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{{Short description|1985 film by Harold Becker}} | |||
{{Infobox_Film | | |||
{{Infobox film | |||
name = Vision Quest | | |||
|
| name = Vision Quest | ||
|
| image = Vision Quest (1985 film) poster.jpg | ||
|
| alt = | ||
| caption = Theatrical release poster | |||
starring = ]<br>]<br>]<br>] | | |||
| director = ] | |||
| producer = ]<br/>] | |||
|
| screenplay = ] | ||
| based_on = {{Based on|'']''|]}} | |||
distributor = ] | | |||
| starring = {{Plainlist| | |||
released = ], ] | | |||
* ] | |||
runtime = 105 min | | |||
* ] | |||
language = English | | |||
* ] | |||
awards = | | |||
budget = N/A<!-- http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=visionquest.htm --> | |||
}} | }} | ||
| music = ] | |||
:''This article is about the film Vision Quest. See ] for the Native American rite of passage.'' | |||
| cinematography = ] | |||
'''''Vision Quest''''' is a ] starring ], ] and ]. It was released in some countries as '''''Crazy For You''''' to market on Madonna's fame and the popularity of the song. | |||
| editing = ] | |||
| distributor = ] | |||
| released = {{Film date|1985|2|15}} | |||
| runtime = 107 minutes | |||
| country = United States | |||
| language = English | |||
| budget = | |||
| gross = $13 million <small>(US)</small> | |||
}} | |||
'''''Vision Quest''''' (released in the United Kingdom and Australia as '''''Crazy for You''''') is a 1985 American ] ]/] starring ], ], ] and ] in her first film role. It is based on ]'s 1979 ].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3xBVtMpDYaoC&q=harold+becker+vision+quest&pg=PA470|title=Encyclopedia of Sports Films|isbn=9780810876538|last1=Edgington|first1=K.|last2=Erskine|first2=Thomas|last3=Welsh|first3=James M.|date=29 December 2010|publisher=Scarecrow Press }}</ref> | |||
Modine plays a ] ] ] who falls in love with an older woman, an aspiring artist from ] on her way to ]. | |||
The film includes the first major motion picture appearance by ], who plays a singer at a local bar, where she performs the songs "]" and "]". In some countries, the title of the film was changed to "Crazy for You" to capitalize on Madonna's emerging fame and the popularity of the song of that name.<ref name="title">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H3o6lKBvyjwC&q=harold+becker+vision+quest&pg=PA216|title=Madonna as Postmodern Myth|isbn=9780786480715|last=Guilbert|first=Georges-Claude|date=2015|access-date=October 4, 2023|publisher=McFarland, Incorporated, Publisher|author-link=Georges-Claude Guilbert}}</ref> The film has become a ].<ref name="USAToday"/><ref name="cult"/> | |||
The film includes an appearance by ], her first in a major motion picture, playing a singer at a local bar/restaurant (filmed at the Big Foot Tavern on North Division in Spokane), where she performs the songs "]" and "]". | |||
== |
== Plot == | ||
Louden Swain is a ] at Thompson High School who has just turned 18 years old. He has decided that he needs to do something truly meaningful in his life. He embarks on a mission or, in a ] term, a '']''. His goal is to drop two weight classes to challenge the area's toughest opponent, Brian Shute, a menacing three-time state champion from nearby rival Hoover High School, who has never been defeated in his high school career. In his zeal to drop from {{convert|190|lb|abbr=off|sp=us}} to {{convert|168|lb}}, against the wishes of his coach and teammates, he disrupts the team around him and creates health problems of his own. | |||
Meanwhile, his father has taken on a ] named Carla from ], who is passing through on her way to ]. Louden falls in love with her and begins to lose sight of his goals as a wrestler. Worse, his drastic weight loss culminates in an unhealthy situation, where he gets frequent nosebleeds which, Louden assumes, is due to a lack of iron in his diet (and results in him having to forfeit a match he was winning). The two finally admit their love for each other, but Carla realizes she is distracting him from his goals. | |||
{{spoilers}} | |||
Carla decides to move out and continue on to San Francisco, but not before seeing Louden's big match, in which he makes a comeback from losing and pins Shute in the final seconds with an ] (over-under hip toss). | |||
