Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)
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- PG-13
- 1h 44min
- Comedy, Drama
- 12 Apr 1985 (USA)
- Movie
- Won 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 6 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
Rosanna Arquette | ... |
Roberta Glass
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Madonna | ... |
Susan
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Aidan Quinn | ... |
Dez
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Mark Blum | ... |
Gary Glass
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Robert Joy | ... |
Jim
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Laurie Metcalf | ... |
Leslie Glass
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Anna Thomson | ... |
Crystal
(as Anna Levine)
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Will Patton | ... |
Wayne Nolan
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Peter Maloney | ... |
Ian
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Steven Wright | ... |
Larry Stillman D.D.S
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John Turturro | ... |
Ray
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Anne Carlisle | ... |
Victoria
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José Angel Santana | ... |
Boutique Owner
(as Jose Santana)
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Giancarlo Esposito | ... |
Street Vendor
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Richard Hell | ... |
Bruce Meeker
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Rockets Redglare | ... |
Taxi Driver
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Steve Bosh | ... |
Newscaster
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Daisy Bradford | ... |
Daisy
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Annie Golden | ... |
Band Singer
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Richard Edson | ... |
Man with Newspapers
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Ann Magnuson | ... |
Cigarette Girl
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John Lurie | ... |
Neighbor Saxophonist
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Mary Joy | ... |
Cocktail Waitress
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Rosemary Hochschild | ... |
Cocktail Waitress
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Iris Chacón | ... |
TV Singer
(as Iris Chacon)
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Victor Argo | ... |
Sgt. Taskal
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Shirley Stoler | ... |
Jail Matron
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J.B. Waters | ... |
Jail Matron
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Arto Lindsay | ... |
Newspaper Clerk
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Henry Adler | ... |
Magic Club Drummer
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Marty Gold | ... |
Magic Club Pianist
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Alvy West | ... |
Magic Club Saxophonist
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Michael R. Chin | ... |
Choy
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Patrick John Hurley | ... |
Policeman
(as John Patrick Hurley)
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Timothy Carhart | ... |
Victoria's Boyfriend
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Curt Dempster | ... |
Coffee Shop Manager
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Shirley Kaplan | ... |
Waitress
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Lázaro Pérez | ... |
Enrique the Guard
(as Lazaro Perez)
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John Hoyt | ... |
Space Commander
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Gary Ray | ... |
Band Member
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Gary Binkow | ... |
Band Member
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Michael Bramon | ... |
Band Member
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Joyce Griffen | ... |
Prostitute
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Paul Austin | ... |
Policeman
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Richard S. Lowy | ... |
Adrian the Hairdresser
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Donna Ritchie | ... |
Hot Tub Girl
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Kim Chan | ... |
Park Bum
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Michael Badalucco | ... |
Guy from Brooklyn
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Elie J. Boubli | ... |
Egyptian Ambassador
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Adele Bertei | ... |
Prisoner
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Peter Castellotti | ... |
Coffee Shop Cop
(as Pete Castellotti)
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Wende Dasteel | ... |
Party Guest
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Steve Eidel | ... |
Party Guest
