Boogie Nights
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Paul Thomas Anderson
Produced by	Paul Thomas Anderson Lawrence Gordon Lloyd Levin
Written by	Paul Thomas Anderson
Starring	Mark Wahlberg Burt Reynolds Julianne Moore John C. Reilly Don Cheadle Heather Graham Philip Seymour Hoffman Melora Walters Nicole Ari Parker William H. Macy Alfred Molina Thomas Jane
Cinematography	Robert Elswit
Editing by	Dylan Tichenor
Distributed by	New Line Cinema
Release date(s)	October 10, 1997
Running time	156 min. Paul Thomas Anderson (born June 26 1970 is a five-time Academy Award -nominated American Filmmaker. Paul Thomas Anderson (born June 26 1970 is a five-time Academy Award -nominated American Filmmaker. Lawrence Gordon may refer to Lawrence Gordon (producer Lawrence Gordon (Saw character Larry Gordon, American Lloyd Levin is an award-winning Film producer. He won the Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Picture for his work on United 93. Paul Thomas Anderson (born June 26 1970 is a five-time Academy Award -nominated American Filmmaker. Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg (born June 5 1971 is an Academy Award -nominated BAFTA -winning American actor rapper and Producer of Burton Leon Reynolds Jr (born February 11 1936 is an American Actor. Julianne Moore (born December 3 1960 is an Academy - and BAFTA -nominated and Emmy - and Golden Globe -winning American Actress John Christopher Reilly (born May 24, 1965) is an Academy Award - and two-time Golden Globe -nominated American Actor. Donald Frank "Don" Cheadle (born November 29, 1964) is an Academy Award -nominated and Golden Globe Award -winning American Heather Joan Graham (born January 29, 1970) is an American film and television actress. Philip Seymour Hoffman (born July 23, 1967) is a BAFTA - Golden Globe - SAG - and Academy Award -winning American Melora Walters (born October 21, 1968) is an American Actress. Nicole Ari Parker Kodjoe, also known as Nikki Kodjoe (born Nicole Ari Parker on October 7, 1970 in Baltimore Maryland) is an William Hall Macy Jr (born March 13, 1950) is an Academy Award -nominated double Emmy - and Screen Actors Guild Award -winning Alfred Molina (born 24 May 1953 is a Tony Award -nominated British / American Actor. Thomas Jane (born February 22, 1969) is an American Actor, known for his roles in the 1999 film Deep Blue Sea, the Robert Elswit, ASC is an Academy Award -winning American Cinematographer. Dylan Tichenor (born 1968) is an Academy Award -nominated film editor. New Line Cinema, founded in 1967 is one of the major American Film studios Though it initially began as an independent film studio it became a Events 680 - Battle of Karbala: Shia Imam Husayn bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, is decapitated Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$15,000,000 (estimated)
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

Boogie Nights is a Golden Globe-winning 1997 film written, co-produced and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. The Golden Globe Awards are American awards for motion pictures and Television programs given out each year during a formal dinner The year 1997 in film involved some significant events Events Summer - Production begins on Star Wars Episode I The Phantom Menace See also Pre-production Screenwriting A screenplay or script is a written plan authored by a Screenwriter, for a Film or Television A film producer is a person who creates the conditions for making movies. A film director, or filmmaker, is a person who directs the making of a Film. Paul Thomas Anderson (born June 26 1970 is a five-time Academy Award -nominated American Filmmaker. It stars Mark Wahlberg, Burt Reynolds, William H. Macy, Julianne Moore, Don Cheadle, John C. Reilly, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Heather Graham. Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg (born June 5 1971 is an Academy Award -nominated BAFTA -winning American actor rapper and Producer of Burton Leon Reynolds Jr (born February 11 1936 is an American Actor. William Hall Macy Jr (born March 13, 1950) is an Academy Award -nominated double Emmy - and Screen Actors Guild Award -winning Julianne Moore (born December 3 1960 is an Academy - and BAFTA -nominated and Emmy - and Golden Globe -winning American Actress Donald Frank "Don" Cheadle (born November 29, 1964) is an Academy Award -nominated and Golden Globe Award -winning American John Christopher Reilly (born May 24, 1965) is an Academy Award - and two-time Golden Globe -nominated American Actor. Philip Seymour Hoffman (born July 23, 1967) is a BAFTA - Golden Globe - SAG - and Academy Award -winning American Heather Joan Graham (born January 29, 1970) is an American film and television actress.

The film follows a young porn star as he enters the industry in the late 1970s in California, and deals with the highs and lows of success into the 1980s. A pornographic actor/actress or a porn star is somebody who appears in Pornographic films or Photographs, live Sex shows or This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. It also follows several other characters involved in the industry, and their downfalls.