In this coming of age story, Louden Swain is a high school wrestler who has just turned eighteen and decided that he needs to do something truly meaningful in his life. Against the wishes of those around him, he embarks on a mission to drop two weight classes in order to challenge the toughest opponent, Brian Shute -- a menacing three time state champion from nearby rival Hoover High School, who has never been defeated in his high school career. In his zeal to drop from 190 pounds to 168 pounds, against the wishes of his coach and teammates, he disrupts the team around him and creates health problems of his own. | |||
As Louden celebrates his victory, he monologues to the audience, "...I guess that's why we got to love those people who deserve it like there's no tomorrow. 'Cause when you get right down to it—there isn't." | |||
Meanwhile, his father has taken on a boarder named Carla. Though she is older, he begins to fall in love with her and begins to lose sight of his goals as a wrestler. Worse, his drastic weight loss culminates in an unhealthy situation in which he gets frequent nose bleeds due to a lack of iron in his diet (which costs him a match that he should have won). He and Carla finally admit their love for one another, but she realizes this is distracting him from his goals. She decides to move out and continue on to San Francisco, but not before seeing Louden's big match in which Swaine defeats Shute in the final seconds with a highly improbable over-under lateral drop. | |||
==Cast== | |||
The title Vision Quest is explained when one of Louden's teammates Kuch, who believes heavily in Native American culture, tells him that he is searching for his place in the circle, which Louden comes to realize is true. | |||
{{castlist| | |||
* ] as Louden Swain | |||
* ] as Carla | |||
* ] as Kenny "Kuch" Kuchera | |||
* ] as Larry Swain | |||
* Frank Jasper as Brian Shute | |||
* ] as Gene Tanneran | |||
* ] as Margie Epstein | |||
* ] as Coach Ratta | |||
* J.C. Quinn as Elmo | |||
* ] as Kevin | |||
* Gary Kasper as Otto Lafte | |||
* ] as Kenny Schmoozler | |||
* ] as Jean-Pierre "Balldozer" Baldosier | |||
* ] as Harry Swain | |||
* ] as Mr. Kuchera | |||
* ] as Club Singer | |||
* Ken Pelo as Coach Charlie Swann | |||
* ] as Sally | |||
* ] as Bar Patron | |||
* Pat Brown as Wrestler (Extra) | |||
}} | |||
==Production== | |||
Production took place in ], in the fall of 1983.<ref name=matsff>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19831120&id=G_9WAAAAIBAJ&pg=2265,2302000 |work=]|last=Taylor |first=Kevin |title=Movies and the mat stuff |date=November 20, 1983 |page=E16|access-date=October 4, 2023}}</ref><ref name=madstrt>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KBw1AAAAIBAJ&pg=4474%2C5616399 |work=The Spokesman-Review|last=Clark |first=Doug |title=Spokane saw Madonna's modest start |date=May 19, 1991 |access-date=October 4, 2023|page=B1}}</ref> The film was shot at ] in northeast Spokane, referred to as "Thompson High School" in the film.<ref name=matsff/> Interior cafeteria scenes were filmed at ] on Spokane's South Hill. Some of the locker room scenes were filmed in the boys' locker room of ] in northwest Spokane. Madonna's scene was filmed at the Big Foot Tavern on North Division Street in Spokane.<ref name=madstrt/> Other scenes were shot at The Onion Restaurant downtown and the ] gym. The scene where Louden's big match happens was shot in the gym at ].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sfcc.spokane.edu/ |title = Home}}</ref> Erik Abbey consulted on the ] scenes to verify their authenticity. | |||
==Reception== | ==Reception== | ||
The film had moderate success in theaters in the U.S. in 1985, earning a gross of $13 million. It has received a rating of 60% at ] from 15 reviews,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/vision_quest_1985/|title=Vision Quest|website=]|date=15 February 1985}}</ref> and has gone on to become a ].<ref name="USAToday">{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/local/spokane-county/2016/01/23/spokane-host-vision-quest-30th-anniversary/79227022/|title=Spokane to host Vision Quest 30th anniversary|last=Loukides|first=Kaitlin|work=]|publisher=]|date=January 23, 2016|access-date=November 4, 2017}}</ref><ref name="cult">{{cite web|url=https://www.krem.com/article/news/local/spokane-county/spokane-to-host-vision-quest-30th-anniversary/293-22150141|title=Spokane to host Vision Quest 30th anniversary|last=Loukides|first=Kaitlin|date=January 23, 2016|access-date=October 4, 2023|publisher=]}}</ref> | |||
