The Mask

The Mask (1994)

Timing: 1:41 (101 min)

6.979/10
11148

7.989/10
590062

7/10
467000

All about film

Video 21

Photo 91

Actors and characters

Release date

1994-07-29

Country

United States

Production

New Line Cinema, Dark Horse Entertainment

Genre

Romance, Comedy, Crime, Fantasy

Budget

$23 000 000

Revenue

$351 583 407

Website

Director

Chuck Russell

Actors

Jim Carrey, Peter Riegert, Peter Greene, Amy Yasbeck, Richard Jeni, Orestes Matacena, Tim Bagley, Nancy Fish, Johnny Williams, Reg E. Cathey
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Producer

Robert Engelman, Michael De Luca, Deborah Moore, Chuck Russell, Mike Richardson

Operator

John R. Leonetti

Composer

Randy Edelman

Artist

Erik Olson

Audition

Fern Champion, Mark Paladini

Editing

Arthur Coburn
All team (130)

• This role was Cameron Diaz's debut.
• Susan Boyd sings for Cameron Diaz in the film.
• The scene where Jim Carrey runs away from pursuing gangsters and pulls a used condom out of his pocket, saying "Oops, wrong pocket," was improvised by the actor.
• The bright yellow suit worn by Jim Carrey's character was prepared by the costume designers at the actor's request. Jim wanted to pay tribute to his mother, who had sewn a similar suit for him for his first film auditions.
• Initially, the Mask's large teeth were intended to be used only for silent scenes. However, Jim showed skill and learned to speak while using these "overgrown teeth," which added to the eccentricity of his character.
• In the director's cut, the film begins with the arrival of Leif Erikson in future North America, who came to the "edge of the world" with the goal of taking the mask of the god Loki far away from people.
• According to director Chuck Russell, the decision to cast Jim Carrey in the lead role saved the filmmakers a considerable amount of money that would otherwise have gone to special effects. Carrey's movements were so "fluid" and cartoonish that there was no need to emphasize them with digital technology.
• Before casting Cameron Diaz as Tina, producers initially envisioned Anna Nicole Smith in the role.
• Cameron Diaz auditioned for the role of Tina 12 times and received the part only 7 days before filming began.
• Many scenes – particularly those involving the dog (Milo) – were invented on the set during filming. The scene in which Milo holds a frisbee in his mouth and won't let go when Jim Carrey's character pulls on it was not in the script. Similarly, Carrey improvised his character Stanley Ipkiss's reaction to Milo's inability to climb the prison wall and reach the window bars.
• At the 87th minute, gangster Eddie (Denis Forest) falls to the floor and grabs Milo by his hind legs; the next shot shows a completely different person holding him.
• Director Chuck Russell stated that the project was originally conceived as a rather brutal horror film, but subsequently transformed into a comedy.
• Jim Carrey's character was obsessed with cartoons in real life. Therefore, it was decided that when becoming The Mask, the character would portray various animated characters. As a result, famous characters from Warner Bros. such as Taz, Bugs Bunny, and Pepe Le Pew were featured.
• Susan Boyd sings for Cameron Diaz in the film.
• The scene in which Jim Carrey runs away from pursuing gangsters and pulls a used condom out of his pocket, saying “Oops, wrong pocket,” was improvised by the actor.
• The bright yellow suit worn by Jim Carrey's character was prepared by the costume designers at the actor's request. Jim wanted to pay tribute to his mother, who had sewn a similar suit for him for his first film auditions.
• Originally, The Mask's oversized teeth were intended to be used only for silent scenes. However, Jim showed skill and learned to speak using these “overgrown teeth,” which added to the eccentricity of his character.