Eddie and the Cruisers (1983)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Martin Davidson

Writers:

Martin Davidson (screenplay) &
Arlene Davidson (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

23 September 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Music

Tagline:

Rebel. Rocker. Lover. Idol. Vanished.

Plot:

Maggie Foley is a reporter who's interviewing the surviving members of a band who's music is being revived...

Plot Keywords:

Reporter | Missing Person | Rock 'n' Roll | Fictional Band | Automobile Accident

Cast

Tom Berenger	...	Frank Ridgeway
Michael Paré	...	Eddie Wilson
Joe Pantoliano	...	Doc Robbins
Matthew Laurance	...	Sal Amato
Helen Schneider	...	Joann Carlino
David Wilson	...	Kenny Hopkins
Michael 'Tunes' Antunes	...	Wendell Newton
Ellen Barkin	...	Maggie Foley
Kenny Vance	...	Lew Elson
John Stockwell	...	Keith Livingston
Joe Cates	...	Lois
Barry Sand	...	Barry Siegel
Vebe Borge	...	Gerry Rivers
Howard Johnson	...	Wendell's Replacement
Joey Balin	...	Eddie's Replacement

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Norway:12 | Sweden:7 | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | USA:PG (certificate #26935) | UK:PG | Australia:M (DVD rating) | Australia:PG | West Germany:6 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Atco, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Aurora

Trivia:

The band actually playing the music is John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band, and the actor playing Wendell, the Cruisers' sax player, is the real-life sax player for them.

Goofs:

Continuity: Maggie is seen watching old tape of Eddie and the band sing "On The Dark Side", at Frank's college. Yet when we see them at the college later in the film, no camera or film crews are in sight anywhere in the auditorium.

Quotes:

Eddie Wilson: I want something great. I want something that's never been done before!
Sal Amato: Why? We ain't great. We're just some guys from Jersey.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "TCM Underground: Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains/Eddie and the Cruisers (#1.60)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Season in Hell (Fire Suite)

More Here Than Meets The Eyes Or Ears In One Viewing

Disregard what the big time movie reviewers may say! Despite a poor sound track, there is much more to this film than is obvious within one viewing. It took me awhile to get into it, but once I did, I loved it more with each viewing. The underlying premise of the film, that there was, indeed, a definitive crossover point between the innocent early rock and roll music of the 1950's and the deeper coming of age sounds of the mid to late sixties is quite real. And the charismatic title character "Eddie" has sensed this change in the wind, but is unable to convey his vision to those around him. Yes, there are a little too many flashback scenes for my taste, but all in all the film had something to say that deserves to be heard.