] of '']'' gave the film 3.5 stars out of a possible 4, saying while the core storyline was a formulaic sports drama "it is nevertheless a movie with some nice surprises, mostly because it takes the time to create some interesting characters", with standout performances from Modine, Cox, and Fiorentino.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/vision-quest-1985 | title=Vision Quest movie review & film summary (1985)|first=Roger|last=Ebert|author-link=Roger Ebert|access-date=October 4, 2023|date=February 5, 1985|publisher=Roger Ebert's Official Site}}</ref> | |||
The film had average success in theaters in the United States earning around a total gross of $13,000,000. It has received a "fresh" rating of 64% at ]. The movie has become somewhat of a ] among high school wrestlers for its various wrestling scenes, in particular Louden's extreme weight loss measures and workout regime. | |||
== |
==Soundtrack== | ||
The soundtrack to the motion picture was released by ] on February 12, 1985. The soundtrack does not include "]" by ] or tracks from ] and ], which appear in the film. The background instrumental music by ] is not included, but was later released on the fan project ''] 73: Soundtrax''. | |||
The movie was based on the book by ], filmed at Spokane's John R. Rogers High School (referred to as Thompson High School in the film). The school building has gone through major renovations since the filming, with the only recognized characteristic being the school's front entrance (Interior cafeteria scenes were filmed at Joel E. Ferris High School on Spokane's South Hill and some of the locker room scenes were filmed in the Shadle Park High School boys locker room). | |||
===Reception=== | |||
==Differences from the book== | |||
{{Music ratings | |||
| rev1 = ] | |||
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/vision-quest-original-soundtrack-mw0000192211 |first=Alex|last=Henderson |publisher=AllMusic|title=Vision Quest > Review|access-date=25 May 2014}}</ref> | |||
| rev2 = ''Singapore Monitor'' | |||
| rev2Score = {{Rating|2|4}}<ref name="Singapore">{{cite web|url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/singmonitor19850429-1.2.28.7?ST=1&AT=search&K=Madonna&P=2&Display=0&filterS=0&QT=madonna&oref=articl|title=High adventure from Kenny |first=Lim|last=Sek|work=Singapore Monitor|access-date=4 October 2023|date=29 April 1985|page=20}}</ref> | |||
}} | |||
The soundtrack received generally positive feedback from music journalists. ''Singapore Monitor'' called the album a "very timely collection by some of the bigger up-and-coming names in today's pop and rock scene".<ref name="Singapore"/> Similarly, ], in his review for ], named the release as "the best soundtrack album in the racks these days".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wFhWAAAAIBAJ&dq=Vision+Quest&pg=PA51&article_id=3891,2984734|title=Notes & Quotes: Stations all over the dial spin record at same time|page=51|work=]|access-date=October 5, 2023|date=April 6, 1985}}</ref> Brian Chin from '']'' complimented Madonna's songs on the soundtrack.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/80s/1985/BB-1985-02-23.pdf|title=Dance Trax|first=Brian|last=Chin|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 4, 2023|date=February 23, 1985|page=58}}</ref> The album charted in Australia, Canada, and the United States. Upon release, Jeff Bunch from '']'' named it one of the "best examples of profitable soundtracks" of unsuccessful movies.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=57MyAAAAIBAJ&dq=Vision+Quest&pg=PA24&article_id=5660,638315|title=See the movie, but the record – if you dare|page=24|work=The Spokesman-Review|access-date=October 5, 2023|date=August 2, 1985|first=Jeff|last=Bunch}}</ref> The ] release also peaked at number five on '']''{{'}}s Top 40 Videocassettes.<ref name="CashBox"/> ''Vision Quest'' ended as one of the Top 50 Albums and Top Soundtracks on ''Cash Box''{{'}}s Pop Album Awards.<ref name="CashBox"/> The album was included among ]'s list of the 25 Best Soundtracks From the 1980s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/the_25_best_soundtracks_from_the_1980s_100323/s1__38126012#slide_1|title=The 25 best soundtracks from the 1980s|first=Jeff|last=Mezydlo|work=]|access-date=October 4, 2023|date=2023}}</ref> | |||
* Louden wrestles at 137, not 168. | |||