Plot

The film depicts the pornographic film industry of the late 1970s and early 1980s as seen through the life of a young porn star, Dirk Diggler, played by Mark Wahlberg. Pornography or porn is the explicit depiction of Sexual subject matter with the sole intention of sexually exciting the viewer This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. A pornographic actor/actress or a porn star is somebody who appears in Pornographic films or Photographs, live Sex shows or Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg (born June 5 1971 is an Academy Award -nominated BAFTA -winning American actor rapper and Producer of This film details his discovery by porn director Jack Horner (based on William Margold), played by Burt Reynolds. William Margold (born October 2, 1943 in Washington DC) is an American Pornographic actor, director and activist Burton Leon Reynolds Jr (born February 11 1936 is an American Actor. The story concerns Diggler's entry into the business, his rise to stardom, and his eventual downfall due to cocaine and methamphetamine-induced paranoia and impotence, having become an arrogant "star". Cocaine ( benzoylmethyl ecgonine) is a Crystalline Tropane Alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the Coca plant Paranoia is a disturbed thought process characterized by excessive Anxiety or Fear, often to the point of Irrationality and Delusion. It ends with his reconciliation with Horner.

Dirk Diggler's rise and fall serves as a way to explore a number of characters and the fashions and foibles of the late 1970s and early 1980s. All the characters experience a variety of highs and lows as the plot intertwines the stories of the characters Jack, Amber, Buck, Rollergirl, and Dirk.

Jack discovers a young Eddie Adams working in a nightclub and shortly after recruits him into the industry. Eddie adopts the moniker "Dirk Diggler" and quickly becomes an adult film celebrity, winning several adult film awards and spending his earnings on clothes, shoes, a new house, and his most prized possession, a "competition orange" Chevrolet Corvette. The Chevrolet Corvette is a Sports car that has been manufactured by General Motors since 1953

Aware of Jack's goal of making films with plot lines that keep audience members in their movie seats after they've climaxed, Dirk and another porn star, Reed Rothchild, pitch an idea to Jack. They develop a series of action films with themselves starring in the roles of Brock Landers and Chest Rockwell. It's not clear if they're actual police officers, private detectives, or simply vigilantes, but the films become a runaway success.

Jack's assistant director, Little Bill (William H. Macy) is married to another porn star (played by real-life porn queen Nina Hartley) who constantly humiliates him by having sex with other men, occasionally in public. William Hall Macy Jr (born March 13, 1950) is an Academy Award -nominated double Emmy - and Screen Actors Guild Award -winning Nina Hartley (born Marie Louise Hartman on March 11, 1959 in Berkeley California) is an American Pornographic actress He catches her cheating on him at a New Years Eve party, goes to his car, retrieves a revolver and shoots her and her lover and then turns the gun on himself in front of the party crowd. This marks a major turning point of the movie, as most of the characters' lives take a turn for the worse afterward.

In a lengthy sequence, the film moves from one character to another, showing their attempts and failures to make lives for themselves after they have left the adult film industry. Jack's efforts to continue his porno empire flounder after his main source of funding, Colonel James, (Robert Ridgely) is imprisoned for child pornography. Robert Ridgely ( December 24, 1931 &mdash February 8, 1997) was an American Actor and vocal artist known for both on-camera His new financier, Floyd Gondoli (Philip Baker Hall), insists on cutting costs by shooting on video and using amateur actors. Philip Baker Hall (born September 10, 1931) is an American Actor. Jack dislikes the videotape format and films without script, character development, or direction, yet (having no choice) he goes along, and tries to revitalize his career by having Rollergirl (Heather Graham) ride with him in a limousine enticing random strangers to have sex with her on film (based on Jamie Gillis's On the Prowl). Heather Joan Graham (born January 29, 1970) is an American film and television actress. Jamie Gillis (born April 20, 1943 in New York New York, US) is an American Porn star and a member of the AVN Hall of Fame The ploy goes badly when the man they choose at random knows Rollergirl from high school (he addresses her by her real first name "Brandy") and insults her. She and Jack beat him severely and leave him bleeding on the street.

Amber Waves (Julianne Moore) finds herself in a nasty custody battle with her former husband (John Doe) over their child. Julianne Moore (born December 3 1960 is an Academy - and BAFTA -nominated and Emmy - and Golden Globe -winning American Actress John Doe (born John Nommensen Duchac on February 25, 1954 in Decatur Illinois) is an American singer songwriter actor poet The court determines that she is unfit to be a mother due to her involvement in the porn industry, her past criminal record and her addiction to cocaine leaving her distraught.

