| | | | The Wild Life
(1984) |
It's Casual"
Is the perfect one-liner for this film, as stated many times through out the movie by it's main character Tom, played by Chris Penn of "Footloose", "All the Right Moves" and "At Close Range".
Tom's good buddy and recent high school grad, Bill (Eric Stoltz) is grown up and moving into his own singles pad. Just one problem, he doesn't have the funds to afford the place on his own!
What to do? He can't ask his girlfriend (Lea Thompson) to move in with him because this would prevent his from living the "Wild Life" so he dumps her and settles for Tom, who makes Bill feel better by telling him "It's Casual".
Meanwhile, Tom has some personal issues to hash out with his girlfriend who is on the verge of dumping him for her nerdy retail boss, played by Rich Moranis.
Also, look for a great cameo performance in this film by Randy Quaid as the wacked out ex- vietnam vet!
This movie will carry you through to the end with non stop laughter in every scene. The typical 80's clothes and music, as well as the bowling alley hang out and the local shopping mall exploits!
This is one 80's classic that can't be missed.
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| | | |  If you enjoyed "The Breakfeast Club", "Sixteen Candles", and "Fast Times At Ridgemont High", then this is one to add to the list!
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Written and produced by iconic 80s (& '90s) writer/director, Cameron Crowe after the success of "Fast Times at Ridgemont High", The Wild Life is not in the same league as the former -or- "Say Anything" that followed. Maybe Cameron decided that he should also direct his future writings?
Dean Devlin, (the liquor store clerk) went on to produce the movie "godzilla" in 1998 and also "independence day". He was also an extra in the 80's movie "my bodyguard". -Thanks to Paul Rizzo
Chris Penn's father in the movie is his real life father (Leo Penn).
Eric Stoltz's brother in the movie is played by Ilan Mitchell-Smith, who starred as Wyatt in "Wierd Science".
The cable guy is Lee Ving from the punk band 'FEAR' -Thanks to Rob T
Lee Ving can also be seen in the movies "Clue" (as mr. boddy), "Streets of Fire", and Dudes!!! for a real taste of early 80s hardcore punk rock, check out the cd FEAR "the record"... promise you'll be offended, or your money back!!! -Thanks to Dave
Jenny Wright, who played Chris Penns' girlfriend in the movie, was once linked romantically to Nick Cage for a while. -Thanks to cantbuymelove
The liquor store clerk carding Christopher Penn in the film is played by Dean Devlin who has had small parts in such 80's classics as "My Bodyguard" (1980) and "Real Genius" (1985) and went on to great success as a sci-fi film producer producing smash hits as Stargate (1994) and Independence Day (1996) as well as the Revolutionary War epic The Patriot (2000) starring Mel Gibson. -Thanks to Jeff Anderson
The woman who plays Davids (the cop) wife is Nancy Wilson who is in the rock group "Heart", and was also the girl in the blue corvette that pulls up next to Brad Hamilton when he is in his fast food fish uniform in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High". She is also married in real life to Cameron Crowe. -Thanks to Paul Rizzo
Chris Penn and Randy Quaid were both in the tv series on CBS "The Brotherhood of Poland, NH". -Thanks to Jen
Ron Wood who is a member of the famous rock band the "rolling stones" cameos towards the end of the movie at the big party at Tom and Bills apartment going into the refrigerator. He is billed in the end credits as "refrigerator raider". -Thanks to Paul Rizzo
Sherilyn Fenn plays Penny Harlin, this was her first movie role. -Thanks to Kara Petty
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Rediscover your favorites! If you like
The Wild Life or 80's Comedy classics, then be sure to
check out this list: ..... Tootsie ..... Raising Arizona ..... Good Morning, Vietnam ..... Blues Brothers ..... Heathers ..... Fast Times At Ridgemont High ..... This Is Spinal Tap ..... Naked Gun ..... Adventures In Babysitting ..... Airplane ..... License To Drive ..... Money Pit ..... Porky's ..... Risky Business ..... Twins ..... Soul Man .....[More]
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|  |  |  | | The Wild Life
Locations |
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Featured Movie Location: The High School Wanna see the real life filming location used for The High School in the movie? These scenes were actually shot at Torrance High School, located in Torrance, S. California. [New! Show Google Map]
At the High School, to make things easier for this shoot, filming was done during spring break. This allowed everyone the opportunity to move about without imposing restrictions. The exterior shooting took five days. The one interior shot, the film's opening sequence where Jim Conrad makes a guerrilla assault on the school, was shot in one night.
