Jumpin' Jack Flash is a 1986 comedy-thriller film starring Whoopi Goldberg, Stephen Collins, Carol Kane, John Wood, Annie Potts, and Jonathan Pryce. The film was directed by Penny Marshall in her theatrical film directorial debut.[1]
The film was one of the first to feature online communications as a key part of the plot.
The soundtrack includes two versions of the song "Jumpin' Jack Flash"; one by Aretha Franklin, and the other by The Rolling Stones.
Plot
Teresa "Terry" Doolittle (Whoopi Goldberg), is a typical New York fund transferrer for the First National Bank in Manhattan. In her office she doesn't quite fit with the bank's corporate image, despite being a good employee and popular with her coworkers. However, she is often chastised by her no-nonsense boss James Page (Peter Michael Goetz).
One night as the bank is closing for the day, she is contacted by a man calling himself "Jumpin' Jack Flash", who turns out to be a British Intelligence agent stuck in a hostile country in eastern Europe, and being pursued by the KGB. After being given a riddle for his password, Terry determines the password to be B-Flat (the key in which "Jumpin' Jack Flash" is supposedly written in - in reality the song is actually recorded in the key of B). Jack initially asks her for appearingly mundane tasks, namely entering his apartment to retrieve a frying pan, on which are Jack's CIA contacts to acquire a viable passport. After every contact dead ends, Jack sends her to the British Embassy to deliver the message "Dogs barking, can't fly without umbrella." Despite feeling ludicrous, Terry delivers the message to Talbot, who is apparently puzzled, and sends Terry away thinking shes part of a prank.
Terry begins to be monitored. A technician shows up to repair her terminal, but when Terry calls the IT company, the technician vanishes. Peter Kane arrives at First National as a new coworker of Terry, and the two quickly become friends. Terry is finally contacted by one of Jack's contacts, who meets her at the docks. After being stunned to realize Terry is a banker, and has no relationship at all with the intelligence community, the agent is killed and falls in the docks. The police dismiss Terry's claim of the murder, and Peter bails her out of jail. Terry continues to follow leads and is nearly abducted by the computer tech, a KGB agent, but knocks him out with Jack's frying pan.
Jack then tells her how to break into the British Embassy central computer. Conning her way in under the guise of entertainer, she manages to enter the mainframe, but Talbot deactivates the computer link before Jack receives a contact. Going through one of Jack's romantic contacts, Terry is rebuffed, and then captured by the KGB, who lock her in a phone booth and drag her around the city. After escaping when the booth is knocked over, Terry is tranquilized with truth serum by a fake police officer, again the computer tech, but escapes after trapping his arm in a car window and rolling the car into traffic. Terry again contacts Jack's old flame, completely stoned, and makes an impassioned plea for her help, and leaves in disgust after being told she'd rather let Jack be killed than risk losing face. Terry then stumbles into work, and passes out.
Terry awakes at home, and is dropped in on by Jack's old sweetheart, who gives her a contact. After passing the contact to Jack, she is again captured by the KGB, and learns that the contact is a KGB mole. After nearly being tortured with a power sander, Terry escapes, and is caught by police, who she then escapes after realizing the police are arresting her rather than protecting her. She rushes to the bank, and is again ambushed by the KGB and Talbot. After struggling with the KGB, and biting Talbot on the crotch, she confirms to Jack the contact will kill him. Peter Kane reveals himself to be a CIA agent, and gives Jack the correct contact.
Cast
Whoopi Goldberg as Teresa "Terri" Doolittle: The movie's main character. A bored bank worker adored by her colleagues for her sarcastic attitude and outspoken views, who gets involved with helping Jack escape his pursuers and return home safely.
Jonathan Pryce as "Jack": A DIS agent trapped in a European country being chased by KGB agents. For most of the film, only his voice is heard when speaking to Terry over the computer. In the final scene of the movie he meets Terry at First National Bank where she works.
Stephen Collins as Marty Phillips: A CIA agent (whose real name is Peter Kane) and friend of Jack's that has gone undercover as a new employee at First National Bank.
John Wood as Jeremy Talbott: The film's primary antagonist. He is a KGB sleeper agent who works undercover at the British Consulate in New York City. He attempts to use Terry to lure Jack into a deadly ambush.
Peter Michael Goetz as James Page: The manager of First National Bank and Terry's often frustrated, no-nonsense boss.
Vyto Ruginis as Carl: Another KGB agent. Carl is Talbott's menacing silent henchman.
Production
Production of this film, originally conceived as a vehicle for Shelley Long, was problematic. The script was troubled and would often be rewritten on the set. It began with Howard Zieff as director; however, he was replaced early in the production by Penny Marshall.[1]
Soundtrack
(Selected List)[2]
Performed by Aretha Franklin Produced by Keith Richards Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards Published by ABKCO Music, Inc. Courtesy of Arista Records, Inc.
Performed by The Rolling Stones Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards Published by ABKCO Music, Inc. Courtesy of ABKCO Records, Inc.
Performed by The Pointer Sisters Produced by Richard Perry Written by Alice Willis, Danny Sembello & Cynthia Weil Courtesy of RCA Records
Performed by The Supremes Written by Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier & Brian Holland Courtesy of Motown Record Corporation
Performed by Face to Face Written by Laurie Sargent & Angelo Courtesy of PolyGram Records
Performed by Bananarama Written by Steve Jolley & Tony Swain Courtesy of London Records
Written and Performed by Billy Branigan Courtesy of PolyGram Records
Performed by Kool & The Gang Written by Robert Kool Bell (as Robert Bell), J.T. Taylor (as James Taylor) and Kool & The Gang Courtesy of De-Lite Records
Performed by Fontella Bass Written by Carl William Smith & Raynard Miner Courtesy of MCA Records, Inc.
(uncredited) from "Alfred" Composed by Thomas Augustine Arne
- "Roses from the South, Op.388"
(uncredited) Composed by Johann Strauß (as Johann Strauß, Jr.) At the British Consulate ball
- "Tales of the Vienna Woods, Op.325"
(uncredited) Composed by Johann Strauß (as Johann Strauß, Jr.) At the British Consulate ball
(uncredited) Composed by Johann Strauß (as Johann Strauß, Jr.) At the British Consulate ball
(uncredited) from "Gayane" Composed by Aram Khachaturian At the scene of the dress in the shredder
(uncredited) Music by Henry Carey At the British Consulate ball
(uncredited) from "La Nozze di Figaro" Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart At the beauty parlor "Elizabeth Arden"
References
External links
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Films directed by Penny Marshall |
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| 1980s |
Jumpin' Jack Flash (1986) · Big (1988)
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| 1990s |
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| 2000s |
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