That Thing You Do! (1996)

October 4, 1996 (US) • Comedy, Drama, Music • 108m

Overview

A Pennsylvania band scores a hit in 1964 and rides the star-making machinery as long as it can, with lots of help from its manager. But behind the scenes, the group’s sudden fame tests their strength, their maturity and responsibility, and their ability to resist the temptations that money and notoriety always make possible.

Director

Tom Hanks

Writer

Tom Hanks

Top Billed

Tom Hanks

Keywords

pop star pennsylvania, usa record label recording studio battle of the bands fictional band teen drama 1960s one hit wonder

Where to watch

Free / Included

TCM

Wonder Project Amazon Channel

Rent

Buy

Top Billed Cast

Tom Hanks

Mr. White

Tom Everett Scott

Guy Patterson

Liv Tyler

Faye Dolan

Johnathon Schaech

Jimmy Mattingly

Steve Zahn

Lenny Haise

Ethan Embry

T.B. Player

Charlize Theron

Tina

Obba Babatundé

Lamarr

Giovanni Ribisi

Chad

Chris Ellis

Phil Horace

Alex Rocco

Sol Siler

Bill Cobbs

Del Paxton

Peter Scolari

Troy Chesterfield

Rita Wilson

Margueritte

Chris Isaak

Uncle Bob

Kevin Pollak

Boss Vic Koss

Robert Torti

Freddy Fredrickson

Chaille Percival

Diane Dane

Holmes Osborne

Mr. Patterson

Claudia Stedelin

Mrs. Patterson

Dawn Maxey

Darlene Patterson

Jack Milo

Villapiano

Keith Neubert

Dentist

Lee Everett

Kitty

Sean Whalen

Heckler

Clint Howard

KJZZ Disk Jockey

Sarah Koskoff

Chrissy Thomkins

Mark Brettschneider

Talent Show Emcee

Kathleen Kinmont

Koss' Secretary

Warren Berlinger

Polaroid T.V. Host

Clive Rosengren

Wisconsin Cop

Brittney Powell

Shades Fan

Jonathan Demme

Major Motion Picture Director

Erika Greene

Major Motion Picture Assistant Director

Dave Oliver

Rick

Tracy Reiner

Anita

Barry Sobel

Goofball

Paul Feig

KMPC DJ

Gedde Watanabe

Play-Tone Photographer

Michael P. Byrne

Play-Tone Reporter

Dick Corman

Play-Tone Reporter

Diane McGee

Play-Tone Reporter

Randy Fechter

Play-Tone Tour Manager

Paula Nichols

Play-Tone Band

Mars Callahan

Ernie the Disc Master Engineer

Benjamin John Parrillo

Marine Sergeant

Robert Ridgely

Hollywood Showcase Announcer

Marc McClure

Hollywood Showcase Director

Karen Praxel

Hollywood Showcase Script Supervisor

Paulie DiCocco

Hollywood Showcase Floor Manager

Bryan Cranston

Virgil "Gus" Grissom

Charlie Frye

Plate Spinner

Colin Hanks

Male Page

Elizabeth Hanks

Bored Girl in Dress Shop

Renée Lippin

Beautician

Robert Wisdom

Bobby Washington

Heather Hewitt

Sales Lady

Elina Madison

Go-Go Dancer (uncredited)

