Raising Arizona (1987)

When a childless couple of an ex-con and an ex-cop decide to help themselves to one of another family's quintuplets, their lives become more complicated than they anticipated.

Directors:

Joel Coen, Ethan Coen (uncredited)

Writers:

Ethan Coen, Joel Coen

Stars:

Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter, Trey Wilson

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nicolas Cage	...	H.I. McDunnough
Holly Hunter	...	Ed
Trey Wilson	...	Nathan Arizona, Sr.
John Goodman	...	Gale
William Forsythe	...	Evelle
Sam McMurray	...	Glen
Frances McDormand	...	Dot
Randall 'Tex' Cobb	...	Leonard Smalls
T.J. Kuhn	...	Nathan Junior (as T.J. Kuhn Jr.)
Lynne Kitei	...	Florence Arizona (as Lynne Dumin Kitei)
Peter Benedek	...	Prison Counselor
Charles 'Lew' Smith	...	Nice Old Grocery Man
Warren Keith	...	Younger FBI Agent
Henry Kendrick	...	Older FBI Agent
Sidney Dawson	...	Ear-Bending Cellmate

Storyline

Recidivist hold-up man H.I. McDonnough and police woman Edwina marry, only to discover they are unable to conceive a child. Desperate for a baby, the pair decide to kidnap one of the quintuplets of furniture tycoon Nathan Arizona. The McDonnoughs try to keep their crime secret, while friends, co-workers and a feral bounty hunter look to use Nathan Jr. for their own purposes.

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Plot Keywords:

arizona desert | reference to arizona state university | filmed in phoenix arizona | phoenix arizona | diaper | 

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Taglines:

Their lawless years are behind them. Their child-rearing years lay ahead...

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Certificate:

PG-13

Did You Know?

Trivia

The born in Minnesota Coen Brothers wrote and directed a scene in which HI McDonough reads a newspaper regarding the kidnapping of Nathan Jr. The text of the article states Unfinished Arizona store owner Nathan Arizona Sr., aka Nathan Huffhines, may run for Congress.

In Minnesota before and after the film, voters elected to the U.S. Senate Rudolph "Rudy" Boschwitz. Boschwitz owned, now defunct, plywood and home improvement center Plywood Minnesota.

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Goofs

The face of John Goodman's stuntman can be seen when H.I. throws Gale onto the floor at the beginning of their fight.

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Quotes

[first lines]
H.I.: [voiceover] My name is H.I. McDonnaugh. Call me Hi.

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Crazy Credits

filmed on location in Valley of the Sun, Arizona -- a great place to raise your kids

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Connections

References Evil Dead II (1987)

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Soundtracks

Girls, Do Not Wink
Courtesy Monitor Records

User Reviews

pure lunacy

Pure lunacy is what Raising Arizona is. It's got everything you could ask for in a film; kidnapping, jailbreaks, Hell's Angels, explosions and guns, guns guns. Nic Cage is great in the role of a very befuddled conveniance store robber who falls in love with Holly Hunter's Ed. Throw in John Goodman and William Forsythe as a couple of car stealing, bank robbing brothers and you got yourself scenes that will make you giggle when you think back about them. The entire state of Arizona seems trigger happy in the Coen's eyes. Clerks, cops, and crooks pull out firearms and let loose like the finale of the 1812 Overture. Plus, where else can you hear really good yodeling?

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 April 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Raising Arizona

Filming Locations:

Superior, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$36,240, 15 March 1987

Gross USA:

$22,847,564

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$29,180,280

Company Credits

Production Co:

Circle Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1