimmy Durante

Song Performer

Dan Edelstein

Assistant Sound Editor

Leonard Engleman

Makeup

Delia Ephron

Associate Producer

Nora Ephron

Screenplay

Dale Evans

Song Performer

Steven Eyrse

Scenic Artist

Page Feldman

Production Assistant

Rick Fichter

Visual Effects Supervisor

David Filippi

Production Assistant

Judie Fixler

Extras Agent/Coordinator

David Foster

Song

Gary Foster

Producer

Tim G Foster

Production Assistant

Kirk Francis

Sound Mixer

Hugo Friedhofer

Song

Richard Friedlander

Assistant Editor

Jennifer Gardner

Production Assistant

Joseph Garzero

Scenic Artist

Boris Gavrilovic

Production Assistant

Aussie Geer

Production Assistant

Dow Giffith

Location Manager

Gershon Ginsburg

Art Director

Milton Glaser

Titles

Walter Glinoweicki

Craft Service

Sanford Golden

Other

Adolph Green

Song

Clive Griffin

Song Performer

Clay A. Griffith

Set Decorator

Nord Haggerty

Production Consultant

Oscar Hammerstein Ii

Song

Dick Hancock

Stunts

E. Y. Harburg

Song

John Helde

Assistant Editor

Ray Henderson

Song

Thad Hendrickson

Production Assistant

Amy Henkels

Assistant

Amy Herman

Location Manager

Edward Heyman

Song

Joe Hicks

Dolly Grip

Bob Hilliard

Song

Margee Hocking

Production Assistant

Lawrence Hoff

Sound

Roberta Holinko

Set Decorator

Nick Hubbard

Production Assistant

Herman Hupfeld

Song

Michael Hyde

Other

Sharon Ilson

Makeup Artist

Kenton Jakub

Adr Editor

Donna James

Special Thanks To

Kevin Jewison

Camera Operator

Murray Jones

Medic

Gus Kahn

Song

Robert Kaiser

Color Timer

Bert Kalmar

Song

Gene Kearney

Key Grip

Mary A Kelly

Script Supervisor

Aleen Keshishian

Casting Associate

Richard King

Assistant Sound Editor

Michael Kirchberger

Sound Editor

Barbara Anne Klein

Stunts

Dan Korintus

Sound Editor

Paul Kostick

Assistant

Diane L Langone

Post-Production Accountant

Donald J. Lee

Assistant Director

Tim Lee

Production Assistant

Paul A Levin

Post-Production Supervisor

Christine Lewis

Special Thanks To

Sarah Manley

Production Assistant

David Mann

Song

John Marston

Apprentice

Chandler Martin

Production Assistant

Brick Mason

Storyboard Artist

James Mazzola

Property Master

Jeff Mazzola

Property Master

Bruce V. Mcbroom

Photography

Leo Mccarey

Song

Michael J Mccombe

Other

Larry Mcconkey

Steadicam Operator

Brian Mcdonald

Production Assistant

Steven Mckinney

Production Assistant

Ramsey Mclean

Song

Elizabeth Mcmullin

Apprentice

Johnny Mercer

Song

Nick Meyers

Music Editor

Nick Meyers

Music Supervisor

Dennis Milliken

Transportation Coordinator

Eytan Mirsky

Assistant Sound Editor

Gene Moore

Special Thanks To

Michael H Moran

On-Set Dresser

Addie Moray

Assistant Production Coordinator

Maggie Murphy

Assistant Director

Jim Nau

Adr Editor

Randy Nolen

Steadicam Operator

Chris Northup

Production Assistant

Jack Norworth

Song

Kaye Nottbusch

Costumes

Sven Nykvist

Dp/Cinematographer

Sven Nykvist

Director Of Photography

Kevin O'brien

Production Assistant

Bitty O'sullivan-smith

Sound Editor

Lynda Obst

Executive Producer

Terry Odem

Assistant

Marty Oppenheimer

Dp/Cinematographer

Marty Oppenheimer

Director Of Photography

Conrad Palmisano

Stunt Coordinator

Conrad Palmisano

Stunts

Mitchell Parish

Song

Stanley Pasey

Other