Buck Swope (Don Cheadle) marries another porn star, Jessie St. Donald Frank "Don" Cheadle (born November 29, 1964) is an Academy Award -nominated and Golden Globe Award -winning American Vincent (Melora Walters), who, shortly thereafter, becomes pregnant. Melora Walters (born October 21, 1968) is an American Actress. After being denied a bank loan to open a stereo store, Buck stops at a donut shop that is subsequently held up. In a strange twist of fate, the clerk, thief, and a gun-wielding customer who tries to stop the robbery end up killing each other. Buck, a black man who knows the police will never believe such an incredible story, now that there are no witnesses, escapes with the money the thief would otherwise have stolen, and uses the money to open a stereo store.

Dirk (Mark Wahlberg) becomes addicted to cocaine and methamphetamine, and has a violent falling out with Jack (Burt Reynolds) during a film shoot. Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg (born June 5 1971 is an Academy Award -nominated BAFTA -winning American actor rapper and Producer of Burton Leon Reynolds Jr (born February 11 1936 is an American Actor. He and Reed (John C. Reilly) leave to pursue their dream of forming an early-'80s rock band; however, due to their cocaine addiction, they are unable to pay the recording studio for their demo tapes. John Christopher Reilly (born May 24, 1965) is an Academy Award - and two-time Golden Globe -nominated American Actor. Dirk tries to prostitute himself but is assaulted by a gang of thugs. Dirk and Reed, along with their mutual friend, Todd (Thomas Jane), attempt to scam an associate, Rahad Jackson (Alfred Molina), into purchasing a half-kilo of baking soda, which they claim is cocaine. Thomas Jane (born February 22, 1969) is an American Actor, known for his roles in the 1999 film Deep Blue Sea, the Alfred Molina (born 24 May 1953 is a Tony Award -nominated British / American Actor. During the deal, Todd attempts a much larger robbery and is killed during the ensuing gunfight. (The incident is loosely based on the real life Wonderland murders. ) Dirk and Reed barely escape the house alive. Not long after, Dirk returns to Jack's house and the two reconcile. Dirk re-enters the adult industry and most of the characters appear to be living in Jack's house, their version of a family. A painting of Little Bill also is seen hanging on a wall near the spot where he killed himself on New Year's Day, 1980.

Background

The idea of Boogie Nights was developed after Paul Thomas Anderson made the short mockumentary The Dirk Diggler Story on home video in 1988. Mockumentary (also known as a pseudo-documentary) a Portmanteau of Mock and documentary, is a film and TV Genre, or a single work The project was inspired by Anderson's infatuation with the absurdities of pornography and behind-the-scenes stories of porn stars. In particular, The Dirk Diggler Story was influenced by a documentary called Exhausted that featured John Holmes as its subject. John Curtis Holmes ( August 8, 1944 – March 13, 1988) better known as John C The documentary was directed by Julia St. Vincent and Anderson describes it as a "love letter" to Holmes (the documentary itself goes as far as to label Holmes as a "love god"). Both the documentary and Holmes had large impacts on the Boogie Nights characters Dirk Diggler and Amber Waves.

After Anderson had completed the dismal experience of writing and directing his first feature film Sydney (renamed Hard Eight by the studio) he went to work writing Boogie Nights with The Dirk Diggler Story as a starting point. Hard Eight is a 1996 film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, starring Philip Baker Hall, John C The script eventually became a gargantuan 185 page story that featured many interweaving character plots about individuals in the pornography industry, almost all of them being inspired by real life accounts that Anderson had researched over the years. Anderson was very frank with studio executives when he pitched the film around Hollywood, stating up front that it would be three hours long and rated NC-17 due to its subject matter. The Motion Picture Association of America's film-rating system is used in the U Although he knew that this would alienate the vast majority of executives to whom he tried to sell the project, Anderson did so in order to limit the potential intervention that had resulted in Sydney being taken away from him by the studio.

Nevertheless, Mike De Luca at New Line Cinema supported Anderson and the script entirely. New Line green-lighted the script, assuming that the nostalgic 1970s setting and outstanding soundtrack would be enough to market the picture. The only conditions were that the film not go over its low $15 million budget and that it ensure an R rating from the MPAA. Both conditions were implemented to see that the film would make a profit for New Line, and Anderson acquiesced to the rating change.

