Racing with the Moon (1984)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Richard Benjamin

Writer:

Steve Kloves (writer)

Release Date:

23 March 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

It was 1943...There was so little time left to learn about life!

Plot:

In 1942 California, two young men await induction into the U.S. Marines and say goodbye to their girlfriends.

Plot Keywords:

Friendship | Small Town | Female Nudity | Bowling | Train

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Sean Penn	...	Henry 'Hopper' Nash
Elizabeth McGovern	...	Caddie Winger
Nicolas Cage	...	Nicky / Bud
John Karlen	...	Mr. Nash
Rutanya Alda	...	Mrs. Nash
Max Showalter	...	Mr. Arthur, Piano Teacher
Crispin Glover	...	Gatsby Boy
Barbara Howard	...	Gatsby Girl
Bob Maroff	...	Al
Dominic Nardini	...	Soldier with Annie
John Brandon	...	Mr. Kaiser
Eve Brent	...	Mrs. Kaiser
Suzanne Adkinson	...	Sally Kaiser
Shawn Schepps	...	Gretchen
Charles Miller	...	Arnie

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:11 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Fort Bragg, California, USA

Company:

Jaffe-Lansing

Trivia:

The scene in which Sean Penn and Elizabeth McGovern go swimming in the lake was shot in the middle of winter which meant the water would also be freezing cold, but Penn and McGovern were so into the film they elected to do it anyway.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The railroad cars behind the steam locomotive are too new for the era the movie is supposed to portray (1940s).

Soundtrack:

Says My Heart

A sensitive story, of life's change, of stolen youth.

I've always viewed Richard Benjamin as a sensitive, honest filmmaker. Sure, he's made some less-than-great films, but his directorial debut, `My Favorite Year' may be about the funniest film ever made.

Racing with the Moon--the boy, his friend, and the girl--a small town in the Midwest in 1942 and a few weeks before the young men are to be inducted in the service. Their lives will be changed unequivocally, and they will no longer be boys. This is all the time they have left to enjoy the freedom, the carefree wonderment that is youth.

Stevn Kloves first produced script (later The Fabulous Baker Boys) is right on target with smart roles for three young stars. Sean Penn had Taps, and Fast Times behind him, and was his career was flourishing, Nick Cage had done Valley Girl, and Birdy, but would languish for ten more years, before achieving stardom, and Elizabeth McGovern, who's wonderful as Caddie Winger, is still waiting her just recognition.

Benjamin was born and raised in New York City, but his age is appropriate to our main characters. I'm sure he smiled, over and over as he recalled his own youth. His heart is in Racing with the Moon, and its worth your time, to go back for a moment, and enjoy those times.