Racing with the Moon (1984)

Director:

Richard Benjamin

Writer:

Steve Kloves (written by)

Release Date:

23 March 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

It was 1943...There was so little time left to learn about life!

Plot:

In 1942 California, two young men await induction into the U.S. Marines and say goodbye to their girlfriends.

Plot Keywords:

Friendship | Small Town | Cigarette Smoking | Train | Nude Swimming

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Sean Penn	...	Henry 'Hopper' Nash
Elizabeth McGovern	...	Caddie Winger
Nicolas Cage	...	Nicky / Bud
John Karlen	...	Mr. Nash
Rutanya Alda	...	Mrs. Nash
Max Showalter	...	Mr. Arthur, Piano Teacher
Crispin Glover	...	Gatsby Boy
Barbara Howard	...	Gatsby Girl
Bob Maroff	...	Al
Dominic Nardini	...	Soldier with Annie
John Brandon	...	Mr. Kaiser
Eve Brent	...	Mrs. Kaiser
Suzanne Adkinson	...	Sally Kaiser
Shawn Schepps	...	Gretchen
Charles Miller	...	Arnie
Patricia Allison	...	Mrs. Spangler
Al Hopson	...	Elmer
Ted Grossman	...	Skating Soldier
Scott McGinnis	...	Michael
Brian Trumbull	...	Kid in Skating Rink
Kate Williamson	...	Mrs. Winger
Julie Philips	...	Alice Donnelly
Fielding Greaves	...	Mr. Donnelly
Arnold Johnson	...	Tattoo Artist
Kevin Fraser	...	Marine
Gerry Gibson	...	High School Principal
Page Hannah	...	High School Girl
Shane Kerwin	...	R.D. guy at Bowling Alley
Jonathan Charles Fox	...	Arnold Billings
Michael Madsen	...	Frank
Dana Carvey	...	Baby Face
Victor Rendina	...	Mr. Luzzato
Rebecca Pollack	...	Girl in Bowling Alley
Victor Paul	...	Pool Hall Barman
Lou Butera	...	A Pool Player
Michael Talbott	...	Bill
Phil Adams	...	Bill's Shipmate
Chuck Picerni Jr.	...	Bill's Shipmate (as Charlie Picerni Jr.)
Philip Romano	...	Bill's Shipmate
Arlin Miller	...	Minister at Funeral (voice)
Jan Rabson	...	Sailor (voice)
Walter Matthews	...	Sailor (voice)
Carol Kane	...	Annie the Hooker
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard Calkin	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Patrick Green	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Steven Lambert	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Patrick McGaughy	...	Bit Part (uncredited)
Michael Schoeffling	...	Amputee Soldier (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Benjamin

Writing credits
Steve Kloves		(written by)

Produced by
Alain Bernheim	....	producer
John Kohn	....	producer
Art Levinson	....	line producer

Original Music by
Dave Grusin

Cinematography by
John Bailey

Film Editing by
Jacqueline Cambas
Nicholas James

Casting by
Wallis Nicita		(as Wally Nicita)

Production Design by
David L. Snyder

Art Direction by
Joe Wood		(as Joseph Wood)

Set Decoration by
Jeannine Claudia Oppewall		(as Jeannine Oppewall)
Jerry Wunderlich

Costume Design by
Patricia Norris

Makeup Department
Lillian Barb	....	hair stylist
Allan Snyder	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Art Levinson	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William S. Beasley	....	first assistant director
Duncan Henderson	....	second assistant director (as Duncan S. Henderson)

Art Department
Matty Azzarone	....	assistant property master
Nigel A. Boucher	....	props (as Nigel Boucher)
Frank L. Brown	....	props
Pat O'Connor	....	property master (as Patrick O'Connor)
Jerry Wunderlich	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Chris Carpenter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Doreen A. Dixon	....	adr editor
Dody Dorn	....	foley editor
Dennis Drummond	....	sound effects editor
Robert Grieve	....	supervising sound editor
J. Paul Huntsman	....	adr editor
Jerry Jost	....	sound recordist
William Manooch	....	sound mixer
William L. McCaughey	....	sound re-recording mixer (as William McCaughey)
Mel Metcalfe	....	sound re-recording mixer
Terry Porter	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Roesch	....	foley artist
Rod Rogers	....	assistant sound editor
Pat Suraci	....	boom operator
Michael Tomack	....	sound effects editor

