Rumble Fish (1983)

Director:

Francis Ford Coppola

Writers:

S.E. Hinton (novel)
S.E. Hinton (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

21 October 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The Motorcycle Boy's Never Coming Back

Plot:

Rusty James, an absent-minded street thug struggles to live up to his legendary older brother's reputation, and longs for the days when gang warfare was going on.

Plot Keywords:

Motorcycle | Fight | Thug | Gang Warfare | Based On Short Story

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Matt Dillon	...	Rusty James
Mickey Rourke	...	The Motorcycle Boy
Diane Lane	...	Patty
Dennis Hopper	...	Father
Diana Scarwid	...	Cassandra
Vincent Spano	...	Steve
Nicolas Cage	...	Smokey
Chris Penn	...	B.J. Jackson (as Christopher Penn)
Laurence Fishburne	...	Midget (as Larry Fishburne)
William Smith	...	Patterson the Cop
Michael Higgins	...	Mr. Harrigan
Glenn Withrow	...	Biff Wilcox
Tom Waits	...	Benny
Herb Rice	...	Black Pool Player
Maybelle Wallace	...	Late Pass Clerk
Nona Manning	...	Patty's Mom
Sofia Coppola	...	Donna (as Domino)
Gian-Carlo Coppola	...	Cousin James (as Gio)
S.E. Hinton	...	Hooker on Strip
Emmett Brown	...	Mr. Dobson
Tracey Walter	...	Alley Mugger #1
Lance Guecia	...	Alley Mugger #2
Bob Maras	...	Policeman
J.T. Turner	...	Math Teacher
Keeva Clayton	...	Lake Girl #1
Kirsten Hayden	...	Lake Girl #2
Karen Parker	...	Lake Girl #3
Sussannah Darcy	...	Lake Girl #4
Kristi Somers	...	Lake Girl #5
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Shannon Sukovaty	...	Party Girl (uncredited)

Directed by
Francis Ford Coppola

Writing credits
S.E. Hinton		(novel "Rumble Fish")
S.E. Hinton		(screenplay) &
Francis Ford Coppola		(screenplay)

Produced by
Doug Claybourne	....	producer
Francis Ford Coppola	....	executive producer
Gian-Carlo Coppola	....	associate producer
Roman Coppola	....	associate producer
Fred Roos	....	producer

Original Music by
Stewart Copeland

Cinematography by
Stephen H. Burum

Film Editing by
Barry Malkin

Production Design by
Dean Tavoularis

Set Decoration by
Mary Swanson

Costume Design by
Marjorie Bowers		(as Marge Bowers)

Makeup Department
Jeff Kennemore	....	makeup artist
Tim McNally	....	makeup artist
Susan Mills	....	hair stylist
Peter Tothpal	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Thomas M. Hammel	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mark Radcliffe	....	second assistant director
David Valdes	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Sue Belknap	....	set dresser
Nick F. Caprarelli	....	lead man (as Nick Caprarelli)
Carl Carlson	....	set dressing coordinator
Roger Dietz	....	set artist
Douglas	....	property master
Kurt Ehlers	....	construction foreman
Donald Elmblad	....	set dresser (as Don Elmblad)
Dennis Gassner	....	graphic designer
Robert C. Goldstein	....	set designer (as Robert Goldstein)
Allan Kuhn	....	property assistant
John O'Connell	....	set painter
John J. Rutchland III	....	construction foreman
John J. Rutchland Jr.	....	construction coordinator (as John Rutchland)
Scott Clark	....	sets and props (uncredited)

Sound Department
C.J. Appel	....	sound editor
James Austin	....	sound re-recording mixer
Richard Beggs	....	sound designer
Richard Beggs	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tom Bellfort	....	assistant sound editor
Edward Beyer	....	supervising sound editor
Allan Byer	....	sound effects recordist
David Carroll	....	adr system
Marissa De Guzman	....	assistant sound editor
Doug Hemphill	....	sound effects recordist
Michael Jacobi	....	sound editor
Kevin Lee	....	assistant sound editor
David Parker	....	sound mixer
Mark Rathaus	....	assistant sound editor
Maurice Schell	....	sound editor
Leslie Shatz	....	dialogue editor
Randy Thom	....	production sound mixer
Randy Thom	....	sound effects recordist
Randal A. Goya	....	foley mixer (uncredited)
Maurice Schell	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Mel Zelniker	....	adr recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Martin Bresin	....	special effects
Dennis Dion	....	special effects coordinator
David Marconi	....	production supervisor: effects unit
Robert Spurlock	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Martin Bresin	....	special visual effects (as Marty Bresin)
Bill Hansard Jr.	....	process coordinator (as William Hansard Jr.)
Robert Spurlock	....	special visual effects

Stunts
Tim A. Davison	....	stunts (as Tim Davison)
Freddie Hice	....	stunts
Billy Hank Hooker	....	stunts (as Bill Hooker)
Buddy Joe Hooker	....	stunt coordinator
Buddy Joe Hooker	....	stunts
Dick Ziker	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Jack Bauer	....	grip
Ben Beaird	....	dolly grip
Mat Beck	....	computer camera operator: effects unit (as Matt Beck)
Dustin Blauvelt	....	assistant camera
Bokhof	....	camera operator
Emmett Brown	....	key grip
John Englert	....	best boy grip
Bill Fleming	....	grip
Michael Franz	....	lamp operator
Steven Hiller	....	second assistant camera
Greg Langham	....	lamp operator
Michael Laws	....	lamp operator
Brian Lee	....	video engineer: Electronic Cinema
Larry Lydia	....	dolly grip
George Mooradian	....	assistant camera: effects unit
Robert Primes	....	director of photography: effects unit
Alex Skvorzov	....	best boy electric
Louis Tobin	....	gaffer (as Lou Tobin)
Ken Wheeland	....	grip: effects unit
James Zenk	....	still photographer
Steve Crain	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Rick Fee	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
J. Randolph Harrison	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
David A. Smith	....	video assist operator (uncredited)
Buddy Wilson	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
John Robert Askew	....	extras casting
Jeff Block	....	extras casting
Janet Hirshenson	....	casting: Zoetrope studio