Rather than playing it safe and trying to please other people, as was the case with Hard Eight, Anderson shot every scene of the script and was unwilling to cut much out of the film. His stubborn attitude towards studio executives only worsened when the film was first screened for test audiences. Many people were expecting a light, nostalgic 1970s comedy about pornography and were instead shown a long, drawn-out, dark and complicated drama. Support of the project began to wane until critics saw the film and began showering it with praise. In its eventual theater release, it made a modest $26 million (a larger profit was made by its video release). By the end of 2006, the film had grossed $43,101,594 internationally, $26,400,640 in the USA and $16,700,954 overseas. The film's critical success kept Anderson at New Line for his next film, Magnolia. Magnolia is a 1999 American Drama film, written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson.

Main characters

Eddie "Dirk Diggler" Adams (Mark Wahlberg)—Born Eddie Adams, Dirk is a handsome but dimwitted high school dropout with a 13-inch penis who is recruited into the porn industry by director Jack Horner. Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg (born June 5 1971 is an Academy Award -nominated BAFTA -winning American actor rapper and Producer of The penis (plural penises, penes The pair meet while Eddie is working as a dishwasher in a Reseda nightclub. He changes his name to Dirk Diggler and becomes an instant success in the porn world. In the 1980s, he becomes addicted to cocaine and after a dispute with Jack, leaves his studio. The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. Cocaine ( benzoylmethyl ecgonine) is a Crystalline Tropane Alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the Coca plant Dirk is the central character in the story and the one who has the greatest effect on all the other characters. Dirk's character is largely inspired by the life of the priapic porn king, John C. Holmes (who is referenced briefly in the film). John Curtis Holmes ( August 8, 1944 – March 13, 1988) better known as John C Aspects of actor Mike Ranger's life were also thrown in the mix (i. e. , his affair with an older adult actress, Kay Parker). Kay Taylor Parker (born August 28, 1944, in Birmingham England, United Kingdom) is a New Age author and former Pornographic

Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds)—A successful director of pornographic films. Burton Leon Reynolds Jr (born February 11 1936 is an American Actor. He meets Eddie Adams in a nightclub in Reseda, California, and convinces him to consider a career in adult cinema. A nightclub (or "night club" or "club" is a drinking, dancing, and entertainment venue which does its primary business after dark Reseda ( IPA:) is a district in the San Fernando Valley in the City of Los Angeles California. He's a wise and kind fatherly figure who has formed close, caring relationships with many of his regular cast and crew. His dream is to direct films that are not simply sexy, but have stories that grip the audience even after they've climaxed. His chance to make such a film ultimately comes along with the first "Brock Landers" film. The Jack Horner character has been attributed to an amalgam of porn moguls such as William Margold, Bob Chinn, and Bill Amerson. Bill Amerson was a pioneer and mogul in the Adult film industry in the late-1960s all the way to the late-1980s

Amber Waves (Julianne Moore)—The star female actress in Jack Horner's stable of porn stars. Julianne Moore (born December 3 1960 is an Academy - and BAFTA -nominated and Emmy - and Golden Globe -winning American Actress She's a cocaine addict and also has serious emotional issues which constitute the primary reasons she's lost the custody of her son to her ex-husband. Amber's son is never seen in the movie and the closest he comes to her is an unsuccessful attempt to call her. She falls in love with Dirk soon after meeting him and essentially takes him on as a new son. Her care is not always beneficial, however, and she introduces Dirk to cocaine and he becomes addicted. Amber's real name is Maggie. Much of the inspiration for this character was from Julia St. Vincent, girlfriend of John Holmes. However, Julia was never a porn starlet. Veronica Hart also is listed an inspiration by Anderson in the commentary and appears as the judge in the child-custody hearing

Rollergirl (Heather Graham)—An attractive, frequent talent of Jack's films who never takes off her roller skates. This article is about the adult film director and actress For the American novelist see Jane Hamilton. Heather Joan Graham (born January 29, 1970) is an American film and television actress. Though she is in high school at the beginning of her pornography career, she, like Dirk, drops out of school and Jack takes care of her. She is "adopted" by Amber as a daughter after Dirk leaves Jack's studio to pursue other interests. Like Dirk, she also becomes addicted to cocaine, presumably through Amber. Rollergirl's real name is Brandy. At the end of the film, she is seen going back to school to obtain her GED. General Educational Development (or GED) tests are a group of five tests which (when passed certifies that the taker has American or Canadian High

Reed Rothchild (John C. Reilly)—A veteran of the industry, Reed becomes Dirk's best friend. John Christopher Reilly (born May 24, 1965) is an Academy Award - and two-time Golden Globe -nominated American Actor. Reed is egocentric and tries to appear more knowledgeable and multi-talented than he actually is. He and Dirk create and star in their own porno series in the late '70s (Brock Landers), get hooked on cocaine, and leave Jack's studio at the same time. Reed's one true aspiration outside of porn is to be a magician, which he apparently accomplishes by the end of the film.

