Abstract
This 412-page document lists feature films in which American Tobacco cigarettes were injected (or were attempted to be injected) into the plot, or in which they were placed as "set dressing." Examples: "Pall Mall, Carlton and Lucky Strike cigarettes will be used as set dressing in a Mini Mart in Comstock," "We provided LUCKY STRIKE cigarettes for Kathleen. The cigarettes have been established as her brand, and she will be smoking them throughout the film. The exposure for THE AMERICAN TOBACCO CO. should be great."
The document lists many significant family films in which cigarettes were placed or attempted to be placed: "Big Top Pee Wee" (starring Pee Wee Herman), "Ghostbusters II" (starring Dan Aykroid and Bill Murray), "Christmas Vacation" (with Chevy Chase), "Look Who's Talking Too" (with Kirstie Alley, John Travolta), "Ghost" (starring Demi Moore, Patrick Swayze), "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, "Big" starring Tom Hanks, and many more. A memo discussing the film "Clean and Sober" (about a man who checks himself into a detox center) says "Lucky Strike, Pall Mall and Carlton were given for use by Charlie and many other patients in the detox center."
The placement company proposed that, in a film about a high school student, the main characters' father and favorite hero both smoke American Tobacco cigarettes throughout the film ["Personal Choice," 1988, listed on page 180]. For another film about a 13 year old girl ("Far From Home" starring Drew Barrymore), it was proposed that her father smoke Carlton cigarettes [Page 183].
The document points out that in some cases cigarettes were provided for "good guy" roles (e.g., Page 313).
According to this list, cigarettes were purposely made to appear in hundreds of films: cigarettes are seen in the foreground and background, on billboards, in stores, inside a freezer, on a truck, in bars, around the Thanksgiving table, on signs and countertops. They are purposely used throughout many films by main characters: fathers, mothers, heroes, by supporting actors and extras, in response to stress and as props to make a character appear "cool."
This document gives us an idea how pervasive and purposeful cigarette placement has been in the movies.
User-Contributed Notes
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- Quotes
[From Page 4]:
FEATURE FILE MEMORANDUM
To: Bill Degenhardt American Tobacco
From: Gary Mezzatesta Date: 01-11-89
TITLE OF FILM: "Ghostbusters II" Type of Film: Theatrical Release Start Date: December 1988 Producer: Gordon Webb Director: Ivan Reitman Cast: Bill Murray, Dan Aykroid, Harold Ramis Location: New York City Distributor: Columbia Release Date: July 4, 1989
Storyline: After their fiasco in New York City last time, the Ghostbusters Inc. have been out of business. But Spengler, Venkman, Stantz, and Winston are reunited to help rid the city of a terrible green slime that has taken root under New York City...
POTENTIAL EXPOSURE: A LUCKY STRIKE DARTBOARD will be a favorite toy in Bill Murray's apartment.
[From Page 6]:
TITLE OF FILM: New York Story/Untitled Scorcese TYPE OF FILM: Feature Film START DATE: September 1989 PRODUCER: Martin Scorcese DIRECTOR: Martin Scorcese..
STORYLINE: "New York Stories" is a compilation of three short films - by Francis Ford Coppola, Woody Allen, and this particular one by Martin Scorsese. John (Nick Nolte) is an artist in love with Paulette, a young, beautiful, artist "wanna-be" who lives with him, and works for him. But when that doesn't work, things become more complicated than he ever imagined possible!
POTENTIAL EXPOSURE: John will smoke CARLTON CIGARETTES throughout the film.
[Synopsis of other films listed in the document and tobacco placements proposed for them]:
"Uncle Buck" starring John Candy, 1989: "Uncle Buck will smoke either CARLTON or LUCKY STRIKES and the PALL MALLS will be used with various other characters at the bowling alley."
"Shocker" aka "No More Mister Nice Guy", cast unknown about a college jock. EXPOSURE: "Assorted American Tobacco cigarettes will be sold at the snack stand at the school."
