Big City Dick: Richard Peterson's First Movie (2004)

This is a captivating journey into the world of a savant street musician and his lifelong struggle to become a successful recording artist, and to be loved. He is a street trumpeter and ... See full summary »

Directors:

Kenny Harder (as Ken Harder), Scott Milam

Stars:

Peter Barnes, Jeff Bridges, Pat Cashman

1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Peter Barnes	...	Self
Jeff Bridges	...	Self
Pat Cashman	...	Self
Gary Crow	...	Self
Dean DeLeo	...	Self
Robin Erickson	...	Self
John Keister	...	Self
Johnny Mathis	...	Self
John Maynard	...	Self
Scott McCaughey	...	Self
Muriel Peterson	...	Self
Richard Peterson	...	Self
Mike Rhodes	...	Self
Matt Riedy	...	Self
Ken Schram	...	Self

Storyline

This is a captivating journey into the world of a savant street musician and his lifelong struggle to become a successful recording artist, and to be loved. He is a street trumpeter and part-time guest on a local rock radio station. Richard Peterson fills his world with obsessions, like "Sea Hunt" (and the "Son of Sea Hunt," Jeff Bridges), the "The Golden Age of Television" production music (which inspires four albums/CDs produced with help from the Seattle music scene), stalking local TV celebrities, and a fanatical interest in Johnny Mathis. The unique relationship between Richard and Mathis is the catalyst for one of Richard's most remarkable compositions, "Love on the Golf Course". Between street gigs and a stint as a piano player in a grunge club, mega-band " The Stone Temple Pilots" discovers Richard's music. Richard's moment in the spotlight is short-lived when he is confronted by the human cost of obsessions, revealing the dark family secret he has lived with his entire life.

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Plot Keywords:

autism | mental disorder | savant | punctuation in title | apostrophe in title | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Did You Know?

Connections

Features Sea Hunt (1958)

User Reviews

Uplifting study of autistic musician's battle for recognition.

A fascinating story of how a real-life Shrek ends up playing with the Stone Temple Pilots, and that's not all. This movie is not the usual Hollywood vanilla pudding -- what, no Nicole Kidman or Julia Roberts? No, just an ugly, rude, unpleasant man with a speech impediment. I have lived most of my life in Seattle and saw Richard several times on the streets here. I was actually behind him once in the checkout line at Safeway, his cart filled with Nestle's Quick and Ball Park franks. I stared at him because he is so terribly unusual looking. There is a message in this movie. Richard Peterson has succeeded because of his dogged unwavering belief in himself and the great kindness of his friends.

Details

Official Sites:

New Ziv Pictures

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 January 2004 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Seattle, Washington, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

New Ziv Pictures

Technical Specs

Color:

Color