Buck Swope (Don Cheadle)—A part-time stereo salesman and porn star. Donald Frank "Don" Cheadle (born November 29, 1964) is an Academy Award -nominated and Golden Globe Award -winning American Buck relentlessly tries to find a fashion style that suits him, and ends up showcasing some of the wilder forms of dress of the 1970s and 1980s. This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. He marries fellow porn star Jessie St. Vincent and she soon becomes pregnant. During the '80s, Buck tries to open his own stereo store, but his loan application is turned down by the bank because of his ties to pornography. He later opens the store, after getting the money from the robbery of a donut shop he happened to be in. By a strange contingency, the robber, the clerk, and the customer who killed the robber all ended up dead, allowing him to leave with the money and finally open the stereo store. Buck finally acquires a fashion style (influenced by 1980s hip hop culture) that suits him.

Scotty J. (Philip Seymour Hoffman)—A shy and nervous homosexual member of Jack's filming crew. Philip Seymour Hoffman (born July 23, 1967) is a BAFTA - Golden Globe - SAG - and Academy Award -winning American Scotty J. works menial positions behind the camera, mostly as boom operator. A boom operator is an assistant of the Production sound mixer. He falls in love with Dirk the first time he sees him. Scotty idolizes and emulates Dirk and at one point during a drunken stupor even tries to kiss him, but is rejected. However, along with Reed, Scotty follows and supports Dirk even after his falling out with Jack.

Little Bill (William H. Macy)—Jack's meek assistant director. William Hall Macy Jr (born March 13, 1950) is an Academy Award -nominated double Emmy - and Screen Actors Guild Award -winning Little Bill has very little self-esteem due to his timid nature and his porn star wife (played by real life porn starlet Nina Hartley), who spends most of her time publicly (and privately) having intercourse with various other men. Nina Hartley (born Marie Louise Hartman on March 11, 1959 in Berkeley California) is an American Pornographic actress On New Year's Eve 1979, during Jack's party, Little Bill's tolerance for his wife's infidelity runs out and he shoots her, the man she is sleeping with, and finally himself. New Year's Eve is on December 31, the final day of the Gregorian year and the day before New Year's Day. Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) Little Bill's death is the turning point in the movie, when things turn from good to bad for all the characters involved. At the end of the film, a portrait of Little Bill appears in Horner's hallway.

Jessie St. Vincent (Melora Walters)—A female porn star who joins Jack's crew after Dirk becomes famous. Melora Walters (born October 21, 1968) is an American Actress. She and Buck Swope discover a mutual love of sunrises, and fall in love. The name of this character is a tongue-in-cheek reference to Julia St. Vincent, whose biography of John Holmes, "Exhausted" provided inspiration for some of the actual scenes used in the documentary sequence of Boogie Nights.

Becky Barnett (Nicole Ari Parker)—A black porn star featured in many of Jack's films. Nicole Ari Parker Kodjoe, also known as Nikki Kodjoe (born Nicole Ari Parker on October 7, 1970 in Baltimore Maryland) is an She tries to find love and companionship within the industry but fails time and again until finally marrying early in the 1980s to a regional manager at Pep Boys she meets at Jack's New Year's Eve party. Little is known about their marriage, but a deleted scene in the DVD version of the movie reveals her new husband's physical abuse of her, plus solves the mystery of how Dirk's Corvette gets wrecked.

The Colonel James (Robert Ridgely)—The aging, opulent financier of Jack's films. Robert Ridgely ( December 24, 1931 &mdash February 8, 1997) was an American Actor and vocal artist known for both on-camera He is seen frequently with young, petite women and is eventually arrested in the '80s for his child pornography collection which had been discovered during the investigation of an undisclosed crime involving one or more underage girls. This effectively cuts off the supply of funds for Jack Horner's films. He is shown at the end of the film in prison and having been violently assaulted by a fellow inmate.

Floyd Gondolli (Philip Baker Hall)—A rising producer of the industry. Philip Baker Hall (born September 10, 1931) is an American Actor. Prior to The Colonel's arrest he tries to convince Jack to start shooting his movies on videotape with unknown actors to cut costs, but Jack refuses. After the Colonel's arrest, Jack has nobody to go to for funding except Floyd, and Floyd will only fund video projects. As a result, Jack is forced into shooting his movies with video.

