The Cruise (1998)

Affectionate portrait of Tim "Speed" Levitch, a tour guide for Manhattan's Gray Line double-decker buses. He talks fast, is in love with the city, and dispenses historical facts, ... See full summary »

Director:

Bennett Miller

Star:

Timothy 'Speed' Levitch

5 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Timothy 'Speed' Levitch	...	Himself

Storyline

Affectionate portrait of Tim "Speed" Levitch, a tour guide for Manhattan's Gray Line double-decker buses. He talks fast, is in love with the city, and dispenses historical facts, architectural analysis, and philosophical musings in equal measures. He's reflective and funny about cruising: he loves it, got in it to meet women, and he'd quit work if he could. His personal life is disclosed in small doses: he takes home $200 a week for 20 hours work, home is his suitcase and wherever he can flop, he's been arrested for going out on the roof tops of skyscrapers to see his city; he stands between the towers of the World Trade Center, spins until he's dizzy, then looks up.

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Plot Keywords:

1990s | tour guide | manhattan | new york | tourist | 

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Taglines:

Fasten your seat belts

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Genres:

Documentary

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 October 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

I periigisi

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$139,064 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$12,127, 25 October 1998, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$238,434, 10 January 1999

Company Credits

Production Co:

Charter Films Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

76 min

Color:

Black and White Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Edward Norton's favorite movie.

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Quotes

Timothy 'Speed' Levitch: By saying that everyone likes The Grid Plan you're saying, "I'm going to relive all the mistakes my parents made. I'm going to identify and relive all the sorrows my mother ever lived through. I will propagate and create dysfunctional children in the same dysfunctional way that I was raised. I will spread neurosis throughout the landscape and do my best to recreate myself and the damages of my life for the next generation."

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Connections

References The Odyssey (1997)

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Soundtracks

But Not For Me
Written by George Gershwin (as George) and Ira Gershwin
Performed by Timothy 'Speed' Levitch
Published by Chappell & Co. (ASCAP)

User Reviews

A Natural Born Poet

This little film could also have been a great story for The New Yorker. When I saw Tim "Speed" Levitch, I thought, Wow, I know this guy! He's every New Yorker I've ever met - tough, effete, gruff, wise, silly, profane, provincial, cosmopolitan, neurotic, eloquent, voluble, accessible, insecure, indomitable...

A few points:

I hope Speed wasn't fired by Grey Line (like he was afraid he'd be) for his choice comments and his non-regulation livery.

Grey Line should wise up and charge a premium for the "Speed Tour" and give Tim Levitch a fitting raise.

More than anything else, "The Cruise" is a portrait of a natural-born poet in his element.