Bank clerk Stanley Ipkiss is transformed into a manic superhero when he wears a mysterious mask.
Maska (1994) Online
Stanley Ipkiss (Jim Carrey) is a bank clerk that is an incredibly nice man. Unfortunately, he is too nice for his own good and is a pushover when it comes to confrontations. After one of the worst days of his life, he finds a mask that depicts Loki, the Norse night god of mischief. Now, when he puts it on, he becomes his inner, self: a cartoon romantic wild man. However, a small time crime boss, Dorian Tyrel (Peter Greene), comes across this character dubbed "The Mask" by the media. After Ipkiss's alter ego indirectly kills his friend in crime, Tyrel now wants this green-faced goon destroyed.
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
 | Jim Carrey | - | Stanley Ipkiss |
 | Peter Riegert | - | Lt. Mitch Kellaway |
 | Peter Greene | - | Dorian |
 | Amy Yasbeck | - | Peggy Brandt |
 | Richard Jeni | - | Charlie Schumaker |
 | Orestes Matacena | - | Niko |
 | Tim Bagley | - | Irv (as Timothy Bagley) |
 | Nancy Fish | - | Mrs. Peenman |
 | Johnny Williams | - | Burt |
 | Reg E. Cathey | - | Freeze (as Reginald E. Cathey) |
 | Jim Doughan | - | Doyle |
 | Denis Forest | - | Sweet Eddy |
 | Cameron Diaz | - | Tina Carlyle |
 | Joseph Alfieri | - | Police Officer |
| B.J. Barie | - | Alley Punk #1 |
Chuck Russell revealed that a lot of money was saved on special effects after Jim Carrey was cast. Carrey's body movements were so flexible and cartoonish, they didn't see the need to enhance them digitally.
The oversized teeth on the Mask character were originally to be used only during silent scenes. However, Jim Carrey learned to talk with them on to make his character that much more wacky.
The part when Jim Carrey is being chased by the gangsters and pulls the wet condom out of his pocket and says, "Sorry wrong pocket," was improvised by Carrey.
The banana-yellow suit that Jim Carrey wears is based on a suit which his mother made for him for his first attempt at stand-up comedy.
A lot of moments, particularly ones involving the dog, were ad-libbed on set. The scene where Milo won't let go of the Frisbee as Ipkiss tries to stash the money in his closet wasn't planned, and Jim Carrey ad-libbed Ipkiss' frustrated reaction to Milo not being able to run up the wall.
Prior to Cameron Diaz landing the role of Tina Carlyle, the producers had originally suggested Anna Nicole Smith for the role. Ultimately the decision was reversed when they found Cameron Diaz while leaving a modeling agency.
The interior shot of the garage where Ipkiss gets ripped off by the mechanics for his car is the same location as the firehouse from Ghostbusters - Die Geisterjäger (1984).
The one thing that attracted Jim Carrey to the project more than anything else was that Stanley Ipkiss, much like him, is a huge fan of cartoons.
Cameron Diaz's singing voice in the film was dubbed by Susan Boyd.
This was Cameron Diaz's first acting role.
Cameron Diaz had to audition 12 times for the part of Tina, only landing the role 7 days before shooting began.
Years before Die Maske 2 - Die nächste Generation (2005), there were, at some point, plans for 'The Mask II,' but that sequel was canceled after Jim Carrey' declined to reprise his role. There was even a contest from Nintendo Power magazine where first prize was a walk-on role in that movie. In their final issue, they issued an apology to the winner of the contest.
Jim Carrey based his character on his father's friend Mike "The Mask" Petronio.
The nightclub "Coco Bongo," where The Mask goes in this movie and The Majestic (2001), is also the name of a famous nightclub in Cancun, Mexico.
As befits Stanley's obsession with cartoons, The Mask acts like various cartoon characters, most notably the Tasmanian Devil (traveling as a tornado), Pepe Le Pew (romancing Tina in the park), Bugs Bunny ("dying" in the gangster's arms), and Tex Avery's Wolf (seeing Tina in the nightclub).
The line "You love me, you really love me!" after the Mask's "award acceptance speech" in the Coco Bongo is a parody of Sally Field's infamous 1985 Oscar acceptance speech, when she won Best Actress for Ein Platz im Herzen (1984). Her actual words were "You like me... right now, you like me!" but it is often misquoted as "...you really like me!" or "...you really love me!" (as in this example).
Jim Carrey was paid $450,000 for his work in the film, a huge bargain for New Line because the deal was signed before Ace Ventura - Ein tierischer Detektiv (1994) became a surprise hit, and made The Mask a hot property for the summer 1994 release schedule; Carrey then inked a $7 million before this film opened to star in Dumm und Dümmer (1994).
Based on a Dark Horse comic book series of the same name, which frequently comprised very dark horror stories on how the mask would murder people with cartoon antics. Chuck Russell has said that the movie script started off in that tone before being transformed as a vehicle for Jim Carrey's unique comedy.