Todd Parker (Thomas Jane)—A close friend of Reed's. Thomas Jane (born February 22, 1969) is an American Actor, known for his roles in the 1999 film Deep Blue Sea, the He's a stripper at a nightclub called Party Boys, but also supplies cocaine for Reed and Dirk. A striptease or Exotic dance is a form of erotic entertainment usually a Dance, in which the performer known as a "stripper" gradually undresses A nightclub (or "night club" or "club" is a drinking, dancing, and entertainment venue which does its primary business after dark Cocaine ( benzoylmethyl ecgonine) is a Crystalline Tropane Alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the Coca plant In a drug deal gone bad near the end of the film, Parker is shot and killed by Rahad Jackson. The character shares many connections with Paul Snider. Paul Leslie Snider ( April 15, 1951 – August 14, 1980) was the estranged husband of Playboy model Dorothy Stratten, whom

Rahad Jackson (Alfred Molina)—An eccentric drug dealer who spends most of his time listening to mix tapes and free basing cocaine. Alfred Molina (born 24 May 1953 is a Tony Award -nominated British / American Actor. The illegal drug trade or drug trafficking is a global Black market consisting of the cultivation manufacture distribution and sale of illegal Drugs Cocaine ( benzoylmethyl ecgonine) is a Crystalline Tropane Alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the Coca plant He lives in an affluent part of town and will buy drugs from anyone. Todd, Reed and Dirk try to sell him fake cocaine with disastrous results. This character is based on real-life gangster Eddie Nash, even down to his trademark line, "You guys wanna play baseball?". Eddie Nash (born 1929 is a Palestinian former Nightclub and Restaurant Manager in Los Angeles, as well as a convicted Gangster

Maurice T. T. Rodriguez (Luis Guzmán)—Owner of the nightclub where Dirk initially worked as a busboy and where Jack and his stable of porn actors and crew members hang out. For the other Puerto Rican actor of the same name see Luis Roberto Guzmán Luis Guzmán (born August 28, 1956) is a Puerto He is also a wanna-be famous Latino porn star, spending a great deal of the time trying to persuade the other characters in allowing him a chance to appear in one of Jack's films. He eventually secures a bit part in a Brock Landers film.

Kurt Longjohn (Ricky Jay)—A stoic character who works for Jack Horner as a camera operater. Ricky Jay (born Richard Jay Potash; 1948 is an American Stage magician Actor, and Writer. Stoicism, a school of Hellenistic philosophy, was founded in Athens by Zeno of Citium in the early third century BC

Deleted scene

DVD special-edition release cover

One major sequence was removed prior to the theatrical release of the film. The sequence focuses on the character Becky and her plight during the 1980s (as with the rest of the characters). In the first cut of the film, it follows the scene of Jack in his office cutting a Johnny Doe video and before Amber attempts to arrange the custody of her son.

In the sequence, Becky is being physically abused by her new husband after he becomes increasingly disapproving of her past career in porn. The scene begins with Reed excitedly telling Dirk that Johnny Doe (the younger up-and-comer that Jack hires) has recently died in a car crash. In the original script, Johnny Doe was shown crashing his car into another vehicle driven by Dirk Diggler's parents, with all three being killed. Becky, who is beaten up and frantic while hiding in a locked room, calls for help from Dirk, who is high on cocaine. They arrange to meet. Becky's husband eventually breaks through the door and punches Becky. When he turns his back to walk away, Becky strikes him repeatedly with a frying pan before running out of the house.

Meanwhile, Dirk, who is still sniffing coke while driving to meet Becky, crashes his Corvette into a telephone pole. Upset at ruining his car, Dirk turns around and drives back home; throwing a fit and forgetting about Becky entirely while she waits for him at a restaurant.

As with most of the stories in the film, Anderson was inspired by many similar real-life occurrences. "It turns sour, it turns into this really violent relationship -- which I've heard about a million times in porno where it's the guy meets the girl who's in porno. And he's real turned on and 'wow, baby, that's so fucking hot' and 'my girlfriend's a porno actress' but then two weeks later it's: 'you're a fucking whore, how could you do that?' and he's beating her, you know. And that's a story you hear pretty often, over and over again. "

Anderson gives many reasons why this sequence was cut on the DVD commentary for the film: "We had a lot of porno and we had a lot of violence already in the movie and I don't know how much more we needed. . . We cut it from the movie and I'm glad we did, but it sure is fun to watch it. " In addition, while seeing the movie many times over, Anderson was always excited by the courtroom scene with Amber. Eventually, he determined that this was because the Becky sequence was getting in the way of the more prominent characters. The deleted scene is referenced in the finished film, as Dirk says that a phony drug sale to Rahad Jackson would give him enough money to get his Corvette fixed.

In the end, Anderson decided that Becky would leave the story with a happy ending rather than another example of tumbling fate that follows with the rest of the characters in the 1980s.