"Harlem Nights", produced and directed by Eddie Murphy, starring Eddie Murphy and Richard Pryor, 1989. EXPOSURE: "Both LUCKY STRIKE & PALL MALL PERIOD PACKAGING will be seen in the night club on the bar counter being smoked by the patrons."
"Christmas Vacation" starring Chevy Chase, 1989. EXPOSURE: "Cousin Eddie and various other characters will smoke LUCKY STRIKE and PALL MALL CIGARETTES."
"Cadillac Man" starring Robin Williams and Tim Robbins, 1989. EXPOSURE: "Robin Williams smokes LUCKY STRIKES throughout the film and some of his co-workers smoke PALL MALL."
"Enemies, A Love Story," starring Angelica Huston. EXPOSURE: "Angelica Huston smokes PALL MALL PERIOD CIGARETTES throughout the picture. LUCKY STRIKE packaging was also provided for...extra characters who are seen smoking in several scenes."
"Flatliners," about students in medical school, starring Kiefer Sutherland. EXPOSURE: "A small display with AMERICAN TOBACCO CIGARETTES will be used as set dressing for a convenience store that the students frequent while taking a break from class."
Page 69: "Result Memorandum" for the movie "Ghost," 1990, starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore: "Sam and Molly seem to be the perfect couple until a shooting takes Sam away from his beloved and he must find a way to communicate with Molly before she meets the same fate. While a fellow ghost is instructing Sam (Patrick Swayze) in a subway station, he gets a craving for cigarettes and reaches into a cigarette machine filled with CARLTON, MALIBU, PALL MALL and TARYETON CIGARETTES."
"Look Who's Talking Too," starring John Travolta and Kirstie Alley, 1990. EXPOSURE: "Three cartons of the following were provided for a scene in which James visits a night club with some friends: PALL MALL, CARLTON and MALIBU."
- Author
- Mezzatesta, Gary J. (General Manager, Unique Product Placement Co.)
Helped American Tobacco Co. by placing cigarettes & cig displays in big-screen films.
- Mcmullen, C.R., UPP Entertainment Marketing
- Recipient
- Degenhardt-B, Atco
- Mcginn-J, Atco
- Bahrenburg-H, Atco
- Mellett-J, Atco
- Region
- United States
- Operation/Project
- Social Acceptability
Industry efforts to counteract the decline in social acceptability of smoking worldwide.
- Type
- Memo
- Correspondence
- Litigation
- 10004026
- Subject
- Movies (Tobacco in the movies)
Document Images
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im .i, iiii lllr
"four agent for the movies
MOVIE MEMOR/INDUM
TO: Bill Degenhardt/~MEgICAN FROM: Gary Nezzatesta
DATE: 01-18-89
TOBACCO
TITLE OF FILM:
TYPE OF FILM:
START DATE:
DIRECTOR:
PRODUCER:
CAST:
LOCATION:
DISTRIBUTOR:
RELEASE DATE:
"LET IT RIDE"
Theatrical Release
August 1988
Fending
~ending
Richard Dreyfuss
Florida
Paramount
Pending
STORYLINE: Trotter (Richard Dreyfuss) has a problem, one that
continually le~s "to more problems - he's a chronic, completely mddicted
gambler. And horse racing is his chosen way to lose money. When one of
his co-workers, cabbie Looney, records the "tip of all tim" in his cab,
Trotter feels it's his chance to finally be a big winner. Even though
he just attended a "Better's Anonymous" meeting, having promised his
wife Pam that he would do so, he takes his last bit of money and bets it
all. He wins, bets more, wins, bets more and finally wins $69,0001 But
Trotter is so in debt and so addicted that he can't help hut bet it all
on the next race. It's neck and neck, b~t in the end, Trotter is
victorious.
