Pacific Heights (1990)

Director:

John Schlesinger

Writer (WGA):

Daniel Pyne (written by)

Release Date:

28 September 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Where terror lives.

Plot:

A couple works hard to renovate their dream house and become landlords to pay for it. Unfortunately one of their tenants has plans of his own.

Plot Keywords:

Tenant | Landlord | Rent | Yuppie | Apartment

Cast

Melanie Griffith	...	Patty Palmer
Matthew Modine	...	Drake Goodman
Michael Keaton	...	Carter Hayes
Mako	...	Toshio Watanabe
Nobu McCarthy	...	Mira Watanabe
Laurie Metcalf	...	Stephanie MacDonald
Carl Lumbly	...	Lou Baker
Dorian Harewood	...	Dennis Reed
Luca Bercovici	...	Greg
Tippi Hedren	...	Florence Peters
Sheila McCarthy	...	Liz Hamilton
Guy Boyd	...	Warning Cop
Jerry Hardin	...	Bennett Fidlow
Dan Hedaya	...	Loan Officer
James Staley	...	District Attorney

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | France:U | South Korea:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Germany:16 | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Canon Drive, Beverly Hills, California, USA

Company:

Morgan Creek Productions

Trivia:

In the original script, Carter was a bisexual who sexually threatens Drake and Patty.

Goofs:

Continuity: Carter's briefcase when Patty is sneaking through his room.

Quotes:

Carter Hayes: [to Drake] You're a brave and stupid man.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service: Dead and Unburied (#4.5)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

MOZART: PIANO CONCERTO #19 IN F, K.459

Keaton shines as the villain!

Prior to this film,we only saw Michael Keaton in comedic,and good guy roles.In Pacific Heights,he proves to us that he is not afraid to turn on us and be the bad guy.Keaton is excellent as Carter Hayes,the worst kind of no account,as he knows how to stay just out of reach of the law. The character is very similar to that of Max Cady in Cape Fear,though Cady is the far more memorable of the two.Carter Hayes is a nightmarish tenant wreaking havoc on the lives of his helpless landlords,wonderfully played by Melanie Griffith and Matthew Modine.I consider this film to be an overlooked classic that never really got the attention it deserved,perhaps because no one wanted to see Keaton,particularly after his Batman success,as a villain.Those looking for a modern day "Hitchcock-esque" thriller will find a winner here.Thumbs up!