Cigarettes & Coffee

Cigarettes & Coffee is a 1993 short film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, starring Philip Baker Hall. It tells the story of five people connected through a $20 bill. The film helped launch the career of Anderson and was used as a basis for his first feature film Hard Eight.

For the 2003 Jim Jarmusch film, see Coffee and Cigarettes.
Cigarettes & Coffee
Directed byPaul Thomas Anderson
Produced byPatrick Hoelck
Wendy Weidman
Kirk Baltz
Written byPaul Thomas Anderson
StarringPhilip Baker Hall
Kirk Baltz
Miguel Ferrer
CinematographyVincent J. Baldino
Edited byBarbara Tulliver
Distributed byHex Films
Release date
  • 1993 (1993)
Running time
24 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$20,000

Plot

At a diner, a man (Kirk Baltz) talks to an older man (Philip Baker Hall) over cigarettes and coffee. He explains how, while gambling at a casino, he wrote his name on a $20 bill for good luck. Before he could use it, he ran into his friend Steve and loaned him the bill. He headed back to the hotel room where he was supposed to meet Steve, Steve's wife, and his wife, but his wife told him that Steve and Steve's wife would come later. He saw the bill with his name on it on the floor and became paranoid. He took the bill and won almost $8,000 gambling with it.

At another table, a husband is angry that his wife lost all their money gambling on craps. He recounts his marriage proposal and lights his last cigarette. Outside, another man, Bill (Miguel Ferrer), finishes a phone call. He enters the diner and orders coffee and cigarettes, which he pays for with a $20 bill.

The younger man confesses that he has paid to have Steve and his wife killed. As the waitress gives them their change, the older man notices the name Douglas Walker written on a $20 bill. He drops it on the floor. Bill returns to his car and opens the trunk; Steve is inside. The couple leave, and the woman takes the bill. The older man tells the younger man that drinking coffee and smoking a cigarette will make everything right. Outside, the couple kiss. Bill drives down a desert road.

Cast

Production

While Anderson was working as a production assistant on a PBS movie, he met Philip Baker Hall and informed him about a short script he had written that he thought had a good part for Hall.[1][2] Hall read the script and was impressed.[1]

The film was made for $20,000[3] financed with money Anderson won gambling, his girlfriend's credit card, $10,000 his father, Ernie Anderson, had set aside for college,[4] and various other donations.[1] Anderson’s friend Shane Conrad had connections at Panavision and borrowed a Panavision camera for a weekend (which would normally cost $6,000).[1][2] Anderson hired a cinematographer, rented a Fisher camera dolly, and used his network to cast actors Miguel Ferrer, Scott Coffey, and Kirk Baltz.[1] Producer Wendy Weidman rented a cheap diner in the Gorman Pass for the shoot.[1]

Shooting was "chaotic", as the crew previously had not worked together, there was no strong producer or cinematographer, and Anderson was inexperienced.[1] The loan of the camera was extended from one weekend to six weeks, and the cinematographer was replaced.[1] However, Anderson had a clear vision for his characters and scenes, and he required few takes.[1]

Impact

The film became a sensation on the short film festival circuit[2] and was accepted to the 1993 Sundance Festival Shorts Program.[5] After it was screened at the program, Anderson was invited to the 1994 Sundance Institute to develop a feature film.[3] Anderson expanded the film into his first feature film, Hard Eight (1996).[2][5]

See also

References
  1. Richardson, John H. (September 22, 2008). "The Secret History of Paul Thomas Anderson". Esquire.com. Hearst Communications, Inc. Retrieved 2012-06-25.
  2. Mottram, James (2006). The Sundance Kids : how the mavericks took back Hollywood. NY: Faber & Faber, Inc. p. 129. ISBN 9780865479678.
  3. McKenna, Kristine (October 12, 1997). "Knows It When He Sees It". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-06-25.
  4. Ebert, Roger (October 19, 1997). "Director's talent makes 'Boogie' fever infectious". rogerebert.com. Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2012-06-25.
  5. Waxman, Sharon R. (2005). Rebels on the backlot: six maverick directors and how they conquered the Hollywood studio system. HarperCollins. p. 87. ISBN 978-0-06-054017-3.
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