Rocket Gibraltar (1988)

Director:

Daniel Petrie

Writer:

Amos Poe (written by)

Release Date:

2 September 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

An old patriarch unites for his birthday all members of his family. But the group of people is full of personal and social problems.

Plot Keywords:

Birthday | Patriarch | Precocious Child | Family Reunion | Lifeguard

Cast

Burt Lancaster	...	Levi Rockwell
Suzy Amis	...	Aggie Rockwell
Patricia Clarkson	...	Rose Black
Frances Conroy	...	Ruby Hanson
Sinéad Cusack	...	Amanda 'Billi' Rockwell (as Sinead Cusack)
John Glover	...	Rolo Rockwell
Bill Pullman	...	Crow Black
Kevin Spacey	...	Dwayne Hanson
John Bell	...	Orson Rockwell
Nicky Bronson	...	Max Hanson
Danny Corkill	...	Kane Rockwell (as Dan Corkill)
Macaulay Culkin	...	Cy Blue Black
Angela Goethals	...	Dawn Black
Sara Goethals	...	Flora Rockwell
Emily Poe	...	Emily Rockwell

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Canada:PG (Ontario) | West Germany:12 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Westhampton Beach, Long Island, New York, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Quotes:

Rolo Rockwell: I can't believe you're leaving right before Dad's party!
Crow Black: I haven't got time to party, I've gotta go play ball! Besides, I wish you'd all wise up! This isn't Levi's party, look at all this! This is your party! Watch the game! It's dedicated to Dad. So long!

Movie Connections:

References Jaws (1975)

Soundtrack:

Shorty George

The last viking

Daniel Petrie's "Rocketship Gibraltar" was shown recently on cable. It is an elegiac tribute, in many ways, to the great Burt Lancaster, whose last movie this was. The film's message seems to be telling us how impressionable children are as they interpret facts told by a grandfatherly figure.

When we first meet Levi Rockwell, he appears not to be well. His upcoming birthday is the occasion for a family reunion. We watch as the clan descends to the patriarch's home in Long Island. The adults are all self-absorbed in their own little dramas. The eight grandchildren take the occasion for reacquainting themselves with Levi. In turn, the grandfather tells them his views on dying and how he would love to be buried at sea, which he loves more than anything in the world. The film last sequence is amazing, as we see the children take charge of the situation.

Burt Lancaster is fine. It seems he must have known his own end was near as we watch him looking mistily toward a family that love him, but are somehow distant. The children, especially a sweet Macauley Culkin, are delightful to watch because being so young, they still know of malice, and other evils they will learn later on.

The film is sad and uplifting at the same time. We, in turn feel grateful Levi, the great writer has been given his last wishes.