Bird on a Wire (1990)

An old flame discovers her ex-boyfriend from the past is a relocated FBI informant out to stop the bad guys.

Director:

John Badham

Writers:

Louis Venosta (story), Eric Lerner (story),

Stars:

Mel Gibson, Goldie Hawn, David Carradine

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mel Gibson	...	Rick Jarmin
Goldie Hawn	...	Marianne Graves
David Carradine	...	Eugene Sorenson
Bill Duke	...	Albert Diggs
Stephen Tobolowsky	...	Joe Weyburn
Joan Severance	...	Rachel Varney
Harry Caesar	...	Marvin
Jeff Corey	...	Lou Baird
Alex Bruhanski	...	Raun
John Pyper-Ferguson	...	Jamie
Clyde Kusatsu	...	Mr. Takawaki
Jackson Davies	...	Paul Bernard
Florence Paterson	...	Molly Baird
Tim Healy	...	Paul
Wes Tritter	...	Scottie

Storyline

Rick has been given a new identity by the FBI for helping convict a drug dealing FBI agent. Fifteen years later his former fiance recognises him. Rick's FBI 'minder' has been replaced by a corrupt agent who helps the drug dealing FBI agent and his accomplice locate him. There are many subsequent chase scenes as Rick and girlfriend revisit his former haunts.

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Plot Keywords:

fbi | chase | pump action shotgun | blonde | removed tattoo | 

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Taglines:

He's every woman's dream and one woman's nightmare

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 May 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dos pájaros a tiro

Filming Locations:

3rd Street, New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$70,980,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Interscope Communications, Badham-Cohen Group, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Stephen Tobolowsky's character goes to check on Ricks last places of employment, you get a brief glimpse of the name David Puttnam and Columbia pictures. A reference to Puttnam's brief and turbulent time as head of Columbia pictures in the 80's.

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Goofs

The black Corvette in the opening credits is a 1980-1981 model (you can tell by the crossed flags on the nose and the shape of the bumper), but the car that pulls into the prison parking lot is a 1979 model.

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Quotes

[In an airplane.]
Rick Jarmin: Put you head between your knees.
Marianne Graves: [doing so] Now what?
Rick Jarmin: Kiss your ass goodbye. We got no wheels, and we're coming down!

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Crazy Credits

Credits scroll down instead of up

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Connections

Referenced in Animaniacs: Birds on a Wire/The Scoring Session/The Animaniacs Suite (1998)

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Soundtracks

"Bird On A Wire"
Written by Leonard Cohen
Produced and Arranged by David A. Stewart
Performed by The Neville Brothers
Courtesy of A&M Records

User Reviews

Nice, entertaining

I don't think this movie is as bad as some comments say, it is not a hit, but it is just the kind of movie I like very much and that IMHO are not being made anymore. It's a classical 90's easy-going action/comedy that won't disappoint anybody, who is not looking for a complicated plot and surprising end :)

I really enjoyed watching this movie, especially thanks to a beautiful couple made by Mel Gibson and Golide Hawn. It's just one of those movies you can watch over and over again and it sill keeps you entertained (well, the final scene seems a little boring to me...).

If you are looking for a nice action/comedy, check this one out, you won't be disappointed.