Rating: PG
Starring:
Tom Hanks as Allen Bauer
Daryl Hannah as Madison
Eugene Levy as Walter Kornbluth
John Candy as Freddie Bauer
Dody Goodman as Mrs. Stimler
Shecky Greene as Mr. Buyrite
Richard B. Shull as Dr. Ross
Bobby Di Cicco as Jerry
Howard Morris as Dr. Zidell
Tony DiBenedetto as Tim, The Doorman
Patrick Cronin as Michaelson
Special Features:
Commentary by director Ron Howard, producer Brian Glazer, writers Lowell Ganz & Babaloo Mandel
Tom Hanks & Daryl Hannah auditions
“Making a Splash” new making-of feature
Other Info:
Widescreen (1.85:1) Enhanced for 16×9 Televisions
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
French Language Track
Spanish Subtitles
Running Time: 110 Minutes
Synopsis:
This is the 20th Anniversay Edition of Splash.
As a child, Allen Bauer was rescued from drowning at Cape Cod by a young mermaid. Years later after being jilted by his girlfriend, Allen is again rescued from drowning as an adult by the same mermaid. However, she gets away before he can find out more about her and he doesn’t realize she’s a mermaid, either.
Some time later, this mermaid shows up in New York with Allen’s wallet, her tail transformed into legs (which is what happens when it dries out). Desperately in love with Allen, the mermaid has six days to spend with him on dry land. Eventually named Madison, she and Allen fall in love. But what will happen when her secret is exposed by an obsessed scientist?
Splash is rated PG (despite some nudity here and there).
The Movie:
That sound you heard in 1984 was probably Walt Disney rolling in his grave as Splash hit the big screen. It was the first Disney film to feature nudity. Those butt and nipple shots prompted Disney to create a new film company named Touchstone Pictures to distance the Disney name from any potential controversy. All that aside, though, the film is noteworthy for really launching the movie careers of Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah, and Ron Howard.
The story still holds up well today (even though 80’s fashions and brief shots of the World Trade Center remind you of the past). It is still a touching love story that has a lot of heart. Plus it’s literally a fish out of water story that is fun to watch as Madison explores a new world. However, it’s the comedy that really makes the movie enjoyable. All sorts of memorable lines from John Candy, Eugene Levy, and Tom Hanks still stick in my mind today.
The film also still looks good. The underwater photography is better than anything CGI could create today. Unfortunately, on the DVD presentation, you can still see bits of dirt and scratches from the print. It hasn’t had the digital remastering treatment like other movies.
If you enjoyed Splash in the past, then this 20th Anniversary DVD will be a nice addition to your collection.
The Extras:
There are three extra features included on this DVD:
Commentary by director Ron Howard, producer Brian Glazer, writers Lowell Ganz & Babaloo Mandel This is a fun commentary where you can tell the creators had a great time making the movie. Howard, Grazer and the others seem to have a blast reminiscing about making Splash. They offer up trivia about the filming, amusing side stories from the set, and more. I just wish that Hanks, Levy, and Hannah could have joined in for the talks.
Tom Hanks & Daryl Hannah auditions These two videos show the original audition tapes from the principal actors. They read off a few scenes with director Ron Howard. It’s amazing to see how young they looked back then. The videos are quite long and over 15 minutes apiece.
“Making a Splash” new making-of feature This is a 25 minute or so video on the making of the movie. It features new interviews with Hanks, Hannah, Levy, Howard, Grazer (with really crazy hair) and the others. There is vintage footage and stills from the set as well as a 1984 interview with John Candy. They discuss pitching the film to every studio and major actor in town, going to Disney, and the spinoff of Touchstone Pictures. It’s an interesting feature if you enjoyed the movie.
The Bottom Line:
Splash is a classic well worth adding to your collection, especially if you’re a fan of Tom Hanks or Ron Howard.