Soundtrack

Main article: Boogie Nights (soundtrack)

Two soundtracks of the film were released; the first in 1997 and the second in 1998. The original motion picture soundtrack to the 1997 film Boogie Nights is a two-disc set released between the end of that same year and the beginning Though the two albums encompass nearly every major song featured in the film; songs omitted are Nena's "99 Luftballons" (the opening of which is featured as the conclusion to the Rahad Jackson sequence), Andrew Gold's "Lonely Boy", and "The Sage" (the cello piece heard at Jack Horner's home) by Chico Hamilton. Nena (born Gabriele Susanne Kerner on March 24, 1960 in Hagen, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany) is a singer and " 99 Luftballons " is a Cold War -era Protest song by the German band Nena. Andrew Gold (born August 2 1951, Burbank, California) is an American Singer, Musician and Songwriter " Lonely Boy " is a song written and recorded by Andrew Gold in 1976 for his album What's Wrong with This Picture?. Chico Hamilton (born Foreststorn Hamilton on September 21, 1921, Los Angeles) is a jazz drummer and band leader

Awards

The film was nominated for 3 Oscars. Burt Reynolds was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a porn film director. Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts Julianne Moore also received a nomination for Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as maternal porn star Amber Waves. Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role is one of the Academy Awards of Merit presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS Paul Thomas Anderson was nominated for Best Screenplay. The Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay is the Academy Award for the best script not based upon previously published material The film won no academy awards, but Reynolds did win the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor.

