The Best of Times (1986)
Reference View | Change View
- PG-13
- 1h 44min
- Comedy, Drama
- 31 Jan 1986 (USA)
- Movie
A small-town loser determines to have one more shot at the big time by winning a football game.
Director:
Writer:
Stars:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Robin Williams | ... |
Jack Dundee
|
|
| Kurt Russell | ... |
Reno Hightower
|
|
| Pamela Reed | ... |
Gigi Hightower
|
|
| Holly Palance | ... |
Elly Dundee
|
|
| Donald Moffat | ... |
The Colonel
|
|
| Margaret Whitton | ... |
Darla
|
|
| M. Emmet Walsh | ... |
Charlie
|
|
| Donovan Scott | ... |
Eddie
|
|
| R.G. Armstrong | ... |
Schutte
|
|
| Dub Taylor | ... |
Mac
|
|
| Carl Ballantine | ... |
Arturo
|
|
| Kathleen Freeman | ... |
Rosie
|
|
| Tony Plana | ... |
Chico
|
|
| Kirk Cameron | ... |
Teddy
|
|
| Robyn Lively | ... |
Jaki
|
|
| Eloy Casados | ... |
Carlos
|
|
| Jeff Doucette | ... |
Olin
|
|
| Anne Haney | ... |
Marcy
|
|
 |
Bill Overton | ... |
Luther Jackson
|
| Peter Van Norden | ... |
Mando
|
|
|
|
Patrick Brennan | ... |
Ronny
|
|
|
Jeff Severson | ... |
Johnny 'O'
|
| Hap Lawrence | ... |
Dickie Larue
|
|
|
|
Nicholas Shields | ... |
Bam Bam
|
|
|
Hugo Stanger | ... |
Old Man Lester
|
|
|
Wayne Montanio | ... |
Felipe
|
|
|
'Iron Jaws' Wilson | ... |
Iron Jaws
|
|
|
Brenda Huggins | ... |
Mrs. Jackson
|
|
|
Michael Lopez | ... |
Blade
(as Michael Rich)
|
| William G. Schilling | ... |
Caribou #1
|
|
| Hugh Gillin | ... |
Caribou #2
|
|
|
|
Jake Dengel | ... |
Caribou #4
|
| Linda Hart | ... |
Blender #1
|
|
|
|
Hilary Anderson | ... |
Michelle
(as Hilary Davis)
|
|
|
Marie Cain | ... |
Blender #2
|
|
|
Peggy Moyer | ... |
Blender #3
|
|
|
Norm Schachter | ... |
Referee
|
|
|
Christopher Mankiewicz | ... |
Safari Room Security Guard
|
|
|
J.P. Bumstead | ... |
Cop
|
| Robert Dickman | ... |
Taft Business Man
|
|
|
|
Jim Giovanni | ... |
Taft Football Player #1
|
|
|
Steve Shargo | ... |
Taft Football Player #2
|
|
|
Darryl B. Smith | ... |
Bakersfield Coach #1
|
|
|
Wayne Adderson | ... |
Bakersfield Coach #2
|
|
|
Raymond W. Clanton | ... |
Bakersfield Coach #3
|
|
|
Fred A. Nelson | ... |
Bakersfield Coach #4
|
|
|
Vister Hayes | ... |
Dr. Death
|
|
|
Michelle Guastello | ... |
Taft Woman #1
|
|
|
Cathy Cheryl Davis | ... |
Taft Woman #2
|
|
|
Susan Signorelli | ... |
Taft Woman #3
|
|
|
Philipe Gerard | ... |
Disgruntled Fan
|
|
|
Christopher Cory | ... |
Assistant Football Trainer
|
| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
|
|
Jonathan Ames | ... |
Taft Football Player #35 (uncredited)
|
|
|
Jonathan Ames | ... |
Taft Football Player #35 (uncredited)
|
| Buck | ... |
Dog (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Kelly Gallant | ... |
Fan (uncredited)
|
| Tracey Gold | ... |
Jaki's Friend (uncredited)
|
|
|
|
Bruce Goldstein | ... |
Football Fan (uncredited)
|
| Herbie | ... |
Reno's Car (uncredited)
|
|
Directed by
| Roger Spottiswoode | ||
Written by
| Ron Shelton | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Gordon Carroll | ... | producer (produced by) |
| Fredda Weiss | ... | associate producer |
Music by
| Arthur B. Rubinstein | ... | (music by) |
Cinematography by
| Charles F. Wheeler | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Garth Craven | ... | (edited by) |
Editorial Department
| Donah Bassett | ... | negative cutter |
| Daniel Craven | ... | apprentice film editor |
| Mallory Gottlieb | ... | assistant film editor |
| Paula McKee | ... | apprentice film editor (as Paula Pappe-McKee) |
| Ken Morrisey | ... | associate film editor |
| Paul Seydor | ... | associate film editor |
| José Antonio Torres | ... | assistant film editor |
| Deborah Zeitman | ... | first assistant film editor |
Casting By
| David Rubin | ||
| Lynn Stalmaster | ... | (uncredited) |
Set Decoration by
| Marc E. Meyer Jr. | ||
Costume Design by
| Patricia Norris | ||
Makeup Department
| Silvia Abascal | ... | hair stylist |
| Cheri Minns | ... | assistant makeup artist |
