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, as her desk is full of funny ornaments and is very decorative. Despite these small quirks, she is basically a good employee and is popular with her coworkers. However, she is often chastised by her no-nonsense boss James Page (Peter Michael Goetz) for chatting in an informal manner with other bank computer workers around the globe.
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. Jack tells Terry that he can only communicate with her via computer chat, and only over a private channel. In order to access his channel, Terry needs to type in Jack's code-key (a special password), however, because he is afraid of the KGB electronically eavesdropping on their conversation, Jack refuses to tell Terry his code-key. He tells her instead to "sing with me, and find the key". Terry, a huge fan of classic rock, figures that the key must be hidden somewhere in the lyrics to The Rolling Stones song. After several hours of fruitlessly searching the lyrics, Terry figures out the code-key is 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) Although from the sheet music that Terri finds the password, musically-speaking, "B-flat" is slightly an easier key to play on the piano hence the manuscript being a semi-tone lower.
He appeals to Terry to help him return home safely, sending her on wacky and dangerous adventures all over New York.
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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