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Crossroads

  • 19861986
  • RR
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
16K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Ralph Macchio and Joe Seneca in Crossroads (1986)
Watch {VideoTitle}
Play trailer1:42
1 Video
68 Photos
  • Drama
  • Music
  • Mystery

A wanna be blues guitar virtuoso seeks a long lost song by legendary musician, Robert Johnson.A wanna be blues guitar virtuoso seeks a long lost song by legendary musician, Robert Johnson.A wanna be blues guitar virtuoso seeks a long lost song by legendary musician, Robert Johnson.

IMDb RATING
7.1/10
16K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Walter Hill
  • Writer
    • John Fusco
  • Stars
    • Ralph Macchio
    • Joe Seneca
    • Jami Gertz
Top credits
  • Director
    • Walter Hill
  • Writer
    • John Fusco
  • Stars
    • Ralph Macchio
    • Joe Seneca
    • Jami Gertz
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 107User reviews
    • 28Critic reviews
    • 55Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:42
    Trailer

    Photos68

    Jami Gertz, Ralph Macchio, and Joe Seneca in Crossroads (1986)
    Ralph Macchio in Crossroads (1986)
    Ralph Macchio in Crossroads (1986)
    Jami Gertz, Ralph Macchio, and Joe Seneca in Crossroads (1986)
    Ralph Macchio and Joe Seneca in Crossroads (1986)
    Steve Vai in Crossroads (1986)
    Ralph Macchio and Joe Seneca in Crossroads (1986)
    Ralph Macchio, Steve Vai, and Gretchen Palmer in Crossroads (1986)
    Joe Morton and Gretchen Palmer in Crossroads (1986)
    Robert Judd in Crossroads (1986)
    Ralph Macchio and Joe Seneca in Crossroads (1986)
    Ralph Macchio and Joe Seneca in Crossroads (1986)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ralph Macchio
    Ralph Macchio
    • Eugene Martoneas Eugene Martone
    Joe Seneca
    Joe Seneca
    • Willie Brownas Willie Brown
    Jami Gertz
    Jami Gertz
    • Francesas Frances
    Joe Morton
    Joe Morton
    • Scratch's Assistantas Scratch's Assistant
    Robert Judd
    Robert Judd
    • Scratchas Scratch
    Steve Vai
    Steve Vai
    • Jack Butleras Jack Butler
    Dennis Lipscomb
    Dennis Lipscomb
    • Lloydas Lloyd
    Harry Carey Jr.
    Harry Carey Jr.
    • Bartenderas Bartender
    John Hancock
    John Hancock
    • Sheriff Tilfordas Sheriff Tilford
    Allan Arbus
    Allan Arbus
    • Dr. Santisas Dr. Santis
    Gretchen Palmer
    Gretchen Palmer
    • Beautiful Girlas Beautiful Girl…
    Al Fann
    Al Fann
    • Pawnbrokeras Pawnbroker
    Wally Taylor
    • O.Z.as O.Z.
    Tim Russ
    Tim Russ
    • Robert Johnsonas Robert Johnson
    Tom Donaldson
    • John McGrawas John McGraw
    • (as Tex Donaldson)
    Guy Killum
    Guy Killum
    • Willie at 17as Willie at 17
    Akosua Busia
    Akosua Busia
    • Woman at Boardinghouseas Woman at Boardinghouse
    Edward Walsh
    • Harley Terhuneas Harley Terhune
    • Director
      • Walter Hill
    • Writer
      • John Fusco
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Eugene is an extraordinary talent in classic guitar, but he dreams of being a famous Blues guitarist. So he investigates to find a storied lost song. He asks the legendary Blues musician Willie Brown to help him, but Willie demands to free him from the old-people's prison first and to really learn the blues on the way to its origin: Mississippi Delta. Eugene doesn't know yet about Willie's deal with the devil, that he now wants to revoke. —Tom Zoerner <Tom.Zoerner@informatik.uni-erlangen.de>
    • deal with the devil
    • blues music
    • guitar duel
    • musical duel
    • harmonica
    • 17 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • 'The Kid' keeps the legend alive....
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Music
      • Mystery
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • R
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Steve Vai played both sides of the guitar duel while acting as Jack Butler, the devil's guitarist. Ry Cooder recorded the slide parts and produced the soundtrack.
    • Goofs
      During the duel, Jack Butler hands his guitar to someone, takes off his jacket, then puts the guitar back on to play his "intimidation" riff before the rest of the band starts up. Jack's riff is heard before he has his right hand anywhere near the guitar.
    • Quotes

