Waiting for the Light (1990)

A former vaudevillian magician (MacLaine) moves her straight-laced niece (Garr) and her two mischievous children to a small town. When the two kids get in trouble with a neighbor for ... See full summary »

Director:

Christopher Monger

Writer:

Christopher Monger

Stars:

Louis Guzzo, Colin Baumgartner, Teri Garr

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Louis Guzzo	...	National Newscaster
Colin Baumgartner	...	Eddie
Teri Garr	...	Kay Harris
Hillary Wolf	...	Emily
Shirley MacLaine	...	Aunt Zena
Jeff McCracken	...	Charlie
William Dore	...	Reverend Jones
Amanda Arguello	...	Screaming Girl #1
Michelle Wartman	...	Screaming Girl #2
Robert Hardwick	...	Dr. Kelley
LeChelle Anne Goncalves	...	Screaming Girl #3
Robin Ginsburg	...	Miss Hicks
Arthur H. Cahn	...	Mr. Patterson
Lyn Tyrrell	...	Woman in Crowd
Matt Magnano	...	Tommy

Storyline

A former vaudevillian magician (MacLaine) moves her straight-laced niece (Garr) and her two mischievous children to a small town. When the two kids get in trouble with a neighbor for stealing vegetables from his garden, the aunt concocts an illusion of ghosts in revenge. Only trouble is the whole town believes it is real and soon the press is swarming the town and a major magic trick is required for everyone to save face.

---

Plot Keywords:

hoax | independent film

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 November 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Aspettando la luce

Filming Locations:

Buckley, Washington, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$808,690 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Epic Productions, Sarliu/Diamant

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

In a scene set in 1962, characters tell the box-office clerk at a movie theater they want two tickets to The Miracle Worker. Prior to the introduction of multiplex cinemas years later, it was unnecessary to specify which movie you wanted to see because the theater was only showing one picture.

---

Crazy Credits

After the closing credits, Kay (Teri Garr's character) changes the "open" sign on the diner door to "closed"

---

Soundtracks

"Memories of El Monte"
Written by Frank Zappa and Ray Collins
Performed by The Penguins

User Reviews

Where have all the Good Movies gone? Here's one!

Wonderful family drama/comedy starring MacClaine and Garr that entertains and warms the heart every time I see it. Strongly recommended for all ages from 9 year olds to grannies. Lovely period piece capturing 1962. The story encompasses the struggling Garr, her two children and Aunt Zena (MacClaine) trying to make ends meet without a man as head of the household. The "family" heads west to take the inheritance of a long forgotten relative that has left Garr a run down, ramshackle road side cafe right out of the late 1940's. The tenacious Garr, as the sweet but determined mom, gets the whole family into the restoration and opening of the cafe. But wait......Aunt Zena is an old circus performer with card tricks, magic powders and a jesters sense of humor......she loves to get the kids and her into silly and sometimes dangerous games.....What happens next is a delightful combination of "Miracle at Lords" thrown together with the Cuban missile crises (with authentic TV news from the real event) and a "ghost" prank that gets totally out of hand. This film entertains, philosophizes, questions religiosity and gives an unnerving glimpse of the frightening scare of October 1962's Cuban missile crises. In the end one is left with the wonder of faith, family and rediscovered love. Oh, and the music from the era of the early 60's is just great!

Recommend STRONGLY as a FEEL GOOD FILM 10 out 10