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kathleen Gore-Misko	....	costume supervisor: women (as Kathleen L. Gore)
Ernest Misko	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
John David Coles	....	apprentice editor
Dorian Harris	....	first assistant editor
Louise Rubacky	....	apprentice editor
Isabella Wood	....	apprentice editor
J. Kathleen Gibson	....	apprentice editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Robert Randles	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Joseph W. Hunt	....	transportation coordinator
William Jakubecy	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Mitchell Amundsen	....	technician: Electronic Cinema (as C. Mitchell Amundsen)
Jean A. Autrey	....	production auditor
Aleta Chappelle	....	production aide (as Aleta Wood-Chappelle)
Corky Coble	....	projectionist
Linda Coyle	....	first aid
Loolee DeLeon	....	secretary: Mr. Coppola
Tony Dingman	....	talent liaison
Teri Fettis-D'Ovidio	....	production coordinator (as Teri Fettis)
Richard Fitzgerald	....	craft service
Frank Gardner	....	location caterer
Cathy Mickel Gibson	....	assistant to auditors (as Cathy Gibson)
Jean Gonzales	....	teacher
Bill Groves	....	production aide
Nancy Haigh	....	production aide
Valerie Hoffman	....	press liaison
Maureen Hogan	....	production aide
Mark Johnson	....	physical advisor
Sandy King	....	script supervisor
Michelle Komriz	....	location caterer
Murdo Laird	....	systems engineer: Electronic Cinema
Douglas T. Madison	....	production aide (as Doug Madison Jr.)
Lillian Michelson	....	researcher
Anahid Nazarian	....	systems librarian
Ed Sienkaniec	....	location catering
David A. Smith	....	technician: electronic cinema
Michael Smuin	....	special choreography
Dana Spiotta	....	student observer
Sara Ström	....	secretary to Mr. Coppola
Daniel R. Suhart	....	dialogue coach (as Dan Suhart)
Judy Thomason	....	office coordinator: Los Angeles
Paul Tompkins	....	location manager (as Paul Tompkins)
Charles Ursitti	....	pool advisor
Beverly Walker	....	public relations consultant
Laurel Walter	....	assistant to producers
Ralph S. Winger	....	effects man
Kurt Woolner	....	film finance representative
Jill Simpson	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
August Coppola	....	dedicatee

Production Companies

• Hotweather Films
• Zoetrope Studios

Distributors

• Universal Pictures (1983) (USA) (theatrical)
• Eureka Entertainment (2012) (UK) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• AMLF (1984) (France) (theatrical)
• Kinosto (1984) (Finland) (theatrical)
• MCA Home Video (1984) (USA) (VHS) (pan and scan)
• TV3 (1990) (Finland) (TV)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1994) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (1998) (USA) (VHS) (widescreen)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1999) (Finland) (TV) (TV1)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2003) (Finland) (DVD)
• Nelonen (2007) (Finland) (TV)
• Argentina Video Home (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Editora Peixes (19??) (Brazil) (DVD) (????)
• Tocantins (19??) (Brazil) (VHS) (????)
• VTC-Video (????) (Finland) (VHS)
• Versátil Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• The David Forbes Company  marketing and distribution services

Also Known As:

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Finland:K-16 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:16 (1984) | Singapore:M18 | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Iceland:14 | Portugal:M/16 | Peru:14

Filming Locations:

Sapulpa, Oklahoma, USA

Company:

Hotweather Films

Trivia:

A clock can be seen in every scene of this movie.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Camera shadow visible on Rusty-James' torso after The Motorcycle Boy has shown him the photograph of himself in the magazine.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Midget:Biff Wilcox is looking for you, Rusty James. He's gonna kill you, Rusty James.

Movie Connections:

Featured in 'Rumble Fish': The Percussion-Based Score (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

Don't Box Me In

My favorite film of all time

I realize that's not saying it's the best ever made, but it certainly marked me so much as to regard it as my all-time fave.

The movie reminisces of Elia Kazan's Dean movies, and "The Wild One" starring Marlon Brando. Just as those movies (and much better done, IMHO), Rumble Fish is about violence as a consequence of uncomprehension; loneliness; and family relations in a sordid, black and white environment. Not even this choice is random, as its B&W filming (and somewhat deficient sound quality) is yet another commentary on life as seen through the eyes of its characters - and author.

Every scene in this movie brings a realization, though some of the dialogues are indeed a bit naive when seen after its time. And here I could engage in a debate on "naiveté" vs. "savvy", and whether an innocent view of life really means less message depth (or whether a jaded outlook really guarantees understanding), but I digress. The point is, I'm a 27-year old man and I still cry every time I see this movie.

The first time I saw Rumble Fish, I thought I identified with the Motorcycle boy and his alienation from the world he was put in. After a few more times, I realized more and more that I "was" Rusty-James - That, to an extent, EVERY man is a little Rusty-James; trying to live up to a hero image, and helplessly watching as your ideal slips past your reach and lets himself be killed, without you ever understanding anything until it's too late... or is it?

Where Mel Gibson and Bruce Willis speak to the hero we WANT to be, Matt Dillon speaks to the MEN who want to be that hero, and leads the way out.

*sigh*

The astounding soundtrack, exquisite photography and perfect takes don't hurt any, either.

Buy it, rent it, whatever. See the goddamn movie. It is worth a try (and a much, much better score than 6.7).