Racing with the Moon **** (1984, Sean Penn, Elizabeth McGovern, Nicolas Cage) – Classic Movie Review 9523

Director Richard Benjamin’s 1984 Racing with the Moon is an attractive, affectionate, poignant World War Two coming of age tale of two young men about to go to off war in 1943 California as they await induction into the US Marines in the Christmas of 1942.

Sean Penn stars as Point Muir, California, small town blue collar boy ‘Hopper’ Nash, who falls for Caddie Winger (Elizabeth McGovern), whom he thinks is rich, while his reckless buddy Nicky (Nicolas Cage) seduces another girl and makes her pregnant.

Actor-turned-director Benjamin draws special performances from his cast, with the three young stars first rate, and beautifully evokes the small-town America atmosphere and mood of the era. There is an excellent screenplay by Steve Kloves, with outstanding moments, convincing scenes and credible dialogue.

Although we have been here before – Summer of ‘42 for example – Racing with the Moon makes it worth taking the trip again. For more period flavour, Dave Grusin scores in the style of Tommy Dorsey.

Also in the cast are John Karlen, Rutanya Alda, Max Showalter, Kate Williamson, Crispin Glover, Barbara Howard, John Brandon, Bob Maroff, Eve Brent, Suzanne Adkinson, Shawn Schepps, Charles Miller and Carol Kane.

Racing with the Moon is directed by Richard Benjamin, runs 108 minutes, is made by Jaffe-Lansing, Paramount Pictures, is released by Paramount, is written by Steve Kloves, is shot by John Bailey, is produced by Alain Bernheim and John Kohn and is scored by Dave Grusin, with special effects by Garry J Elmendorf and production designs by David L Snyder.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9523

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