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Michael Kaufman | ... |
Party Guest
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Ilene Kristen | ... |
Party Guest
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Carol Leifer | ... |
Party Guest
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Richard Portnow | ... |
Party Guest
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Isabel García Lorca | ... |
Party Guest
(as Isabel Garcia-Lorca)
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Tim Ransom | ... |
Bellhop
(as Timothy R. Wilson)
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Gilda Torterello | ... |
Ray's Mom
(as Gilda Tortorello)
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Stanley Burns | ... |
Ventriloquist
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Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
Thomas Brogan | ... |
Award Ceremony Attendee (uncredited)
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Robert Dahdah | ... |
Man Waiting On Line (uncredited)
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Sandy Dell | ... |
Hot Tub Girl (uncredited)
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Eddy Galland | ... |
Boy Triplet (uncredited)
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Kevin Harris | ... |
Egyptian Diplomat (uncredited)
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David Kellman | ... |
Boy Triplet (uncredited)
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Harsh Nayyar | ... |
Egyptian Diplomat (uncredited)
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Robert Shafran | ... |
Boy Triplet (uncredited)
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Frank Stellato | ... |
Moving Man (uncredited)
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Directed by
Susan Seidelman |
Written by
Leora Barish | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
Michael Peyser | ... | executive producer |
Sarah Pillsbury | ... | producer (produced by) |
Midge Sanford | ... | producer (produced by) |
Music by
Thomas Newman |
Cinematography by
Edward Lachman | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
Andrew Mondshein |
Editorial Department
Sam Adelman | ... | assistant picture editor |
Bobbi Banks | ... | editing room assistant |
Sally Boldt | ... | editing room assistant |
Don Donigi | ... | processing: DuArt Laboratories |
Paula Hunt | ... | editing room assistant |
Tom Mottola | ... | processing: DuArt Laboratories |
James H. Nau | ... | assistant picture editor |
Casting By
Risa Bramon Garcia | ... | (as Risa Bramon) |
Billy Hopkins |
Production Design by
Santo Loquasto |
Art Direction by
Speed Hopkins |
Set Decoration by
George DeTitta Jr. | ... | (as George Detitta Jr.) |
Costume Design by
Santo Loquasto | ... | (uncredited) |
Makeup Department
Richard Dean | ... | makeup artist |
Werner Sherer | ... | hair stylist |
Production Management
Michael Peyser | ... | unit production manager |
Tom Razzano | ... | assistant unit production manager (as Thomas A. Razzano) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Dreyfuss | ... | second assistant director |
Rob Schwebber | ... | dga trainee (as Rob Schweber) |
Joel Tuber | ... | first assistant director |
Art Department
Leslie Bloom | ... | property master |
William Durnin Sr. | ... | set dresser (as Bill Durnin) |
Ralph Fratianni | ... | construction grip (as Ralph Fratiani) |
Stan Graham | ... | scenic artist (as Stanley Graham) |
Daniel K. Grosso | ... | set dresser (as Danny Grasso) |
Vincent Lawrence | ... | scenic artist |
Glenn Lloyd | ... | art department coordinator |
Richard Nelson | ... | set dresser (as Rick Nelson) |
Arne Olsen | ... | head construction grip |
Ron Petagna | ... | shop craftsman (as Ronald J. Petagna) |
Yossi Segal | ... | sketch artist |
Bill Sorice | ... | scenic artist |
James Sorice | ... | master scenic artist |
Thomas M. Southern | ... | scenic artist (as Tommy Southern) |
Margot Therre | ... | scenic artist (as Margot E. Therre) |
Dick Tice | ... | assistant prop man (as Dick Tice Jr.) |
Chris Vogt | ... | set dresser |
Dave Weinman | ... | lead set dresser (as David Weinman) |
Morris Weinman | ... | set dresser |
Don Zappia | ... | construction grip |
Frank Didio | ... | head carpenter (uncredited) |
Philip Gips | ... | graphic designer (uncredited) |
Sound Department
Randall Coleman | ... | assistant sound editor |
Lee Dichter | ... | sound re-recordist: Sound One Corp. |
Jay Dranch | ... | adr editor |
Lou Graf | ... | sound editor |
Frank Graziadei | ... | sound cable (as Frank J. Graziadei) |
Kenton Jakub | ... | assistant sound editor |
Bruce Kitzmeyer | ... | foley editor |
Les Lazarowitz | ... | sound mixer |
Laurie Mullen | ... | assistant sound editor |
Linda Murphy | ... | boom operator |
Peter Odabashian | ... | sound editor |
Mark Rathaus | ... | sound editor |
Maurice Schell | ... | supervising sound editor |
Ahmad Shirazi | ... | assistant sound editor |
