Permanent Record (1988)

When David Sinclair, a popular and talented high school student commits suicide, his best friend Chris takes over many of his responsibilities; from the school production of "HMS Pinafore" ... See full summary »

Director:

Marisa Silver

Writers:

Jarre Fees, Alice Liddle,

Stars:

Pamela Gidley, Alan Boyce, Michael Elgart

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Pamela Gidley	...	Kim
Alan Boyce	...	David Sinclair
Michael Elgart	...	Jake
Jennifer Rubin	...	Lauren
Michelle Meyrink	...	M.G.
Keanu Reeves	...	Chris Townsend
Phil Diskin	...	Security Guard
Lou Reed	...	Himself
Garrett Lambert	...	Producer
Richard Bradford	...	Leo Verdell
Carolyn Tomei	...	Chemistry Teacher
Ron Eckert	...	Sailors Audition (as Ronald John Eckert)
Robert Hooven	...	Sailors Audition
Nick Kosovich	...	Sailors Audition (as Nicholas Kosovich)
Sean Patrick McNerney	...	Sailors Audition

Storyline

When David Sinclair, a popular and talented high school student commits suicide, his best friend Chris takes over many of his responsibilities; from the school production of "HMS Pinafore" to caring for his family, and soon finds himself under the same pressures.

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Plot Keywords:

high school | friend | suicide | h.m.s. pinafore | recording session | 

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Taglines:

High School. Senior Year. His Suicide Shattered Their World. Their Courage Drove Them To Pick Up The Pieces.

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Genres:

Drama | Music | Romance

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 April 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Last Song

Filming Locations:

Benson High School - 546 NE 12th Avenue, Portland, Oregon, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$1,893,139 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min 88 min (video)

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Chris: I egged your house once when I was a sophomore. I'm, like, apologizing.
Leo Verdell: I'm like, accepting.

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Connections

Referenced in Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy (2010)

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Soundtracks

"Moon River"
Written by Johnny Mercer & Henry Mancini

User Reviews

I actually Cried!

When I saw this movie in the video store, I thought, "Gee, this ought to be good for a few laughs." Well, I was right to some degree, since there is some humor in the movie, but I didn't count on the compelling story and even the fine performances. The movie is about a kid named David, who seems to have the perfect life. He has a loving family with a little brother who adores him, he is accepted to a great college, he is a musical director for the school's drama production, and his band just got the opportunity to record some of their songs. But he feels very pressured, and his best friend, played by Keanu Reeves, tries to get him to lighten up a little. What nobody knows is that David feels that he can't handle the pressure anymore. One night, at a party, David goes off to the cliffs by the ocean alone. Keanu follows, but when he goes to the area where David was just standing, David has disappeared, with nowhere he could have gone but down. Keanu's life starts going down the tubes, as he is the only one who knows that David didn't die in an accident, and that information is eating him up inside. When he finally tells David's parents, he thinks that things might start to go back to normal, but, suddenly, he is taking on the responsibilities that David has left behind, including writing the music for the band. The situation is at it's worst when Keanu is driving drunk and almost runs over David's little brother. As David's father is screaming at him for being so reckless, Keanu grabs him, starts hugging him, and, tearfully, says that he was David's best friend and should have been able to stop him. This scene literally brought me to tears, and I never would have thought that Keanu Reeves would ever be able to make me cry, even though I am a big fan of his. I think this is Keanu Reeves' best performance since "River's Edge". His portrayal of this character is basically the same as his portrayal of Ted Logan in the "Bill and Ted" movies, but with much more emotion and depth. The dramatic scenes, like when he throws a book through the principal's window, are done to perfection. He is completely believable as a confused teenager who suddenly finds himself alone without a best friend. The movie itself is an accurate reproduction of the effects of suicide on the people who are left behind: David's parents, brother, and friends. This is not a lighthearted film, but it is absorbing and actually makes you care about the characters. A definite must see.