Remember My Name (1978)

R | 96 mins | Drama | 1978

Full page view
HISTORY

       Remember My Name was written and directed by Alan Rudolph, a protégé of director Robert Altman. According to a 5 Oct 1977 LAT article, Rudolph wrote the screenplay in under five weeks and jokingly referred to the film as a “Polaroid picture,” as it was developed and put into production within weeks.
       A 10 Nov 1977 HR news item referenced the project as a Robert Altman-Butterfly Films production.
       As stated in the 10 Nov 1977 HR news item, principal photography began in Los Angeles, CA, on 17 Oct 1977, and wrapped 2 Dec 1977 according to a 7 Dec 1977 DV news item.
       Legendary Memphis, TN, blues singer Alberta Hunter was brought out of a twenty-year retirement to write and perform music for the film, according to a 9 Oct 1978 Box article. Memphis hosted the film’s world premiere at the Beale Street Orpheum Theater on 6 Oct 1978.
       Columbia Pictures initially acquired worldwide distribution rights to the picture according to a 21 Dec 1978 DV article, but eventually handed over domestic distribution rights to Mike Kaplan of Lagoon Releasing for the U.S. based company Circle Associates. Columbia retained the foreign distribution rights. Kaplan created specialized distribution plans on a market-by-market basis for the art house picture. The film was set to open 27 Dec 1978, for a one-week Academy-Award qualifying engagement. According to DV, it had already been released in Paris, France, grossing $250,000 in its first six weeks.
       Geraldine Chaplin was awarded "Best Actress" at the Paris Film Festival and received "a similar prize" at ...

More Less

       Remember My Name was written and directed by Alan Rudolph, a protégé of director Robert Altman. According to a 5 Oct 1977 LAT article, Rudolph wrote the screenplay in under five weeks and jokingly referred to the film as a “Polaroid picture,” as it was developed and put into production within weeks.
       A 10 Nov 1977 HR news item referenced the project as a Robert Altman-Butterfly Films production.
       As stated in the 10 Nov 1977 HR news item, principal photography began in Los Angeles, CA, on 17 Oct 1977, and wrapped 2 Dec 1977 according to a 7 Dec 1977 DV news item.
       Legendary Memphis, TN, blues singer Alberta Hunter was brought out of a twenty-year retirement to write and perform music for the film, according to a 9 Oct 1978 Box article. Memphis hosted the film’s world premiere at the Beale Street Orpheum Theater on 6 Oct 1978.
       Columbia Pictures initially acquired worldwide distribution rights to the picture according to a 21 Dec 1978 DV article, but eventually handed over domestic distribution rights to Mike Kaplan of Lagoon Releasing for the U.S. based company Circle Associates. Columbia retained the foreign distribution rights. Kaplan created specialized distribution plans on a market-by-market basis for the art house picture. The film was set to open 27 Dec 1978, for a one-week Academy-Award qualifying engagement. According to DV, it had already been released in Paris, France, grossing $250,000 in its first six weeks.
       Geraldine Chaplin was awarded "Best Actress" at the Paris Film Festival and received "a similar prize" at the Miami International Film Festival, as stated in the 21 Dec 1978 DV. Alberta Hunter won Miami International Film Festival's award for "Best Musical Score."
       Berry Berenson, sister of actress Marisa Berenson, made her feature film acting debut opposite her husband, Anthony Perkins, according to a 27 Apr 1978 LAT article.
      The film's end credits include a "Special Thanks" to: Joseph Magnin, Washington Square; and Larry Dorn Associates.