Crew

Tom Hanks

Screenplay

Edward Saxon

Producer

Richard Chew

Editor

Tak Fujimoto

Director of Photography

Colleen Atwood

Costume Design

Tom Hanks

Director

Jonathan Demme

Producer

Howard Shore

Original Music Composer

Gary Goetzman

Producer

Terry Odem

Associate Producer

Merideth Boswell

Set Decoration

Victor Kempster

Production Design

Dan Webster

Art Direction

Howard Feuer

Casting

Charles Skouras III

Unit Production Manager

Pablo Ferro

Title Designer

Ken Peterson

Transportation Coordinator

Lisa C. Satriano

Second Assistant Director

Ellen Adolph

Production Accountant

John Pritchett

Sound Mixer

Randy Woodside

Gaffer

Audrey L. Anzures

Key Hair Stylist

Mark Cotone

Second Assistant Director

Anne Rapp

Script Supervisor

Cha Blevins

Costume Supervisor

Richard King

Supervising Sound Editor

Craig Haagensen

Camera Operator

Frank Griffin

Key Makeup Artist

Robin Citrin

Location Manager

Kathryn Blondell

Hair Department Head

Marsha Robertson

Unit Publicist

Baird Steptoe

First Assistant Camera

Will Blount

Property Master

Katterli Frauenfelder

First Assistant Director

Herb Ault

Key Grip

Daniel C. Striepeke

Key Makeup Artist

Gregory Lundsgaard

Steadicam Operator

Bob Beemer

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Keith P. Cunningham

Set Designer

Carolyn Elias

Hairstylist

Dixie Webster-Davis

Extras Casting

Eva Prappas

Key Costumer

Donna O'Neal

Costumer

Dan Moore

Video Assist Operator

Phillip V. Caruso

Still Photographer

Bill W. Benton

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

John Glaeser

Cableman

Catherine Chase

First Assistant Editor

Kimberly Harris

Supervising ADR Editor

Richard L. Carden

Dolly Grip

Steve Artmont

Makeup Artist

Elizabeth Rabe

Hairstylist

Christa Vausbinder

Production Supervisor

Alex Gibson

Music Editor

Alix Friedberg

Costumer

Stella Vaccaro

Set Designer

Norma Lee

Hairstylist

Robert Renga

Sound Recordist

R. Michael De Chellis

Rigging Gaffer

Doug Cowden

Best Boy Grip

Beth Horton

Second Assistant "B" Camera

Chris Carpenter

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Pamela Cederquist

Second Second Assistant Director

Marsha Bozeman

Set Costumer

Jon J. Bush

Set Dresser

Hugo Herrera

Greensman

Deva Anderson

Music Coordinator

Valerie T. O'Brien

Key Costumer

Larry Stelling

Picture Car Coordinator

Thomas R. Ward

Special Effects Coordinator

Rick Sharp

Makeup Artist

Mike Paventi

Transportation Captain

Bart C. Hubenthal

Set Dresser

Charlie Daboub

Assistant Art Director

Margaret E. Elliott

Makeup Artist

Christopher S. Nushawg

Assistant Art Director

David T. Cannon

Construction Coordinator

Toni Basil

Choreographer

David M. Roberts

Boom Operator

Patrik Alven

Assistant Property Master

Cindy Evans

Set Costumer

James E. Marchwick

Set Dresser

Martin Charles

Graphic Designer

Masako Masuda

Set Designer

Suzan Wexler

Set Designer

Larry Abbott

Makeup Artist

Janice Alexander

Hairstylist

Brent Lon Hershman

Second Assistant Camera

Doug Sieck

Set Dresser

Kent H. Jorgensen

Key Rigging Grip

Tommy Samona

Leadman

David A. Weinman

Construction Foreman

Frank Smathers

Foley Editor

Charleen Richards-Steeves

ADR Mixer

Gary A. Hecker

Foley Artist

Meredith Tucker

Casting Assistant

Monique 'Nico' Salvato

Assistant Sound Editor

Nerses Gezalyan

Foley Recordist

Susan Dudeck

ADR Editor

Catherine Calleson

Assistant Sound Editor

David Boulton

ADR Mixer

Bobby Johanson

ADR Recordist

Adria Later

Studio Teacher

Phil Hetos

Color Timer

John R. Hansen

Payroll Accountant

Gary Burritt

Negative Cutter

Kimberly Lambert

Dialogue Editor

Michael J. Benavente

Sound Effects Editor

Bill Dance

Extras Casting

Nicholas Korda

ADR Editor

Carmen Flores De Tanis

Assistant Sound Editor

Jeffrey Wilhoit

Foley Artist

Robert Troy

Dialogue Editor

Craig Heath

Sound Recordist

James Matheny

Dialogue Editor

Jeffrey R. Payne

Foley Editor

Diane Linn

ADR Recordist

Adam Schlesinger

Music

Reviews

Filipe Manuel Neto

⭐ 8/10

May 14, 2023

**Tom Hanks gave life and affection to this project, which easily reminds us of the golden years of rock-and-roll.**

The film is a very nice story that revolves around the world of ephemeral "rock and roll" stars. In 1964, a group of youngsters from Pennsylvania suddenly emerge from obscurity when their garage band, the Wonders, achieve fame and success on the back of a single song, "That Thing You Do". Believing in a potential that might not exist, the scouts of the music world waste no time and the boys get a contract with a major label, which is waiting expectantly for equally good songs. However, sudden fame will test the strength of the group, the maturity and responsibility of that guys and their ability to resist the temptations that money and notoriety always make possible.

Tom Hanks is more than a protagonist, he is the engine that pulls the film and makes it possible. He had achieved fame at the expense of good comedies like “Big” or “Money Pit”, but he had his consecration in films like “Sleepless in Seattle”, “Philadelphia”, “Forrest Gump” and “Apollo 13”. In addition, he already had two Oscars on his shelf, so he had the means to leverage a project he liked, and there is no doubt that he liked this one, and it was the lever that made it go forward. And contrary to what often happens in these situations, he didn't want the lead role: it's in a reasonably more modest role that we see him, a role where he doesn't fail to stand out.

The main role is assured by the band's boys, played by Tom Everett Scott, Johnatton Schaech, Steve Zahn, Ethan Embry and Giovanni Ribisi. All quite young, still at the beginning of their respective careers, all capable of relatively slick and honest work, especially Scott, who is given a little more visibility. We also have to highlight the pleasant participation of Liv Tyler and Charlize Theron.

The film is quite light, lively and cheerful, even in the most tense moments, and in which it takes paths that could make it denser, more dramatic and profound, which it always avoids. That was a conscious choice, I'm sure, and that's debatable. Where the film stands out is in its attention to historical details, in the care with which it seeks to recreate the era and environments through the choice of suitable props, good costumes and make-up, as well as a set of excellent sets. And being such a musical film, the soundtrack is unavoidable and vibrant, with songs that stay in the ear and where the main melody, created especially for the film emulating the aesthetics and taste of the time, deserves a very special highlight.

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