Off Beat (1986)

Joe Gower's job is skating through library shelves, fetching books. A police officer and friend of his is chosen to participate in a charity dance performance. Gower agrees to take his ... See full summary »

Director:

Michael Dinner

Writers:

Dezsö Magyar (story), Mark Medoff (screenplay)

Stars:

Judge Reinhold, Meg Tilly, Cleavant Derricks

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Judge Reinhold	...	Joe Gower
Meg Tilly	...	Rachel Wareham
Cleavant Derricks	...	Abe Washington
Joe Mantegna	...	Pete Peterson
Jacques d'Amboise	...	August
Amy Wright	...	Mary Ellen Gruenwald
John Turturro	...	Neil Pepper
James Tolkan	...	Harry
Julie Bovasso	...	Mrs. Wareham
Anthony Zerbe	...	Mr. Wareham
Fred Gwynne	...	The Commissioner
Harvey Keitel	...	Mickey
Victor Argo	...	Leon
Austin Pendleton	...	Gun Shop Salesman
Penn Jillette	...	Norman

Storyline

Joe Gower's job is skating through library shelves, fetching books. A police officer and friend of his is chosen to participate in a charity dance performance. Gower agrees to take his place in the show by posing as a police officer. He falls for a female officer in the show, and gets into various scrapes with fellow cops and also crooks, and he dances.

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Plot Keywords:

police | dance | library | new york city | urban setting | 

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Taglines:

The Real Life Adventures Of A Make-Believe Cop.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Mark Medoff: The film's screenwriter, playwright Mark Medoff, as Sergeant Tegher.

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Connections

Referenced in Adjust Your Tracking (2013)

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Soundtracks

Sonata in F Major, for Violin and Piano
Felix Mendelssohn
Newly discovered and edited by Yehudi Menuhin
C.F. Peters Corporation (BMI)

User Reviews

Interesting cast in dull comedy .........................

Meek librarian (Judge Reinhold) assumes the identity of his pal (Clevant Derricks) who happens to be a police officer. The charade leads to some very mild comedy. With such a fine cast, this should have been a far better film. Unfortunately the talent of Joe Mantegna, John Turturro, Meg Tilly, Harvey Keitel, Mike Starr, Fred Gwynne, and Anthony Zerbe is badly wasted. Reinhold sandwiched between Mantegna and Tilly in the front seat of a speeding police car, while they calmly discuss their failed relationship, is the best scene. Fred Gwynne in a small part as the mayor is great, but that's about it. How could such an interesting cast wind up in such a dull comedy? - MERK

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 April 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Policía por error

Filming Locations:

Katz's Delicatessen - 205 East Houston Street, East Village, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,011,192, 13 April 1986

Gross USA:

$4,842,778

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,842,778

Company Credits

Production Co:

Silver Screen Partners II, Touchstone Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1