An original script idea was for Stanley Ipkiss to meet the street gang that he later encounters as the Mask earlier in the film, getting mugged and having his watch stolen. This is why when his landlady asks him if he knows what time it is, he says, "Actually, no." The scene was likely shot since at least one trailer featured Stanley saying to the gang "I have no money" while listing other things he doesn't have. This scene is not in the final movie. As written, he would have offered them the mask, not knowing its power. Instead the gang just roughs him up and he goes home, which is why he's in shambles in the next scene. Jim Carrey would repeat this theme in Bruce Allmächtig (2003) when he confronts the gang in the alley.
The Mask asks "Where's a camcorder when you need it?" when police surround him. This is a veiled reference to the Rodney King beating, being one of the first, most notable incidents of police misconduct captured by private citizens on a camcorder.
Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz did their own dancing in the "Hey! Pachuco!" scene. While Carrey did his own singing, Diaz didn't.
New Line Cinema did not want Cameron Diaz for the film since she was a model with no acting experience, but director Chuck Russell was so insisted on having her that he threatened not to do the film if he couldn't cast her.
When the police are searching The Mask's pants, they had the pants cut off at the knees with prop guys handing items through the bottom.
When Ipkiss puts the mask on in his apartment, and becomes a whirlwind, lightning strikes in the background reveal a back lit image of his skeleton. The viewer will need to play the movie in slow motions as the scene is only 1/10th of a second long.
The role of Stanley Ipkiss was rewritten with Jim Carrey in mind. When director Chuck Russell gave the script to Carrey he said: "I feel like this was written for me".
It took 4 hours to apply the Mask.
When Stanley wakes from his dream to find Milo licking his ear, a freshly opened jar of peanut butter with a knife sticking out of it is visible on his nightstand, revealing how the crew got the dog to perform.
This movie was based on a comic book which was very different from the typical superhero strips. The original comic book series was adult-oriented, and centered on the mask turning whoever wears it into a psychopath killer, known as Big Head, who slays his victims in gruesome fashion for futile reasons.
The Mask's exclamation of "That's a spicy meatball!" after swallowing the bomb is quoting a famous commercial for alka-seltzer, in which an actor had to eat meatballs for over 60 takes because he couldn't deliver this line.
The producers hated the Cuban Pete musical number and wanted it gone. They insisted that it was too long, not funny and dragged, but test audiences loved it so much that they kept it in.
After the Mask pays a visit to the auto body shop, the sign above the door now has pieces broken off that transforms it from saying "Ripley's Auto Finishing" to "Rip Off", showing the mechanics as crooks.
According to director Chuck Russell, Jim Carrey would not go home until he did the Elvis impression.
Matthew Broderick, Steve Martin, Rick Moranis and Martin Short were considered for the role of Stanley Ipkiss.
Stanley's dog, Milo, doesn't exist in the original comic book series. He was created for the film.
All the bank scenes involving Stanley (without The Mask) were filmed in one shooting day and mostly in sequential order.
It was Jim Carrey's idea to have The Mask blow a smoke heart and snort an arrow through it.
The original script ended with Charlie Schumaker (Richard Jeni) wearing the mask.
When Stanley opens the drawer to get the concert tickets, it can be seen that they are for Royal Crown Revue, the band that performs "Hey Pachuco" later in the film.
This was the first of over ten Jim Carrey movies to reach $100 million dollars domestically at the box office.
Jim Carrey does an impersonation of Dirty Harry in the film. Carrey previously appeared in Das Todesspiel (1988), the final film in the "Dirty Harry" series. Carrey would impersonate Dirty Harry again in Bruce Allmächtig (2003).
The film's signature song, "Hey, Pachuco" by Royal Crown Revue was played during the trailer for Very Bad Things (1998). The film also starred Cameron Diaz.
When the Mask is doing his French impressions to seduce Tina and the cops arrive to arrest him, he says ''Merde'' which, in French, means ''shit''
Though Vanessa Williams was considered for the role of Tina, she recorded one of the film's songs, "You Would Be My Baby" which is the song playing towards the very end of the film.
The studio considered Anna Nicole Smith, Vanessa Williams and Kristy Swanson for Tina Carlyle.
Chris Elliott was considered for the role of Steady Eddy.
If you look closely, you will notice that the Mask wears clothing whose patterns match the pattern/color of Tina's clothes. For example, in their first scene together (the dance scene at the Coco Bongo), The Mask wears a yellow zoot suit while Tina wears a white and gold mini-dress (which symbolizes their attraction, for they both are wearing the same color of "yellow-gold/ or banana-yellow"). In the second scene (the Park Serenade scene) The Mask wears black and white French mime clothing (indicating his imitations of Pepe Le Pew) while Tina is wearing black pants, and a jacket with a black and white pattern on it ( the main colors of Penelope Pussycat, Pepe Le Pew's love interest). In their last scene (the scene where The Mask rescues Tina by swallowing Tyrell's bomb and flushes him down the Coco Bongo's ornamental fountain), the Mask wears a pinstriped Mafia suit, while Tina wears a vertical stripe-patterned dress.
