Grandview, U.S.A. (1984)

With only a week left before graduation, a young dreamer itches to renounce an uninspiring scholarship, stand up to his despotic father and pursue a career in oceanography. But, has anyone ever spread his wings away from Grandview, U.S.A.?

Director:

Randal Kleiser

Writer:

Ken Hixon

Stars:

Jamie Lee Curtis, C. Thomas Howell, Patrick Swayze

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jamie Lee Curtis	...	Michelle 'Mike' Cody
C. Thomas Howell	...	Tim Pearson
Patrick Swayze	...	Ernie 'Slam' Webster
Troy Donahue	...	Donny Vinton
Jennifer Jason Leigh	...	Candy Webster
William Windom	...	Bob Cody
Carole Cook	...	Betty Welles
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Mr. Clark
Ramon Bieri	...	Mr. Pearson
Elizabeth Gorcey	...	Bonnie Clark
John Philbin	...	Cowboy
John Cusack	...	Johnny Maine
Joan Cusack	...	Mary Maine
Camilla Hawk	...	Mrs. Pearson
Melissa Domke	...	Susan Pearson

Storyline

With only a week left before he graduates high school in the small Middle Western community of Grandview, the eighteen-year-old dreamer, Tim Pearson, is itching to renounce an uninspiring scholarship, stand up to his despotic father and pursue a career in oceanography, away from home. However, before long, an unexpected meeting with the struggling 27-year-old owner of the town's demolition derby track on the other side of the tracks, Michelle "Mike" Cody, and the Speedrome's king, Ernie "Slam" Webster, will bring Tim one step closer not only to his aspirations but also love. But, has anyone ever spread his wings away from Grandview, U.S.A.?

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Plot Keywords:

sex scene | kissing while having sex | demolition derby | village name in title | title ends with period | 

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Taglines:

Where dreams have a funny way of coming true.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 August 1984 (USA)

Also Known As:

Speedway Trio

Filming Locations:

Fairbury, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,194,293, 5 August 1984

Gross USA:

$4,743,119

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,743,119

Company Credits

Production Co:

CBS Theatrical Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Patrick Swayze's song, "She's like the wind", was originally written by him for "Grandview USA", as a love theme between Swayze and Jaime Lee Curtis's characters, but it was scrapped, due to the comedic and somewhat raunchy nature of the film. It would eventually be used three years later in Swayze's film "Dirty dancing"

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Goofs

When Mike gives Tim the "big thermometer" outside of the bank, Tim's hairstyle changes several times.

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Quotes

Ernie 'Slam' Webster: Where you going?
Candy Webster: I told you.
Ernie 'Slam' Webster: Told me what?
Candy Webster: I'm going marketing, honey.
Ernie 'Slam' Webster: Dressed like that?
Candy Webster: Well, I was gonna go naked but my ass sticks to the car seat! Bye, honey...

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Connections

Referenced in Bottle Up (2015)

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Soundtracks

Maybe We Won't Have To Say Goodbye
Written by Rosalie Winkler Karalekas
Performed by Jerry Whitman

User Reviews

A great movie about life in a mid western town.

This movie is really great about life in a mid western town, a great cast in this movie. A young soon to be high school grad,Tim Pearson,played by C. Thomas Howell(The Outsiders, Red Dawn, and Soul Man)has his dreams. He has his moments in life,especially after the prom. Tim makes out with his girlfriend, Bonnie, played by Elizabeth Gorcey(Footloose), in his dad's brand new Cadillac. Tim goes to Cody's Speed Way where they have demolition derbies there, he meets Michelle"Mike"Cody, played by Jamie Lee Curtis(Halloween, True Lies, and Freaky Friday). Patrick Swayze(The Outsiders, Red Dawn, and Point Break) as Ernie"Slam"Webster, is awesome. Ernie is a former boyfriend of Mike Cody, Ernie is married to Candy, played by Jennifer Jason-Leigh(Fast Times At Ridgemont High, Single White Female, and Rush), who is cheating on Ernie with a guy named Donny Vinton, played by 1950's heart throb Troy Donahue. A love triangle goes on between Tim,Mike,and Slam. Mike has her troubles too cause the county want to shut down the Speed Way, they feel her pace is unsafe, but the real estate man, Roger Pearson, played by Ramon Bieri, Tim's dad has plans for the site the Speed Way. Tim has a romantic night with Mike Cody,they start to be more close. Slam has problems with his marriage and wants to get close to Mike. Things get crazier when Slam gets even with his wife and her lover by using a bulldozer to tear down the house. Tim and his dad have some differences, but Roger realizes that he should have done things different. Tim tells his father that he wants to follow his dream. The Speed Way gets burned down cause of Mike's little brother, nicknamed Cowboy, who like gum very much. Cowboy was upset cause Mike sold the cars that he thought were his. Things do get better for all. Mike and Slam start over together, Tim Pearson goes to Florida cause of Mike and Slam giving him his car.

I think this movie is underrated and should have been giving a lot more credit.

Grandview U.S.A. has a good supporting cast like Michael Winslow(The Police Academy movies, Spaceballs)as the announcer at the Speed Way.

M. Emmet Walsh(Blade Runner, Back To School, and Missing In Action)as Bonnie's father.

John Cusack(Better Off Dead, One Crazy Summer, and The Grifters)as Tim Pearson's friend,Johnny. Joan Cusack as Johnny's sister.

Carole Cook as Mike Cody's mother, Betty Welles.

John Philbin(Children Of The Corn and Point Break)as Cowboy.

I give this movie a 2 thumbs up and 10/10, I had the honor to see it filmed, I was staying with my aunt in Pontiac, Illinois, where the movie was filmed.