Trivia

• The night club scenes were filmed at The Country Club located in Reseda, California. Reseda ( IPA:) is a district in the San Fernando Valley in the City of Los Angeles California.
• The father of Amber's child is portrayed by John Doe of the punk band X. John Doe (born John Nommensen Duchac on February 25, 1954 in Decatur Illinois) is an American singer songwriter actor poet This band was at the height of its popularity during the time frame covered in Boogie Nights, and its name coincides with the MPAA rating of Jack Horner's movies. There is also a minor character in the film with the name "Johnny Doe".
• The character Buck Swope talks about "the TK-421 special modification" while trying to sell a stereo. This is a reference to the name of the Imperial Stormtrooper whose uniform was stolen by Luke Skywalker in Star Wars. Luke Skywalker is the main protagonist of the Star Wars universe portrayed by Mark Hamill in the films Star Wars Episode IV Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope (originally released as Star Wars) is a 1977 Space opera (Star Wars is more directly referenced later in the film in a conversation between Dirk and Reed).
• Leonardo DiCaprio was Anderson's first choice to play Dirk Diggler, but DiCaprio chose instead to star in James Cameron's Titanic. Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio (born November 11 1974 is a three-time Academy Award -nominated and Golden Globe -winning American film actor. James Francis Cameron (born August 16, 1954) is an Academy Award -winning Canadian - American director Titanic is a 1997 Disaster film directed written co-produced and co-edited by James Cameron about the sinking of the RMS ''Titanic'' After watching The Basketball Diaries, Anderson opted to use Mark Wahlberg in the role. The Basketball Diaries is a 1995 Drama film based on the book of the same name by Jim Carroll. DiCaprio stated in 2004 that he wishes he'd chosen Boogie Nights instead. ^[1] Samuel L. Jackson (who had worked with Anderson previously in Hard Eight) was Anderson's first choice to play the role of Buck Swope. Samuel Leroy Jackson (born December 21 1948 is an American Academy Award -nominated and BAFTA -winning actor Hard Eight is a 1996 film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, starring Philip Baker Hall, John C However, according to Anderson, Jackson said he "didn't get it. " Don Cheadle was cast instead. Donald Frank "Don" Cheadle (born November 29, 1964) is an Academy Award -nominated and Golden Globe Award -winning American Among the actors circling around the Jack Horner role were Warren Beatty and Sydney Pollack, who both turned the film down. Warren Beatty (born Henry Warren Beaty; March 30 1937 is an American Academy Award - and Golden Globe -winning Actor, producer Sydney Irwin Pollack ( July 1, 1934 – May 26, 2008) was an American Film director, producer and Actor. Upon seeing the film at its premiere, Pollack regretted turning down the part and cited that he didn't understand it when he read the script, until he saw the finished film. Julianne Moore had similar concerns, but signed on to play Amber Waves after reading the script.
• The events in the film take place between 1977 and 1984.
• A much talked-about scene occurs at the end of the film when Dirk Diggler reveals his huge, flaccid penis while speaking to himself in the mirror. For years afterward, star Mark Wahlberg has been asked if that is his actual penis. It is a prosthetic. In Medicine, a prosthesis (plural prostheses) is an Artificial extension that replaces a missing Body part.
• The song "The Touch" sung by Mark Wahlberg's character when he tries to become a singing star was originally created for the 1986 Transformers movie. It was performed by Stan Bush. Stan Bush is an American Singer / Guitarist whose most notable work include the songs "Dare" and "The Touch" from the soundtrack When The Transformers: The Movie was released on DVD there is even mention of this in an interview with the film's composer, Vince DiCola; where he states he was very surprised that it was used in another movie. The Transformers The Movie is a 1986 animated feature film based on the animated series of the same name. Vince DiCola (born in Lancaster Pennsylvania) is an American composer keyboardist and arranger best known for his work on the The Transformers The Movie He even called Stan Bush to let him know about it.
• The opening scene is nearly three minutes long without a cut, and shows most of the characters in the film, ending with a shot of young Eddie Adams (the future Dirk Diggler). At the end of the movie, there is a similar long scene without a cut showing most of the characters, right before the last scene with Dirk in his dressing room. Another long, single take sequence that fleshes out many characters takes place during the first party upon Eddie's arrival to porn as the future Dirk Diggler. The moment where the camera pulls into the pool was inspired by the film I Am Cuba. I am Cuba ( Spanish: Soy Cuba; Russian: Я Куба, Ya Kuba is a Soviet / Cuban
• Jon Brion plays the nonspeaking role of a mustachioed guitarist at the first adult film award show. Jon Brion (born December 11, 1963) is an American rock and pop multi-instrumentalist Singer, Songwriter, In an extended sequence of the second award show (that can be found on the DVD), Brion appears with the same band, himself appearing clean shaven and wearing a tuxedo. Brion scored Paul Thomas Anderson's previous film, Hard Eight, with Michael Penn and went on to score his next two films, Magnolia (with Penn's wife, Aimee Mann) and Punch-Drunk Love. Hard Eight is a 1996 film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, starring Philip Baker Hall, John C Aimee Mann (born September 8, 1960) is an American, rock Guitarist, bassist, Singer, and noted Songwriter
• Both the firecrackers during the Rahad Jackson scene and Buck Swope's name are references to the 1969 Robert Downey Sr. film Putney Swope, one of P. Putney Swope is a 1969 film written and directed by Robert Downey Sr T. Anderson's favorite films. Robert Downey Sr. even appears in the film as the recording studio manager, and is singled out as "a prince" in the end credits.
• Burt Reynolds reportedly did his first day's work as Jack Horner using an Irish accent, but was back to his normal voice by the second day. He was so upset after seeing the film for the first time that he fired his agent, only to rehire him again after getting an Oscar nomination and the best reviews of his career for his work.
• There is an image of Elliott Gould that appears three times in the film (one of them is on the wall of the porno set during Maurice's big scene). Elliott Gould (born August 29, 1938) is an Academy Award -nominated American actor
• The group Heatwave refused to allow their song "Boogie Nights" to be used in this film because the song was not about pornography.
• On the DVD, there is an option to view color bars. Doing so reveals an Easter egg. A virtual Easter egg is an intentional Hidden message or feature in an object such as a movie, Book The color bars fade after a few seconds and reveal a gag take of Bob Ridgley presenting an award as the Colonel James and test footage of Mark Wahlberg wearing the prosthetic penis.
• A number of actual porn stars have roles in the film, including Nina Hartley, Veronica Hart, Little Cinderella, Summer Cummings, Skye Blue, Joe Sausage and Tony Tedeschi. Nina Hartley (born Marie Louise Hartman on March 11, 1959 in Berkeley California) is an American Pornographic actress This article is about the adult film director and actress For the American novelist see Jane Hamilton. Summer Cummings (b March 4, 1968) is the stage name of a prolific American Pornographic film producer director and performer and Skye Blue (born Morristown New Jersey) is an American Pornographic actress and director. Tony Tedeschi, birth name Peter Vincent Iannotti is an American Pornographic movie Actor. Several of the cast members, including William H. Macy, visited porn film sets as research.
• Ron Jeremy was a consultant for the movie (revealed this in interview on 2/13/07 KISSFM Milwaukee). Ronald Jeremy Hyatt (born 12 March 1953 in Bayside Queens Jeremy has also appeared in non-pornographic films with studios such as Troma Entertainment
• The movie is dedicated to Robert Ridgely. Robert Ridgely ( December 24, 1931 &mdash February 8, 1997) was an American Actor and vocal artist known for both on-camera He died of cancer after the movie was completed.

External links

• Boogie Nights at the Internet Movie Database
• Boogie Nights at Allmovie
• Boogie Nights at Box Office Mojo
• Boogie Nights script at the Internet Movie Script Database
• Paul Thomas Anderson radio interview with Elvis Mitchell

References