* Thompson High School, which was used in the film, appears to relate more toward Spokane North Central High School (which was oddly filmed at North Central's rival Rogers H.S.), was actually based on Spokane's Shadle Park High School, where author Terry Davis graduated from (Shadle's team made a brief appearance as Sherman High School). | |||
* In the book, Carla was living with Louden, but for longer than the movie version and was actually settled down with him, living in Spokane. | |||
* Gary Shute was the actual name of the character in the book that Louden was going to wrestle (the books ends when their match begins). He was also from Evergreen High School; rather than Hoover High School (which appears in the movie to be based on Mead High School). | |||
* In the book Otto Laft had a much larger role than in the movie. | |||
* Elmo, the cook who works with Louden, was actually a black former boxer, and Gene Tanneran, Louden's English teacher, was white and going out with a cheerleader. In the movie, Tanneran is a black former basketball player, and Elmo is white. | |||
== |
===Impact=== | ||
] performing "]" during her ] in 2004]] | |||
The movie was renamed ''Crazy for You'' in New Zealand, Australia and the UK, due to the new popularity of pop singer ] and her song "]".<ref name="title"/> '']''{{'}}s Julius Robinson retrospectively commented in 1988, that the song "really put on the map".<ref name="Julius">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1988/CB-1988-08-13.pdf#page=10|title=Demos Of Hit Songs On Cypress LP|access-date=October 5, 2023|date=August 13, 1988|magazine=Cash Box|page=10|first=Julius|last=Robinson}}</ref> | |||
Writing for ''Cashbox'' in 1985, Peter Berk explained the film "offered a valuable lesson to the industry", showing "how much a hit song can do to promote an otherwise soon-to-be forgotten movie". He continued, writing that, although ]'s "Only The Young" drew attention to the album, Madonna's "Crazy for You" made the soundtrack "so magnetic to record buyers". He complimented that films like ''Vision Quest'' have "made many people aware of just how invaluable the film-music connection is today".<ref name="CashBox">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1985/CB-1985-12-28.pdf|title=Film Music '85: Another Year On The Righ Track|access-date=October 4, 2023|magazine=]|page=35|first=Peter|last=Berk|date=December 28, 1985}}</ref> In December 1987, '']'' magazine dedicated an article to the links between a movie and a hit single and music videos.<ref name="BB1987">{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JCgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA65|title=1987 THE YEAR IN MUSIC & VIDEO: Soundtracks Wars|page=Y-46|date=December 26, 1987|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 13, 2021|volume=99|number=52|first=Kate|last=Bales|archive-date=August 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220805150722/https://books.google.com/books?id=JCgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA65|url-status=live}}</ref> In July 1985, Jan DeKnock from '']'' noted what he called a "movie mania", when various singles from motion pictures reached the first spot in the U.S. ] that year, beginning with "Crazy for You".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1985-07-12-8502150206-story.html|title=For Third Time, Song From Film Soundtrack Takes Top Honors|first=Jan|last=DeKnock|work=]|access-date=October 5, 2023|date=July 12, 1985|url-access=subscription|archive-date=October 5, 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20231005010736/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1985-07-12-8502150206-story.html}}</ref> It was the first song produced by ] to climb to the U.S. charts, breaking the nine-week steak of "]".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XOcGNrsdbEUC&dq=Crazy+for+You&pg=PA162|title=Exito Latino (Latino Seccedd)|first1=William|last1=Doyle|first2=Augusto|last2=Failde|publisher=]|access-date=October 5, 2023|date=1997|isbn=0684833433|page=162}}</ref> Australian music editor Marc Andrews, in ''Madonna Song by Song'' (2022), wrote that "Crazy for You" is now "considered one of the greatest, if not sexiest, love songs of all time".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v29mEAAAQBAJ|title=Madonna Song by Song|first=Marc|last=Andrews|publisher=Fonthill Media|access-date=October 5, 2023|date=2022}}</ref> Len Comaratta, from '']'', called it "a classic in the rock ballad canon".