POTENTIAL
EXPOSURE:
An AMERICAN TOBACCO BILLBOARD was supplied for use outside
Of therage~rae~ .which Trotter ea~'~t stay away fromE Als0
LUCKY ST~IKZS and CA~LTON cigarettes as well as various
pieces of signage will be used to dec0rate the bar across
the street from the racetrack.
gM:md
John Nellett
Jody Fisher
UNIQUE PRODUCT PLACEMENT • 10865 Burb~liik Bouiev~trcl • North H olh~voo8, C~li[onlia 91601 818) 508
d]s177
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MOVIE MEMORANDUM
TO: Bi]] DeBenhardt/AMEl%ICAN
TOBACCO
FROM: Gar~{ Mezzatesta
TITLE OF FILM:
TYPE OF FILM:
START DATE:
DIRECTOR:
PRODUCER:
CAST:
LOCATION:
DISTRIBUTOR:
RELEASE DATE:
"JOHNNY HANDBQME" ....
Theatrical ~elease ..........
October 1988
W~lter Hill J
Charles Roven
Micke~ Ro~xke
New Orleans
Pending
Pending
DATE: 01-18-89
STOEYLINE: Johnny Stedler's life has been an extremely
difficult one, due to the fact that his face is a disaster - cleft
palate and additional deformities that make everyone in his preseDce
extremely uncomfortable. He has led a life of crime, in and out of jail
with no hope for what anyone else would consider a normal life. But
Johnny does get his chance. When he is caught in a robbery, after he
watches his only friend in the world, Mickey, get double-crossed by a
no-good guy and his girl (Rafe and Sunny). Johnny is onoe again sent to
pmison. Rafe's goons inside the prisoD almost kill Johnny, and he ends
up in the hospital. Dr. Resher, who administers to Johnny's wounds,
make Johnny an offer: if Johnny will let him to attempt to fix his
deformities, Johnny will get a new identity and a chance at a real life.
Johnny reluctantly agrees~ and despite protests from a Lt. Drones, who's
convinced that Johnny is rotten to the core, Johnny gets a job at a
shipyard. He is hooked up to a radar ring around his ankle and must
check in every night at 8 PM. At the shipyard, he has his first
romantic e~counter with Donna, a bookkeeper, and his emotions are
touched for the first time. He has to decide for himself, in the end,
whether or not to avenge his friend Mickey's death, or just try to get
on with his new life.
POTENTIAL
EXPOSURE:
Various characters throughout the movie will smoke CARLTON,
PALL MALL, an4.~UGK~S~RIZEB.
GM:md
co: John Mellett
Jody Fisher
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TO: Bi]i Degenh~rdt/L~ERZC~hN
TOBACCO
TITLE OF FILM:
TYPE OF FILM:
START DATE:
PRODUCER:
DIRECTOR:
CAST:
LOCATION:
DISTRIBUTOR:
RELEASE DATE:
FEATURE FILM MEMORANDUM
FROM: Gary Mezzatesta
"GHOSTBUSTERS If"
Theatrical Release"
December 1988
Gordon Webb
Ivan R~itma~
DATE:
Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Raroid Ramis
New York City
Columbia
July 4, 1989
01-18-89
STORYLINE: After their fiasco in New York City last time, the
Ghostbusters Inc. have been out of business~ B~h Spengler, VenknLan,
Stantz, and Winston are reunited to help rid the city of a terrible
green slime that has taken root under New York City. It all starts with
a baby buggy running away from Lane, the mother of the baby inside -
which leads our heroes chasing down the source of the power that caused
the buggy to run away. Apparently, a painting in the Museum of Art
(where Lane works), holds the soul of & nasty man that wants to inhabit
Lane's baby's body, and Lane's co-worker Jason Js in cahoots with the
painting! Our heroes, who have been experimenting with the green slime
they have found, learn that it gets mean and menacing when people are
mean, and becomes a controllable substance when people are nice. So,
they get inside the Statue of Liberty, and travel the streets of New
York playing friendly music ("Everything Is Beautiful") ; which has a
positive effect on the slime. Lane is reunited with her baby, Jason and
the painting are destroyed, and life is returned to normal (?) in New
York City!
POTENTIAL
EXPOSURE:
LUCKY STRIKES and PALL MALLS were provided for use
throughout the movie.
