| | | | Grandview, U.S.A.
(1984) |
t's pretty hard for me to accept that this is now what you would call a "Lost Film." A movie that's out of the mainstream circuit, and worse yet, out of print to future fans...
If you don't know the movie, then such a loss would only be clear when you know what kind of film this really was.
Grandview U.S.A. was made during a time that nonstop teen sex comedies and brat pack movies were being shipped off and sent into the media world of teenagers, shaping their attitudes to life.
This movie, with such a simple plot and good ole' fun, should be remembered for the innocence of the time and the up-and-coming stars of tomorrow that it showcased.
The story takes place in the mid western town of Grandview, in late June... Just when the "Class of 1984" is being released into their last summer of rule breaking and childhood freedom.
The film centers on Tim Pearson (C. Thomas Howell) A young man that's made it to the head of his class and has been accepted into one of the finest colleges in the state. Tim has everything going for him and so much to be happy about this summer... Most of all, his father is letting him drive his brand new car to the high school prom to impress his date.
But later that night Tim and his date take a little "ride," on their way to the local point, they stumble into a little trouble when Tim parks the car right in a muddy swamp!
Tim walks five miles out to Cody's Derby to fetch a tow truck. While he's there, he meets the girl of his dreams, Mike Cody (Jamie Lee Curtis), the attractive tomboyish owner of the joint.
Mike owns the car Derby with her mother and mentally challenged younger bother. The small family is in trouble since the head of the town board wants to shut down the Derby in less then a month. Long before Mike could get enough money to pay her debts off.
Right away Tim falls for the slightly older woman and gets sucked into her world of troubles and choices she has to make this summer.
Along for the ride is Mike's best friend and driver Slam Webster (Patrick Swayze) who's having troubles of his own with his very young and beautiful wife Candy (Jennifer Jason Leigh), who he thinks is cheating on him.
Also starring are up-and-coming stars John and Joan Cusack as Tim's buddies from school, who also try to give him advice on how to handle his future and his love life.
But it's really Tim who must stand up to his father and tell everyone what he really wants from life... And that is to be his own person...
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Grandview U.S.A is one of the many fun and good-feeling movies that deal with people of this age range and the problems they face.
I thought the acting between C. Thomas Howell and Jamie Lee Curtis was pretty good -and they even set off a few sparks! It's a movie you watch to have fun with, to laugh and enjoy and feel good about yourself after your done watching it.
There aren't many movies like that anymore.
The only downside is how it's now a "Lost Film." and that it hasn't been released on DVD yet, I mean sure, it isn't Titanic, but it's a good film with some pretty awsome actors.
It's "The" movie to watch when summer is just starting, trust me...
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This was the third film that John Cusack was in with his sister Joan, the first two were Sixteen Candles (1984) and Class (1983).  -Thanks to Kara Petty
This marks the third film C. Thomas Howell and Patrick Swayze would star in together, during the 80's. "The Outsiders" and "Red Dawn"...are other cult favorites of theirs during the decade.
C. Thomas Howell and Jennifer Jason Leigh would return again in another two years to star in the thriller "The Hitcher".
Siblings John and Joan Cusack star in small roles. John plays Tim's best friend Johnny, and he can been seen in the classroom scene when Tim dreams of his father running after him on the street.
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check out this list: ..... Can't Buy Me Love ..... Say Anything ..... Some Kind Of Wonderful ..... Sixteen Candles ..... Valley Girl ..... Switching Channels ..... Dance 'til Dawn ..... Don't Tell Her It's Me ..... Mannequin ..... Teen Wolf ..... Secret of My Success ..... Secret Admirer ..... Pretty In Pink ..... She's Having a Baby ..... Dream A little Dream .....[More]
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While filming in Pontiac, Illinois, the night the demolition derby scene was shot was very cold. Since it was supposed to be summertime, the extras hired to sit in the grandstand were dressed in shorts and shirts. To stay warm they would bundle up in coats and hats and just before the camera would roll, they would throw off the coats and sit on them.
Debra Winger tested for the lead role.
C. Thomas Howell apparently did all his own stunt driving during the filming of this movie.
During the burning of the race track, the track was supposed to collapse, it wouldn't fall so the local tow truck driver who furnished all of the cars for the derby, (and also owned the house the dozer knocked down) hooked his truck to it and pulled it down so filming could continue. -Thanks to Butch Tiffany
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|  |  |  | | Grandview, U.S.A.
Locations |
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The dance at the end of the show was filmed in the National Gaurd building in Pontiac ILL.
The classroom scenes were all filmed in the old Highschool( which was torn down in '89 or '90) in Saunemin, IL -12 miles away form Pontaic. I was in 5th grade in Saunemin when they filmed it. I got to meet all the actors. [Thanks to Kindra Pedersen]
The scene where Tim is scuba diving is filmed at the Mill Street Dam.
The parade at the end of the movie is filmed in downtown Pontiac and is called the Threshermans Parade. It has been a tradition in Pontiac for over 75 years.
The scene where Tim is dreaming and dancing in front of grain bins is located on Old Route 66. [Thanks to Erica]
Can you help? Do you know any of the Pontiac, Illinois filming locations used for Grandview, U.S.A.? [Please send them in]
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"Take Me Home To Grandview, U.S.A." was performed by Air Supply for the movie.
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