George Patsos

Key Grip

J Pierpont

Song

Jeffrey Pollack

Music

Paul Postelnicu

Assistant Camera Operator

Judy Pursley

Assistant Production Accountant

Angela Quiles

Assistant Production Coordinator

Jane Raab

Production Supervisor

Bob Reitano

Editor

Norm Rice

Special Thanks To

Bob Riggs

Special Effects Coordinator

Sally Roberts

Costumes

Roy Rogers

Song Performer

David Rogow

Music

Laura Rosenthal

Casting Associate

Jodi Rothfield

Location Casting

Lisa M Rowe

Production Assistant

Harry Ruby

Song

Judy Ruskin Howell

Costume Designer

Katie Ryan

Location Casting

Chris Scheetz

Foreman

John H Schulz

Other

Rick Seaman

Stunts

Videos

Movie Clip

Sleepless In Seattle (1993) -- (Movie Clip) Not Even When I Was Young Leaving her parents’ Christmas dinner in (Annapolis) Maryland, having just announced their engagement, Walter (Bill Pullman) and Annie (Meg Ryan) head back to Washington D.C. in separate cars, and she hears Jonah (Ross Malinger) call the radio show (Caroline Aaron the host) on behalf of his widowed dad (Tom Hanks), early in Sleepless In Seattle, 1993.
Sleepless In Seattle (1993) -- (Movie Clip) A Million Tiny Little Things Christmas Eve after dark, hesitant bride-to-be Annie (Meg Ryan) stops by a Baltimore diner where the staff (Linda Walem, LaTanya Richardson) are listening to the same radio show she heard in the car, Caroline Aaron the host, Tom Hanks the reluctant widowed dad Sam, in Sleepless In Seattle, 1993.
Sleepless In Seattle (1993) -- (Movie Clip) Men Never Get This Movie! Writer-director Nora Ephron, Meg Ryan as Annie (engaged to “Walter”) and Rosie O’Donnell as pal Becky dig into director Leo McCarey’s An Affair To Remember, 1957, with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, while Meg considers a letter to the widowed father (Tom Hanks) she heard on the radio, in Sleepless In Seattle, 1993.
Sleepless In Seattle (1993) -- (Movie Clip) All I Could Say Was Hello (Significant SPOILER!) Meg Ryan as (otherwise) engaged Annie is benevolently stalking Tom Hanks, as single-dad Sam, (with Ross Malinger as his son and Rita Wilson, Tom’s real-life wife, as his sister, though Meg assumes she’s a girlfriend), then explaining to Becky (Rosie O’Donnell) back in Baltimore, leading to a second reference to Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr, in An Affair To Remember, 1957, in Sleepless In Seattle, 1993.

Trailer

Hosted Intro

Film Details

Also Known As
Nuits blanches à Seattle, Sintonma de amor, Sömnlös i Seattle
MPAA Rating
Genre
Comedy
Drama
Romance
Romantic Comedy
Release Date
1993
Production Company
Robert Balzarini
Distribution Company
TriStar Pictures
Location
Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York City, New York, USA; Seattle, Washington, USA

Technical Specs

Duration
1h 45m

Award Nominations

Best Original Screenplay

1993

Best Original Song

1993

Articles

Sleepless in Seattle


In 1992, Academy Award nominated writer Nora Ephron made her directorial debut with the box office disappointment This is My Life starring Julie Kavner. The following year however, Ephron struck gold. The romantic comedy Sleepless in Seattle, which Ephron co-wrote and directed, cost $22 million to make, but earned $126 million at U.S. box offices alone. It also became known as "the" date movie of 1993.