GN:md
ec: John Nellett
Jody ~'isher
t'>, E]['E p!{( ]DI C"l ]q.%( :l{ Xt I" N"F . ~/}%IjS Bm'Fm. k ]hm h.~ md • Nc~, [h I~{~l/} ~,,t ,<1
[:ah6~J u[~ 911~A:I ~,l~, ~ll~ ~,%77
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Your agent for the movies
TO: Bill Degenhardt/AMERICAN
TOBACCO
TITLE OE FILM:
TYPE OF FILM:
START DATE:
DIRECTOR:
PRODUCER:
CAST:
LOCATION:
DISTRIBUTOR:
RELEASE DATE:
MOVIE MEMORANDUM
FROM: Gary Mezzstesta
DATE: 01-19-89
"UNCLE BUCK"
Theatrical Feature
January 4, 1989
John Hughes
Tom Jacob{ei =
John Cafl~9
Chicago, Illinois
Universal -
Eali, 1989
STORYLINE: The Russell family are your typical, double income
suburban family: C~hdy and Bob both work full-time, and their careers
seem to take a precedence over their family for career's sake. They
have just moved their unhappy kids to the suburbs of Chicago. Tia, the
oldest child, is a rebellious depressed teenager who hates her new
school; Miles is eight years old and trying desperately to fit in; and
Maizy, a six-yea:c-old who is insecure and intimidated by her teacher.
When Cindy's father suffers a heart attack and Bob and Cindy need to
leave to be with him, Bob ca~is his brother Buck (John Candy~ to come
and stay with Tia, Miles, and Maizy. Buck is a bachelor/gambler/slob,
who has a heart of gold, but who can't seem to make any lasting
commitments. His lady friend Chanice has all but lost her patience with
Buck because he doesn't want to grow up. But life with the Russell
children in a strange way agrees with Uncle Buck, and while he ends up
having a good effect on them, they h~ve an even greater effect on him.
Wqlen Cindy and Bob return ho~e, Miles has become accepted by his peers;
Maizy is much happier and more secure; Tia sheds some of her tough
exterior to acbtlit she needs her mother, and that her boyfriend Bug is
not good for her. Uncle Buck learns that he needs Chanice and conmlifs
to at least trying a regular job.
POTENTIAL
EXPOSURE:
Uncle Buck will smoke either CARLTON or LUCKY STRIKES
and the BAL~ALLE will he used with various other
character~ at the bo~wl~g alley.
GM:md
John Mellert
Jody Fisher
t NIOL t( i I{tJDI. C 1 I t. ~,f :l:;:vll{N'l" . 10,~15~5 Ih~l.}lanl~ l~t,uk.~ a, d • North th~][~
~*uul ( aliJ~ldt/~J[[i0] ~SISI 5{)8 ~N77
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Entertah~ment Marketing
TO:
FROM:
DATE :
RE:
MOVIE MEMORANDUM
Bill Degenhardt/AMERICANTOBACCO
Gary Mezzatesta~/I
February 7, 1989
"AMAN CALLED SARGE"
Bill, we have supplied LUCKY STRI~ and PALL MALLS
for Cannonts production "A MAN CALLED¸ SARGE,"
This is a World War II movie starring Chuck Norris.
GM:md
ee: John Mellett
Jody Fisher
10865 Burl~ank Boulevm-d • North Hollb'wood, Callfbrnia 91601 * (818) ~08~S877 - F.~ (818) 508-5373
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Enter~ainme~zt Marketing
( ~ ~ / ~ ii~/~¸¸¸
MOVIE MEMORANDUM
TO:R~11 ~e~enhardt/A~RICAN
TOBACCO
TITLE OF FILM:
TYPE OF FILM:
"START DATE:
DIRECTOR:
PRODUCER:
CAST:
LOCATION:
DISTRIBUTOR:
RELEASE DATE:
FROM: Gary Mezzatesta
DATE: ?-2-89
"COLD DOG SOUP"
Theatrical Feature
01/16/89
Alan Metter
Rich Abramson
Randy Quaid, Frank Whelan
LOS Angeles
TBA
Pending
STORYLTNE: Michael is ecstatic when "perfect body" Sarah, whom
he met at his health club, invites him to dinner at her house. She
insinuates that she is very interested in Michael, and leads him to
believe that the night could be ~ interesting. But when Sarah's
mom's dog Jaspar dies just before dinner, things take a different
twist. Sarah's ~om insists that Michael give Jaspar a decent burial,
and with the promise of spending the late hours with Sarah, Michael
agrees. He is picked up by a drive~ Jean-Claude, who forces Michael to
tell him what is in the plastic bag he is carrying - Jaspar.
