Eddie and the Cruisers (1983)

A television newswoman picks up the story of a 1960s rock band whose long-lost leader - Eddie Wilson - may still be alive, while searching for the missing tapes of the band's never-released album.

Director:

Martin Davidson

Writers:

Martin Davidson (screenplay), Arlene Davidson (screenplay)

Stars:

Tom Berenger, Michael Paré, Joe Pantoliano

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Berenger	...	Frank Ridgeway
Michael Paré	...	Eddie Wilson
Joe Pantoliano	...	Doc Robbins
Matthew Laurance	...	Sal Amato
Helen Schneider	...	Joann Carlino
David Wilson	...	Kenny Hopkins
Michael 'Tunes' Antunes	...	Wendell Newton
Ellen Barkin	...	Maggie Foley
Kenny Vance	...	Lew Eisen
John Stockwell	...	Keith Livingston
Joe Cates	...	Lois
Barry Sand	...	Barry Siegel
Vebe Borge	...	Gerry Rivers
Howard Johnson	...	Wendell's Replacement
Joey Balin	...	Eddie's Replacement

Storyline

They say rock 'n' roll never dies, but one early morning in 1964, Eddie Wilson's car took a dive off a New Jersey bridge with the troubled rock idol at the wheel. His body was never found. Twenty years after the lead singer of Eddie and the Cruisers disappeared, the band's songs are hotter than ever. And renewed interest in the band leads television reporter Maggie Foley to pursue a tantalizing mystery: What if Eddie is still alive? The circumstances surrounding his death are just shadowy enough to make it a distinct possibility, and someone (could it be Eddie?) has been ransacking the homes of the surviving band members in a desperate search for tapes of the group's visionary, never-released album. As Maggie interviews the former band members, the pieces of the puzzle start to fit - but only until still deeper mysteries begin to surface.

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Plot Keywords:

reporter | 1960s | rock 'n' roll | bridge | new jersey | 

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Taglines:

In 1964, Eddie Wilson had it all. He had genius. He had vision. He had the hottest rock n' roll band in the country. Then, suddenly one night, his car went off a dark New Jersey bridge. His body was never found. But his dream was never lost. And twenty years later, the mystery of Eddie Wilson begins to unravel.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Music

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 September 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

Eddie i krazowniki

Filming Locations:

Highlands, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,444,886, 25 September 1983, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$4,786,789

Company Credits

Production Co:

Aurora

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Eddie Wilson says they played at Fairleigh Ridiculous up in Madison. This was a reference to the school Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, New Jersey. Fairleigh Ridiculous was a nickname for the university.

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Goofs

In the scene where Frank says he is teaching high school in Vineland, he mispronounces Vineland. He says VINE-LAND, when it should be pronounced VINE-lind, as in Cleveland.

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Quotes

Frank Ridgeway: [after unmasking Doc] Why did you do this?
Doc Robbins: Shortcuts, kid. I never could do things the easy way.
Frank Ridgeway: Doc, why this little game and the car business?
Doc Robbins: I figured Joann had the tapes, I knew she wasn't gonna give them to me. Maybe you, Wordman, maybe if she'd give them to you.
Joann Carlino: What would you do if you had the tapes, Doc.
Doc Robbins: Try me, just try me. I have it made. For once in my life, I'd bring home a winner... I'd like that.
Joann Carlino: I once asked Eddie why he kept you around. You know what he said? He said, "Doc's a ...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in The Cinema Snob: Hack-O-Lantern (2012)

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Soundtracks

Down on My Knees
Written by John Cafferty (uncredited)
Performed by John Cafferty (lead vocal and guitar), Michael 'Tunes' Antunes (saxophone), Gary Gramolini (guitar), Robert Nicholas Cotoia (piano), Patrick Lupo (bass), Kenny Jo Silva (drums)

User Reviews

A Simple Plot

This post is not to review or rate "Eddie", but to explain the background of the plot for other posters who seem confused on this.

"Eddie" was based on the 1980 book, same name, by Paul F. Kluge (avail used Amazon). The basis of the plot is simple: If the lead singer in a #1 rock group dies, how are the lives of others in the group altered? Do they try to keep it going, or let go and move on? Do they ever try to "go back"? Et cetera. Mr. Kluge's inspiration for this was the death of Buddy Holly in 1959. He long wondered what happened to the members of the Crickets after that day, and turned his curiosity into this book.

All this per a personal conversation I had with Mr. Kluge in 1996. At that time, he was a professor at a small Ohio college.