Harry and the Hendersons [Bigfoot and the Hendersons] *** (1987, John Lithgow, Melinda Dillon, David Suchet, Don Ameche) – Classic Movie Review 12,419

The Steven Spielberg-produced 1987 fantasy comedy film Harry and the Hendersons [Bigfoot and the Hendersons] stars John Lithgow, Melinda Dillon, David Suchet and Don Ameche, plus Kevin Peter Hall as the cuddly hairy monster Bigfoot called Harry. 

Co-writer/ producer / director William Dear’s 1987 American fantasy comedy film Harry and the Hendersons [Bigfoot and the Hendersons] stars John Lithgow, Melinda Dillon, David Suchet and Don Ameche.

The uncredited executive producer Steven Spielberg’s production is about an ordinary Seattle family on holiday in north-west America when their car crashes into the cuddly hairy monster Bigfoot called Harry (Kevin Peter Hall) and then adopt him.

It is a pleasant family tale, capably told, though too soft and sentimental, with Lithgow holding it together as George Henderson, the dad whose home is invaded. More good laughs and a sharper wit and attitude would help the script by William Dear, William E. Martin and Ezra D Rappaport

Rick Baker provides the makeup and the creature designs for Harry. He won an Oscar for Best Makeup at the 60th Academy Awards.

The cast are John Lithgow as George Henderson, Melinda Dillon as Nancy Henderson, Margaret Langrick as Sarah Henderson, Joshua Rudoy as Ernie Henderson, Kevin Peter Hall as Harry (in-suit performer), Rick Baker as Harry (puppeteer), Tom Hester as Harry (puppeteer), Tim Lawrence as Harry (puppeteer), Fred Newman as Harry (voice), Mitch Laue as the UNC Wilmington Legend (puppeteer), Lainie Kazan as Irene Moffat, Don Ameche as Dr Wallace Wrightwood, David Suchet as Jacques LaFleur, M Emmet Walsh as George Henderson Sr, William Ontiveros as Sgt. Mancini, William Dear as Sighting Man, Laurie O’Brien as Screaming Woman, John Bloom as Other Sasquatches, Debbie Carrington as Little Sasquatch, Britches as Little Bob, William Frankfather as Schwarz, and Robert Isaac Lee as Kim Lee.

The cryptozoological creature Bigfoot is partly inspired by claims of sightings in the Pacific Northwest, California, and other parts of the US and Canada over three centuries.

It was shot in the Cascade Range of Washington state near Interstate 90 and the town of Index near US 2, as well as Seattle’s Wallingford, Ballard and Beacon Hill neighbourhoods and other locations in and around Seattle.

Harry and the Hendersons grossed $50 million worldwide on a budget of $10 million.

It inspired the TV spin-off sitcom Harry and the Hendersons, produced by Amblin Television for Universal Television. It aired in syndication from January 13, 1991, to June 18, 1993, with 72 half-hour episodes produced. Bruce Davison and Molly Cheek played the parents George and Nancy.

It was released as Bigfoot and the Hendersons in the UK.

Bruce Broughton composes the score and co-writes ‘Love Lives On’ with Barry Mann (music), Cynthia Weil (lyrics) and Will Jennings (lyrics), performed by Joe Cocker over the end credits.

Kevin Peter Hall (May 9, 1955 – April 10, 1991) was 7 ft 2 in tall and frequently played monster characters. He was the title character in the 1987 film Predator and its 1990 sequel Predator 2.

While working on the TV series Harry and the Hendersons, Kevin Peter Hall announced that he had contracted HIV from a blood transfusion during surgery for injuries he sustained in a car accident. He died from AIDS-related pneumonia on April 10, 1991, aged 35.

Melinda Dillon (October 13, 1939 – January 9, 2023) was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her roles as Jillian Guiler in Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) and Teresa Perrone in Absence of Malice (1981).

© Derek Winnert 2023 – Classic Movie Review 12,419

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