Fandango (1985)

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Movie
German title fandango
Original title fandango
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1985
length 91 minutes
Age rating FSK 16
Rod
Director Kevin Reynolds
script Kevin Reynolds
production Tim Zinnemann
music Alan Silvestri
camera Thomas Del Ruth
cut Arthur Schmidt ,
Stephen Semel
occupation

Fandango is a road movie from 1985.

Fandango is based on a 30-minute black and white student film titled Montezuma's Revenge by director Kevin Reynolds, which he made while he was a student at USC Film.

Steven Spielberg saw the film and raised the money to make a full-length feature film. The subject of the film is five students from Texas in 1971 who take one final joint “outing” to celebrate the “privilege of youth” as they face the seriousness of life, graduation from college, marriage and the Entry as soldiers for the Vietnam War.

Directed by Kevin Reynolds, the most famous actors are Kevin Costner , Judd Nelson and Sam Robards . The film was released on January 25, 1985 by Warner Bros. and Amblin Entertainment . The DVD was released on February 15, 2005. The film was shot mainly in the US state of Texas (for example Big Bend National Park , Lajitas , Fort Davis , San Elizario , Monahans ). Part of the film is set in Tulsa , Oklahoma .

action

The party

It is in the fraternity house on the University of Texas campus in Austin, Texas in 1971. The first shot of the film shows Gardner Barnes ( Kevin Costner ) throwing darts at a photo of his ex-girlfriend ( Suzy Amis ). After tearing up the photo, he goes back to the party on the ground floor where he and friends celebrate graduation.

The groovers

Gardner is a member of a clique called "Groovers" consisting of Kenneth Waggener ( Sam Robards ), who is about to marry Phil Hicks ( Judd Nelson ), whose parents are about to visit him just in time to pass out another groover to see, namely Lester ( Brian Cesak ), who will remain so for most of the rest of the film, and the extremely silent student Dorman ( Chuck Bush ).

The flight

Kenneth interrupts the festivities by announcing that his student leave has expired and that he is now being drafted into the army. Gardner is not surprised, he received his draft weeks notice. The Groovers decide to celebrate their final days before the draft by going on an outing with the intention of stopping at an infamous pub and digging up someone - or something - called "Dom" from under a boulder on the bank of the Rio Grande is buried.

The groovers drive all night before taking a break. Above all, Phil now refuses to continue, but Gardner forces her to do so. Kenneth soon reveals that he has decided to break his engagement because he is drafted into military service. Gardner responds (strangely) with glee and relief, but then Phil's car, a 1959 Cadillac Series 62 four-door hardtop, runs out of gas and the groovers have to decide whether to walk to the next town or hitchhike.

The train

Phil insists on not leaving his car behind when someone has an idea: a train is about to pass on the railway line that runs parallel to the road. Dorman grabs a wire rope that serves as a barrier and forms a lasso. He attaches the other end to the front bumper of the Cadillac as the train passes. Dorman throws the lasso around a buffer at the end of the turn. The Groovers are sitting in the car, waiting when Kenneth asks: "How should we brake?" But the question is answered by ripping the bumper - and the grille, and the hood, and even the entire front end - away while the car comes to a standstill.

The stopover

The Groovers just manage to push the car to the nearest town, drop it off at the garage where it won't be repaired until the next morning, and have a bite to eat at the Sonic Drive-In. You get to know some young "fruits" (one is played by Elizabeth Daily ) and while wandering around come to the gravestone of a fallen Vietnam veteran. Kenneth says "I can't go (to Vietnam)". Gardner replies "then don't do it". Later that night, they end up sleeping at the earlier set for the filming of the film "Giants".

The parachute jump

The Cadillac is repaired the next morning (although the new front section doesn't fit the car at all) and the Groovers continue on their way. Phil complains that he wants to go back and that he thinks Gardner is trying to escape to Mexico to avoid being drafted when Kenneth yells at him angrily. At that moment, Gardner confesses that they only let Phil hang out with them because they feel sorry for him. Humiliated, Phil replies that he would accept any challenge at any time. At that moment, the boys see a billboard for a flight school that offers parachute jumping lessons. Phil reluctantly agrees.

Gardner tricked the instructor, the hippie Truman Sparks ( Marvin J. McIntyre ), into giving them a free period. Phil feels awful, but gets on Truman's plane anyway. Only then do the boys notice that Phil's parachute only contains Truman's dirty laundry. You are desperately trying to warn him (there is no radio link to the plane) but it doesn't work. Fortunately, Truman and Phil are connected to walkie-talkies , and if the main parachute fails, Phil, frozen in shock, can open the reserve parachute on his stomach thanks to Truman's instructions. The groovers receive a souvenir photo for their success and Phil finds part of his injured pride.

The cathedral

After discovering the charred, abandoned remainder of the bar, the Groovers drive on towards the cathedral. They make it to the Rio Grande and dig up the cathedral - which turns out to be a magnum bottle of Dom Pérignon champagne . Each groover takes a sip before Gardner shouts a trick line for "freedom and youth" over the Rio Grande and after a sip throws the bottle down. The Groovers feel great about it, even Phil.

The wedding

But Kenneth is dejected: he doubts that he has broken off the engagement. While pondering a bit about the nature of love, Gardner decides to put things right. He calls Debbie, gets her to accept the marriage proposal again, and arranges her transportation from Dallas to the border town: Truman Sparks agrees to fly there and back. When Truman and Debbie return, Phil notices something interesting: Debbie is none other than Gardner's ex-girlfriend.

With a little trickery, Gardner organizes a wonderful wedding for Kenneth and Debbie. Debbie and Gardner give each other one last kiss before she leaves. That evening, after the ceremony, Phil gives Kenneth and Debbie his car as a wedding present.

The good bye

Lester tries to find a ride to "somewhere" and Phil and Dorman shake hands before saying goodbye. On the other side of the Rio Grande, Gardner raises a beer in greeting to his friends, safe before the draft in Mexico.

criticism

Lexicon of international film : Comedy told with laconic wit with melancholy undertones, which despite some rough dialogue scenes inspires an examination of youth, maturity and friendship.

Others

On Youtube under the titles Fandango Deleted Scene 1 (or 2 and 3) you can find film snippets that were not published in the cinema version.

  • "Fandango Deleted Scene 1" shows an argument with motorcycle rockers.
  • "Fandango Deleted Scene 2" shows a scene at a lake where the groovers bathe.
  • "Fandango Deleted Scene 3" shows a discussion of the Groovers about the further course of the journey under the scenes of "Giants".

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Fandango. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed August 20, 2017 .Template: LdiF / Maintenance / Access used