Dream a Little Dream (1989)

An accident puts the consciousness of an elderly dream researcher into the body of a bratty teenager. The problem? The kid prefers dreamworld limbo to real life.

Director:

Marc Rocco

Writers:

Daniel Jay Franklin (story), Daniel Jay Franklin (screenplay)

Stars:

Corey Feldman, Jason Robards, Piper Laurie

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jason Robards	...	Coleman Ettinger
Corey Feldman	...	Bobby Keller / Coleman Ettinger
Piper Laurie	...	Gena Ettinger
Meredith Salenger	...	Lainie Diamond
Harry Dean Stanton	...	Ike Baker
Corey Haim	...	Dinger
Susan Blakely	...	Cherry Diamond
William McNamara	...	Joel
Matt Adler	...	Dumas
Victoria Jackson	...	Kit Keller
Alex Rocco	...	Gus Keller
Ria Pavia	...	Maureen
Lala Sloatman	...	Shelley (as Lala)
Laura Lee Norton	...	Marge
John Ward	...	Derek

Storyline

The lives of a crusty old scientist and a bratty, teen Michael-Jackson-wannabe are about to intersect in a paranormal way. Coleman Ettinger seeks to break down the door of reality through studied dreaming; Bobby Keller wants Lainie Diamond, the girlfriend of his high school friend Joel, a handsome school jock. As Coleman persuades his wife Gena to join his experiments, an accident knocks their bodies out of existence, along with Bobby's consciousness. Coleman's consciousness winds up in Bobby's body while Gena's ends up buried and asleep inside Lainie's. Only when sleeping can Coleman contact Bobby and elicit his help in putting things back, except that Bobby smugly prefers limbo over his aggravated life as a modern teenager.

---

Plot Keywords:

reference to freddy krueger | cult film | shortcut | messy room | blackboard | 

---

Taglines:

With dreams like these who needs reality?

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

---

Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 March 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Long Before Tomorrow

Filming Locations:

New Hanover High School - 1307 Market Street, Wilmington, North Carolina, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,830,000, 5 March 1989, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$5,552,441

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lightning Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Four days before filming, Corey Haim broke his leg and Dinger's character had to be rewritten to include the injury. While his actual cast was removed during filming, he had to wear a fake one for the remainder of the production. In the movie Dinger says that his mother hit him with her car. In real life, Haim broke his leg while trying to teach his mom how to ride a motorbike. She couldn't use the brakes well yet, and ran into the side of a building, breaking her nose and Corey's leg.

---

Goofs

The part in Lainie's hair changes while talking to Bobby in the hall after taking the SAT's.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Bobby Keller: Dinger! Dinger, wake up for a minute. I gotta talk to you, Buddy.
Dinger: Bobby, I'm asleep. I'm sound asleep, Bobby. I'm dreaming. Apache women. Mai-taih's. Vannah White and a whip.
Bobby Keller: I'm in love.
Dinger: That could be a problem.
Bobby Keller: I don't think you understand.
Dinger: No, no, I do understand. I really do. Which hand is it this week PAL?

---

Connections

Referenced in Getting That Girl (2011)

---

Soundtracks

You'd Better Wait
Written by Rick Neigher and James House
Produced by John William Dexter
Performed by Fee Waybill

User Reviews

Learn something

Every time I see this film I learn something new! The second you turn it on you are back in the 80's, however the film is relevent to today's world as well. A timeless piece that is one of my favorite films I've seen to date. Proof that Feldman can indeed act! Leaves you pondering at the end, a ponder that could take years to recover from.

This film had been discontinued and I am glad to see it is being printed again... Now lets just wait for the DVD release! I hope it happens!!!