Golden Gate (1993)

A brash 22-year-old FBI agent trumps up charges of Communist spying against a Chinese laundryman. Ten years later, he wants to make amends to the man and his teenage daughter.

Director:

John Madden

Writer:

David Henry Hwang

Stars:

Matt Dillon, Joan Chen, Elizabeth Morehead

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Matt Dillon	...	Agent Kevin David Walker
Joan Chen	...	Marilyn Song
Elizabeth Morehead	...	Receptionist
Bruno Kirby	...	Agent Ron Pirelli
Teri Polo	...	Cynthia
Jack Shearer	...	FBI chief
Keone Young	...	Benny Ying
Tzi Ma	...	Chen Jung Song
Paddy Morrissey	...	Agent
Cully Fredricksen	...	Special Agent Collins
Leo Downey	...	Prosecuting Attorney Snyder
Jay Jacobus	...	Judge
Wilbur Jung	...	Chinese defendant
Henry Wong	...	Court interpreter
Theresa Huynh	...	Young Marilyn

Storyline

Fresh out of law school, Kevin Walker is recruited into the FBI and commissioned to root out communist subversives amongst the San Francisco Chinese community. He finds a loophole that will enable him to prosecute, but his loyalties become divided when he falls in love with Marilyn, a laundryman's daughter.

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Plot Keywords:

fbi federal bureau of investigation | communist | chinese | witch hunt | suicide by jumping off a bridge | 

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Taglines:

Some loves are impossible. But they are loves just the same.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and brief sexuality

Did You Know?

Goofs

In the dance hall scene, when the camera moves behind the drummer, the drumhead on the drumset are Remo PinStripe heads - two layers of transparent Mylar with a thin film of oil between the heads. Mylar drumheads were invented in the mid 1950s. PinStripe drum heads were not available until 1973, when they were released by Remo.

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Quotes

FBI chief: Let me tell you something about the Bureau, Agent Walker. You do not spew refuse all over your area, and expect someone else to clean up after you. That's a rule I would've thought you learned in summer camp.
Agent Kevin David Walker: I didn't attend summer camp, sir.
FBI chief: [gives him a cold look] We had built a wall, Agent Walker, constructed entirely of the public's faith in our irrefutability. Once you shatter this confidence, standards of law and order disintegrate. Subversive elements exploit the chaos, until this entire ...

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Soundtracks

MELLOW SOULFUL
Written by Royal Crown Revue
Published by Better Youth Publishers (ASCAP) 1991
Royal Crown Revue appears by Courtesy of Big Daddy Records

User Reviews

period piece... looking for communists

Matt Dillon is agent Walker, a young FBI agent in 1952. he and partner Pirelli (Bruno Kirby) are tracking down communists here in the Chinese community of san francisco. They find a loophole to bring charges on a guy sending money home to his mom back in china. he's back out of jail now, but when Walker checks up on him, he's flipped out because he can't get a job. Joan Chen narrates the story, and she also plays "Marilyn", Song Chen's daughter. Walker wants to do something to help the daughter, but it seems she doesn't know the role Walker played in putting him away. but of course, the daughter DOES find out. and things go haywire from there. some big issues going on. some great scenes of san francisco. it's pretty good! gets dark in places. Directed by John Madden.. he was nominated for shakespeare in love.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 January 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Golden Gate

Filming Locations:

San Francisco, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$258,040, 30 January 1994

Gross USA:

$395,105

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$395,105

Company Credits

Production Co:

Across the Bay Productions, American Playhouse Theatrical Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1