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Dogfight

  • 19911991
  • RR
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
9.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
River Phoenix and Lili Taylor in Dogfight (1991)
Home Video Trailer from Warner Home Video
Play trailer2:00
1 Video
21 Photos
  • Comedy
  • Drama
  • Romance

Before leaving to fight in Vietnam, a group of teenagers play a game where they try to seduce the ugliest girl they can find.Before leaving to fight in Vietnam, a group of teenagers play a game where they try to seduce the ugliest girl they can find.Before leaving to fight in Vietnam, a group of teenagers play a game where they try to seduce the ugliest girl they can find.

IMDb RATING
7.4/10
9.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Nancy Savoca
  • Writer
    • Bob Comfort
  • Stars
    • River Phoenix
    • Lili Taylor
    • Richard Panebianco
Top credits
  • Director
    • Nancy Savoca
  • Writer
    • Bob Comfort
  • Stars
    • River Phoenix
    • Lili Taylor
    • Richard Panebianco
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 76User reviews
    • 20Critic reviews
    • 56Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Dogfight
    Trailer 2:00
    Dogfight

    Photos21

    Lili Taylor and Elizabeth Daily in Dogfight (1991)
    Christina Mastin in Dogfight (1991)
    River Phoenix and Lili Taylor in Dogfight (1991)
    River Phoenix and Lili Taylor in Dogfight (1991)
    River Phoenix and Lili Taylor in Dogfight (1991)
    River Phoenix and Lili Taylor in Dogfight (1991)
    River Phoenix and Lili Taylor in Dogfight (1991)
    River Phoenix and Lili Taylor in Dogfight (1991)
    River Phoenix and Lili Taylor in Dogfight (1991)
    Christina Mastin in Dogfight (1991)
    Sue Morales in Dogfight (1991)
    Lili Taylor in Dogfight (1991)

    Top cast

    Edit
    River Phoenix
    River Phoenix
    • Eddie Birdlaceas Eddie Birdlace
    Lili Taylor
    Lili Taylor
    • Roseas Rose
    Richard Panebianco
    • Berzinas Berzin
    Anthony Clark
    Anthony Clark
    • Oakieas Oakie
    Mitchell Whitfield
    Mitchell Whitfield
    • Benjaminas Benjamin
    Holly Near
    Holly Near
    • Rose Sr.as Rose Sr.
    Elizabeth Daily
    Elizabeth Daily
    • Marcieas Marcie
    • (as E.G. Daily)
    Sue Morales
    • Ruth Two Bearsas Ruth Two Bears
    Christina Mastin
    Christina Mastin
    • Lindaas Linda
    Christopher Shaw
    Christopher Shaw
    • Donavinas Donavin
    John Lacy
    John Lacy
    • Fectoras Fector
    Chris San Nicholas
    • Dogfight Buddyas Dogfight Buddy
    Brian Gotta
    • Dogfight Marineas Dogfight Marine
    Peg Phillips
    • Older Cafe Customeras Older Cafe Customer
    Neal Allen
    • Sgt. Judgeas Sgt. Judge
    Ron Lynch
    Ron Lynch
    • LCpl. Judgeas LCpl. Judge
    Dale Garman
    • Restaurant Maitre d'as Restaurant Maitre d'
    Bruce Pearson
    • Walteras Walter
    • Director
      • Nancy Savoca
    • Writer
      • Bob Comfort
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    In 1963, the night before the 18 years old "Birdlace" Eddie and his friends are shipped to Vietnam. They play a dirty game called 'Dogfight': all of them seek a woman for a party, and who finds the most ugly one, wins a prize. Eddie finds the lonesome pacifist Rose working in a coffee shop. She's happy to accompany him - but then she sees through the game. However by this time he already learned to like her, so he follows her home. Will he manage to win her heart despite their differences? —Tom Zoerner <Tom.Zoerner@informatik.uni-erlangen.de>
    • toothless girl
    • feminist film
    • year 1963
    • john f. kennedy assassination
    • unattractive woman
    • 117 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The rules of the dogfight were simple: Everyone puts in fifty bucks. And the guy with the ugliest "date" wins.
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Drama
      • Romance
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated R for pervasive strong language and a sexual scene
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      River Phoenix running down the street after he left Rose was the last scene shot and was not intended. It was added last minute when everyone noticed the skyline. River was told to run and didn't know why. He laughed through the whole scene because everyone yelled "Run River Run!"
    • Goofs
      Right after Birdlace sticks the note to Rose's window, he loses his balance and falls, however in the next shot, as he is jumping over the fence to avoid Rose's attack dog, the window is empty and the note is nowhere to be seen.
    • Quotes

      Waiter: Are you ready to order?

      Rose: Yes, goddammit. I'm going to have the fucking poached salmon, with the son-of-a-bitching rice, and a dirty bastard salad with a shitload of Roquefort dressing. Thank you. And um, who knows what this asshole wants.

      Eddie Birdlace: Uh, I'll just take a fucking beer.

    • Connections
      Edited into The Green Fog (2017)
    • Soundtracks
      The Oogum Boogum Song
      Written by Brenton Wood (as Alfred J. Smith)

      Published by Bonnyview Music Corp.

      Performed by Brenton Wood

      Courtesy of Original Sound Records Co., Inc.

    User reviews76

    Review
    Top review
    Very Sweet.
    "Dogfight", starring River Phoenix and Lili Taylor, is a surprisingly charming film. It tells a love story born of peculiar circumstances, much like "Marty" starring Ernest Borgnine. Phoenix and Taylor are quiet and awkward people on seemingly different paths who spend a short time together and wind up falling deeply in love with one another. The film is set against the backdrop of the autumn of 1963, prior to immense change in the United States. It is an intelligent work with a keen visual sense--watch for a kissing scene where our leads practically become musicbox dancers--and fine acting.
    helpful•15
    3
    • postmanwhoalwaysringstwice
    • Jun 10, 2003

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 4, 1991 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Vadet
    • Filming locations
      • Nitelite Lounge - 1920 2nd Avenue, Seattle, Washington, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $394,631
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $18,736
      • Sep 15, 1991
    • Gross worldwide
      • $394,631
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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