Less

GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS
SOURCE CITATIONS
SOURCE
DATE
PAGE
Box Office
9 Oct 1978
---
Daily Variety
7 Dec 1977
---
Daily Variety
6 Oct 1978
---
Daily Variety
21 Dec 1978
p. 2, 24
Hollywood Reporter
10 Nov 1977
---
Hollywood Reporter
5 Jan 1978
---
Hollywood Reporter
28 Sep 1978
---
Hollywood Reporter
6 Oct 1978
p. 3, 25
Los Angeles Times
5 Oct 1977
---
Los Angeles Times
27 Apr 1978
Pt. IV, p. 16
Los Angeles Times
24 Dec 1978
p. 47
New York Times
11 Mar 1979
p. 49
Variety
11 Oct 1978
p. 31
CAST
PRODUCTION CREDITS
NAME
PARENT COMPANY
PRODUCTION COMPANY
PRODUCTION TEXTS
Columbia Pictures Presents
A Production of Lion's Gate Films
DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
NAME
CREDITED AS
CREDIT
DIRECTORS
Asst dir
2d asst dir
2d asst dir
PRODUCERS
Assoc prod
Assoc prod
WRITER
PHOTOGRAPHY
Dir of photog
Cam op
Randy Robinson
Cam asst
Cam asst
Mel Maxwell
Gaffer
Key grip
Still photog
FILM EDITORS
Asst ed
Asst ed
SET DECORATORS
Prop master
Asst prop master
Asst prop master
Asst prop master
COSTUMES
Ward asst
MUSIC
Songs wrt and performed
Alberta Hunter session prod
Mus ed
Alberta Hunter's band
on Piano
Al Hall
Alberta Hunter's band
on Bass
Alberta Hunter's band
on Trumpet
Alberta Hunter's band
on Trombone
Alberta Hunter's band
on Guitar
Alberta Hunter's band
on Drums
Alberta Hunter's band
on Saxophone
SOUND
Bob Gravenor
Sd
Re-rec mixer
Sd ed
VISUAL EFFECTS
Title des
Titles and opt
MAKEUP
Monty Westmore
Makeup
Hairdresser
PRODUCTION MISC
Exec in charge of prod
Post prod by
Scr supv
Project coord
DETAILS
Release Date:
1978
Premiere Information:
World premiere: 6 Oct 1978 in Memphis, TN; Los Angeles opening: 27 Dec 1978; New York opening: 11 Mar 1979
Production Date:
17 Oct--2 Dec 1977 in Los Angeles, CA
Copyright Info
Claimant
Date
Copyright Number
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.
6 November 1978
PA16188
Physical Properties:
Sound
Dolby Sound Systems
Color
Color by Deluxe®
Lenses/Prints
Lenses and cameras by Panavision®
Duration(in mins):
96
MPAA Rating:
R
Country:
United States
Language:
English
PCA No:
25300
SYNOPSIS

Neil Curry notices a strange car following him on the way to his construction job. Later, the driver, Emily, phones Neil’s house, but hangs up when his wife, Barbara, answers. That evening, Neil calls Barbara from a bar and makes an excuse for being late. The next day, Neil becomes annoyed when Barbara asks if everything is all right between them, but he blames his mood on work stress. Later, Emily calls Neil’s house and asks Barbara several questions before Neil forces Barbara to hang up the phone. The next day, Emily spies through Neil’s window, then goes to a local department store to meet Mr. Nudd, the son of a female inmate Emily knew while she was in prison. Although he hires Emily as a favor to his mother, his assistant manager, Rita, is not happy about another ex-convict working at the store. Later, Emily returns to Neil and Barbara’s house and destroys their flowerbed. Barbara comes home from work and calls Neil to ask when he is coming home. Returning to her car, Barbara finds the ripped up flowers on her front seat. Unnerved, she tries to start her car but the engine will not turn over. A friend fixes Barbara’s car as Emily watches from down the street. As Barbara drives to Neil’s construction site, Emily follows. Later, Neil and Barbara go out to dinner and come home intoxicated. As they are about to make love, Emily throws a rock through their window. Neil runs to see who threw the rock and spots Emily before she speeds off in her car. ...