Jean-Claude decides that they should sell Jaspar and split the profits.
So when Michael has no choice but to agree, they try to sell dead Jaspar
to a variety of ][ate night strange people - everyone from a furrier to a
chinese restaurant. When Michael returns for Sarah$ Jean-Claude,
Michael, and Sarah even try to revive dead Jaspar at a voodoo house]
When no one wants to buy Jaspar, Michael tries to bury Jaspar in a park,
but is stopped by the police. After all is said and done, Michael and
Jean-Claude leave in the sunset with Jaspar, to try and find a place for
Jaspar's b~rial.
POTENTIAL .....
EXPOSURE: I#hen Michael is first picked up by Jean-Claude,
is as he is ~rying to get o~ ~oard a taxi-~ab
featuring an AMERICAN TOBACCO Taxi Cab sign.
it
co: John Mellett
Obl: lrr
10855 Bur}rank Bm~levard - North HolJ}~vood, California 91601 - (818) 508 8877 • FAX (818) 508-5373
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Your agent for the movies
MOVIE MEMORANDUM
TO:Bill De~enhardt/~ERICAN
TOBACCO
TITLE OF FILM:
TYPE OF FILM:
START DATE:
DIRECTOR:
PRODUCER:
CAST:
LOCATION:
DISTRIBUTOR:
RELEASE DATE:
STORYLINE:
FROM: (~ary Mezzatesta
"UPWOP~LD"
Theatrical Release
October 1988
u Stan Winston
John Watson
Unknowns
LOS Angeles
Vestron
Pending
Gnorm the Gnome,
DATE: 2-2-89
an underground dweller, comes to
the surface of the earth (Upworld) in an attempt to use the power of the
sun to replenish the energy to the elfen gem, k~own as the Lumin. The
energy of the Lumin is the lifeblood of the gnome world. But a human
cop, Casey, accidentally gets the Lumin stolen from his possession, so
Casey and Gnorm team up to recover the stolen Lumin. Of course, many
mad-cap chases ensue as the complex plot is unx~veled, and the mystery
of the stolen 5umJn is solved.
POTENTIAL
EXPOSURE:
Casey calms his nelwes whenever Gnorm gets out of
control with CARLTON and LUCKY STEIKE cigaretts.
