Everybody's All-American (1988)

A Louisiana football legend struggles to deal with life's complexities after his college career is over.

Director:

Taylor Hackford

Writers:

Frank Deford (novel), Thomas Rickman (screenplay) (as Tom Rickman)

Stars:

Jessica Lange, Dennis Quaid, Timothy Hutton

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jessica Lange	...	Babs
Dennis Quaid	...	Gavin Grey
Timothy Hutton	...	Donnie 'Cake'
John Goodman	...	Lawrence
Carl Lumbly	...	Narvel Blue
Ray Baker	...	Bolling Kiely
Savannah Smith Boucher	...	Darlene Kiely (as Savannah Smith Bouchér)
Patricia Clarkson	...	Leslie Stone
Joseph Meyer	...	Pep Leader
J. Kevin Brune	...	Roommate
Wayne Knight	...	Fraternity Pisser
Roy B. Stewart Sr.	...	Junie
Pat Pierre Perkins	...	Willy Mae
Aaron Neville	...	Man with Gun
Shawn Burks	...	Georgia Center

Storyline

Louisiana football star Gavin Grey had it all. He was an All-American champion who married his high-school sweetheart, homecoming queen Babs Rogers, and who was a hero to his hometown. Yet after a failed professional career, Gavin realizes that fame and success have passed him by and that he no longer is the hero everyone keeps reminding him he should still be. His dissatisfaction with his life leads to strains in his marriage, and Gavin begins to wonder who he is, if he's not a hero anymore.

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Plot Keywords:

reference to robert f. kennedy | football | louisiana | college | homecoming queen | 

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Taglines:

Their life story is a love story

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | Sport

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

A key scene featuring a candlelight parade involving large numbers of extras was filmed when snow started falling. Despite the beauty of the scene, director Taylor Hackford elected to reshoot the scene, as snow in Baton Rouge in November was such a rare event that he was worried it would be seen as a special effects goof in the film.

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Goofs

Level of beer and amount of foam in Cake's glass at Lawrence's pub.

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Quotes

[about the Gray Ghost's theme restaurant]
Babs Grey: I'm running this place. I'm good at it. Did anybody ever think I was good at anything? I sure didn't.

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Connections

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: Danny DeVito/The Bangles (1988)

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Soundtracks

Untill Forever
Written by Glen Ballard (uncredited), James Newton Howard (uncredited) and Narada Michael Walden (uncredited)
Performed by D'Atra Hicks (as Deitra Hicks) and Evan Rogers

User Reviews

A movie that speaks of life.

This film tells the story of anyone who has looked back on their life with fondness, embarrassment, nostalgia, sorrow, joy, and any other emotion you can think of. Dennis Quaid does some of his finest work as an All American college football player who is a superstar in spite of himself. While he enjoys the spotlight and all that goes with it to a certain extent, he just wants everyone to accept him for who he is. Jessica Lange does her usual stand out job portraying a prototype southern debutante who starts out happy to be her man's woman, but as time goes on discovers herself. Timothy Hutton plays the cousin to Quaid's character and finds himself woven into the lives of the born to be together couple. John Goodman turns in a great performance as a friend and teammate to the "Grey Ghost" that coincides with the beginning of his long running role as the quintessential suburban husband to Roseanne. While this film is entertaining to the sports fan, it also appeals to anyone who wishes they might have done things differently. If the ending doesn't grab you just a little, you're not human.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 November 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Everybody's All-American

Filming Locations:

Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$22,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,425,796, 6 November 1988

Gross USA:

$12,638,294

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$12,638,294

Company Credits

Production Co:

New Visions, Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

127 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1