Special Effects by
Garry Elmendorf	....	special effects (as Garry J. Elmendorf)

Stunts
Richard L. Calkins	....	stunts
Pat Green	....	stunts (as Patrick Green)
Steven Lambert	....	stunts
Mike H. McGaughy	....	stunts
Victor Paul	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Bob Apger	....	second assistant camera (as Robert W. Apger)
Michael W. Blymyer	....	electrician
Len Hekel	....	still photographer
Al LaVerde	....	key grip
Ronald W. McLeish	....	gaffer
George R. Schrader	....	dolly grip
Philip D. Schwartz	....	first assistant camera
Robert M. Stevens	....	camera operator
Ty Suehiro	....	grip
Allen Daviau	....	director of photography: additional photography (uncredited)
Elliot Davis	....	camera operator: additional photography (uncredited)
Randall Robinson	....	first assistant camera: additional photography (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jered Green	....	wardrober: men (as Jered Edd Green)
Nancy McArdle	....	wardrober: women

Editorial Department
Mary Andrews	....	assistant editor
Donn Aron	....	apprentice editor
Bob Noland	....	color timer
Michael Oleksinski	....	apprentice editor
Ginny Parillo	....	negative cutter

Music Department
Else Blangsted	....	music editor
John Charles	....	additional orchestrator
Billy May	....	orchestrator
Dennis S. Sands	....	music recordist
Jon Charles	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Howard A. Small	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Bruce Bahrenburg	....	publicist
Carolyn Bauer	....	assistant to director
Lou Butera	....	pool technical advisor
Richard L. Calkins	....	animal handler
Dan Curry	....	title designer
Lois Kramer Hartwick	....	technical advisor
Jim Kosner	....	technical advisor: Mendocino
Toni Lemos	....	coordinator: Mendocino
Dennis Maguire	....	production assistant
Michael McGrath	....	bowling technical advisor
Jeanne Mickelson	....	production assistant
Elaine Rockett	....	assistant to producer
Sara Romilly	....	assistant to producer
Dan Roth	....	adr voice
Marshall Schlom	....	script supervisor
Chriss Strauss	....	assistant to producer
Tom Wells	....	production assistant
Jain Lemos	....	location manager (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Jaffe-Lansing
• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1984) (USA) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1988) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1984) (France) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1984) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (1984) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Argentina Video Home (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2005) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-edited)
• CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Brunswick Corporation  bowling equipment
• Glen Glenn Sound Company  re-recording
• Group IV Recording  music recording
• Michael Shultz & Co.  location catering
• Modern Film Effects  titles
• Weatherwax Trained Dog  animal handler

Also Known As:

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:11 | USA:PG | Iceland:L | Argentina:13 | Portugal:M/12

Filming Locations:

Fort Bragg, California, USA

Company:

Jaffe-Lansing

Trivia:

First produced screenplay of scriptwriter Steve Kloves.

Goofs:

Continuity: Right before the fight scene in the bowling alley, Gatsby Boy bowls a strike. However, when Hopper charges down the alley after him, the 7 pin is shown still standing.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film (2006)

Soundtrack:

Says My Heart

A Beautiful Coming of Age

We never get to see the two main characters in the movie go to War. This world war 3 setting coming of age drama is not so much about the war over in Japan but the war on the home front. Growing up in 1943 in small town California, searching for love and meaning. Sean Penn is great in his role. Even more, Nicolas Cage is better as his close friend and side kick. Whether for comic relief of ream moments of edgy drama, Cage delivers. Also, a surprise in the movie is the performance of Elizabeth McGovern who is always beautiful. The three quickly discover life as they grow up before the two boys are shipped out to the Pacific. Michael Madsen and Crispin Glover pop into the movie with small roles. A nice movie, I wasn't expecting much until the movie started. It is a guarantee crowd pleaser.