Radio Flyer (1992)

A father recounts a dark period of his childhood when he and his little brother lived in the suburbs.

Directors:

Richard Donner, David Mickey Evans (uncredited)

Writer:

David Mickey Evans (as David M. Evans)

Stars:

Lorraine Bracco, John Heard, Adam Baldwin

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lorraine Bracco	...	Mary
John Heard	...	Daugherty
Adam Baldwin	...	The King
Elijah Wood	...	Mike
Joseph Mazzello	...	Bobby
Ben Johnson	...	Geronimo Bill
Sean Baca	...	Fisher
Robert Munic	...	Older Fisher
Garette Ratliff Henson	...	Chad (as Garette Ratliff)
Thomas Ian Nicholas	...	Ferdie
Noah Verduzco	...	Victor Hernandez
Isaac Ocampo	...	Jorge Hernandez
Kaylan Romero	...	Jesus Hernandez
Abraham Verduzco	...	Carlos Hernandez
T.J. Evans	...	Big Raymond

Storyline

A father reminisces about his childhood when he and his younger brother moved to a new town with their mother, her new husband and their dog, Shane. When the younger brother is subjected to physical abuse at the hands of their brutal stepfather, Mike decides to convert their toy trolley, the "Radio Flyer", into a plane to fly him to safety.

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Plot Keywords:

radio flyer | physical abuse | stepfather stepson relationship | told in flashback | mother son relationship | 

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Taglines:

Somewhere inside every person...someplace inside every heart...is a power that turns fear into courage...and makes dreams take flight. ...Powered by imagination.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for theme (child abuse) and violence

Details

Official Sites:

The Joseph Mazzello Fan Page, Radio Flyer

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 February 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

The King of Pacoima

Filming Locations:

Hamilton Air Base, Ignacio, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$4,651,977

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Stonebridge Entertainment, Donner/Shuler-Donner Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

114 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Production was shut down after ten days because the studio was dissatisfied with the dailies.

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Goofs

Tom Hanks and his two movies sons are out sitting on the tarmac when he starts telling his kids why a promise is so important. The FAA does not allow people to wander out on the tarmac do to the dangers of moving aircraft.

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Quotes

Older Mike: From that moment on, I realized Bobby was my responsibility.

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Connections

Spoofed in American Dad!: Don't Look a Smith Horse in the Mouth (2010)

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Soundtracks

The Fairest of the Fair
Written by John Philip Sousa

User Reviews

classic

In reply to "State of Confusion" The dogs injuries do seem to disappear rather abruptly, but that may have only been an error in continuity. But, as for the kids trying to build a plane out of junk, it's just a simple matter of imagination. These are two very young kids who have extremely active imaginations and they must rely on those imaginations to keep themselves from being exposed to the reality of the level of abuse that goes on in their home from their stepfather. As for the stepfather, it's very interesting that the director chose to no show his face. That makes him seem more monstrous. If you show his face, then that character becomes a person and not just this "monster" who is terrorizing the childhood of these two innocent children. By showing only the concequences of his abuse and not focusing scenes on the abuse itself, the children then become the main focus of the movie. This film has no loose ends, but runs just as a father's tale to his children would. It has embelleshments. This is a fine American classic.