American Flyers (1985)

Sports physician Marcus persuades his unstable brother David to come with him and train for a bicycle race across the Rocky Mountains. He doesn't tell him that he has a cerebral tumor. ... See full summary »

Director:

John Badham

Writer:

Steve Tesich

Stars:

Kevin Costner, David Marshall Grant, Rae Dawn Chong

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kevin Costner	...	Marcus Sommers
David Marshall Grant	...	David (as David Grant)
Rae Dawn Chong	...	Sarah
Alexandra Paul	...	Becky
Janice Rule	...	Mrs. Sommers
Luca Bercovici	...	Muzzin
Robert Townsend	...	Jerome
John Amos	...	Dr. Conrad
Doi Johnson	...	Randolph
John Garber	...	Belov
Jennifer Grey	...	Leslie
James Terry	...	Hitchhiker
Jessica Nelson	...	Hitchhiker
Tom Lawrence	...	Timekeeper
Brian Drebber	...	Race Announcer

Storyline

Sports physician Marcus persuades his unstable brother David to come with him and train for a bicycle race across the Rocky Mountains. He doesn't tell him that he has a cerebral tumor. While David powerfully heads for the victory, Marcus has to realize that the contest is now beyond his capabilities. / Features great views of the Rockies and an insight in the tactics of bicycle races.

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Plot Keywords:

bicycle | bicycle race | brother | female nudity | sex scene | 

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Taglines:

They're four one-of-a-kind people taking a chance...and going after a dream that will change their lives forever. [Theatrical]

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Genres:

Drama | Sport

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 August 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Američki letači

Filming Locations:

Laclede's Landing, St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$1,400,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

WW Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the "shake and brake" "wheelsucker" horse race scene, the cowboys were told to hold the horses back, as the director wanted the cyclists to beat them.

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Goofs

During stage two in the Colorado National Monument, they start off going the correct direction from East to West, but not far into the stage they are riding next to a rock wall and are going from West to East (the wall is on the riders' right hand side). If they were going the same direction as when they started, the rock wall would be on the riders' left hand side instead of their right hand side.

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Quotes

David: How can you be sick? You have a mustache.

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Connections

References Star Trek (1966)

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Soundtracks

"Brand New Day"
Written by Lee Ritenour, Matheison & Veitch
Performed by Danny Hutton

User Reviews

American Flyers

Knockout photography and a winning performance from Costner stand out in this well made film about a school dropout who rivals his doctor brother in Rockies bicycle race.