| Brad Wilder | ... | makeup artist |
Production Management
| Joel Glickman | ... | unit production manager |
| Art Levinson | ... | unit production manager (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Harry V. Bring | ... | second assistant director |
| James Dyer | ... | first assistant director (as Jim Dyer) |
| Brian E. Frankish | ... | 2nd Unit / assistant director: second unit |
| Gunnar Keel | ... | second second assistant director |
| Ron Shelton | ... | second unit director |
Art Department
| Barbara Adamski | ... | property master |
| Roger C. Burford III | ... | propmaker (as Roger Burford) |
| Robert DePatis | ... | construction coordinator |
| Guy Douglass | ... | assistant property master |
| Don Ferguson | ... | lead man |
| Frank Kilmartin | ... | carpenter |
| Len Morganti | ... | storyboard artist |
| David Nichols | ... | visual consultant |
| D.A. Zingelewicz | ... | painter (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Gregg Barbanell | ... | foley artist |
| Beth Bergeron | ... | adr editor |
| Bob Bowman | ... | assistant sound editor |
| James Dehr | ... | sound: second unit |
| Gordon Ecker | ... | supervising sound editor |
| Kirk Francis | ... | production sound |
| Robert W. Glass Jr. | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Ami Hadani | ... | sound recordist |
| John Leveque | ... | sound editor |
| Hudson B. Marquez | ... | production sound (as Hudson Marquez) |
| Arthur Piantadosi | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Jeffrey L. Sandler | ... | sound editor |
| Mike Seeman | ... | cable person |
| Karen G. Wilson | ... | sound editor |
| Richard E. Yawn | ... | assistant sound editor |
Special Effects by
| Garry Elmendorf | ... | special effects supervisor (as Gary Elmendorf) |
| Jim Rollins | ... | assistant special effects |
Stunts
| Rick Avery | ... | stunts |
| Dick Warlock | ... | stunt double: Kurt Russell (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Jamie Anderson | ... | camera operator (as James M. Anderson) |
| Kirk Bales | ... | dolly grip |
| Ron Batzdorff | ... | still photographer |
| Bruce Birmelin | ... | still photographer |
| Alan Caso | ... | camera operator |
| Albert Fitch | ... | electrician |
| Scott Floren | ... | best boy grip |
| Augustus Gordon | ... | electrician |
| David R. Hardberger | ... | assistant camera |
| Richard Hartley | ... | best boy electric (as Richard Hartley Jr.) |
| Robert Hillman | ... | director of photography: second unit |
| Greg Langham | ... | electrician |
| Michael E. Matteson | ... | key grip |
| Richard Craig Meinardus | ... | assistant camera: second unit |
| Don Nygren | ... | gaffer |
| Mark A. Parsons | ... | grip |
| Russell Reilly | ... | grip |
| Bill Sheehan | ... | assistant camera |
| Tama Takahashi | ... | assistant camera |
| Michael D. Weldon | ... | assistant camera |
Casting Department
| Susan Lavine | ... | extras casting |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Dan Bronson | ... | costumer |
| Ellis Cohen | ... | costume supervisor: men |
| Nancy McArdle | ... | costume supervisor |
Location Management
| Robert H. Lemer | ... | location consultant |
Music Department
| Tony Berg | ... | music producer |
| Tom Brown | ... | music preparation |
| Linda Hart | ... | music supervisor |
| Mark Hoder | ... | orchestrator |
| Anthony Marinelli | ... | musician: synthesizer |
| Allan K. Rosen | ... | supervising music editor |
| Bob Sanders | ... | musician: trombone |
| Malcolm McNab | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Louise Di Tullio | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Carline Davis-Dyer | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Howard A. Small | ... | transportation captain |
| Wayne Stone | ... | transportation coordinator |
Additional Crew
| Rick Deal | ... | stand-in |
| Tom Fears | ... | football coordinator |
| Tissa Hans | ... | production assistant |
