A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon (1988)

A charming womanizer has to find a way to get $80 to elope to Hawaii with his one true love, or else go to his father's chosen business school.

Director:

William Richert

Writer:

William Richert (novel)

Stars:

River Phoenix, Ann Magnuson, Meredith Salenger

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
River Phoenix	...	Jimmy Reardon
Ann Magnuson	...	Joyce Fickett
Meredith Salenger	...	Lisa Bentwright
Ione Skye	...	Denise Hunter
Louanne	...	Suzie Middleberg
Matthew Perry	...	Fred Roberts (as Matthew L. Perry)
Paul Koslo	...	Al Reardon
Jane Hallaren	...	Faye Reardon
Jason Court	...	Mathew Hollander
James Deuter	...	Mr. Spaulding
Marji Bank	...	Emma Spaulding (as Marji Banks)
Margaret Moore	...	Mrs. Bentwright
Anastasia Fielding	...	Elaine
Kamie Harper	...	Rosie Reardon
Johnny Galecki	...	Toby Reardon

Storyline

A recent high school graduate is faced with two options, either go to a business school where his father wants him to go to, or get a full time job. However he decides to defy his father and go to Hawaii. Trouble is he has no money. Along the way he comes to understand his parents and eventually bonds with his father.

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Plot Keywords:

feeling woman's legs up her skirt or dress | older woman younger man relationship | hand up dress | lifting up dress | bare chested male | 

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Taglines:

River Pheonix is Jimmy Reardon.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

The parents of lead actor (River Phoenix) asked director (William Richert) to remove a line by character Joyce Fickett in which she states to Jimmy Reardon; "Jimmy, I want to fuck you", fearing that it would affect their 16 year old sons relationship with his tween fan base. Richert refused to remove it completely but muted the line instead.

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Goofs

When Jimmy talks to Rosie at the bowling alley, "He's So Fine" is playing. The film is set in 1962; "He's So Fine" was released in 1963.

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Quotes

Jimmy Reardon: I just don't feel like Jack the Ripper today!

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Crazy Credits

The movies working title "A Night In The Life Of Jimmy Reardon", is as it suggests, however, when the opening credit introduces us to the title of the movie, it's just called "Jimmy Reardon"

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Alternate Versions

This movie was heavily cut by the studio, resulting in two different versions, both of which have been effectively disowned by director William Richert. The non-US print resembles his original vision most clearly, with an Elmer Bernstein score and five extra songs on the soundtrack. Richert has recently revealed that he has recently acquired four and a half minutes of extra footage which makes the lead character deeper and easier to sympathise with. He is planning to release a new cut of the film under its source material's original title: 'Aren't You Even Going To Kiss Me Goodbye?'.

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Connections

Referenced in A Night in the Life of Vinyl Eddie (2007)

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Soundtracks

I'M NOT AFRAID TO SAY GOODBYE
Performed by Johnny Mathis
Courtesy of CBS Records
Lyrics by Don Black
Music by Elmer Bernstein
Produced by Denny Diantz
Arranged by Jeremy Lubbock

User Reviews

Sad that most people doesn't understand most of it...

I miss movies like these. strong and poetic writing with intense narration by Phoenix. the story is at the same time simple but influent and memorable to our common lives of all days.

the scene when Phoenix rides the car through the alleys and talking about cigars is hardly forgotten.

we all, not even for once, have lived like this, we all have been a teen like this, we all have had our small and big frustrations like these, and we all have had surprises... ...and there's always a new day to come.

;)RIC

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 February 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

Aren't You Even Gonna Kiss Me Goodbye?

Filming Locations:

Evanston, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,737,106, 28 February 1988

Gross USA:

$6,264,058

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$6,264,058

Company Credits

Production Co:

Island Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1