      Willie Brown: The blues ain't nothin' but a good man feelin' bad, thinkin' 'bout the woman he once was with.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Salvador/Smooth Talk/Crossroads/Turtle Diary (1986)
    • Soundtracks
      CROSS ROADS
      Performed by Terry Evans and Ry Cooder

      Written by Robert Johnson

    User reviews107

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Macchio, music and the blues
    I feel something for Ralph Macchio, and it is not love. The first time I ever saw his face, I can swear it inspired greatness. Then he talked, he act, he spread his talents all around, and no person can deny he was a natural. The character he created and developed in the first three "Karate Kids" (the first one is one of my favorite films) was sing of commitment and skill.

    I was experiencing the hilarious "My cousin Vinny" the other day and he played another original character, being that one of his last important roles. Maybe what I feel is compassion because he couldn't make it as an elder man, and I really wanted to watch him grow. Maybe I miss his first and few big breaks, where he literally knocked me down; one of those being "Crossroads".

    He was 25 at that time, but still had that 17-year old look, where you would have said: "Wow, he's 17 and in main role"…Well, I'd have said that. "Crossroads" is an inspiring tale about life and music; blues. It was not the first time that a filmmaker tried to relate music with life. I have personally never had doubts about it, because music is life for me; but in this film, for writer John Fusco it was about growing up, understanding the gift and use it for good.

    Macchio portrayed Eugene Martone, a naive guy, gifted guitar player, crazy driven by the magic of blues. The love for music makes our mind think unconsciously about getting far, being big; and Eugene wants to go to Mississippi to get his chance, but needs someone who knows Robert Johnson's lost melody, knows the way, and has even lived it, if you know what I mean. In this story, that character is blues master Willie Brown (a tremendous Joe Seneca), now forgotten in an asylum, probably crazy (although he says he isn't but some brilliant sequences show him out of place) and without his car. But Eugene will get him out of there and they'll both start that journey together.

    What happens next, including the various stops, problems, Ralph Macchio's wonderful guitar playing abilities and encounter with beautiful girl Frances (radiant and talented Jami Gertz) is for the viewer to discover. Now, how the title relates it's touching and interesting, but where director Walter Hill triumphs (and this is something that should never be forgotten for music movies nowadays) is in knowing that the story is there. The heart of his film lies in the development of the kid's and the old man's relationship.

    When we now see movies about music that sometimes don't even have a clue "musically" and most of the times there is music to promote an artist in the film, because he/she sings; in Hill's "Crossroads" and in the relationship I was talking about, the discussions, conversations, walks and even music playing, hide some of life's deepest interrogations. And I regret saying blues is always the same, because even when it is, it is one of those musical styles, like jazz, that not many listen but when they do discover their power. It's in the eyes of the musicians when they play where you can see it; they love being in that scenario, and that's just magical.
    helpful•24
    7
    • jpschapira
    • Sep 1, 2005

    FAQ1

    • Anytime in the the late 80s to early 2000s did this movie air on a premium channels like encore, HBO, Cinemax, showtime, or the movie channel?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 14, 1986 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Sony Movie Channel (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Crossroads - Pakt mit dem Teufel
    • Filming locations
      • Natchez, Mississippi, USA
    • Production company
      • Columbia Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $5,839,031
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $2,071,680
      • Mar 16, 1986
    • Gross worldwide
      • $5,839,031
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 39 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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