GM:irr
cc: John Mellett
UNIQUE PRODU(~" 1 LACEMENT • 10~65 B.rhank Boulevard • North Hdly,vood, Califonfia 9160! (818)
508-8877
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Entertai~lnmnt Mar,~etittg
MOVIE MEMORANDUM
TO: Bill Desenhardt/AMERICAN
TOBACCO
FROM:
TITLE OF FILM:
TYPE OF FILM:
START DATE£
DIRECTOR:
PRODUCER:
CAST:
LOCATION:
DISTRIBUTOR:
RELEASE DATE:
"FEAR"
Feature Film
03/07/89
Cliff EcEull~_
DATE: 02/23/89
Richard Kobritz
Rockne O'Bannon
Ally Sheedy, Lauren Hutton
Los Angeles
Vestron
Pending
STORFLINE: "Fear" begins with Cayce Bridges (Ally Sheedy)
helping the police track a mysterious man only known to them as
"psycho." Cayce can reach into the minds of people, a psychic. She has
become famous the past four years by helping police track down mass
murderers, serial killers, and kidnappers; all wRile writing several
books about her adventures. We follow Cayce and the police trying to
track "psycho" with her psychic powers; and we also follow the killer
through Cayce's visions, taking us to some of his murder scenes. The
suspense builds as the story jumps from Cayce's point of view to looking
through her "visions." Cayce gets frustrated as she learns that this
killer also has psychic powers and can control her own thoughts and
visions as well. As Cayce tracks the killer, he lets her know he has
control by knowing her every move, always one step ahead of her, and
striking when it is to his best advantage. She has decided she must
keep the police out, as the killer, her "Shadow Man," has proven to
Cayce that he can strike at anytime, threatening to do away with a
dctective's family if she interferes] Cayce becomes close to her
neighbor Jack; who, after keeping a close eye on Cayce (protection from
the "Shadow Man"), teams up with her to put a stop to the killer's
game. We see Cayce and the "Shadow Man" battling a mental war over who
has greater psychic control, until Cayce and Jack finally track down the
psycho and win in the end.
POTENTIAL
EXPOSURE:
The Iveco truck with the CARLTON/TAREYTON lozos on
both sides of the truck was provided for use in various
sceles ii thi" f{im, as-it is shot almost exclusively
outside. The recognizable signage will help connect
Cayce to the man she is tryi~g to catch.
CM;md
cc: John Bellett, Jody Fisher
I08@5B ~ k B ue~rd- No~iH<l[l~,lj{id~ Ca]i~rniagl601-,~IB! ~}~.8~77. }2kX~I~)~$~373
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E~tertain;l~nt Markelir~g
MOVIE MEMORANDUM
TO: Bill Desenhard~/~MEEICAN
TOBACCO
TITLE OF FILM:
TYPE OF FILM:
START DATE:
DIRECTOR:
PRODUCER:
CAST:
LOCATION:
DISTRIBUTOR:
RELEASE DATE:
CfL/
FROM: Gary Mezzateslta DATE:
3-9-89
"SHOCKER" aka ("No Mo~e Mister Nice
Feature Film
01/30/89
Wes Craven
Bareen Kumer
Unknowns
LOS Angeles
Universal
Pending
Guy")
STORYLINE: College jock Jonathan Ande%'son's life is torn to
pieces when his family is brutally murdered by a crazy killer, Pinker.
Pinker has made a deal with the devil and can jump from body to body,
always t~kin~ his life one step further. John%ban, joins with his
stepfather Parke:c (a police chief), and some friends, and together they
follow Pinke~ and set a trap that sends Pinker away - or does it?
POTENTIAL
EXPOSURE:
Assorted AMERICAN TOBACCO Q~GA~ETTES will he s01d
at the snack sta~d at the school.
GM:irr
ce: John Nell~t~
Jody Fisher
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E~L~t~dai~illent Marketing
MOVIE MEMORANDUM
TO :
Sill Desenhardt/
~/iERZCAN TOSACCQ
FROM: Gary Mezzatest~'DATE:
4/5189
TITLE OF FILM:
TYPE OF FILM:
START DATE:
DIRECTOR:
PRODUCER:
CAST:
LOCATION: Pending
DISTRZBUTOR:
RELEASE DATE:
"JUMP"
Feature Film
. Marqh 3Q, 1989 ....
Peter Winograd
Glenn Gebhard, Peter Winograd
Pending
Radiance International Films
Pendin~
STORYLINE: . "Jump" is the moving story of three lifelong
friends
sharing a common passion for skiing. Nick, Tom: and Joe are re~ited
for their annual ski vacation. Arriving in Lake Tahoe, they head for
the local handout bar to visii with old friends and relive past exploits
both on the slopes and off.
POTENTIAL
EXPOSURE:
ALUCKYS~RIKE,DAETBOARD is a ma~pr prop in ~he bar
scen~ w~ere ~he main characters play dar~s ~ith a
friend.
GM/ck
cc: John blellett
JDdy ~ishex
