Next of Kin (1989)

Director:

John Irvin

Writer (WGA):

Michael Jenning (written by)

Release Date:

20 October 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

A man murdered in cold blood. But they didn't count on his brother's revenge!

Plot:

Truman, a Chicago cop, sets out to find the killer of his brother. Meanwhile, another of his brothers, Briar (a hillbilly) decides to find the killer himself.

Plot Keywords:

Truck | Hillbilly | Kentucky | Country Boy | Mob

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Patrick Swayze	...	Truman Gates
Liam Neeson	...	Briar Gates
Adam Baldwin	...	Joey Rosselini
Helen Hunt	...	Jessie Gates
Andreas Katsulas	...	John Isabella
Bill Paxton	...	Gerald Gates
Ben Stiller	...	Lawrence Isabella
Michael J. Pollard	...	Harold
Ted Levine	...	Willy Simpson
Del Close	...	Frank
Valentino Cimo	...	Rhino
Paul Greco	...	Leo
Vincent Guastaferro	...	Paulie
Paul Herman	...	Tony Antonelli
Don Herion	...	Zimmer
Don James	...	David Jenkins
Brett Hadley	...	De Witt
Rodney Hatfield	...	Hollis
Richard Wharton	...	Selkirk
Kelly Blair	...	Tolbert
Charles Williams	...	Pierce
Michael Wise	...	Snakeman (as Mike Wise)
Joseph R. Ryan	...	Grandpa
Anndrena Belcher	...	Patsy-Ruth
Jean Ritchie	...	Charlene
Nancy Jeffrey	...	Aunt Peg
Tina Engle	...	Rosalie
Kimberly Cole	...	Hollis' Wife (as Kim Cole)
Starla Fugate	...	Gerald's Girl Friend
Michael Sassone	...	Melvin
Neil Giuntoli	...	Shorty
Fred Crowther	...	Old Hillbilly
Billy Branch	...	Preacher
Celene Evans	...	Lady Bartender
Michael Dizonno	...	Vinny
Tim Quill	...	T.V. Reporter
Jack Kandel	...	Hillbilly Bartender
Sally Murphy	...	Hooker
Mark Roberts	...	Furniture Mover
Patrick Balch	...	Young Boy (Kentucky)
Relioues Webb	...	Young Boy (Chicago)
Arlene Lencioni	...	Mrs. Isabella
Lew Way Chin	...	Violin Student
Morgan Biscomb Melto	...	Violin Student
Elizabeth Ruf	...	Woman in Bar
Al Neal	...	Man in Bar
Joelle Pasquale	...	Daughter #1
Mia Ferro	...	Daughter #2
Keela Gootee	...	Daughter #3
Pamela Prater	...	Selkirk's Wife
Mary Ann Berkhart	...	De Witt's Wife
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Minkoff	...	Bit (uncredited)
Lisa Niemi Swayze	...	Violinist (uncredited)
Alison Vesely	...	Reception Waitress (uncredited)

Directed by
John Irvin

Writing credits (WGA)
Michael Jenning		(written by)

Produced by
Les Alexander	....	producer
Larry DeWaay	....	executive producer (as Larry De Waay)
Don Enright	....	producer
Jeb Stuart	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Jack Nitzsche

Cinematography by
Steven Poster

Film Editing by
Peter Honess

Casting by
Jane Alderman
Shelley Andreas
Mindy Marin

Production Design by
Jack T. Collis

Set Decoration by
Jim Duffy

Costume Design by
Donfeld

Makeup Department
Art Anthony	....	makeup artist
Jerry Turnage	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Scott Maitland	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tony Adler	....	second assistant director
Bruce Moriarty	....	first assistant director
Noel Tomlinson	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Dennis DeWaay	....	construction coordinator (as Dennis De Waay)
Steve Fegley	....	construction foreman: Chicago
David Gianneschi	....	set dresser
Michael D. Gianneschi	....	set dresser (as Michael Gianneschi)
Joe A. Hawthorne	....	stand-by painter (as Joe Hawthorne)
Aaron Holden	....	property master
Fred Lucky	....	production illustrator
Joe Pfaltzgraf	....	assistant property master
Lawrence Ross Shepard	....	construction foreman: Kentucky (as Larry Shepherd)
Kenneth Turek	....	leadperson
John Warnke	....	set designer
Robert E. Knight	....	signwriter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Rick Alexander	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Dick Alexander)
John Benson	....	sound effects editor
Susan Dudeck	....	adr editor
Les Fresholtz	....	sound re-recording mixer
Walter Goss	....	sound re-recording mixer
Allen Hartz	....	adr editor
Frank Jones	....	sound re-recording mixer
Martin Maryska	....	supervising sound editor
James Matheny	....	dialogue editor (as Jim Matheny)
Vern Poore	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bob Ryan	....	cable operator
Rex Slinkard	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ralph Stuart	....	assistant sound editor
Jeff Watts	....	foley editor
Glenn Williams	....	sound mixer
Jeffrey A. Williams	....	boom operator (as Jeff Williams)
Christopher Flick	....	foley editor (uncredited)
Elliott Koretz	....	sound editor (uncredited)
David Williams	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Joe Lombardi	....	special effects coordinator
Paul J. Lombardi	....	special effects (as Paul Lombardi)
John D. Milinac	....	special effects (as John Milinac)
Larry Reid	....	special effects

