IMDb > Breaking Away (1979)
Breaking Away
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Breaking Away (1979) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 14 | slideshow) Videos (see all 4 NEW)
Breaking Away (1979) -- A small-town teen obsessed with the Italian cycling team vies for the affections of a college girl.
Breaking Away (1979) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)
Breaking Away (1979) -- Moviesbox.us - Trailer (Flash)
Breaking Away (1979) -- AllTrailers.net - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.7/10   8,700 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 18% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Peter Yates
Writer:
Steve Tesich (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Breaking Away on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
20 July 1979 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Drama | Family | Sport more
Tagline:
Somewhere between growing up and settling down... [Australia Theatrical] more
Plot:
A small-town teen obsessed with the Italian cycling team vies for the affections of a college girl. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 9 wins & 9 nominations more
User Comments:
A film to treasure!!! more (77 total)

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)
Dennis Christopher ... Dave

Dennis Quaid ... Mike
Daniel Stern ... Cyril

Jackie Earle Haley ... Moocher
Barbara Barrie ... Mom
Paul Dooley ... Dad
Robyn Douglass ... Katherine

Hart Bochner ... Rod
Amy Wright ... Nancy
Peter Maloney ... Doctor

John Ashton ... Mike's Brother
Lisa Shure ... French Girl
Jennifer K. Mickel ... Girl

P.J. Soles ... Suzy (as Pamela Jayne Soles)
David K. Blase ... 500 Race Announcer
William S. Armstrong ... 500 Race Official
Howard S. Wilcox ... 500 Race Official
J.F. Brière ... Mr. York (as J.F. Briere)
Carlos Sintes ... Italian Rider
Eddy Van Guyse ... Italian Rider
Alvin E. Bailey ... Stone Cutter
Harold Elgar ... Stone Cutter
Floyd E. Todd ... Stone Cutter
Robert Woolery ... Stone Cutter
Russell E. Freeman ... Stone Cutter
Jimmy Grant ... Black Student Leader
Gail L. Horton ... Fight Spectator
Woody Hueston ... Owner of Car Wash
Jennifer F. Nolan ... Anthem Singer
Nora Owens ... Woman
Douglas Rafferty ... Sports Announcer
Bill Ringgenberg ... Race Starter
Dr. John W. Ryan ... University President
Morris Salzman ... Blond Guy
Tom Schwoegler ... Team Captain
Mike Silveus ... Homecoming Car Kid
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gregg Forrest ... (uncredited)

Tom Ohmer ... Fraternity Jock (uncredited)
Create a character page for: ?

Directed by
Peter Yates 
 
Writing credits
Steve Tesich (written by)

Produced by
Art Levinson .... associate producer
Peter Yates .... produced by
 
Cinematography by
Matthew F. Leonetti (director of photography)
 
Film Editing by
Cynthia Scheider 
 
Casting by
Jane Feinberg 
Mike Fenton 
 
Art Direction by
Patrizia von Brandenstein  (as Patrizia Von Brandenstein)
 
Set Decoration by
Lee Poll 
 
Costume Design by
Betsy Cox (costumes)
 
Makeup Department
Marvin G. Westmore .... make up (as Marvin Westmore)
 
Production Management
Art Levinson .... unit production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William S. Beasley .... second assistant director (as Bill Beasley)
Michael Grillo .... assistant director (as Mike Grillo)
 
Art Department
Mark Wade .... property master
 
Sound Department
Bud Alper .... sound mixer
Neil L. Kaufman .... assistant sound editor
Michael Moyse .... sound editor
Dan Sable .... sound editor
Theodore Soderberg .... rerecording mixer (as Ted Soderberg)
Paul Wells .... rerecording mixer
Douglas O. Williams .... rerecording mixer
Brydon Baker III .... sound (uncredited)
 
Special Effects by
Ira Anderson Jr. .... special effects
 
Stunts
Conrad E. Palmisano .... stunt coordinator
Diamond Farnsworth .... stunts (uncredited)
Conrad E. Palmisano .... stunt double: Dennis Christopher (uncredited)
Conrad E. Palmisano .... stunt double: Dennis Quaid (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
James Glennon .... camera operator
John J. Linder .... key grip (as John Linder)
Mike Weathers .... gaffer
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Victoria Snow .... costumer: ladies
 
Editorial Department
Jonathan Cohen .... assistant editor
Jonathan Day .... assistant editor
 
Music Department
Leonard A. Engel .... music editor (as Len Engel)
John Neal .... scoring mixer
Lionel Newman .... conductor
Herbert W. Spencer .... orchestration (as Herbert Spencer)
Val Stuart .... singer: opera arias
Patrick Williams .... music adapted by
 
Transportation Department
Jerry F. Johnson .... transportation coordinator (as Jerry Johnson)
 
Other crew
William S. Armstrong .... technical advisor: "Little 500"
James Koehler .... location auditor
Ana Maria Quintana .... script supervisor
Elise Rohden .... production coordinator
Gary Rybar .... bicycle coach
Gary Rybar .... bicycle rider
Tom Schwoegler .... bicycle coach
Tom Schwoegler .... bicycle mechanic
Michael King .... location manager (uncredited)
Gary Russell .... stand-in (uncredited)
 
Crew verified as complete


Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:
Bambino (USA) (working title)
more
Runtime:
101 min
Country:
USA
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono
Filming Locations:
Bloomington, Indiana, USA more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Steve Tesich based the Dave Stoller character on David K. Blase, who had once led a team to victory in the Little 500 and had an Italian fixation. Blase had a cameo as the race announcer in this movie. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Dave is drafting behind the Cinzano semi-truck, his bike is on the small chain-ring and he is managing to travel at 50+ miles per hour. An earlier shot shows him in the large, and correct, chain-ring behind the semi. more
Quotes:
Dad: I was proud of my work. And the buildings went up. When they were finished the damnedest thing happened. It was like the buildings were too good for us. Nobody told us that. It just felt uncomfortable, that's all. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Jeopardy!: (#22.34)" (2005) more
Soundtrack:
Symphony No. 4 in A major (Italian Symphony), Opus 90 more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
31 out of 31 people found the following comment useful.
A film to treasure!!!, 5 January 2000
10/10

Breaking Away is a picture that is better than the sum of its parts. Oh, its parts are wonderful. The writing is sharp, observant, and funny (It won an Oscar!), the acting is superb (how Paul Dooley was nixed a nomination never mind the award I'll never know), and it is a well shot film. But its charms go even deeper. It is the story of four young men in their late teens, who are staring adulthood in the face after a year of leisure in the "small town" of Bloomington, Indiana, and how they deal with watching successful college kids pass them by. It is also about a young man in search of an identity (including that of a Italian bicycle racer), and of a family that is loving and supportive, almost in spite of itself. All these add up to a richly enjoyable, deeply moving family picture that gives us many moments to treasure (a large number include Paul Dooley as the frustrated and confused, but eventually loving father). Like other sports movies (the lead character races bicycles), it has a contest at the end, and like many much poorer ones, it ends with triumph. But we cheer not only for these immensely likeable "cutters," but for ourselves, for being treated to this bittersweet, touching, and wonderful movie.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (77 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Breaking Away (1979)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
50+ MPH brinstarter
one of the very best nccomet
how did they get invited to the 500? brian-2000
Best Supporting Acress Nominee for the mother?? McHinch
Why would Cinzano permit the use of their name ... jim-finder
Best Picture? dgz78
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
All Quiet on the Western Front Friday Night Lights The Nanny Diaries Across the Universe Strangers on a Train
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Comedy section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.