Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives! (1989)

A Montreal construction worker joins a band and turns out to be a long-lost rock star from 1960s New Jersey - none other than Eddie Wilson, who mysteriously disappeared after a road accident.

Director:

Jean-Claude Lord

Writers:

P.F. Kluge (characters), Charles Zev Cohen

Stars:

Michael Paré, Marina Orsini, Bernie Coulson

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Paré	...	Eddie Wilson / Joe West
Marina Orsini	...	Diane Armani
Bernie Coulson	...	Rick Diesel
Matthew Laurance	...	Sal Amato
Michael Rhoades	...	Dave Pagent
Anthony Sherwood	...	Hilton Overstreet
Mark Holmes	...	Quinn Quinley
David Matheson	...	Stewart Fairbanks
Paul Markle	...	Charlie 'Sexy' Tanzie
Kate Lynch	...	Lyndsay Caputo
Harvey Atkin	...	Lew Eisen
Vlasta Vrana	...	Frank
Larry King	...	TV Talk Show Host
Bo Diddley	...	Legendary Guitarist
Martha Quinn	...	Music Video Hostess

Storyline

In the early 1960s, legendary rock star Eddie Wilson disappeared from the limelight when he drove his car off a New Jersey bridge. Trying to escape his past, Eddie changed his name and has maintained a quiet life in Montreal as a construction worker under the name Joe West. However, the past will not die, it is screaming for resolution. His relentless desire to make music pulls him back to the stage where he forms a new band and an even better sound. Meanwhile, record company executives release newly-discovered tapes from Eddie's last album and promotes a worldwide search for the mysterious rock star. Joe West has become both mentor and nucleus for his new band that dreams of making it big without knowing their mysterious leader is the real Eddie Wilson. As his new band hits center stage, Eddie finally comes to terms with his past, himself and his music.

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Plot Keywords:

band | construction worker | singer | 1980s | song | 

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Taglines:

On a cold New Jersey night, a young rock star named Eddie Wilson went off the Raritan Bridge. His body was never found. The question was asked: did Eddie Wilson die? In their time, there was no one to equal Eddie and the Cruisers, and Eddie Wilson became a legend.

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Genres:

Drama | Music | Romance

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 August 1989 (USA)

Also Known As:

Eddie et les Cruisers ll

Filming Locations:

Asbury Park, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$536,508, 20 August 1989, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$536,508

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alliance Communications Corporation, Aurora, Canadian Entertainment Investors II

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min (video)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Harvey Atkin (playing Lou Eisen) and Kate Lynch (playing Lindsey Caputo) also worked together in Meatballs (1979) where Harvey was Morty, the camp director and Kate was Roxanne, the girl's head counselor.

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Goofs

When Eddie and Rick Diesel are practicing on guitars to a taped track, you see both characters smoking cigarettes. Rick Diesels cigarette is obviously lit and there is smoke coming out of it while he is playing. Towards the end of the scene, another close up of Rick shows the cigarette not lit at all. When the camera pans back onto him a moment later, his cigarette is lit again.

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Quotes

Sal Amato: [sees Eddie, now clean-shaven and with short hair, approach him on the beach for the first time since his death] Son of a...
[Eddie faces him, contrite]
Sal Amato: Jesus Christ! You son of a bitch! You son of a...
[takes a swing at him and misses, losing his balance, Eddie catches him, Sal is hysterical]
Sal Amato: Son of a bitch! Jesus Christ! You've been dead for 20 years, goddammit!
Eddie Wilson: [restraining him] I gotta talk to you, Sal!
Sal Amato: Shut up! No, you're dead, goddammit! Don't talk to me!
Eddie Wilson: I gotta talk to you, Sal!
Sal Amato: No! Don't ...
[...]

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Connections

Follows Eddie and the Cruisers (1983)

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Soundtracks

Emotional Storm
Written by John Cafferty
Performed by John Cafferty (vocal, guitar, keyboards), Michael 'Tunes' Antunes (saxophone), Gary Gramolini (guitar), Robert Nicholas Cotoia (keyboards), Patrick Lupo (bass), Kenny Jo Silva (drums)

User Reviews

A Classic in the making!

I started out watching Eddie before I could walk and It is to this day one of my absolute favorite movies. This movie brings back great memories for me and now that my daughter loves this movie as much as I did I hope it will mean as much to her. This is definitely a classic in the making if you ask me. Some of the greatest things didn't get the proper recognition until many years sometimes hundred of years after the fact.A line from the original "the world needs dreamers" and I couldn't agree more. This movie allows that to happen. Who in their life hasn't hoped and dreamed for something and been knocked down? I think this movie gives people that connection to real life but also hope in seeing "Eddie" actually come back from the lowest point in his life. I would recommend this movie to everyone, male, female, young, old and anywhere in between.