Road House (1989)

Director:

Rowdy Herrington

Writers (WGA):

David Lee Henry (story)
David Lee Henry (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

19 May 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

The dancing's over. Now it gets dirty.

Plot:

A tough bouncer is hired to tame a dirty bar.

Plot Keywords:

Bouncer | Bar | Violence | Doctor | Car Dealership

Awards:

5 nominations

Cast

Patrick Swayze	...	Dalton
Kelly Lynch	...	Doc
Sam Elliott	...	Wade Garrett
Ben Gazzara	...	Brad Wesley
Marshall R. Teague	...	Jimmy (as Marshall Teague)
Julie Michaels	...	Denise
Red West	...	Red Webster
Sunshine Parker	...	Emmet (as 'Sunshine' Parker)
Jeff Healey	...	Cody
Kevin Tighe	...	Tilghman
John Doe	...	Pat McGurn
Kathleen Wilhoite	...	Carrie
Travis McKenna	...	Jack
Roger Hewlett	...	Younger
Kurt James Stefka	...	Hank
Gary Hudson	...	Steve
Terry Funk	...	Morgan
Michael Rider	...	O'Connor
John William Young	...	Tinker (as John Young)
Anthony De Longis	...	Ketchum (as Anthony DeLongis)
Joe Unger	...	Karpis
Tiny Ron	...	Mountain
Sheila Caan	...	Judy
Jon Paul Jones	...	Stroudenmire
Lauri Crossman	...	Stella
Keith David	...	Ernie Bass
Ed DeFusco	...	Oscar
Joseph Rockman	...	Cody's Band
Thomas Stephen	...	Cody's Band
Tito Larriva	...	Cruzados (as Humberto Larriva)
Tony Marsico	...	Cruzados (as Anthony Marsico)
Gonzalo Quintana III	...	Cruzados
Marshall Rohner	...	Cruzados
John Oldach	...	Bandstand Tough Guy
Joey Plewa	...	Bandstand Tough Guy
Susan Lentini	...	Bandstand Babe
Patricia Tallman	...	Bandstand Babe
Michael J. Fisher	...	Bandstand Bouncer (as Mike Fisher)
Bob Jennings	...	Bandstand Bouncer (as Bob A. Jennings)
Dawn Ciccone	...	Steve's Girl
Julie Royer	...	Steve's Girl
Frank Noon	...	Barfly
Chris Latta	...	Sharing Husband (as Christopher Collins)
Cheryl Baker	...	Well-Endowed Wife
Michael Wise	...	Gawker
Charlie Hawke	...	Heckler (as Charles Hawke)
Tom Finnegan	...	Chief of Police
Christine Anderson	...	Party Girl
Lisa Axelrod	...	Party Girl
Debra Chase	...	Party Girl
Lisa Westman	...	Party Girl
Kymberly Herrin	...	Party Girl
Kym Malin	...	Party Girl
Heidi Paine	...	Party Girl
Jacklyn Palmer	...	Party Girl
Marta Rinchusiuso	...	Party Girl
Meg Thayer	...	Party Girl
Laura Albert	...	Strip Joint Girl
Christina Veronica	...	Strip Joint Girl
Jasae	...	Strip Joint Girl
Michele Burger	...	Strip Joint Girl
Pamela Jackson	...	Strip Joint Girl
Daryl Sandy Marsh	...	Strip Joint Bartender
Laura Lee Kasten	...	Nurse
Bill Dunnam	...	Car Salesman
Terry Nemeroff	...	Loudmouth (as Terrance Scott)
Sylvia Baker	...	Table Dancer
Dennis Ott	...	Bar Character
Ancel Cook	...	Grillman
Chino 'Fats' Williams	...	Derelict
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
The Jeff Healey Band	...	Bar band
Arthur Lamont Berger	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Brittany	...	(uncredited)
Terri Lynn Doss	...	Cody's Girlfriend (uncredited)
Henry Kingi	...	(uncredited)
Amelia Kinkade	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Aaron Michael Lacey	...	Marine in Strip Joint (uncredited)
Monique Noel	...	Barfly (uncredited)
Alicia Patterakis	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Rowdy Herrington

Writing credits (WGA)
David Lee Henry		(story)
David Lee Henry		(screenplay) and
Hilary Henkin		(screenplay)

Produced by
Tim Moore	....	executive producer
Steve Perry	....	executive producer
Joel Silver	....	producer

Original Music by
Michael Kamen

Cinematography by
Dean Cundey

Film Editing by
John F. Link
Frank J. Urioste

Casting by
Jackie Burch

Art Direction by
William J. Durrell Jr.

