Little Nikita (1988)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Richard Benjamin

Writers:

Bo Goldman (co-writer)
John Hill (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

18 March 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

He went to bed an all-American kid and woke up the son of Russian spies.

Plot:

Roy Parmenter is an FBI agent in San Diego; 20 years ago his partner was killed by a Soviet spy, nicknamed Scuba...

Plot Keywords:

Spy | FBI Agent | Interview | Cigarette Smoking | Flower Shop

Cast

Sidney Poitier	...	Roy Parmenter
River Phoenix	...	Jeff Grant
Richard Jenkins	...	Richard Grant
Caroline Kava	...	Elizabeth Grant
Richard Bradford	...	Konstantin Karpov
Richard Lynch	...	Scuba
Loretta Devine	...	Verna McLaughlin
Lucy Deakins	...	Barbara Kerry
Jerry Hardin	...	Brewer
Albert Fortell	...	Bunin
Robert Madrid	...	Sgt. Leathers (as Robb Madrid)
Ronald Guttman	...	Spessky
Jacob Vargas	...	Miguel
Roberto Jiménez	...	Joaquin
Chez Lister	...	Tom
Bill Stevenson	...	Tony
Thomas R. Zak	...	Brett (as Tom Zak)
Newell Alexander	...	Drill Sergeant
Ingrid M. Rhoads	...	Cpl. Hogan (as Ingrid Rhoades)
Lisa McCullough	...	Water Skier
Richard Holden	...	Young Russian Diplomat
Voyo Goric	...	Joe
Kim Strange	...	DMV Clerk
Lou Hancock	...	Nursery Customer
David M. Paynter	...	Spike
Biff Wiff	...	Bucky
Tasha Stewart	...	Dolphin Trainer
John Spafford	...	Trainer #2
Brooke Theiss	...	Dilys
Jonathan McMurtry	...	Tour Boat Guide
Charles T. Salter Jr.	...	Trolley Conductor
Rick L. Nahera	...	Trolley Passenger
Jim Parrott	...	U.S. Border Patrolman
Arlin Miller	...	TV Announcer
Julio Medina	...	Soccer Announcer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Doug Ingold	...	Park Attendant (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Benjamin

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Bo Goldman		co-writer
John Hill		writer
Tom Musca		story
Terry Schwartz		story

Produced by
Harry Gittes	....	producer
Art Levinson	....	co-producer
Gail Mutrux	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Marvin Hamlisch

Cinematography by
László Kovács

Film Editing by
Jacqueline Cambas

Casting by
David Rubin

Production Design by
Gene Callahan

Art Direction by
Hub Braden

Set Decoration by
Lee Poll

Costume Design by
Patricia Norris

Makeup Department
Dorothy Byrne	....	hair stylist
Bob Mills	....	makeup artist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dennis Maguire	....	first assistant director
Conrad E. Palmisano	....	second unit director

Art Department
Max E. Brehme	....	set dresser
Emily Ferry	....	property master
Sherman Labby	....	production illustrator

Sound Department
William Dotson	....	sound editor
Louis L. Edemann	....	sound editor
Jerry Jost	....	sound mixer
Elliot Tyson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dennis C. Salcedo	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Carolyn Tapp	....	foley recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Mike Edmonson	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Steve Grumette	....	computer effects supervisor

Stunts
Michael Adams	....	stunts
Jophery C. Brown	....	stunts (as Jophery Brown)
Erik Cord	....	stunts
Roger Creed	....	stunts
Kerrie Cullen	....	stunts
Greg Wayne Elam	....	stunts (as Greg Elam)
Mickey Gilbert	....	stunts
Dick Hancock	....	stunts
Conrad E. Palmisano	....	stunt coordinator
Nick Palmisano	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Owen Marsh	....	camera operator: second unit
Peter McEvoy	....	assistant camera: second unit
Bob Munoz	....	best boy grip
Louis Niemeyer	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Michael T. Travers	....	grip

Casting Department
Tina Real	....	extras casting: local

Editorial Department
Mark Kolpack	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Robert Fernandez	....	scoring mixer
Andrew Silver	....	assistant music editor

Transportation Department
William Hogue	....	driver dispatcher

Other crew
Cullen G. Chambers	....	stand-in: Sidney Poitier
Wes Irwin	....	production assistant
Greg Lazzaro	....	key location manager
Cynthia Wise	....	assistant accountant

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2002) (Argentina) (all media) (re-release)
• Hollydan Works (2001) (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) (DVD)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (19??) (Argentina) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (2002) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2002) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-release)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (USA) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (USA) (laserdisc)

Also Known As:

The Sleepers

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | South Korea:15 | Argentina:Atp | Finland:K-14 | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | UK:15

Filming Locations:

San Diego, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

When Roy hands over the driving license to Jeff the birth date is August 23rd 1970, which was the real birth date of actor River Phoenix.

Quotes:

Konstantin Karpov: You know Roy? Russians don't shoot their children.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "American Masters: Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light" (2000)

Angst Ridden Identity Crisis

I would bet that of all the films young River Phoenix did in his short and sweet life, Little Nikita is probably the one where he played the most normal of kids. But it's that very normality that is the basis for the shock unfolding before him.

A rogue agent played by Richard Lynch who has specialized in playing really evil and loathsome types on the big and small screens is going around killing various sleeper agents that the Russians have planted over the years in America. Lynch is blackmailing the Soviets for big bucks to stop bumping off the deep cover spies. One of their top guys, Richard Bradford, is going to America to deal with the problem. As this is the time of Glasnost with Reagan and Gorbachev in some serious and far reaching negotiations, we don't want this to get public and blow up the summit.

At the same time while Sidney Poitier as an FBI agent is running routine background checks for armed service academy admissions, something really doesn't compute in young River Phoenix's background. It turns out that his parents are deep cover agents who've never been activated to do anything. And by an incredible coincidence I just really couldn't buy, Lynch is a guy who killed Poitier's partner many years ago and he wants him to.

You'd think that with this kind of problem a little below summit Glasnost would have been in order for the KGB and FBI. But no, they're both working at cross purposes for the same goal.

What Little Nikita does have going for it to give it as many stars as it does have is River Phoenix's angst ridden performance of an All American kid whose whole world comes crashing around about him. River's screen characters were usually quirky, but he could play a normal kid and well.

Phoenix's performance and the nice location shooting in and around the San Diego area are the only reason to watch this well meaning, but ultimately rather silly film.