More Less

Neil Curry notices a strange car following him on the way to his construction job. Later, the driver, Emily, phones Neil’s house, but hangs up when his wife, Barbara, answers. That evening, Neil calls Barbara from a bar and makes an excuse for being late. The next day, Neil becomes annoyed when Barbara asks if everything is all right between them, but he blames his mood on work stress. Later, Emily calls Neil’s house and asks Barbara several questions before Neil forces Barbara to hang up the phone. The next day, Emily spies through Neil’s window, then goes to a local department store to meet Mr. Nudd, the son of a female inmate Emily knew while she was in prison. Although he hires Emily as a favor to his mother, his assistant manager, Rita, is not happy about another ex-convict working at the store. Later, Emily returns to Neil and Barbara’s house and destroys their flowerbed. Barbara comes home from work and calls Neil to ask when he is coming home. Returning to her car, Barbara finds the ripped up flowers on her front seat. Unnerved, she tries to start her car but the engine will not turn over. A friend fixes Barbara’s car as Emily watches from down the street. As Barbara drives to Neil’s construction site, Emily follows. Later, Neil and Barbara go out to dinner and come home intoxicated. As they are about to make love, Emily throws a rock through their window. Neil runs to see who threw the rock and spots Emily before she speeds off in her car. Barbara asks who it was but Neil claims he does not know. Barbara wants to call the police, but Neil talks her out of it. Returning to her apartment, Emily visits Pike, the building manager. She asks for items like lamps and curtains to make her place more livable. As he denies her request, she begs on her knees but he pulls her off the floor. She first slaps him, and then hugs him desperately. Pike softens and hugs her back, but she runs away. The next day, Emily is surprised to see Neil and Barbara shopping where she works and hides her face when they come to register. Later, a co-worker named Harry warns that Rita is spreading rumors about Emily being a former prisoner. Emily encounters Rita, slaps her, and warns her never to spread “lies” about her again. Later, dressing in her sexiest outfit, Emily goes to the construction site and flaunts herself in front of Neil until he finally recognizes her. The next day, Emily breaks into Neil’s house while Barbara is there alone. Frightened, Barbara pulls a kitchen knife and demands to know who she is. Emily taunts Barbara with her knowledge of Neil then pulls out her own knife, laughing as Barbara screams in terror. However, Emily puts the knife down and walks away when she hears Neil coming. Barbara runs to her bedroom and hides, but says everything is fine when Neil asks if anything strange happened. The next day at work, Rita informs Mr. Nudd that money is missing from the register. Mr. Nudd accuses Emily and fires her. Emily finds Rita and kicks her in the stomach, demanding she return the money. As Emily storms away, Rita’s friend in the parking lot harasses her. Emily stabs the man with a pencil. Barbara happens to be in the parking lot and witnesses the attack. She informs Mr. Nudd and calls the police. Later that evening, Neil is unable to start his car. A car rams into his and pulls up next to him. Neil sees it is Emily before she speeds away. Emily is surprised when the police arrest her for breaking the window at Neil’s home and not for the parking lot attack. At the police station, Barbara identifies Emily and wants to press charges; however, Neil wants to talk to Emily alone before they make any decisions, leaving Barbara shocked and confused. The police take Neil to Emily’s cell, and he tells her to leave him and Barbara alone, but Emily is upset that Neil abandoned her years ago. Although Neil is defensive, he does not push her away when she throws her arms around him. Emily forgives him for leaving, reminisces about their relationship, and says she wants to get back together. When she gives him her address, Neil tells the police he is not going to press charges and Barbara demands to know what is going on. Barbara is furious when he admits that he was married to Emily twelve years ago. When Emily returns to her apartment, Pike offers to lend her money to help with her legal problems. Back at the Curry home, Barbara says the police told her Emily was in jail for murder and she does not understand why Neil is protecting her. He replies it was an accident that just looked like murder. He admits he had an affair with another woman while married to Emily and that woman is the one she accidentally killed. Barbara walks out, disgusted. The next day, Neil is fired from his job. Emily is there when it happens and takes Neil out for drinks. That evening, Barbara returns home while Emily and Neil spend the evening getting drunk. They go to Emily’s apartment and have sex. The next morning, Emily leaves while Neil is still passed out on her bed. She runs into Pike, who asks her out on a date. She lies and says she has to work. Pike finds Neil in Emily’s bed and feels like a fool. Emily goes to a boutique and uses Neil’s credit card to buy clothes. Barbara hires someone to change the locks at the house. Emily returns to the apartment building and gives Pike her keys, and then drives away, leaving Neil to deal with the consequences of his actions.

Less

Legend
Viewed by AFI
Partially Viewed
Offscreen Credit
Name Occurs Before Title
AFI Life Achievement Award

TOP SEARCHES

The Lord of the Rings

A narrator provides exposition at the beginning and throughout the film.
       End credits contain a company credit for Image Transform, Inc.
       Walt Disney Pictures acquired film rights to J. ... >>

Snoopy, Come Home

Although the animated opening credits do not contain a comma in the title, the majority of contemporary and modern sources list the title as Snoopy, Come Home . ... >>

Potash and Perlmutter

The scenario was based on the 1910 novel, Potash and Perlmutter by Montague Glass, and the hit 1913 play of the same name by Montague Glass and ... >>

Fritz The Cat

The film begins with the written words, "The 1960's," and a voice-over narrator stating, "Hey, yeah, the 1960s? Happy times, heavy times," paraphrasing "It was the best of times, ... >>

Applause

Filming began on 10 June 1929 at Paramount's West Coast studio, according to the 15 June 1929 Exhibitors Herald-World. Working titles of the film included Portrait ... >>

The American Film Institute is grateful to Sir Paul Getty KBE and the Sir Paul Getty KBE Estate for their dedication to the art of the moving image and their support for the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and without whose support AFI would not have been able to achieve this historical landmark in this epic scholarly endeavor.