Directors:Floyd Mutrux; George Fortmuller; Stephen H. Fisher
AMG Rating:
Genre: Comedy Drama
Movie Type: Coming-of-Age
Themes: Innocence Lost
Main Cast: Dermot Mulroney, Rick Schroder, Kelli Williams, Noah Wyle, Jill Schoelen
Release Year: 1994
Country: US
Run Time: 99 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Similar to the premise of American Graffiti, this film centers on eight California high school students whose lives intersect over two nights in the hot summer of 1965. As the Watts riots begin, the young people make decisions that will impact their entire lives. Writer-director Floyd Mutrux examines at the graduating class of 1965 of Westwood High School in Los Angeles, which was featured on the cover of Look magazine in 1961. The story is narrated by the class valedictorian, Mary Beth (Lucy Deakins). Kelli Williams plays Sunshine, a prototypical flower child. Characters played by Dermot Mulroney and Rick Schroder and others struggle with decisions about the Vietnam war, aspire to be rock musicians, and take divergent paths on politics while navigating various romantic entanglements. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
Lucy Deakins - Mary Beth; Kristen Minter - Tracey; Kenny Ransom - Calvin; Seymour Cassel - Pop; Paul Gleason - Burton; Frederick Coffin - Mr. Maran; Andrew Robinson - Frank; Humble Harve Miller - The Beard; Shon Greenblatt - Morrisey; J.E. Freeman - George; Anne Archer - Narrator; Bonnie Baker - Shindig Dancer; Ed Beechner - Policeman; Gene Borkan - Pete; Brandi Burkett - J.D.'s Girlfriend; Jo de Winter - Miss Shine; Angelina Estrada - Burton Housekeeper; Alan Haufrect - Mr. Pitman; Christian Jacobs - Jeff; Ele Keats - Emily; David Labiosa - Singer; Sal Lopez - Chicano; Janet MacLachlan - Lottie; Miguel A. Nuñez - Rodney; Shannon Wilcox - Mattie; Ken Wright - Policeman; Budd Carr - Performer; Paula Brown - Street Dancer; Gil Parra - Police Chief; Edward Swan - Bartender; Everett Lamar - Sidekick; Bill Williams - Chef; Frances Williams - Grandmother
Credit
Louis Mann - Art Director, Lynn Stalmaster - Casting, Jane Jenkins - Casting, Janet Hirshenson - Casting, Molly Maginnis - Costume Designer, Floyd Mutrux - Director, George Fortmuller - Director, Stephen H. Fisher - Director, Danford B. Greene - Editor, Maysie Hoy - Editor, Maysie Joy - Editor, Budd Carr - Musical Direction/Supervision, William Randall - Musical Direction/Supervision, Richard Sawyer - Production Designer, William A. Fraker - Cinematographer, Rick Finkelstein - Producer, Robert Shapiro - Producer, Barry Spikings - Producer, Peg Cummings - Set Designer, Floyd Mutrux - Screenwriter, Al Laverde - Key Grip, Norval D. Crutcher III - Assistant Sound Editor
The film was finished and originally intended for a theatrical run in 1991, however, it did not receive its release until September 2, 1994. Told from the point of view of the class valedictorian, Mary Beth, the story follows a group of high school seniors during the 1965Watts Riots.
