The Golden Child (1986)

A private detective specializing in missing children is charged with the task of finding a special child whom dark forces want to eliminate.

Director:

Michael Ritchie

Writer:

Dennis Feldman

Stars:

Eddie Murphy, J.L. Reate, Charles Dance

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
J.L. Reate	...	The Golden Child
Eddie Murphy	...	Chandler Jarrell
Charles Dance	...	Sardo Numspa
Charlotte Lewis	...	Kee Nang
Victor Wong	...	The Old Man
Randall 'Tex' Cobb	...	Til
James Hong	...	Doctor Hong
Shakti Chen	...	Kala (as Shakti)
Tau Logo	...	Yu
Tiger Chung Lee	...	Khan
Pons Maar	...	Fu
Peter Kwong	...	Tommy Tong
Wally Taylor	...	Detective Boggs
Eric Douglas	...	Yellow Dragon
Charles Levin	...	TV Host

Storyline

Eddie Murphy plays a detective with a speciality of finding lost children. He is told he is the 'Chosen one' who will find and protect the Golden Child, a Bhuddist mystic who was kidnapped by an evil sorcerer. Murphy disbelieves the mysticism but finds more and more evidence of demon worship as he investigates.

---

Plot Keywords:

hare krishna | monastery | humanity | serpent | searcher | 

---

Taglines:

Eddie Murphy Is The Chosen One.

---

Genres:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Fantasy | Mystery

---

Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Golden Child (1986) bares some similarities to the 2000 horror-thriller Bless the Child (2000) starring Kim Basinger. Both Eddie Murphy and Kim Basinger play ordinary people chosen to save a mysterious child with a destiny based on the unexplainable from those who would corrupt them.

More specifically, both movies' plots revolve around involve a child with supernatural abilities being kidnapped by groups with malicious intents, hellbent on exploiting the (respective) children's supernatural powers for their own gains. And whatever decision the child chooses may affect the fate of the whole world.

---

Goofs

A microphone is visible under Kee Nang's car window, while she is spying on Chandler walking into a tattoo parlor.

---

Quotes

The Thing: You were wise to kill Tommy Tong. He was weak. He might have betrayed us.
Sardo Numspaa: Thank you, Lord.
The Thing: But why is the Child still alive?
Sardo Numspaa: You have no reason to fear him. He is surrounded at all times and in all the four directions by evil.
The Thing: Do not underestimate the power of good and do not dismiss the strength of the Child. Time grows short. The Child will never eat the blood.
Sardo Numspaa: What must i...
The Thing: Move the Child before the Chosen One draws near.
Sardo Numspaa: And to kill him?
The Thing: The Ajanti Dagger. It is not of this world. With it, you ...
[...]

---

Connections

References Buck Rogers in the 25th Century: The Golden Man (1981)

---

Soundtracks

PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ
By Irving Berlin

User Reviews

A knock-off it may be, but it's a good quality one, the lustre of which is untarnished.

Whenever I see most reviews it's called 'a misfire for Eddie Murphy'. These critics want to take a look at some of the stuff he's doing these days, and maybe soften their stance in retrospect... "The Golden Child" is not highbrow entertainment, but thanks to some of the cast it breathes new life into old clichés, and gives Murphy one of his best roles. I don't understand the pervading lack of 'love' for its efforts, at all. Perhaps it was released at a time when the establishment had grown weary of knockabout, thrill-a-minute adventures? Steven Spielberg started it with Indiana Jones; it's unfair to make this one a scapegoat when what is possibly its biggest sin is also utterly harmless. There's nothing necessarily wrong with trying to capitalise on trends.

Yes it's silly, but even an occasional observer should be able to understand that 'ridiculous' is where Hollywood's idea of mysticism begins and ends. What's more important than believability with a story like this is that the audience have entertaining tour guides on hand to show them the mysterious sights. Michael Ritchie and Eddie Murphy fit the bill for this capacity just fine. My advice to you is to buy the ticket and take the ride.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 December 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Golden Child

Filming Locations:

Melrose Avenue at North Spaulding, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,549,711, 14 December 1986

Gross USA:

$79,817,937

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$79,817,937

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Eddie Murphy Productions, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1