Breaking Away (1979)

Director:

Peter Yates

Writer:

Steve Tesich (written by)

Release Date:

20 July 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Family | Sport

Tagline:

Somewhere between growing up and settling down... [Australia Theatrical]

Plot:

A small-town teen obsessed with the Italian cycling team vies for the affections of a college girl.

Plot Keywords:

Italian | Indiana | Small Town | Cycling | Teen

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 9 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

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)

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)

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1979) (USA) (theatrical) (as 20th Century Fox)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1980) (USA) (TV)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Cinema Research  titles
• Cinzano  acknowledgment: the producer wishes to acknowledge the enormous help and cooperation of
• Citizens of Bloomington, Indiana, The  we would like to thank for their assistance and co-operation
• Fox Fanfare Music  copyright: original music, 1979 by
• Indiana University Foundation, The  we would like to thank for their assistance and co-operation
• Indiana University  we would like to thank for their assistance and co-operation
• Trans Audio  sound services

Also Known As:

Bambino (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:PG | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Singapore:PG | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Sweden:11 | USA:PG (PCA #25493)

Filming Locations:

Bloomington, Indiana, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Daniel Stern's film debut.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The scene were Dave is chasing the Cinzano truck towards Indianapolis, he passes fields of corn at least 5-6' tall. As this occurred prior to the Little 500, which is held in early spring, it is doubtful the corn would have grown to that nearly harvest stage in early spring.

Quotes:

[as they go for a marriage license:]
Moocher: I wonder if I have to have a job to qualify.
Nancy: I don't think so. I think it's mostly blood and relatives that they're interested in.
Moocher: Blood and relatives... well, that's great. I got both of them.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in 2006 Independent Spirit Awards (2006) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Symphony No. 4 in A major (Italian Symphony), Opus 90

Simply the best.

Dennis Christopher stars as a local cutter in a small college town. He and his friends enter a crucial bike race that can make them or break them. This film offers great insight into its characters. Christopher is exceptional, and has never been better. He is supported by a first rate cast, especially Barbara Barrie and Paul Dooley as his mom and dad. Brillantley directed, edited, and scored, plus the film makes very effective use of its beautiful cinmeatography. The ending will have you on the edge of your seat. Now this is what movies are all about,

This moving drama is on my top ten favorite films of all time. And it should have won the best picture Oscar in 1979, instead of Kramer vs. Kramer. Rating: A PERFECT 10 out of 10.