The ladies' lingerie department at the Broadway department store was turned into the "Fashion Dynasty," the hip department store for upwardly-mobile teens.
One of "The Wild Life's" principal locations is Parker's Bowl, where Tom Drake and Bill Conrad work. Because Linson wanted to maintain this feeling of authenticity, it was agreed that they would use an actual bowling alley instead of building a set. In Burbank, they found the ideal place to shoot these scenes, a vintage bowling alley called Marlindo's Bowl. In order to have its own personality, crews designed their own signs and neon lights for Parker's Bowl.
Another actual location was Doughnut City. In Torrance, California, they found the perfect doughnut store, Rolling Doughnuts. With the cooperation of the owners and the city of Torrance, they were able to use this location for some difficult shooting, including a car blowing up in front of the store.
The other principal location was the setting for the singles complex where Bill Conrad and Tom Drake settle. This proved to be an endless task, but after scouting the hundreds of complexes in the Los Angeles area they came to the Club Equestrian in the San Fernando Valley.
As for the interior of Bill and Tom's apartment, this was just one of the sets that were constructed on Universal's Stages 20 and 36. The other sets included Eileen Phillips's bedroom, Jim Conrad's room that included a treasure trove of Vietnam War Paraphernalia and Charlie's house, Jim Conrad's personal link to his romantic visions of the Vietnam War.
The numerous exterior shots used for the homes of Eileen Phillips, Bill and Jim Conrad, Anita Thompson and Tom Drake were shot in the Burbank and Studio City area. Some of the street scenes were shot in Huntington Park.
The Riverside Inn apartment complex at 1600 Riverside drive in burbank was used as the apartments where he moved into for exterior shots, lobby scenes and also a couple of shots by the pool. The apartment complex was named Equestre Inn at the time of filming. [Thanks to Charles Huffsteter]
Can you help? Do you know any of the S. California (or any other) filming locations used for The Wild Life? [Please send them in]
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| | | | | | | Hard To Find! Contains Donut City By Eddie Van Halen. Track listing:
1. Donut City -EDWARD VAN HALEN 2. Metal of the Night -HANOVER FIST 3. It's Not Easy -CHARLIE SEXTON WITH RON WOOD 4. Human Shout -ANDY SUMMERS 5. Wild Life -BANANARAMA 6. Mind My Still Have I -WHAT IS THIS 7. Make It Glamorous -VAN STEPHENSON 8. Who's Gonna Break the Ice -PETER CASE 9. I Go Wild -THREE O'CLOCK 10. No Trespassing -LOUISE GOFFIN WITH CHARLOTTE CAFFEY
The score for The Wild Life was written entirely by Eddie Van Halen. In the part where Chris Penn falls out of his girlfriend's window, there is a particular wailing guitar solo of Eddie's that was later used in a scene from "Back To The Future". In the scene where Marty sneaks into George McFly's room to scare him into asking his future mom out to the dance, Marty dresses up in a radiation suit and puts headphones on a sleeping George, and wakes him up with that same wailing guitar solo. Oddly enough, Eric Stolz was originally cast as Marty McFly but later replaced after shooting almost half the movie. -Thanks to Mickie Rat
There is a scene where Wyatt greets his friend outside Donut City. The background music is the exact same melody that Eddie Van Halen would turn into the hit song "Right Now" off "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge" a decade later! -Thanks to Lawrence Miles
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