| Boots Hart | ... | assistant accountant |
| Linda Hart | ... | choreographer |
| Ken Hutton | ... | football equipment manager |
| Brad Johnson | ... | projectionist |
| David Lubin | ... | production assistant |
| Anthony Marinelli | ... | synthesizer programmer |
| Frank O'Neill | ... | football trainer |
| Midge Ogle | ... | craft service |
| J.W. Oliver | ... | stand-in |
| Fran Roy | ... | production coordinator |
| Mark Rutenberg | ... | assistant: Mr. Williams |
| Kate Sanford | ... | production assistant |
| Rath Shelton | ... | assistant location consultant |
| Dawn Snyder | ... | production assistant |
| Charles Stewart | ... | set advisor (as Chuck Stewart) |
| Sara Lee Wade | ... | production assistant |
| Richard K. Way | ... | stand-in |
| Darin Detwiler | ... | school liaison (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Universal Pictures (1986) (United States) (theatrical)
- Greater Union Organisation (GUO) (1986) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Thorn EMI Screen Entertainment (1986) (United Kingdom) (theatrical) (Sold on to Cannon prior to cancelled theatrical release)
- Aquarius TV (2001) (Greece) (tv)
- Cannon Screen Entertainment (1986) (United Kingdom) (video) (Sold on to Weintraub before planned video release scheduled for May/June 1987)
- Cannon/VMP (West Germany) (VHS)
- Cineplex Home Entertainment (1989) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- Embassy Home Entertainment (1986) (United States) (VHS)
- Holiday Movies (1988) (West Germany) (VHS)
- Lumière Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
- Parkfield Entertainment (1989) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- Studio Hamburg Enterprises (2017) (Germany) (DVD)
- Trimark Home Video (1990) (United States) (DVD)
- Univision Communications (1987) (Italy) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1990) (Australia) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (1989) (United Kingdom) (VHS)
- Weintraub Entertainment Group (1987) (World-wide)
- Weintraub Entertainment (1989) (United Kingdom) (video)
- e-m-s the DVD-Company (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Firefly Casting (casting)
- Lynn Stalmaster & Associates (casting by)
- Sports Studio (Wardrobe)
- Sportsrobe (costumes)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Jack Dundee is a meek banker living in Taft, California. He constantly thinks about the 1972 high school football game between Taft and powerhouse Bakersfield. Dundee drops a perfect pass from quarterback and friend Reno Hightower, and the game ended in a tie. He wants to replay the game, but has trouble convincing Reno and the town to replay the game. So Jack resorts to desperate measures to make the game reality. Written by Pat McCurry |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | A film with a catch (or two). See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
|
Additional Details
| Also Known As |
|
| Runtime |
|
| Country | |
| Language | |
| Color | |
| Aspect Ratio |
|
| Sound Mix | |
| Filming Locations |
Box Office
| Budget | $12,000,000 (estimated) |
| Opening Weekend United States | $2,419,800, 02 Feb 1986 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Robin Williams later commented that hiring Roger Spottiswoode as a director, a Canadian that was not extremely familiar with American football, may have been a mistake. See more » |
| Goofs | When Jack catches the ball on the final play, the ref signals "touchdown" twice. Once when Jack catches the ball, and again when he actually crosses the goal line. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Power/Down and Out in Beverly Hills/Hannah and Her Sisters/The Best of Times (1986). See more » |
| Soundtracks | The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face See more » |
| Quotes |
Reno Hightower:
She's gonna leave me as soon as I fix her car. Jack Dundee: you gonna fix it? Reno Hightower: Hell no! I love her. See more » |