As of 2017, this is the only comedy Chuck Russell has directed.
A Tasmanian Devil cushion can be seen on the sofa during Ipkiss' first transformation.
During The Mask's "death speech" he says "tell Tiny Tim I won't be coming home this Christmas". Tiny Tim is a character in A Christmas Carol. Jim Carrey would later voice Ebeneezer Scrooge and the three ghosts in Eine Weihnachtsgeschichte (2009).
Milo, Stanley Ipkiss's dog, is a Jack Russell Terrier.
Stanley Ipkiss' (in "The Mask" form) exclamation, "It was not me, it was the one-armed man!" was a clear parody of the movie Auf der Flucht (1993), wherein Dr. Richard Kimble (played by Harrison Ford) was convicted of his wife's murder despite his pleas that the real murderer was, in fact, a one-armed man.
The dog who played Milo was named Max, which is also the name of the dog in Der Grinch (2000), which also starred Carrey.
According to his memoirs Gary Kemp turned down the role of Tyrell in order to film Der Freischütz (1994).
The interior of the garage where Stanley has his car for repairs is an unused fire station in Los Angeles. The same fire station was used in Ghostbusters - Die Geisterjäger (1984) while the exterior shots are of Hook & Ladder fire station in New York the interior was filmed inside the fire station in Los Angeles.
The studio considered Richard Gere for Lt. Mitch Kellaway.
Stanley says, "I know CPR!", when he first discovers the Mask when he thinks it's a man floating in the river. In Dumm und Dümmer (1994), Lloyd (Jim Carrey) says the same thing to a guy choking.
Cast members Peter Riegert, Ben Stein, Tim Bagley, Eamonn Roche, Ivory Ocean, and Christopher Darga all appeared on the sitcom Seinfeld (1989).
The loaner car from the mechanic is a Studebaker. Two different models are used: the car that Stanley picks it up is a Studebaker Commander State 4-door sedan (1951), in the bridge scene the car that falls apart is a Studebaker Land Cruiser (1950); the difference is noticeable in the bullet nose fitting and the grille.
Jeri Ryan, Paige French, Melissa Anne Moore, Kelly Rutherford and India Allen were all considered to play Tina Carlyle before Cameron Diaz was cast.
Vanessa Angel was considered for the role of Tina.
The limousine that Stanley/Mask pulls up in at the Coco Bongo was a, 1990 Lincoln Town Car Stretched [Ultra Coach Builders].
Jim Carrey bears a strong resemblance to Dick York who also played a mild banker in Unglaubliche Geschichten: A Penny for Your Thoughts (1961).
Kelloways car is a, 1986 Ford LTD Crown Victoria.
Charlies car is a, 1970 Cadillac DeVille Convertible [68367F].
Eddies car was a, 1990 Lincoln Continental.
The "loaner" was a, 1951 Studebaker.
Dorians limo was a, 1979 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham.
Jim Carrey plays a character who can manipulate and alter reality very similar to Freddy Krueger who can manipulate dreams and realityz Chuck Russell directed Nightmare on Elm Street 3: The Dream Warriors (1987) seven years earlier.
The DVD/Blu-Ray contains two deleted scenes. One was an opening scene with the Vikings coming to bury the Mask on the shore. Another was in the warehouse after Peggy turns Stanley over to Dorian: she asks for a reward, but Dorian picks her up and throws her into the printing press, with a newspaper printing out that shows her smashed face and says she died that night. This last scene was deleted so that Peggy could be brought back for the hoped-for sequel. It was also deemed too dark by spectators during test screenings.
The never-made sequel would have had Dorian returning to perpetrate new villainy, and the Mask being worn by a woman as happened in the source comics.
In the original Dark Horse comic book series of the same name, the character of Stanley Ipkiss was much different, aside from very few similarities. As opposed to being portrayed as nice and lovable in this film, he was portrayed as very vengeful and murderous in the comics.
Similar to Stanley Ipkiss's character portrayal between the comic books and film, Lt. Kellaway's personality is vastly different in the original comic books. While Kellaway is shown to be more abrasive and surly in the film, he was more respectable and compassionate in the comics.
Though Stanley Ipkiss didn't have a girlfriend until the end of the film when he'd finally got with Tina, in the original comic book, he was shown to be in a relationship with a woman named Kathy. Kathy would go on to be one of the principal characters in the original The Mask comic books.
In the film, Stanley Ipkiss as The Mask gets his revenge on the mechanics by destroying their business and shoving car parts in their rear ends. However, in the original comics, Stanley Ipkiss as The Mask, or better known as the Big Head Killer, actually kills them by shoving car parts into them and mutilating their bodies.
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