The Boy Who Could Fly (1986)

Director:

Nick Castle

Writer:

Nick Castle (writer)

Release Date:

15 August 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Fantasy

Tagline:

Wish hard enough... love long enough... and anything's possible.

Plot:

Milly and Lewis, and their recently-widowed mom, Charlene, move to a new neighborhood. Once there, they all deal with a variety of personal problems...

Plot Keywords:

Underage Drinking | Autism | Therapist | Alcoholic | Big Wheel

Awards:

3 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Lucy Deakins	...	Milly Michaelson
Jay Underwood	...	Eric Gibb
Bonnie Bedelia	...	Charlene Michaelson
Fred Savage	...	Louis Michaelson
Colleen Dewhurst	...	Mrs. Sherman
Fred Gwynne	...	Uncle Hugo Gibb
Mindy Cohn	...	Geneva
Janet MacLachlan	...	Mrs. D'Gregario
Jennifer Michas	...	Mona
Michelle Bardeaux	...	Erin
Aura Pithart	...	Colette
Cameron Bancroft	...	Joe (as Cam Bancroft)
Jason Priestley	...	Gary (as Jason Priestly)
Chris Arnold	...	Sonny
Sean Kelso	...	Bad Boy
Meredith Bain Woodward	...	Female administrator (as Meredith B. Woodward)
Raimund Stamm	...	Attendant #1
Dan Zale	...	Attendant #2
Dwight Koss	...	Dad
Jim McLarty	...	Tour guide (as James McLarty)
Betty Phillips	...	Institute receptionist
Terry David Mulligan	...	Mr. Brandt (as Terry D. Mulligan)
Tannis Rae	...	Ms. O'Neil
Tom Heaton	...	Dr. Nelson
Angela Gann	...	Mrs. Betuel
Scott Irvine	...	Officer
Karen Siegel	...	Dr. Karen Siegel
John Carpenter	...	The Coupe De Villes
Nick Castle	...	The Coupe De Villes
Tommy Lee Wallace	...	The Coupe De Villes (as Tommy Wallace)
Warren Carr	...	Guest Coupe
Louise Fletcher	...	Psychiatrist

Directed by
Nick Castle

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Nick Castle		writer

Produced by
Gary Adelson	....	producer
Brian E. Frankish	....	associate producer (as Brian Frankish)
Richard Vane	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Bruce Broughton

Cinematography by
Adam Holender
Steven B. Poster		(as Steven Poster)

Film Editing by
Patrick Kennedy

Casting by
Barbara Miller

Production Design by
James D. Bissell		(as Jim Bissell)

Art Direction by
Graeme Murray

Set Decoration by
Kimberley Richardson

Costume Design by
Trish Keating

Makeup Department
Susan Boyd	....	hair stylist
Maurice Parkhurst	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Warren Carr	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
James D. Bissell	....	second unit director (as James Bissell)
Pat Ellingson	....	third assistant director
Patrice Leung	....	second assistant director
Matthew O'Connor	....	first assistant director: second unit
Michael E. Steele	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Brent Boates	....	production illustrator
Bob Bottieri	....	lead painter
Grant Swain	....	property master
William James Teegarden	....	set designer (as Jim Teegarden)
David Willson	....	construction coordinator

Sound Department
Fred J. Brown	....	sound effects editor
B.J. Clayden	....	boom operator
Carlos Delarios	....	sound re-recording mixer
Teri E. Dorman	....	sound editor
Chris Glyn-Jones	....	boom operator
Michael J. Kohut	....	sound re-recording mixer
Margie O'Malley	....	foley artist (as Margie Denecke)
Aaron Rochin	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michele Sharp	....	sound effects editor
Rob Young	....	sound mixer

