Fandango (1985)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Kevin Reynolds

Writer:

Kevin Reynolds (writer)

Release Date:

25 January 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

It's the privilege of youth.

Plot:

Five college buddies from the University of Texas circa 1971 embark on a final road trip odyssey across the Mexican border before facing up to uncertain futures, in Vietnam and otherwise.

Plot Keywords:

Texas | College | Road | Trip | Male Nudity

Cast

Kevin Costner	...	Gardner Barnes
Judd Nelson	...	Phil Hicks
Sam Robards	...	Kenneth Waggener
Chuck Bush	...	Dorman
Brian Cesak	...	Lester Griffin
Marvin J. McIntyre	...	Truman Sparks
Suzy Amis	...	The Girl
Glenne Headly	...	Trelis
Pepe Serna	...	Gas Station Mechanic
Elizabeth Daily	...	Judy
Robyn Rose	...	Lorna
Stanley Grover	...	Phil's Dad
Jane A. Johnston	...	Phil's Mom
Don Brunner	...	Heckler #1
Michael Conn	...	Heckler #2
Michael Maxwell Katz	...	Heckler #3
Dana Halsted	...	Co-Ed
Karl A. Wickman	...	Helicopter Pilot (as Karl Wickman)
Michael M. Vendrell	...	Helicopter Policeman
Bill Warren	...	Truman
Bill Evridge	...	Rancher
Margaret Nelson	...	Rancher's Wife
Manley Adams	...	Man on the Bench
Ken Fagen	...	Man on the Bench
Bill Silver	...	Man on the Bench
Ben Graham	...	Mayor
Jewel Watson	...	Salad Lady
Allan Keown	...	Butcher
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Marco Perella	...	Jester (scenes deleted)

Directed by
Kevin Reynolds

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Kevin Reynolds		writer

Produced by
Pat Kehoe	....	associate producer
Kathleen Kennedy	....	executive producer
Frank Marshall	....	executive producer
Barrie M. Osborne	....	associate producer
Tim Zinnemann	....	producer
Steven Spielberg	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Alan Silvestri

Cinematography by
Thomas Del Ruth

Film Editing by
Arthur Schmidt
Stephen Semel

Casting by
Mary Goldberg

Art Direction by
Peter Landsdown Smith

Set Decoration by
Robert L. Zilliox		(as Robert Zilliox)

Costume Design by
Michele Neely

Makeup Department
Jean Austin	....	hair stylist
Michael Hancock	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Sheila Barnes	....	post-production supervisor
Barrie M. Osborne	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Pat Kehoe	....	first assistant director
Bob Roe	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Robert Scaife	....	construction coordinator
Tom Shaw Jr.	....	assistant property master
Rick Young	....	property master
B.J. Smith	....	construction medic (uncredited)

Sound Department
Vanessa Theme Ament	....	foley artist
Carl Fischer	....	boom operator
Walter A. Gest	....	sound re-recordist (as Walter Gest)
Richard Bryce Goodman	....	production sound mixer
Scott Hecker	....	sound editor
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer
John A. Larsen	....	sound effects editor
Robert J. Litt	....	sound re-recording mixer
Robert R. Rutledge	....	supervising sound editor
Elliot Tyson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jay Wilkinson	....	sound effects editor
Jack Woods	....	dialogue editor

Special Effects by
Lawrence J. Cavanaugh	....	special effects (as Larry Cavanaugh)
Terry W. King	....	special effects assistant
David Domeyer	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Rande DeLuca	....	stunts
Shane Dixon	....	stunts
Larry Holt	....	stunts
Fred Lerner	....	stunts
Ross Reynolds	....	stunts
Walter Robles	....	stunts
Reid Rondell	....	stunts
Bill Warren	....	stunt pilot: Truman
Chuck Waters	....	stunts
B.J. Worth	....	stunts
Robin Choate	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Peter J. Breen	....	dolly grip
Danny Buck	....	gaffer
James Etheridge	....	camera operator
John London	....	key grip
Kyle T. MacDowell	....	electrician
Benny McNulty	....	best boy electric
Mark Simon	....	second assistant camera
Don Smetzer	....	still photographer
Lito White	....	camera operator
Kenneth D. Zunder	....	first assistant camera
Glenn Dunn	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Darilyn Stringer	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Art Brouillard	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Donah Bassett	....	negative cutter
Kelly G. Crawford	....	assistant film editor
David Handman	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
James B. Campbell	....	orchestrator
Kenneth Hall	....	music editor (as Ken Hall)

Transportation Department
John Reade	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Todd J. Adelman	....	production medic
Pamela Alch	....	script supervisor
Scott Clark	....	aerial team assistant
Rande DeLuca	....	aerial coordinator
Michael Haley	....	choreographer (as Mike Haley)
David Israel	....	location manager
Melodee King	....	production assistant
Terri Larronde	....	title designer
Nanette Siegert	....	production coordinator
David Hakim	....	publicity writer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Amblin Entertainment
• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1985) (USA) (theatrical)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1988) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (video)

Other Companies

• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:PG | Iceland:L | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Alpine, Texas, USA

Company:

Amblin Entertainment

Trivia:

The movie is based on a short student film directed by Kevin Reynolds when he was in USC film school. The student film is basically just the skydiving sequence, based on a true story. Steven Spielberg, having seen the student film, recruited Reynolds to direct a full-length movie based on it.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: According to the date shown on the screen at the beginning, the movie takes place in May 1971. One of the first songs we hear at the frat house is Elton John's "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting", which wasn't released until 1973.

Quotes:

Gardner: She looks fast Truman.
Truman Sparks: Yeah, it's the stripes!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Return to 'Giant' (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

Spooky

A genuinely thoughtful film with a cool soundtrack

I first saw Fandango in 1990 on BBC2 by chance and as I knew I would be out part of the night I also recorded it. In the end I never went out but it was fate that I got to see and also record one of my favorite films of all time. How this film has never made it to DVD or video release is beyond me, but hey who am I. I'm not American and I never went to Vietnam but this film really hit a cord with me especially at a time when the world was going to war with Iraq and people genuinely thought that if it turned into a holy war we would eventually get drafted. I thought this was by far one of Kevin costners best roles as the cocky Gardner Barns who genuinely cared about his friends and what might happen to them, so before they go off to war they go and find a bottle of champagne who they have christened DOM which is their last link with youth and the good times they shared. It is a very subtle and poignant film and the characterization is played superbly. There are some extremely funny moments in this film especially the sky diving scene together mixed with very thoughtful and endearing moments one in particular when Phil shakes Doormans hand and they say goodbye to each other for the last time. All this along with a wonderful sound track by Pat Matheny and Lyle Mays made this a film I cannot speak highly enough of. Go and see it and also by all Pat Mathenys work which I have. Incidentally everyone who I have ever shown this film to have thoroughly enjoyed it and asked where they can get it, alas I could not help with their request.