Grandview, U.S.A. (1984)

User Rating:

4.7/10   

Director:

Randal Kleiser

Writer:

Ken Hixon (writer)

Release Date:

3 August 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Where dreams have a funny way of coming true.

Plot:

Life in the small town of Grandview, Illinois is one that is just like any other city or town. Tim Pearson...

Plot Keywords:

Demolition Derby | Bondage | Bulldozer | Country Name In Title | Bare Chested Male Bondage

Cast

Jamie Lee Curtis	...	Michelle 'Mike' Cody
C. Thomas Howell	...	Tim Pearson
Patrick Swayze	...	Ernie 'Slam' Webster
Troy Donahue	...	Donny Vinton
Jennifer Jason Leigh	...	Candy Webster
William Windom	...	Bob Cody
Carole Cook	...	Betty Welles
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Mr. Clark
Ramon Bieri	...	Mr. Pearson
Elizabeth Gorcey	...	Bonnie Clark
John Philbin	...	Cowboy
John Cusack	...	Johnny Maine
Joan Cusack	...	Mary Maine
Camilla Hawk	...	Mrs. Pearson
Melissa Domke	...	Susan Pearson

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Canada:18A | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Fairbury, Illinois, USA

Company:

CBS Entertainment Production

Trivia:

While filming in Pontiac, Illinois, the night the demolition derby scene was shot was very cold. Since it was supposed to be summertime, the extras hired to sit in the grandstand were dressed in shorts and shirts. To stay warm they would bundle up in coats and hats and just before the camera would roll, they would throw off the coats and sit on them.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: During the dream scene, while walking with his parents, the shadow of a boom mic is visible on the ground toward the left side of the screen.

Quotes:

Ernie 'Slam' Webster: [Bob and Mike are carrying a very drunk Slam to the truck]
[Slam talking drunk]
Ernie 'Slam' Webster: I'm sorry everyone.
Bob Cody: There are 2 kinds of drunks, those that are sorry and those that soon will be.

Movie Connections:

References Star Wars (1977)

Soundtrack:

This Time

A great movie about life in a mid western town.

This movie is really great about life in a mid western town, a great cast in this movie. A young soon to be high school grad,Tim Pearson,played by C. Thomas Howell(The Outsiders, Red Dawn, and Soul Man)has his dreams. He has his moments in life,especially after the prom. Tim makes out with his girlfriend, Bonnie, played by Elizabeth Gorcey(Footloose), in his dad's brand new Cadillac. Tim goes to Cody's Speed Way where they have demolition derbies there, he meets Michelle"Mike"Cody, played by Jamie Lee Curtis(Halloween, True Lies, and Freaky Friday). Patrick Swayze(The Outsiders, Red Dawn, and Point Break) as Ernie"Slam"Webster, is awesome. Ernie is a former boyfriend of Mike Cody, Ernie is married to Candy, played by Jennifer Jason-Leigh(Fast Times At Ridgemont High, Single White Female, and Rush), who is cheating on Ernie with a guy named Donny Vinton, played by 1950's heart throb Troy Donahue. A love triangle goes on between Tim,Mike,and Slam. Mike has her troubles too cause the county want to shut down the Speed Way, they feel her pace is unsafe, but the real estate man, Roger Pearson, played by Ramon Bieri, Tim's dad has plans for the site the Speed Way. Tim has a romantic night with Mike Cody,they start to be more close. Slam has problems with his marriage and wants to get close to Mike. Things get crazier when Slam gets even with his wife and her lover by using a bulldozer to tear down the house. Tim and his dad have some differences, but Roger realizes that he should have done things different. Tim tells his father that he wants to follow his dream. The Speed Way gets burned down cause of Mike's little brother, nicknamed Cowboy, who like gum very much. Cowboy was upset cause Mike sold the cars that he thought were his. Things do get better for all. Mike and Slam start over together, Tim Pearson goes to Florida cause of Mike and Slam giving him his car.

I think this movie is underrated and should have been giving a lot more credit.

Grandview U.S.A. has a good supporting cast like Michael Winslow(The Police Academy movies, Spaceballs)as the announcer at the Speed Way.

M. Emmet Walsh(Blade Runner, Back To School, and Missing In Action)as Bonnie's father.

John Cusack(Better Off Dead, One Crazy Summer, and The Grifters)as Tim Pearson's friend,Johnny. Joan Cusack as Johnny's sister.

Carole Cook as Mike Cody's mother, Betty Welles.

John Philbin(Children Of The Corn and Point Break)as Cowboy.

I give this movie a 2 thumbs up and 10/10, I had the honor to see it filmed, I was staying with my aunt in Pontiac, Illinois, where the movie was filmed.