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IMDbPro

Plain Clothes

  • 19871987
  • PGPG
  • 1h 38m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
963
YOUR RATING
Plain Clothes (1987)
Trailer 1
Play trailer0:31
1 Video
18 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Mystery
  • Romance
To prove his brother's innocence, undercover officer Nick enrolls in high school again, dealing with crushes, bullies, humiliations, popularity swings, and quirky teachers and staff to find ... Read allTo prove his brother's innocence, undercover officer Nick enrolls in high school again, dealing with crushes, bullies, humiliations, popularity swings, and quirky teachers and staff to find the real murderer.To prove his brother's innocence, undercover officer Nick enrolls in high school again, dealing with crushes, bullies, humiliations, popularity swings, and quirky teachers and staff to find the real murderer.
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
963
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Martha Coolidge
  • Writers
    • Scott Frank(screenplay)
    • Dan Vining(story)
  • Stars
    • Arliss Howard
    • Suzy Amis
    • George Wendt
Top credits
  • Director
    • Martha Coolidge
  • Writers
    • Scott Frank(screenplay)
    • Dan Vining(story)
  • Stars
    • Arliss Howard
    • Suzy Amis
    • George Wendt
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 17User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Plain Clothes
    Trailer 0:31
    Plain Clothes

    Photos18

    1 sheet movie poster
    Plain Clothes (1987)
    Plain Clothes (1987)
    Plain Clothes (1987)
    Suzy Amis in Plain Clothes (1987)
    Plain Clothes (1987)
    Plain Clothes (1987)
    Arliss Howard and Alexandra Powers in Plain Clothes (1987)
    Peter Dobson, Arliss Howard, Larry Pine, and Robert Stack in Plain Clothes (1987)
    George Wendt and Arliss Howard in Plain Clothes (1987)
    Seymour Cassel, Arliss Howard, and Kimberley Pistone in Plain Clothes (1987)
    Martha Coolidge and Arliss Howard in Plain Clothes (1987)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Arliss Howard
    Arliss Howard
    • Nick Dunbar
    Suzy Amis
    Suzy Amis
    • Robin Torrence
    George Wendt
    George Wendt
    • Chet Butler
    Diane Ladd
    Diane Ladd
    • Jane Melway
    Seymour Cassel
    Seymour Cassel
    • Ed Malmburg
    Larry Pine
    Larry Pine
    • Dave Hechtor
    Jackie Gayle
    Jackie Gayle
    • Coach Zeffer
    Abe Vigoda
    Abe Vigoda
    • Mr. Wiseman
    Robert Stack
    Robert Stack
    • Mr. Gardner
    Alexandra Powers
    Alexandra Powers
    • Dawn-Marie Zeffer
    Peter Dobson
    Peter Dobson
    • Kyle Kerns
    Harry Shearer
    Harry Shearer
    • Simon Feck
    Loren Dean
    Loren Dean
    • Matt Dunbar
    Reginald VelJohnson
    Reginald VelJohnson
    • Captain Graff
    Max Perlich
    Max Perlich
    • Carter
    James D. Parker Jr.
    • Deaf Jeff
    Tee Dennard
    • Sal Becker
    Brenda Hayes
    • Camille
    • Director
      • Martha Coolidge
    • Writers
      • Scott Frank(screenplay) (story)
      • Dan Vining(story)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Film debut of Loren Dean.
    • Quotes

      Kyle: And do you know what we do with shit around here, Nick?

      Nick: From your breath, I'd say you eat it.

    • Connections
      Featured in A Night with Suzy Amis Cameron (2020)
    • Soundtracks
      YOU'RE RICH
      By Sarah Taylor, Bill Mumy (as Billy Mumy) and Robert Haimer

      Performed and Produced by Sarah Taylor

    User reviews17

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    Good Acting, Good Script, Good Settings
    This a movie that stuck with me, with the odd line of dialogue, or the iconographic facial expression popping into my head unsolicited for years later. The humour is constant, but understated; the acting was all well-done, and the plot carried itself. The viewer sees Nick start off clumsily, and practically cheers when he starts to be affected by the kids he's never got along with as he starts to understand them.

    Nick looks more developed than the bullies who try to intimidate him, but he always carries himself with a casually awkward air that could fit right in with a group of teens. His and Ms. Torrence's attraction to one another is carefully done - believable, but not overwhelming, so you forgive other characters missing it.

    It is not easy playing a 'quirky' character in a movie like this. The cast had to walk a line, never going so far that the movie became slapstick (the script would not have supported that), and did an excellent job. Check out Diane Ladd, for instance: her implication that a by-the-book persona covered a passionate nature was perfectly done. And Abe Vigoda, with that fantastic face - looks like a basset hound when serious, like a game show host when smiling! Often he does both within a few seconds of each other. Seymour Cassel, Robert Stack, George Wendt, Suzy Amis, and Jackie Gayle all showed great comedic delivery.

    The minimal violence and sex was well-done, as well. Often such things are better implied than shown, and although there was some (it IS a murder mystery, and there are romantic entanglements to deal with), it was appropriate. The music, montages, costuming and settings were all make for a believable a late-80s high school, although the dialogue was overblown for comedic effect.

    There was a slight glitch in the characterization when it is at first implied Nick (like his brother) has a hair-trigger temper, and then spends most of the more tense, humiliating scenes acting like he has (more than) adult control. It worked for the plot, though. The clues dropped for the mystery are often disguised as humour; I do not think the audience will have an "Aha!" moment like Nick apparently does, but it worked well in this context.

    More than one fan has said they want this on DVD - well, me, too! But I do not see a way to suggest it on Paramount's home page, so I will try to make do with a deteriorating VHS copy. If anyone wants to tell me how to make my vote known, I would welcome it! _Plain Clothes_ on digital! With any extras you can dig up after two decades! PLEASE!

    (And, as an aside, what a useless title: when I tried to find this movie, the title was the thing I never remembered about it.)

    All said, a fun, light-hearted movie, full of human nature, nostalgia, and quotable lines.
    helpful•5
    0
    • ssnow7
    • May 19, 2008

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 2, 1989 (Colombia)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Glory Days
    • Filming locations
      • Ballard, Seattle, Washington, USA
    • Production companies
      • Paramount Pictures
      • Sierra Alta Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $7,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $289,323
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $222,681
      • Apr 17, 1988
    • Gross worldwide
      • $289,323
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 38 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Ultra Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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