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2010/08/guilty-pleasure-vision-quest-original-soundtrack/|title=Guilty Pleasure: Vision Quest: Original Soundtrack|first=Len|last=Comaratta|work=]|access-date=October 5, 2023|date=August 14, 2010}}</ref> According to ''Billboard'', "Crazy for You" is one of all-time biggest movie songs on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/top-movie-songs-of-all-time/vangelis-chariots-of-fire-in-chariots-of-fire/|title=The Top 65 Movie Songs of All Time|first1=Dan|last1=Reilly|first2=Danielle|last2=Pascual|first3=Joe|last3=Lynch|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 4, 2023|date=March 11, 2023}}</ref> '']'' picked it as one of the Best 10 Madonna songs From movie soundtracks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/music/2018/08/16/madonna-60-her-10-best-movie-soundtrack-songs/992855002/|title=Madonna at 60: Her 10 best songs from movie soundtracks|first=Garrett|last=Mitchell|work=]|access-date=October 4, 2023|date=August 16, 2018}}</ref> | |||
Soundtrack by ]. The soundtrack also included songs by ] ("Only The Young"), former ]/] vocalist ] ("Hungry For Heaven") and Red Rider ("Lunatic Fringe"). | |||
===Track listing=== | |||
{{Track listing | |||
| total_length = 40:24 | |||
| extra_column = Performer | |||
| title1 = ] | |||
| writer1 = {{hlist|]|]|]}} | |||
| extra1 = ] | |||
| length1 = 4:01 | |||
| title2 = ] | |||
| writer2 = ] | |||
| extra2 = ] | |||
| length2 = 3:14 | |||
| title3 = ] | |||
| writer3 = ] | |||
| extra3 = ] | |||
| length3 = 4:18 | |||
| title4 = ] | |||
| writer4 = ] | |||
| extra4 = Madonna | |||
| length4 = 3:54 | |||
| title5 = She's On the Zoom | |||
| writer5 = {{hlist|]|]}} | |||
| extra5 = Don Henley | |||
| length5 = 3:18 | |||
| title6 = ] | |||
| writer6 = {{hlist|]|]}} | |||
| extra6 = ] | |||
| length6 = 4:12 | |||
| title7 = ] | |||
| writer7 = ] | |||
| extra7 = ] | |||
| length7 = 4:20 | |||
| title8 = I'll Fall in Love Again | |||
| writer8 = ] | |||
| extra8 = Sammy Hagar | |||
| length8 = 4:11 | |||
| title9 = ] | |||
| writer9 = {{hlist|]|]}} | |||
| extra9 = ] | |||
| length9 = 4:24 | |||
| title10 = ] | |||
| writer10 = {{hlist|]|]}} | |||
| extra10 = Madonna | |||
| length10 = 4:08 | |||
}} | |||
===Charts=== | |||
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;" | |||
|- | |||
! Chart (1985) | |||
! Peak<br />position | |||
|- | |||
! scope="row"| Australian Albums (])<ref>{{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia}}</ref> | |||
| 46 | |||
|- | |||
{{album chart|Canada|42|artist=Soundtrack|album=Vision Quest|chartid=0529|rowheader=true|access-date=6 February 2021}} | |||
|- | |||
!scope="row"|US ]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BllWAAAAIBAJ&dq=Vision+Quest&pg=PA43&article_id=1059,9405046|title=Tops in Pops|access-date=October 5, 2023|work=The Spokesman-Review|date=April 30, 1985|page=43}}</ref> | |||
| style="text-align:center;"| 11 | |||
|- | |||
!scope="row"|US Top 100 Albums (])<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1985/CB-1985-03-23.pdf|title=Cash Box Top 100 Albums|access-date=October 4, 2023|magazine=]|page=20}}</ref> | |||
| style="text-align:center;"|30 | |||
|} | |||
===Certifications=== | |||
{{Certification Table Top}} | |||
{{Certification Table Entry |region=United States |artist=Soundtrack|title=Vision Quest|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=1985|certyear=1985}} | |||
{{Certification Table Bottom |nosales=true}} | |||
==Potential sequel== | |||
In 2009, interest in a sequel was generated after ] of '']'' expressed interest. '']'' claimed a script existed, which Lautner reportedly approved.<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.lapresse.ca/cinema/nouvelles/201207/17/01-4549907-taylor-lautner-dans-un-remake-de-vision-quest.php | date= 4 January 2010 |title= Taylor Lautner dans un remake de Vision Quest | language= fr | newspaper= La Presse | agency= Relaxnews | archive-date= 8 August 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140808043939/http://www.lapresse.ca/cinema/nouvelles/201207/17/01-4549907-taylor-lautner-dans-un-remake-de-vision-quest.php }}</ref> | |||
==References== | |||
{{reflist}} | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
{{wikiquote}} | |||
* {{IMDb title|0090270}} | |||
* {{mojo title|visionquest}} | |||
{{Harold Becker}} | |||
*{{imdb title|id=0090270|title=Vision Quest}} | |||
{{Authority control}} | |||
*{{rotten-tomatoes|id=vision_quest|title=Vision Quest}} | |||
* | |||