Stunts
Tony Brubaker	....	stunts (as Anthony Brubaker)
Danny Costa	....	stunts (as Dan Costa)
Charles Croughwell	....	stunts (as Charlie Croughwell)
Eddie J. Fernandez	....	stunts (as Eddie Fernandez)
Gene Hartline	....	stunts
Johnny Hock	....	stunts (as John Hock)
Norman Howell	....	stunts
Bob Kurcz	....	stunts
Rick Le Fevour	....	stunts
Stacy Logan	....	stunts
Bob Minor	....	stunts
Mario Roberts	....	stunts
Ben Scott	....	stunts
Walter Scott	....	stunt coordinator
John Sherrod	....	stunts
R.L. Tolbert	....	stunts
John-Clay Scott	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
William L. Allen Sr.	....	best boy grip (as William Allen Sr.)
Jamie Barber	....	second assistant camera
Art Bartels	....	key grip
Alphonse Blumenthal	....	best boy electric
Eugene F. Crededio	....	gaffer (as Eugene Crededio)
George Kohut	....	camera operator
Peter Kuttner	....	first assistant camera
Gregory Lundsgaard	....	panaglide operator (as Greg Lundsgaard)
David Morenz	....	first assistant camera
James Plannette	....	chief lighting technician
John S. Robertson	....	dolly grip (as John Robertson)
Dean Williams	....	still photographer
Ron Kunecke	....	musco light operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Sean Susanin	....	casting assistant
Catherine Jane Holzer	....	extras casting (uncredited)
Mark A. Ridge	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Armand Coutu	....	costume supervisor: Hollywood
Jennifer Jobst	....	costume supervisor: Chicago
Cathy Newport-Logan	....	costumer
Gina Panno	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Rose Kuo	....	first assistant film editor
Michael S. Murphy	....	stand-by editor
Ed O'Malley	....	second assistant film editor
Steve Kraus	....	editing systems technician (uncredited)

Music Department
Gary Chang	....	composer: additional music
Todd Hayen	....	composer: additional music
Michael Hoenig	....	score mixer
David Kershenbaum	....	music supervisor
Jackie Krost	....	music supervisor
Richard Whitfield	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Armand Paoletti	....	transportation coordinator
Mike Robinson	....	special driver

Other crew
Betsy Bottando	....	location consultant: Chicago
Dru Anne Carlson	....	script supervisor (as Druanne Carlson)
Rosemary East	....	assistant: Patrick Swayze
Robert Easton	....	dialect coach
Don Herion	....	police advisor
Laura M. Kemp	....	assistant: Larry De Waay (as Laura Kemp)
Robin Matthews	....	assistant: John Irvin
Eileen McCahill	....	location consultant: Chicago (as Eileen Mc Cahill)
Al Neal	....	location consultant: Kentucky
Margaret J. Orlando	....	production secretary (as Margaret Orlando)
Tony Pacheco	....	production accountant
Susan Pickett	....	production associate
Herman Trent	....	location consultant: Kentucky
Edna Tromans	....	publicist
Carol Trost	....	production office coordinator
Robert Bernacchi	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Steve Kraus	....	dailies projectionist (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Lorimar Film Entertainment

Distributors

• Warner Bros (1989) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (1990) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Warner Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD)
• Constantin-Film (1990) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Roadshow Film Distributors (1990) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (1990) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1990) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1990) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (1990) (UK) (theatrical)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1993) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Argentina Video Home (1990) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Argentina Video Home (2000) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Phillips (1992) (Germany) (video) (laserdisc)
• Pioneer (2002) (UK) (DVD)
• Roadshow Home Video (1990) (Australia) (video)
• Warner Home Video (1990) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Chicago Studio Rentals Inc.  location services
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Special Effects Weaponry Inc.  weapons

Also Known As:

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-18 | Norway:15 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | Australia:M | Iceland:16 | Netherlands:12 | Portugal:M/16 | Argentina:16 | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Checkerboard Lounge, 423 E. 43rd Street, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Lorimar Film Entertainment

Trivia:

No nonsense Chicago PD detective Truman Gates (Patrick Swayze) is a particularly well healed policeman carrying both a Nickel plated Beretta 92F 9mm automatic in a shoulder holster and a snub nosed Smith and Wesson model 19 357 magnum revolver on his right hip. Presumably, the revolver is his backup weapon as he uses the Beretta almost exclusively.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: In the scene in the car where Truman informs Briar he is about to be a father, the Camaro's rear view mirror disappears.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Mighty Jack (#4.14)" (1991)

Soundtrack:

Orange Blossom Special

Love Chicago, love Patrick, love this movie!

I have lived in Chicago all my long life, and I really appreciated the authenticity of the location scenes. The area around Wilson and Broadway is exactly where the "hillbillies" (forgive the term), especially the single men, generally migrate. The characters in the flophouse and bars must have been taken right from the street. The "project" was recognizably Cabrini-Green, and Truman and Jesse's restored three-story house could almost be pinpointed to Lincoln Park (except that the "bad guys", and Truman, would never have found such open parking - they'd still be circling the block).

The cemetery where the final showdown occurred is Graceland on Clark Street, as everyone who has toured or visited this landmark would know. It was an agony to watch these historic monuments being blown to bits - I had to keep chanting "it's only a movie, it's only a movie".

But the readiness of the Kentucky family to jump into the fray was very real. That wonderful scene of the pickup truck on its northbound trek up Lake Shore Drive has its counterpart in everyday life, so I've been told.

Liam Neeson is a revelation. It's hard to believe that the same actor who plays to perfection this tight lipped, lean and mean mountain man, will later be nominated for an Oscar for his heart-rending portrayal of a sophisticated German industrialist.

Truman Gates may be my favorite Patrick Swayze character. There's plenty of blood-and-guts action, but it's easy to believe that a concert violinist would fall madly in love with this exciting, unusual cop. Helen Hunt, as his wife, and Michael J. Pollard as a benighted flophouse manager, are excellent in their roles.

See this movie for a good story, authentic characterizations, and non-stop interest.