DINER (DVD/DLAYER/WS/MAKING OF DOC/NEW INTRO BY LEVINSON/ORIG TRAILERS) DVD

Diner
Writer-director Barry Levinson's autobiographical first feature fondly remembers his Baltimore youth. It's late 1959, and six guys in their early twenties are stumbling into adulthood, alternating responsibility with carefree time at their local diner. The story centers on the return from college of Billy (Tim Daly) to serve as best man at the wedding of his pal Eddie (Steve Guttenberg). Billy is consumed by a confusing relationship with a close female friend, while Eddie still lives at home, preparing a football trivia test for his fiancée and vowing to cancel the wedding if she fails. Other characters woven into the narrative include Boogie (Mickey Rourke), a womanizer with a gambling problem, and Shrevie (Daniel Stern), a music addict with a troubled marriage. Diner became known for its bittersweet comic screenplay and its remarkable cast, which also included Paul Reiser, Kevin Bacon, and Ellen Barkin. In order to capture the loose, laid-back dialogue of the diner scenes, Levinson directed them last, so that the actors would be more comfortable with each other. Diner was the first part of Levinson's "Baltimore Trilogy," followed by Tin Men (1987) and Avalon (1990). ~ Norm Schrager, All Movie Guide

Cast Tim Daly as William 'Billy' Howard Steve Guttenberg as Edward 'Eddie' Simmons Daniel Stern as Laurence "Shrevie" Schreiber Mickey Rourke as Robert "Boogie" Sheftell Kevin Bacon as Timothy Fenwick, Jr. Ellen Barkin as Beth Paul Reiser as Modell Michael Tucker as Bagel Kathryn Dowling as Barbara Jessica James as Mrs. Simmons Colette Blonigan as Carol Heathrow

Crew Leon R. Harris - Art Director Gloria Gresham - Costume Designer D. Scott Easton - First Assistant Director Win Phelps - First Assistant Director Barry Levinson - Director Stu Linder - Editor Mark Johnson - Executive Producer Bruce Brody - Composer (Music Score) Ivan Kral - Composer (Music Score) Irving Buchman - Makeup Gene Rudolf - Production Designer Ted Bafaloukos - Production Designer Peter Sova - Cinematographer Jerry Weintraub - Producer R. Chris Westlund - Set Designer Darin Knight - Sound/Sound Designer Barry Levinson - Screenwriter

Diner
This talk-heavy comedy, set in 1950s Baltimore, marked Barry Levinson's directorial debut. Filled with excellent dialogue (the screenplay was nominated for an Academy Award) and star-making performances, the largely-unknown-at-the-time cast includes Kevin Bacon, Daniel Stern, Mickey Rourke, Paul Reiser, and Ellen Barkin (it marked the big screen debuts of the latter two performers). The rampant immaturity of the male quintet of friends is amusingly lampooned in Levinson's clever and cutting script, a refreshingly honest depiction of an era often bathed in sepia-toned nostalgia. The male bonding rituals that tie together these aimless protagonists are presented as both childish and endearing, allowing the audience to laugh both with and at the protagonists. The setting is an immaculate and loving recreation of Levinson's childhood haunts, and the wonderful soundtrack makes the retro-experience complete and fulfilling. Diner was the first of Levinson's so-called Baltimore trilogy, which includes Tin Men (1987) and Avalon (1990). His television series of the mid-1990's, Homicide, was likewise set in his beloved Baltimore. ~ Dan Jardine, All Movie Guide
 

Barry Levinson: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie, Best Original Screenplay (nominated)

Golden Globe, Best Picture - Musical or Comedy (nominated)

General Specifications: Language Options: English, French Subtitle Options: English, French Sound Processing: 5.1: 5 full-range channels. Includes 3 for the front speakers, 2 surround channels for rear speakers, & 1 low-frequency effects (LFE) channel to carry deep bass effects 1: PCM mono Additional Features: Behind-the-scenes documentary:"Diner: On the Flip Side" with all-new introduction featuring writer/director Barry Levinson and the film's stars Interactive menus 2 theatrical trailers Scene access Languages & subtitles: English & Français DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1: Theatre Wide-Screen MPAA Rating: R DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 110 min   DVD Chapters: Side #1 -- 0. Scene Selections 1. Retrieving Fenwick (Shout) [4:30] 2. Diner-bound (Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On) [1:54] 3. Roadside Prank [2:14] 4. Makeout Music and A Sandwich [3:23] 5. Betting Men [4:50] 6. Billy's Home [2:46] 7. Wake Up, Eddie [4:19] 8. Shevie's TV Crittic [2:19] 9. The Pool Hall [1:39] 10. Getting Disgusting at A Summer Place [5:10] 11. Even with Willard [2:31] 12. The TV Station [1:42] 13. Whenever You Want It [3:05] 14. The Menu's Left Side [5:13] 15. Jane Chrisholm [1:51] 16. Babrara's News [1:33] 17. GE College Bowl [:55] 18. Don't Touch! [2:43] 19. Comforting Betty (Ain't Got No Home) [3:40] 20. "You have a brother" [1:57] 21. Seal Analyzed [1:44] 22. Manger Scene [:51] 23. Behind Bars [2:34] 24. Eddie's Confession [2:15] 25. Their Soap Opera [2:01] 26. Rough Stuff [1:53] 27. No Sense of Herself [3:00] 28. The Football Test [4:16] 29. Their date (Somethin' Else) [3:30] 30. The Move [7:15] 31. Paid In Full [1:45] 32. Always A Dreamer [1:55] 33. Picking Up the Beat [1:36] 34. "Didn't you show her?" [4:14] 35. Wedding Day [1:27] 36. A Toast [4:38] 37. Conversational End Credits [2:37]