Special Effects by
Thaine Morris	....	special effects foreman
William H. Orr	....	head special effects (as Bill Orr)
John Thomas	....	special effects coordinator
Randy Algoe	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Laura Buff	....	visual effects consultant
Charles Cowles	....	optical camera operator
Richard Edlund	....	visual effects supervisor
Alan Harding	....	optical camera operator
George Jensen	....	visual effects art director
Neil Krepela	....	effects director of photography
Brad Kuehn	....	optical lineup
George E. Mather	....	visual effects production supervisor
Michele Moen	....	matte artist (as Michelle Moen)
Pete Romano	....	visual effects camera operator
Lynda Thompson	....	visual effects production supervisor
Paul Van Camp	....	software programmer
Mark Vargo	....	optical supervisor
Terry Windell	....	animation supervisor
Matthew Yuricich	....	chief matte artist

Stunts
James M. Halty	....	stunt double: Eric (as Jim Halty)
John Scott	....	stunt coordinator
Betty Thomas	....	stunt double: Milly

Camera and Electrical Department
John S. Bartley	....	gaffer: second unit
Garrett Brown	....	photographer: Skycam
Richard Buckmaster	....	generator operator
John Burnett	....	first assistant camera: additional photography
David Crone	....	steadicam operator (as Dave Crone)
John H. Gilman	....	video technician
Chris Harris	....	second assistant camera
Tim Hogan	....	key grip
Gary Holt	....	chief lighting technician
Stephen Jackson	....	best boy
Joseph Lederer	....	still photographer
Rod Parkhurst	....	camera operator
James Plannette	....	chief lighting technician

Casting Department
Ken Carlson	....	casting: Chicago
Lynne Carrow	....	casting: Vancouver
Sid Kozak	....	additional casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tish Monaghan	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Bruce Giesbrecht	....	assistant editor
Liza Randol	....	assistant editor
Michael Smith	....	assistant editor
James Stanley	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Mark McKenzie	....	orchestrator
Patricia Peck	....	music editor
Armin Steiner	....	score mixer

Transportation Department
Scott Irvine	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Patti Allen	....	production coordinator
Jean Bereziuk	....	script supervisor
Carl Berg	....	skycam technician
Cindy Block	....	stand-in
Janet Brown	....	script supervisor: second unit
Dan Curry	....	title designer
Kevin George	....	stand-in
Sherri Lee Giulbert	....	stand-in
Bill Hansard	....	special projection (as Bill Hansard Sr.)
Robert Harman	....	flying effects supervisor
Dusty Holland	....	stand-in
Jacqueline V. Johnson	....	craft service assistant
Ned Lex	....	skycam rigger
Jack Lyons	....	unit publicist
Peter Mackay	....	skycam operator
Larry McConkey	....	skycam pilot and operator
Matthew O'Connor	....	location manager
Jeff Schultz	....	stand-in
Jim Shaw	....	skycam production supervisor
Karen Siegel	....	production associate
Reg Smith	....	flying effects rigger

Production Companies

• Lorimar Productions
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Abril Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Home Box Office (HBO) (laserdisc)
• Roadshow Home Video (1986) (Australia) (video)
• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation
• Warner Home Video (video)

Other Companies

• Cinema Research  titles and opticals
• Film Fare Caterers  catering
• Inter Video  24 frame video services
• Percepto Records  score album released by (limited edition)

Runtime:

114 min | UK:107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:K-10 | UK:PG | USA:PG | Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

Butchart Gardens, Brentwood Bay, Central Saanich, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Lorimar Productions

Trivia:

In one scene Fred Savage plays the "Last Starfighter" video game from the 1984 film, also directed by director Nick Castle.

Movie Connections:

Features The Last Starfighter (1984)

Soundtrack:

BACK OF THE BUS

Uplifting tale of friendship

There are few films the go beyond the realms of reality, yet hit so close to home. Such is the case with this film. I could immediately identify with Milly. She is a down to earth girl who was alone and wanted to believe in a boy who was as lonely (if not more) as she was. But little did she suspect that his story would be one that would go beyond all of her wildest dreams. This movie is very rare in today's movie market, a wholesome and innocent film that is a pleasure to watch again and again. One of the most beautiful scenes to me is when she reaches for a rare white rose with one pink petal and as she climbes the railing (the only thing gaurding her from a deep gorge) Eric immediatly grabs her arm, concerned for her safety. The love is really there in his eyes. Wonderful film that illustrates the forbidden lines between reality and the incredible.