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Latest revision as of 10:32, 10 January 2025
1985 film by Harold BeckerVision Quest | |
---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Harold Becker |
Screenplay by | Darryl Ponicsan |
Based on | Vision Quest by Terry Davis |
Produced by | Jon Peters Peter Guber |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Owen Roizman |
Edited by | Maury Winetrobe |
Music by | Tangerine Dream |
Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
Release date |
|
Running time | 107 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Box office | $13 million (US) |
Vision Quest (released in the United Kingdom and Australia as Crazy for You) is a 1985 American coming-of-age romantic drama/sports film starring Matthew Modine, Michael Schoeffling, Ronny Cox and Linda Fiorentino in her first film role. It is based on Terry Davis's 1979 novel of the same name.
Modine plays a Spokane high school wrestler who falls in love with an older woman, an aspiring artist from Trenton, New Jersey on her way to San Francisco.
The film includes the first major motion picture appearance by Madonna, who plays a singer at a local bar, where she performs the songs "Crazy for You" and "Gambler". In some countries, the title of the film was changed to "Crazy for You" to capitalize on Madonna's emerging fame and the popularity of the song of that name. The film has become a cult classic.
Plot
Louden Swain is a wrestler at Thompson High School who has just turned 18 years old. He has decided that he needs to do something truly meaningful in his life. He embarks on a mission or, in a Native American term, a vision quest. His goal is to drop two weight classes to challenge the area's toughest opponent, Brian Shute, a menacing three-time state champion from nearby rival Hoover High School, who has never been defeated in his high school career. In his zeal to drop from 190 pounds (86 kilograms) to 168 pounds (76 kg), against the wishes of his coach and teammates, he disrupts the team around him and creates health problems of his own.
Meanwhile, his father has taken on a boarder named Carla from Trenton, New Jersey, who is passing through on her way to San Francisco. Louden falls in love with her and begins to lose sight of his goals as a wrestler. Worse, his drastic weight loss culminates in an unhealthy situation, where he gets frequent nosebleeds which, Louden assumes, is due to a lack of iron in his diet (and results in him having to forfeit a match he was winning). The two finally admit their love for each other, but Carla realizes she is distracting him from his goals.
Carla decides to move out and continue on to San Francisco, but not before seeing Louden's big match, in which he makes a comeback from losing and pins Shute in the final seconds with an O-Goshi (over-under hip toss).
As Louden celebrates his victory, he monologues to the audience, "...I guess that's why we got to love those people who deserve it like there's no tomorrow. 'Cause when you get right down to it—there isn't."
Cast
- Matthew Modine as Louden Swain
- Linda Fiorentino as Carla
- Michael Schoeffling as Kenny "Kuch" Kuchera
- Ronny Cox as Larry Swain
- Frank Jasper as Brian Shute
- Harold Sylvester as Gene Tanneran
- Daphne Zuniga as Margie Epstein
- Charles Hallahan as Coach Ratta
- J.C. Quinn as Elmo
- R.H. Thomson as Kevin
- Gary Kasper as Otto Lafte
- Raphael Sbarge as Kenny Schmoozler
- Forest Whitaker as Jean-Pierre "Balldozer" Baldosier
- Roberts Blossom as Harry Swain
- James Gammon as Mr. Kuchera
- Madonna as Club Singer
- Ken Pelo as Coach Charlie Swann
- Jana Marie Hupp as Sally
- Andrew Shue as Bar Patron
- Pat Brown as Wrestler (Extra)
Production
Production took place in Spokane, Washington, in the fall of 1983. The film was shot at Rogers High School in northeast Spokane, referred to as "Thompson High School" in the film. Interior cafeteria scenes were filmed at Ferris High School on Spokane's South Hill. Some of the locker room scenes were filmed in the boys' locker room of Shadle Park High School in northwest Spokane. Madonna's scene was filmed at the Big Foot Tavern on North Division Street in Spokane. Other scenes were shot at The Onion Restaurant downtown and the North Central High School gym. The scene where Louden's big match happens was shot in the gym at Spokane Falls Community College. Erik Abbey consulted on the wrestling scenes to verify their authenticity.