The film follows its two main characters who live on opposite sides of the United States. In Seattle, widower Sam Baldwin (Tom Hanks) is trying to start a new life for himself and his young son, Jonah (Ross Malinger). Jonah recognizes his father is having trouble coping with his loss and calls a radio talk show for advice. Jonah eventually puts a reluctant Sam on the phone. In Baltimore, Annie Reed (Meg Ryan) hears Sam describe his magical relationship with his wife. Even though she is already engaged, Annie becomes obsessed with the man dubbed "Sleepless in Seattle."

Later, Annie and her best friend, Becky (Rosie O'Donnell), discuss romance while watching the Cary Grant classic An Affair to Remember (1957). Annie comments, "Now that was when people KNEW how to be in love." Becky replies, "That's your problem! You don't want to be in love. You want to be in love in a movie." Nora Ephron thought this was one of the intriguing aspects of Sleepless in Seattle and noted that "It had all these weird, wonderful ideas to play with, including all this stuff about what the movies do to your brain and how so many of our notions about romance are based on the movies we've seen."

Ephron learned about movies at an early age thanks to her parents, screenwriters Henry and Phoebe Ephron. Their work includes the films, Carousel (1956), Daddy Long Legs (1955), and Desk Set (1957). The Ephrons also wrote a play loosely based on letters Nora sent them from Wellesley College. The play was later made into the film Take Her, She's Mine (1963) with Sandra Dee and Jimmy Stewart.

Nora Ephron began her career as a journalist for The New York Post. She then went on to write the semi-autobiographical novel Heartburn, which was made into a film in 1986. Ephron received Academy Award nominations for her screenplays for Silkwood (1983) and When Harry Met Sally (1989). She received her third nomination for co-writing the script for Sleepless in Seattle.

Tom Hanks initially turned down the role of Sam Baldwin thinking he wasn't right for the part, but later changed his mind after Nora Ephron rewrote the script. Hanks liked that the role was more serious than the parts he'd played in his earlier movies. In describing his character, Hanks stated, "The guy is enmeshed in grieving, and no one has to work hard in buying that attractive premise, as opposed to a guy who gets off the airline and picks up the wrong suitcase and it's full of uranium."

It may be easy to understand Sam Baldwin, but it was more difficult for Ephron to build a love story between two characters before they ever even meet. In The Films of Tom Hanks, authors Lee Pfeiffer and Michael Lewis describe one of the ways Ephron helped bridge the gap between Sam and Annie, "Ryan was going in one door in Baltimore while Hanks was going through another in Seattle. To seal a bond between the actors, Ephron actually had the same door transported between the cities."

After the success of Sleepless in Seattle, many people eagerly awaited another film teaming Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. In 1998, Nora Ephron paired them up again in the romantic comedy You've Got Mail, a modern version of the Ernst Lubitsch film The Shop Around the Corner (1940).

Director: Nora Ephron
Producer: Gary Foster
Screenplay: Nora Ephron, David S. Ward, and Jeff Arch. Story by Jeff Arch.
Cinematography: Sven Nykvist
Art Direction: Charley Beal, Gershon Ginsburg
Music: Marc Shaiman
Cast: Tom Hanks (Sam Baldwin), Meg Ryan (Annie Reed), Ross Malinger (Jonah Baldwin), Rosie O'Donnell (Becky), Bill Pullman (Walter), Rob Reiner (Jay), David Hyde Pierce (Dennis Reed), Rita Wilson (Suzy), Calvin Trillin (Uncle Milton).
C-106m. Letterboxed.Closed captioning.

