Main Cast: Matt Dillon, Richard Crenna, Hector Elizondo, Jessica Walter, Fisher Stevens, Janet Jones
Release Year: 1984
Country: US
Run Time: 105 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
Set in 1963, The Flamingo Kid finds 18-year-old Brooklynite Matt Dillon, the son of blue-collar Hector Elizondo, getting a taste of the Good Life by joining several of his friends at "El Flamingo", a swank Long Island beach club. Wealthy car salesman Richard Crenna, the uncle of Matt's girl friend Janet Jones, befriends the boy and takes him under his wing. Thanks to Crenna's influence, Matt secures a good job at the Flamingo. The boy is bedazzled by Crenna's sumptuous lifestyle, and most especially by the older man's reputation as the Flamingo's reigning gin rummy champ. Dillon begins taking on airs, which alienates his down-to-earth father. Watch for a scene in which, while channel-surfing with his new remote control, Richard Crenna watches a fleeting clip from the old TV sitcom The Real McCoys--featuring Richard Crenna. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Brian McNamara - Steve Dawkins; Carole R. Davis - Joyce Brody; Martha Gehman - Nikki Willis; Molly McCarthy - Ruth Willis; Leon Robinson - Fortune Smith; Bronson Pinchot - Alfred Schultz; Melvin Allen - Himself; Seth Allen - Jerry Berlin; Barbarian Brothers - Turk and Dirk; Frank Campanella - Col. Cal Eastland; Peter Costa - Peter; Googy Gress - Freddy; Joe Grifasi - Mario Minetta; Michael C. Mahon - Lifeguard; Kathi Marshall - Adventurer's Inn Hostess; Ron McLarty - Pat McCarty; Irving Metzman - Big Sid; Novella Nelson - Lizzy the Housekeeper; David Paul - Credited as The Barbarian Brother; Peter Paul - The Barbarian Brother; Tracy Reiner - Polly; Bo Sabato - Uncle Jack; Richard Stahl - Charlie Cooper; Sharon Thomas - Mrs. Unger; Marisa Tomei - Mandy; Steven Weber - Paul Hirsch; Carol Williard - Mrs. Rifkin; Steve Witting - Frank; David Berry - Steve's Father; Eric Douglas - Donny; John Turturro - Ted from Pinky's; Scott Marshall - Stickball Player; Lee Steele - Furniture Store Owner; Margery Simkin; Lisa Beth Ross - Bimbette; Leslie S. Sachs - Big Sid's Girl
Credit
Nick Abdo - Associate Producer, Margery Simkin - Casting, Ellen Mirojnick - Costume Designer, Stephen J. Lim - First Assistant Director, Garry Marshall - Director, Nick Abdo - Second Unit Director, Priscilla Nedd - Editor, Curt Sobel - Composer (Music Score), Irving Buchman - Makeup, Mickey Scott - Makeup, Lawrence Miller - Production Designer, Jim Contner - Cinematographer, Lawrence Miller - Production Manager, Michael Phillips - Producer, Fred C. Weiler - Set Designer, Peter A. Ilardi - Sound/Sound Designer, Harry Madsen - Stunts, Neal Marshall - Screen Story, Bo Goldman - Screenwriter, Garry Marshall - Screenwriter, Neal Marshall - Screenwriter
It was the first movie to receive a PG-13 rating, although it was the third to be released with that rating, after Red Dawn and Dreamscape.
Tagline:A legend in his own neighborhood
Plot
In the summer of 1963, Jeffrey Willis (Matt Dillon) is hired on at upscale Long Island beach resort, The Flamingo. Jeffrey is a kid from a middle class Brooklyn family and his father (Elizondo) does not approve of him working at the private club.
His hero and mentor at the resort is the reigning Gin rummy card game champ, Phil Brody (Crenna).
The film is also noteable for the fact that Dillion, in the promotional posters, bears an uncanny resemblance to Irish socialite Ross McGarrity though Mr. McGarrity strenuously denies that he was in fact used as a double in the film.
