D.A.R.Y.L. (1985)

Director:

Simon Wincer

Writers:

David Ambrose (writer) &
Allan Scott (writer) ...

Release Date:

14 June 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

Becoming human was not part of the plan. Now they want to terminate him.

Plot:

A young boy is found wandering without any memory of who he is. A family takes him in and begin to look for clues to help him find his way home...

Plot Keywords:

Computer | Suicide | Entire Title Is Capitalized Acronym | Map | Dog

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Mary Beth Hurt	...	Joyce Richardson
Michael McKean	...	Andy Richardson
Kathryn Walker	...	Dr. Ellen Lamb
Colleen Camp	...	Elaine Fox
Josef Sommer	...	Dr. Jeffrey Stewart
Ron Frazier	...	General Graycliffe
Steve Ryan	...	Howie Fox
David Wohl	...	Mr. Nesbitt
Danny Corkill	...	Turtle Fox
Amy Linker	...	Sherie Lee Fox
Barret Oliver	...	Daryl
Ed Grady	...	Mr. Bergen (as Ed L. Grady)
Tucker McGuire	...	Mrs. Bergen
Richard Hammatt	...	Dr. Mulligan
Charlie Gudger	...	Basketball Kid #1

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (TVC)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:G (Nova Scotia) | Iceland:L | Australia:PG | Finland:K-10 | Netherlands:16 | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Alpes-Maritimes, France

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

The scenes with all of the computers at the military base were filmed in the backstage computer rooms at Walt Disney World's EPCOT Center.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Daryl gets cash out of the ATM, the baseball kids in the background get out of the car twice.

Quotes:

Daryl: Doctor, What am I?

Movie Connections:

References "The Jetsons" (1962)

Soundtrack:

SOMEWHERE I BELONG

A Real Person - What It Means To Be Human

For me, there is simply nothing not to like about this film. It is well scripted, the parts fit together seamlessly and logically, and everything is justly proportioned--that is, everything's in good balance.

And the best part of it is that the acting is never overdone. The main characters are really human and believable, and Barret Oliver's acting is totally natural and spontaneous.

So even though one has to suspend disbelief in the science fiction impossibility of the story (a mere machine could never actually become a human brain), it's really worth doing so, just for the fun of it.

Just accept the basic premise of the plot for the sake of the story, and then relax and enjoy a heart-warming display of what are real human values in a world where these are sometimes sadly lacking, and a thought-provoking consideration of what it means to be 'a real person.'