Raising Arizona (1987)

When a childless couple of an ex-con and an ex-cop decide to help themselves to one of another family's quintupelets, their lives get more complicated than they anticipated.

Director:

Joel Coen

Writers:

Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

Stars:

Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter, Trey Wilson

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nicolas Cage	...	H.I. McDunnough
Holly Hunter	...	Edwina 'Ed' McDunnough
Trey Wilson	...	Nathan Arizona
John Goodman	...	Gale Snoats
William Forsythe	...	Evelle Snoats
Sam McMurray	...	Glen
Frances McDormand	...	Dot
Randall 'Tex' Cobb	...	Leonard Smalls
T.J. Kuhn	...	Nathan Arizona Jr. (as T.J. Kuhn Jr.)
Lynne Kitei	...	Florence Arizona (as Lynne Dumin Kitei)
Peter Benedek	...	Prison Counselor
Charles 'Lew' Smith	...	Nice Old Grocery Man
Warren Keith	...	Younger FBI Agent
Henry Kendrick	...	Older FBI Agent
Sidney Dawson	...	Moses, Ear-Bending Cellmate

Storyline

Recidivist hold-up man H.I. McDonnough and police woman Edwina marry, only to discover they are unable to conceive a child. Desperate for a baby, the pair decide to kidnap one of the quintuplets of furniture tycoon Nathan Arizona. The McDonnoughs try to keep their crime secret, while friends, co-workers and a feral bounty hunter look to use Nathan Jr. for their own purposes.

---

Plot Keywords:

arizona | baby | bounty hunter | quintuplets | biker | 

---

Taglines:

A comedy beyond belief.

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 March 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Arizona Junior

Filming Locations:

Camelback Mountain, Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$22,847,564 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Circle Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

There really is a Farmers & Mechanics Bank (though note that in the film it's Farmers and Mechanics Bank, with "and" instead of an ampersand) in Galesburg, Illinois. But there was a bank of the same name (relationship to the Illinois bank unknown) in the Coen Brothers' home town of Minneapolis. The bank no longer operates in the Twin Cities, but its 1942 building is considered historically significant and is now a hotel.

---

Goofs

Shadow of camera operator and vehicle while Leonard Smalls is cruising down the highway.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
H.I.: [voiceover] My name is H.I. McDonnaugh. Call me Hi.

---

Crazy Credits

filmed on location in Valley of the Sun, Arizona -- a great place to raise your kids

---

Connections

Referenced in Dead Horse (2004)

---

Soundtracks

"She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain"
(uncredited)
Traditional
Sung by John Goodman and William Forsythe in the car

User Reviews

A Coen Classic

The Coen Brothers first "masterpiece" black comedy was a 1987 surprise hit that raised the bar in the comedy genre. Future Academy Award winners Cage and Hunter star in what may be one of the most original stories ever to come out of Arizona. Goodman shows the world he can be funny as the misunderstood and somewhat crazy escaped convict. Cage and Hunter have so much love to give, they steal a baby from Mr. Arizona himself. A modern day (80's) fantasy that chooses an interesting setting to tell its tale. The hilarious innocence is non-stop as Raising Arizona showcases relationship, friendship, vanity, ignorance, and the search for peace and forgiveness. Who knows....maybe it was Utah?