Reception
The film had moderate success in theaters in the U.S. in 1985, earning a gross of $13 million. It has received a rating of 60% at Rotten Tomatoes from 15 reviews, and has gone on to become a cult classic.
Roger Ebert of Chicago Sun-Times gave the film 3.5 stars out of a possible 4, saying while the core storyline was a formulaic sports drama "it is nevertheless a movie with some nice surprises, mostly because it takes the time to create some interesting characters", with standout performances from Modine, Cox, and Fiorentino.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack to the motion picture was released by Geffen Records on February 12, 1985. The soundtrack does not include "No More Words" by Berlin or tracks from REO Speedwagon and Quarterflash, which appear in the film. The background instrumental music by Tangerine Dream is not included, but was later released on the fan project Tangerine Tree 73: Soundtrax.
Reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | |
Singapore Monitor |
The soundtrack received generally positive feedback from music journalists. Singapore Monitor called the album a "very timely collection by some of the bigger up-and-coming names in today's pop and rock scene". Similarly, Rick Shefchik, in his review for Knight Ridder, named the release as "the best soundtrack album in the racks these days". Brian Chin from Billboard complimented Madonna's songs on the soundtrack. The album charted in Australia, Canada, and the United States. Upon release, Jeff Bunch from The Spokesman-Review named it one of the "best examples of profitable soundtracks" of unsuccessful movies. The home video release also peaked at number five on Cash Box's Top 40 Videocassettes. Vision Quest ended as one of the Top 50 Albums and Top Soundtracks on Cash Box's Pop Album Awards. The album was included among Yardbarker's list of the 25 Best Soundtracks From the 1980s.
Impact
The movie was renamed Crazy for You in New Zealand, Australia and the UK, due to the new popularity of pop singer Madonna and her song "Crazy for You". Cashbox's Julius Robinson retrospectively commented in 1988, that the song "really put on the map".
Writing for Cashbox in 1985, Peter Berk explained the film "offered a valuable lesson to the industry", showing "how much a hit song can do to promote an otherwise soon-to-be forgotten movie". He continued, writing that, although Journey's "Only The Young" drew attention to the album, Madonna's "Crazy for You" made the soundtrack "so magnetic to record buyers". He complimented that films like Vision Quest have "made many people aware of just how invaluable the film-music connection is today". In December 1987, Billboard magazine dedicated an article to the links between a movie and a hit single and music videos. In July 1985, Jan DeKnock from Chicago Tribune noted what he called a "movie mania", when various singles from motion pictures reached the first spot in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 that year, beginning with "Crazy for You". It was the first song produced by John Benitez to climb to the U.S. charts, breaking the nine-week steak of "We Are the World". Australian music editor Marc Andrews, in Madonna Song by Song (2022), wrote that "Crazy for You" is now "considered one of the greatest, if not sexiest, love songs of all time". Len Comaratta, from Consequence, called it "a classic in the rock ballad canon". According to Billboard, "Crazy for You" is one of all-time biggest movie songs on the Billboard Hot 100. The Arizona Republic picked it as one of the Best 10 Madonna songs From movie soundtracks.
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Performer | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Only the Young" | Journey | 4:01 | |
2. | "Change" | Holly Knight | John Waite | 3:14 |
3. | "Shout to the Top!" | Paul Weller | The Style Council | 4:18 |
4. | "Gambler" | Madonna | Madonna | 3:54 |
5. | "She's On the Zoom" | Don Henley | 3:18 | |
6. | "Hungry for Heaven" | Dio | 4:12 | |
7. | "Lunatic Fringe" | Tom Cochrane | Red Rider | 4:20 |
8. | "I'll Fall in Love Again" | Sammy Hagar | Sammy Hagar | 4:11 |
9. | "Hot Blooded" | Foreigner | 4:24 | |
10. | "Crazy for You" | Madonna | 4:08 | |
Total length: | 40:24 |
Charts
Chart (1985) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA) | 46 |
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) | 42 |
US Billboard 200 | 11 |
US Top 100 Albums (Cash Box) | 30 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA) | Platinum | 1,000,000 |
Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Potential sequel
In 2009, interest in a sequel was generated after Taylor Lautner of Twilight expressed interest. E! News claimed a script existed, which Lautner reportedly approved.
