Splash (film)

Splash (film)
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Name	Splash
Caption	Theatrical release poster
Director	Ron Howard
Producer	Brian Grazer
Writer	Brian Grazer and Ron Howard (story), Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel (screenplay)
Starring	Tom Hanks, Daryl Hannah, John Candy
Music	Ernest Troost
Cinematography	Donald Peterman
Editing	Otto M. Buder
Studio	Imagine Entertainment
Distributor	Paramount Pictures
Released	1984
Runtime	111 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$11 million
Gross	$69.8 million

Splash (film) is a 1984 American romantic fantasy comedy directed by Ron Howard and produced by Brian Grazer through Imagine Entertainment. The film stars Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah in a story blending folklore and contemporary New York City romance, with supporting performances by John Candy and Eugene Levy. Splash established Howard's transition from Happy Days-era television to major Hollywood features and launched Hanks's career as a leading man.

Plot

A young boy survives a fall into the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and is rescued by a mysterious woman of the sea, later revealed as a mermaid from an unnamed oceanic community. Years later, the boy, now adult artist Allen Bauer, reunites with the mermaid, who has adopted the human name "Madison" after overhearing the name of Madison Avenue on a ferry. Their romance unfolds amid comedic complications involving a skeptical brother, investigative journalists from publications like The New York Times, and a scientist from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution-style research facilities who becomes determined to prove the mermaid's existence. The presence of government-affiliated researchers and media figures escalates when the mermaid is captured, leading to a rescue that tests loyalties and reveals cultural clashes between urban life in Manhattan and mythic oceanic communities.

Cast and characters

The film features: - Tom Hanks as Allen Bauer, an aspiring artist raised in Madison, Wisconsin-referenced Midwestern milieu who moves to New York City. - Daryl Hannah as "Madison", the mermaid who adopts a human identity and navigates Manhattan society. - John Candy as Detective Ernesto, Allen's gregarious older brother who works in law enforcement influenced by municipal policing in New York City. - Eugene Levy as Dr. Walter Kornbluth, a quirky scientist modeled on personalities found at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Scripps Institution of Oceanography who seeks scientific acclaim. - Supporting roles include performers associated with the 1980s comedic scene and television actors from shows like Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show.

Production

Development began when Brian Grazer optioned a spec story by Grazer and Ron Howard inspired by maritime folklore and modern romantic comedies of the 1940s and 1950s, referencing auteurs such as Billy Wilder and studios like Paramount Pictures that had produced classic romantic fantasies. Ron Howard signed to direct following his success with Splash (film)-era projects transitioning from Happy Days; he collaborated with screenwriters Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel to blend screwball elements with contemporary settings. Casting discussions involved contemporary actors from Saturday Night Live, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour alumni, and rising film talents; Tom Hanks was chosen following his breakout television and film appearances, while Daryl Hannah was cast after screen tests emphasizing physicality and underwater performance. Principal photography took place on location in New York Harbor, at studio tanks in the Los Angeles area, and on sets influenced by nautical architecture found in ports like Boston and San Francisco. Practical effects were employed for underwater sequences, with stunt coordinators and marine trainers coordinating with animal-handling professionals experienced in aquatic filmmaking traditions originating from studios such as Universal Pictures.

Release and reception

Released by Paramount Pictures in 1984, the film premiered in major markets including Los Angeles and New York City. Box office success followed, with domestic grosses positioning the film among top romantic comedies of the year and reinforcing Tom Hanks' ascent in Hollywood. Contemporary reviews in outlets such as The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and Variety (magazine) ranged from praise for the chemistry between leads to critiques of tonal shifts between comedy and fantasy; critics compared its whimsical elements to earlier studio-era fantasies produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and RKO Pictures. The film received nominations and awards attention from organizations like the Golden Globe Awards and technical guilds for achievements in sound and production design despite controversy among some commentators about depiction of mythical beings in modern cityscapes.

Legacy and impact

The film is credited with launching the mainstream careers of Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah, influencing romantic comedies in the 1980s and 1990s and contributing to the rise of Imagine Entertainment as a major production company. Its blend of fantasy and urban romance inspired later works from directors linked to studios like Disney and Warner Bros. and informed television series that mixed supernatural premises with relationship drama. The movie's success also spurred discussions in film studies programs at institutions such as UCLA and USC School of Cinematic Arts about genre hybridity and star-making vehicles. Cultural references proliferated across media, including homages on Saturday Night Live, nods in animated series produced by Hanna-Barbera, and retrospective analyses at festivals like the Sundance Film Festival and museum programs at the Museum of Modern Art.

Category:1984 films Category:American romantic comedy films Category:Films directed by Ron Howard