Mitchel Stanley | ... | assistant sound editor |
Stuart Stanley | ... | assistant sound editor |
Brunilda Torres | ... | assistant sound editor |
Marko A. Costanzo | ... | foley artist (uncredited) |
Stunts
Scott Leva | ... | stunt coordinator (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
Vincent Delaney | ... | electrician |
Mitch Dubin | ... | first assistant camera |
James Fitzpatrick | ... | gaffer |
Francis Kenny | ... | additional photography / camera operator |
Dave Lowry | ... | grip |
Jim Manzione | ... | electrician (as James Manzione) |
Tom McKibbin | ... | electrician (as Thomas McKibbin) |
John Panuccio | ... | grip |
Robert T. Prate | ... | grip (as Robert Prate) |
Tom Prate | ... | key grip (as Thomas J. Prate Jr.) |
Ray Quinlan | ... | gaffer |
Debbie Sarjeant | ... | second assistant camera |
Andrew D. Schwartz | ... | still photographer (as Andrew Schwartz) |
Casting Department
Laura Bemis | ... | casting assistant |
Todd Thaler | ... | additional casting (as Todd Michael Thaler) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
William A. Campbell | ... | wardrobe supervisor (as Bill Campbell) |
Alison Lances | ... | costume assistant: Mr. Loquasto |
Melissa Stanton | ... | wardrobe supervisor (as Melissa A. Stanton) |
Music Department
Michael Boddicker | ... | musician: synthesizer |
Stephen Bray | ... | music producer / musician / songwriter |
Louis Cerborino | ... | music editor (as Lou Cerborino) |
Danny Goldberg | ... | music supervisor |
Tim Sexton | ... | music supervisor (as Timothy R. Sexton) |
John Vigran | ... | music recording engineer |
Randall Coleman | ... | assistant music editor (uncredited) |
Arne Schulze | ... | guitar (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
Ira Hurvitz | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
Rocco Derasmo | ... | transportation captain |
Patrick Hogan | ... | driver (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
Todd Auslander | ... | production staff |
Richard Baratta | ... | production staff |
John Thomas Clifford | ... | production staff |
Jim Davis | ... | film research |
Claudette Didul | ... | production staff |
Jeff Dowd | ... | producer's representative |
Teta Gorgoni | ... | production staff |
Shelley Houis | ... | production office coordinator (as Shelley T. Houis) |
Garland Hunter | ... | production staff |
Thomas A. Imperato | ... | assistant auditor |
Julie Lamm | ... | post-production accountant |
Gabrielle Liuzzi | ... | assistant to producers |
Peter Lombardi | ... | production auditor |
Ruth Mullen | ... | production office assistant |
Tom Paolucci | ... | production staff (as Thomas Paolucci) |
Paul Petschek | ... | assistant: Mr. Peyser (as Paul M. Petschek) / film research |
Reid Rosefelt | ... | publicist |
Jay Scherick | ... | production staff |
Michael Sporn | ... | title designer: Animation Inc. |
Sal St. George | ... | magic consultant |
Gilbert S. Williams | ... | production staff (as Gilbert Williams) |
Ernie Karpeles | ... | animal wrangler (uncredited) |
Thanks
Beth B | ... | the filmmakers wish to thank |
Scott B | ... | the filmmakers wish to thank |
Iris Chacón | ... | the filmmakers wish to thank (as Iris Chacon) |
Julia Child | ... | the filmmakers wish to thank |
Lynn Geller | ... | the filmmakers wish to thank |
Julie Kirkham | ... | the filmmakers wish to thank |
Linda Lichter | ... | the filmmakers wish to thank |
Michael Perez | ... | special thanks |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Orion Pictures (1985) (United States) (theatrical)
- Nova Film (1985) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Rank Film Distributors (1985) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Roadshow Films (1985) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Aries Cinematográfica Argentina (1986) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (1986) (Japan) (theatrical)
- LK-TEL (1987) (Argentina) (VHS)
- Orion Home Video (1985) (United States) (VHS)
- Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (1986) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- Home Box Office Home Video (HBO) (1996) (United States) (VHS)
- Image Entertainment (1998) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (Germany) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2000) (United States) (DVD)
- Orion Pictures International (1986) (India) (theatrical) (Bombay)
- Spentzos Films (1985) (Greece) (theatrical)
- Anime Video (Spain) (VHS)
- Columbia TriStar Home Video (Australia) (VHS)
- HBO Max (2020) (United States) (video) (VOD)
- Justbridge Entertainment (2020) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- Justbridge Entertainment (2020) (Germany) (DVD)
- Kino Video (2014) (United States) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- La Cinq (1989) (France) (tv) (dubbed version)
- Lifetime (1994) (United States) (tv)
- MGM Networks (2009) (India) (tv) (Chennai)
- NITV (2024) (Australia) (tv)
- One Gate Media (2023) (Germany) (DVD)