References
- Edgington, K.; Erskine, Thomas; Welsh, James M. (29 December 2010). Encyclopedia of Sports Films. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810876538.
- ^ Guilbert, Georges-Claude (2015). Madonna as Postmodern Myth. McFarland, Incorporated, Publisher. ISBN 9780786480715. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
- ^ Loukides, Kaitlin (January 23, 2016). "Spokane to host Vision Quest 30th anniversary". USA Today. Gannett Company. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
- ^ Loukides, Kaitlin (January 23, 2016). "Spokane to host Vision Quest 30th anniversary". KREM. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
- ^ Taylor, Kevin (November 20, 1983). "Movies and the mat stuff". The Spokesman-Review. p. E16. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
- ^ Clark, Doug (May 19, 1991). "Spokane saw Madonna's modest start". The Spokesman-Review. p. B1. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
- "Home".
- "Vision Quest". Rotten Tomatoes. 15 February 1985.
- Ebert, Roger (February 5, 1985). "Vision Quest movie review & film summary (1985)". Roger Ebert's Official Site. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
- Henderson, Alex. "Vision Quest [Original Soundtrack] > Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
- ^ Sek, Lim (29 April 1985). "High adventure from Kenny". Singapore Monitor. p. 20. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
- "Notes & Quotes: Stations all over the dial spin record at same time". The Spokesman-Review. April 6, 1985. p. 51. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- Chin, Brian (February 23, 1985). "Dance Trax" (PDF). Billboard. p. 58. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
- Bunch, Jeff (August 2, 1985). "See the movie, but the record – if you dare". The Spokesman-Review. p. 24. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- ^ Berk, Peter (December 28, 1985). "Film Music '85: Another Year On The Righ Track" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 35. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
- Mezydlo, Jeff (2023). "The 25 best soundtracks from the 1980s". Yardbarker. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
- Robinson, Julius (August 13, 1988). "Demos Of Hit Songs On Cypress LP" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 10. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- Bales, Kate (December 26, 1987). "1987 THE YEAR IN MUSIC & VIDEO: Soundtracks Wars". Billboard. Vol. 99, no. 52. p. Y-46. Archived from the original on August 5, 2022. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- DeKnock, Jan (July 12, 1985). "For Third Time, Song From Film Soundtrack Takes Top Honors". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on October 5, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- Doyle, William; Failde, Augusto (1997). Exito Latino (Latino Seccedd). Touchstone Books. p. 162. ISBN 0684833433. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- Andrews, Marc (2022). Madonna Song by Song. Fonthill Media. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- Comaratta, Len (August 14, 2010). "Guilty Pleasure: Vision Quest: Original Soundtrack". Consequence. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- Reilly, Dan; Pascual, Danielle; Lynch, Joe (March 11, 2023). "The Top 65 Movie Songs of All Time". Billboard. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
- Mitchell, Garrett (August 16, 2018). "Madonna at 60: Her 10 best songs from movie soundtracks". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
- Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
- "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0529". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- "Tops in Pops". The Spokesman-Review. April 30, 1985. p. 43. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
- "Cash Box Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 20. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
- "American album certifications – Soundtrack – Vision Quest". Recording Industry Association of America.
- "Taylor Lautner dans un remake de Vision Quest". La Presse (in French). Relaxnews. 4 January 2010. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014.
External links
Films directed by Harold Becker | |
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- 1985 films
- 1980s coming-of-age drama films
- 1985 romantic drama films
- 1980s sports drama films
- American coming-of-age drama films
- American romantic drama films
- Coming-of-age romance films
- 1980s English-language films
- Films based on American novels
- Films based on young adult literature
- Films directed by Harold Becker
- Films produced by Jon Peters
- Films produced by Peter Guber
- Films scored by Tangerine Dream
- Films set in Washington (state)
- Films shot in Washington (state)
- Sport wrestling films
- American sports drama films
- 1980s American films
- 1980s high school films
- English-language romantic drama films
- English-language sports drama films