Tuff Turf (1985)

Director:

Fritz Kiersch

Writers:

Greg Collins O'Neill (story) and
Murray Michaels (story) ...

Release Date:

11 January 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Tagline:

Where enemies are made, reputations are earned and love is the most risky affair of all.

Plot:

A street rebel and his gang have trouble understanding themselves and their world.

Plot Keywords:

Gang | Gun | Cult Favorite | Female Nudity | High School Romance

Awards:

1 win

Cast

James Spader	...	Morgan Hiller
Kim Richards	...	Frankie Croyden
Paul Mones	...	Nick Hauser
Matt Clark	...	Stuart Hiller
Claudette Nevins	...	Page Hiller
Robert Downey Jr.	...	Jimmy Parker (as Robert Downey)
Olivia Barash	...	Ronnie
Panchito Gómez	...	Mickey
Michael Wyle	...	Eddie
Catya Sassoon	...	Feather
Francis X. McCarthy	...	Man at bus stop (as Frank McCarthy)
Art Evans	...	Security guard
Herb Mitchell	...	Mr. Russell
Ceil Cabot	...	Secretary
Donald Fullilove	...	Howard

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:R | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Culver City, California, USA

Company:

New World Pictures

Trivia:

A body double was used for Kim Richards' nude scene.

Goofs:

Continuity: In James Spader's first appearance in the film the patch on the back of his leather jacket is slashed with a car antenna. Although the patch is still slashed when he arrives at school the next day, it next appears fully intact later the same day at school while Spader is talking to Robert Downey, Jr.

Quotes:

Frankie Croyden: How many bullets are left in this gun, Nick? Enough for Morgan? For my father? For everybody else who doesn't fit in your turf?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in To the Devil a Dog (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

We Walk The Night

Revenge of the 80's: James Spader's a rebel without a clue!

Tuff Turf brings back memories of watching movies on Select TV. This 80's cult hit is about a young rapscallion who's life is turned upside down when his upper class father hits financial trouble forcing his family to move out to the 'hood. James Spader slowly learns how to deal with street life whilst his family adjusts to dealing with people that are of "lower social class". Interesting film staring James Spader as the young punk rich kid, Matt Clark as his shell shocked father, Robert Downey Jr. as his high school buddy and Kim Richards (Escape To Witch Mountain) as his soon to be girlfriend. The only part of the movie that gave me the willies was when his older (more culturally refined) brother pays a visit, there's an oedipal conflict between the two (the scene where the older brother embraces his mom far too long and hugs her too close for comfort)that would have given Freud a thrill to try and psycho-analyzed.

Recommended for 80's fans.