Breaking Away (1979)

A small-town boy obsessed with the Italian cycling team vies for the affections of a college girl.

Director:

Peter Yates

Writer:

Steve Tesich

Stars:

Dennis Christopher, Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern

Won 1 Oscar. Another 10 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dennis Christopher	...	Dave
Dennis Quaid	...	Mike
Daniel Stern	...	Cyril
Jackie Earle Haley	...	Moocher
Barbara Barrie	...	Mom
Paul Dooley	...	Dad
Robyn Douglass	...	Katherine
Hart Bochner	...	Rod
Amy Wright	...	Nancy
Peter Maloney	...	Doctor
John Ashton	...	Mike's Brother
Lisa Shure	...	French Girl
Jennifer K. Mickel	...	Girl
P.J. Soles	...	Suzy (as Pamela Jayne Soles)
David K. Blase	...	500 Race Announcer

Storyline

Best friends Dave, Mike, Cyril and Moocher have just graduated from high school. Living in the college town of Bloomington, Indiana, they are considered "cutters": the working class of the town so named since most of the middle aged generation, such as their parents, worked at the local limestone quarry, which is now a swimming hole. There is great animosity between the cutters and the generally wealthy Indiana University students, each group who have their own turf in town. The dichotomy is that the limestone was used to build the university, which is now seen as being too good for the locals who built it. Although each of the four is a totally different personality from the other three, they also have in common the fact of being unfocused and unmotivated in life. The one slight exception is Dave. Although he has no job and doesn't know what to do with his life, he is a champion bicycle racer. He idolizes the Italian cycling team so much he pretends to be Italian, much to the chagrin...

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Plot Keywords:

reference to the barber of seville the opera | working class | class differences | italian culture | speaking italian | 

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Taglines:

The movie that tells you exactly what you can do with your high school diploma!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance | Sport

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian French

Release Date:

20 July 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bambino

Filming Locations:

Highway 37/Dixie Highway, Indiana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,300,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$17,702, 15 July 1979, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$16,424,918

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

David K. Blase: The real life Little 500 cyclist as a Little 500 Race Announcer.

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Goofs

I believe I saw on a campus scene a large "I" which I think is the logo for the University Of Illinois whereas the movie is in Indiana.

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Quotes

Rod: You haven't pledged any sorority yet?
Blonde College Girl: No.
Rod: You should. Most frat guys won't go out with dormies. I'm the exception.
Blonde College Girl: Say, you're on the swimming team, huh?
Rod: Yep. Breaststroke.

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Crazy Credits

Introducing

Robyn Douglass

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Connections

Referenced in Casting By (2012)

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Soundtracks

Bury Me Not On The Lone Prarie
(uncredited)
Traditional ballad
Sung by Dennis Quaid with modified lyrics (Deliver Me From The A&P)

User Reviews

Simply the best.

Dennis Christopher stars as a local cutter in a small college town. He and his friends enter a crucial bike race that can make them or break them. This film offers great insight into its characters. Christopher is exceptional, and has never been better. He is supported by a first rate cast, especially Barbara Barrie and Paul Dooley as his mom and dad. Brillantley directed, edited, and scored, plus the film makes very effective use of its beautiful cinmeatography. The ending will have you on the edge of your seat. Now this is what movies are all about,

This moving drama is on my top ten favorite films of all time. And it should have won the best picture Oscar in 1979, instead of Kramer vs. Kramer. Rating: A PERFECT 10 out of 10.