by Deborah Looney
Sleepless In Seattle

Sleepless in Seattle

In 1992, Academy Award nominated writer Nora Ephron made her directorial debut with the box office disappointment This is My Life starring Julie Kavner. The following year however, Ephron struck gold. The romantic comedy Sleepless in Seattle, which Ephron co-wrote and directed, cost $22 million to make, but earned $126 million at U.S. box offices alone. It also became known as "the" date movie of 1993. The film follows its two main characters who live on opposite sides of the United States. In Seattle, widower Sam Baldwin (Tom Hanks) is trying to start a new life for himself and his young son, Jonah (Ross Malinger). Jonah recognizes his father is having trouble coping with his loss and calls a radio talk show for advice. Jonah eventually puts a reluctant Sam on the phone. In Baltimore, Annie Reed (Meg Ryan) hears Sam describe his magical relationship with his wife. Even though she is already engaged, Annie becomes obsessed with the man dubbed "Sleepless in Seattle." Later, Annie and her best friend, Becky (Rosie O'Donnell), discuss romance while watching the Cary Grant classic An Affair to Remember (1957). Annie comments, "Now that was when people KNEW how to be in love." Becky replies, "That's your problem! You don't want to be in love. You want to be in love in a movie." Nora Ephron thought this was one of the intriguing aspects of Sleepless in Seattle and noted that "It had all these weird, wonderful ideas to play with, including all this stuff about what the movies do to your brain and how so many of our notions about romance are based on the movies we've seen." Ephron learned about movies at an early age thanks to her parents, screenwriters Henry and Phoebe Ephron. Their work includes the films, Carousel (1956), Daddy Long Legs (1955), and Desk Set (1957). The Ephrons also wrote a play loosely based on letters Nora sent them from Wellesley College. The play was later made into the film Take Her, She's Mine (1963) with Sandra Dee and Jimmy Stewart. Nora Ephron began her career as a journalist for The New York Post. She then went on to write the semi-autobiographical novel Heartburn, which was made into a film in 1986. Ephron received Academy Award nominations for her screenplays for Silkwood (1983) and When Harry Met Sally (1989). She received her third nomination for co-writing the script for Sleepless in Seattle. Tom Hanks initially turned down the role of Sam Baldwin thinking he wasn't right for the part, but later changed his mind after Nora Ephron rewrote the script. Hanks liked that the role was more serious than the parts he'd played in his earlier movies. In describing his character, Hanks stated, "The guy is enmeshed in grieving, and no one has to work hard in buying that attractive premise, as opposed to a guy who gets off the airline and picks up the wrong suitcase and it's full of uranium." It may be easy to understand Sam Baldwin, but it was more difficult for Ephron to build a love story between two characters before they ever even meet. In The Films of Tom Hanks, authors Lee Pfeiffer and Michael Lewis describe one of the ways Ephron helped bridge the gap between Sam and Annie, "Ryan was going in one door in Baltimore while Hanks was going through another in Seattle. To seal a bond between the actors, Ephron actually had the same door transported between the cities." After the success of Sleepless in Seattle, many people eagerly awaited another film teaming Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. In 1998, Nora Ephron paired them up again in the romantic comedy You've Got Mail, a modern version of the Ernst Lubitsch film The Shop Around the Corner (1940). Director: Nora Ephron Producer: Gary Foster Screenplay: Nora Ephron, David S. Ward, and Jeff Arch. Story by Jeff Arch. Cinematography: Sven Nykvist Art Direction: Charley Beal, Gershon Ginsburg Music: Marc Shaiman Cast: Tom Hanks (Sam Baldwin), Meg Ryan (Annie Reed), Ross Malinger (Jonah Baldwin), Rosie O'Donnell (Becky), Bill Pullman (Walter), Rob Reiner (Jay), David Hyde Pierce (Dennis Reed), Rita Wilson (Suzy), Calvin Trillin (Uncle Milton). C-106m. Letterboxed.Closed captioning. by Deborah Looney

Quotes

Trivia

Miscellaneous Notes

Nora Ephron, David S Ward and Jeffrey Arch were nominated for best original screenplay (1993) by the Writers Guild of America.

Released in United States Summer June 25, 1993

Released in United States on Video December 8, 1993

Nick Castle was once attached as director.

Juliet Taylor received the Casting Society of America's Artio Award for her work casting this film.

Completed shooting September 25, 1992.

Began shooting July 13, 1992.

Released in United States Summer June 25, 1993

Released in United States on Video December 8, 1993