- Promotional Concept Group (United States) (VHS)
- RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video (West Germany) (VHS)
- RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video (Netherlands) (VHS)
- RCA/Columbia-Hoyts Home Video (Australia) (VHS)
- SBS Movies (2023) (Australia) (tv)
- SET India (2007) (India) (tv) (Chennai)
- The Criterion Channel (2020) (United States) (tv) (digital)
- Warner Home Video (1999) (United States) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- ABC Video Enterprises (the filmmakers wish to thank: excerpt from "Rebecca")
- Advertising in Movies (commercial clips provided by)
- Animation (title design)
- CBC (moviecam cameras supplied by)
- Cannes Film Festival (festival)
- Central Falls (location catering)
- Chacon (the filmmakers wish to thank)
- Computer Opticals (opticals)
- Danceteria (the filmmakers wish to thank)
- Dawn Animal Agency (animals owned and trained by)
- DeLuxe Laboratories (prints by)
- Donna Motors (cars provided by)
- DuArt Film and Video (film processing)
- InSync Plus (marketing and advertising)
- K!SSPROOF Entertainment (cast appearance booking)
- K!SSPROOF Entertainment (special thanks)
- Michael Sporn Animation (title design)
- New Jersey Film Commission (the filmmakers wish to thank)
- New York State Governor's Office for Motion Picture & Television Development (the filmmakers wish to thank)
- Nubest & Co. (the filmmakers wish to thank)
- Sound One Corporation (post-production facilities)
- Sound One Corporation (re-recording)
- The New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre & Broadcasting (the filmmakers wish to thank)
Storyline
Plot Summary |
Housewife Roberta Glass of Fort Lee, New Jersey, is feeling restless in her life, where she has not taken any chances, including in her marriage to home spa retailer Gary Glass, who knows what to expect in her every move, and who is more concerned about his public image with respect to his business than her. If being honest, Gary would consider her uptight. She does have a few diversions, one of her favorite being reading the personal classifieds, most specifically those written by someone named Jim whose ads are always titled "Desperately Seeking Susan". Roberta gleans that Jim and Susan are in a relationship of sorts with the ads the only way for him to get in touch with her as she travels around the country. Obsessed with the pair, Roberta decides to go to Battery Park when the latest ad requests Susan meet Jim there. In her sighting from afar, Roberta can see that Susan is a wild, new wavish attired woman, to some extent a polar opposite to Roberta herself. Out of circumstance, Roberta is able to purchase Susan's easily identifiable leather jacket from a third party, which in the process leads to Roberta getting amnesia, further resulting in her being able to obtain all of Susan's personal possessions, making her believe that she must be who these possessions point to her being. This causes some confusion for Dez, a friend of Jim's who has never met Susan, and who Jim, a rock musician, asked to look after Susan in his needed absence out of town for a gig. Dez, a movie projectionist, can't help but fall for Roberta who he believes is Susan, while Roberta, in her newfound freedom, falls for Dez in return. What Roberta is unaware of, even before her amnesia, is that a criminal, Wayne Nolan, who has already killed once, is after Susan with regard to some priceless Egyptian earrings Susan has out of circumstance, he only knowing her from that iconic leather jacket. Susan does eventually learn this information about Wayne and thus tries to track down this mysterious woman who has stolen her possessions both to get back her stuff but also warn her about Wayne. Matters will only get more complicated as Gary gets closer to tracking down his missing wife, when Jim comes back into town looking for Susan, and if and when Roberta regains her memory. Written by Huggo |
Plot Keywords | |
Taglines | Every man is desperate to have her. One woman is desperate to be her. But someone is desperate to kill her. If they can figure out who she is. See more » |
Genres | |
Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Filming Locations |
Box Office
Budget | $4,500,000 (estimated) |
Opening Weekend United States | $1,526,098, 31 Mar 1985 |
Did You Know?
Trivia | Camel withdrew a $5,000 sponsorship because of the scene in which Dez tells Roberta that she "should stop smoking". See more » |
Goofs | In the opening salon scene, Roberta is reading the personal columns while waiting for the hairstylist and has a white towel around her shoulders in closeup shots that disappears when she's viewed from behind. See more » |
Movie Connections | Featured in The Slugger's Wife/Desperately Seeking Susan/The Last Dragon (1985). See more » |
Soundtracks | Into the Groove See more » |
Quotes |
Cigarette Girl:
Susan! Susan: Hi. Cigarette Girl: My God, we all thought you were dead! Susan: No, just in New Jersey. See more » |