Set Decoration by
Philip Leonard		(as Phil M. Leonard)

Costume Design by
Marilyn Vance

Makeup Department
Paul Abascal	....	key hair stylist
Scott H. Eddo	....	makeup department head

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Charlie Picerni	....	second unit director (as Charles Picerni)

Art Department
Mike Blaze	....	assistant property master (as Michael Blaze)
Mike Combs	....	greensman (as Michael D. Combs)
Mark Fabus	....	set designer (as Mark L. Fabus)
Joseph C. Fama	....	construction foreman (as Joe Fama)
Bill Fannon Jr.	....	leadman
Gus Feederle	....	set dresser
George Gugler	....	standby painter
Don Kaeding	....	set dresser (as Donald Kaeding)
Michael Muscarella	....	construction coordinator (as Michael A. Muscarella)
Michael Papac	....	assistant property master
Tommy 'Tom' Tomlinson	....	property master
Richard N. McGuire	....	carpenter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Destiny Borden	....	assistant sound editor
Christopher Flick	....	sound editor
Bud Maffett	....	sound mixer
Norman B. Schwartz	....	post-production dialogue
Jerry Trent	....	foley artist
Hugo Weng	....	dialogue editor
David A. Whittaker	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
William Aldridge	....	special effects foreman
James Camomile	....	special effects assistant
Al Di Sarro	....	special effects coordinator
Patrick R. Gordon	....	special effects transportation
Andrew Sebok	....	special effects assistant (as Andrew Sebox)
Paul Stewart	....	special effects assistant
Bruno Van Zeebroeck	....	special effects assistant

Stunts
Pete Antico	....	stunts
Bruce Paul Barbour	....	stunts
Michael Barnett	....	stunts
Tom Bergman	....	stunts
Simone Boisseree	....	stunts
Janet Brady	....	stunts
Bob Bralver	....	stunts
Geoff Brewer	....	stunts (as Geof Brewer)
Danny Castle	....	stunts
Robert B. Chandler	....	stunts
Gary Combs	....	stunts
Jeffrey J. Dashnaw	....	stunts (as Jeff Danshaw)
Gary Davis	....	stunts
Leon Delaney	....	stunts
David R. Ellis	....	stunts (as David Ellis)
Danny Epper	....	stunts
Gary Epper	....	stunts
Jeannie Epper	....	stunts
Tony Epper	....	stunts
Donna Evans	....	stunts
Donna Garrett	....	stunts
Randy Hall	....	stunts
James M. Halty	....	stunts (as James Halty)
Buddy Joe Hooker	....	stunts
Chris Howell	....	stunts
Norman Howell	....	stunts
Tommy J. Huff	....	stunts (as Thomas J. Huff)
Jeff Imada	....	stunts (as Jeffrey Imada)
Matt Johnston	....	stunts
Henry Kingi	....	stunts
James Kramer	....	stunts
Jeff Langton	....	stunts
Eric Mansker	....	stunts (as Erik Mansker)
Don McGovern	....	stunt actor
Gary McLarty	....	stunts
Myke Michaels	....	stunts
Bob Orrison	....	stunts
Frank Orsatti	....	stunts
Charlie Picerni	....	stunt coordinator (as Charles Picerni)
Chuck Picerni Jr.	....	stunts
Steve Picerni	....	stunts
Rex Pierson	....	stunts
Branscombe Richmond	....	stunts
Mic Rodgers	....	stunts
Danny Rogers	....	stunts
R.A. Rondell	....	stunts
Andrew Sebok	....	stunts (as Andy Sebox)
Ron Stein	....	stunts
Michael Tamburro	....	stunts (as Mike Tamburro)
R.L. Tolbert	....	stunts
Benny Urquidez	....	stunts
Michael S. Walter	....	stunts
Ric Roman Waugh	....	stunts
Ted White	....	stunts
Glenn R. Wilder	....	stunts (as Glenn Wilder)
Anthony De Longis	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Clyde E. Bryan	....	camera assistant
Ron Cardarelli	....	key grip
Steve Chandler	....	set lighting technician (as Steve M. Chandler)
Brad Chelesvig	....	musco light operator
Billy Clevenger	....	camera assistant (as William Clevenger)
William Coss	....	camera assistant (as William F. Coss)
Larry D. Davis	....	camera assistant (as Larry Davis)
Anthony Di Mase	....	grip (as Tony DiMase)
Marty Dobkousky	....	grip
Roger Gebhard	....	camera operator
Dustin A. Huber	....	rigging gaffer (as Dustin Huber)
Kris Krosskove	....	first assistant camera
Sid Lucero	....	grip (as Sid B. Lucero)
James A. Lundin	....	generator operator: Sequoia (as Jim Lundin)
Drain M. Marshall	....	rigging electrician (as Drain Marshall)
Ted Marshall	....	rigging electrician (as Teddy Marshall)
Thomas Marshall	....	assistant chief lighting technician (as Thom H. Marshall)
John Palka	....	best boy grip
Peter Sorel	....	still photographer
Roger Spurgeon	....	musco light operator
Raymond Stella	....	camera operator
Edward R. Thompson Jr.	....	set lighting technician (as Edward R. Thompson)
Frank D. Tobin	....	rigging electrician (as Frank Tobin)
Dave Wachtman	....	dolly grip (as Dave 'Too Tall' Wachtman)
Mark Walthour	....	chief set lighting technician (as Mark D. Walthour)
Jolanda R. Wipfli	....	camera loader (as Jolanda Renata Wipfli)
Anthony Wong	....	set lighting technician

Editorial Department
Bryan H. Carroll	....	assistant editor
Dale E. Grahn	....	color timer
Edward Malone	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Chris Boardman	....	orchestrator
Robert Fernandez	....	scoring mixer
Jim Harrison	....	supervising music editor
Jimmy Iovine	....	music supervisor
Booker T. Jones	....	musician: organ
David Kershenbaum	....	music supervisor
Russ Kunkel	....	musician: drums

Other crew
Pamela Alessandrelli	....	assistant to executive producer
Jack Crain	....	knife design/manufacturer
Riley Kathryn Ellis	....	development executive
Jack English	....	location manager
William M. Fannon Jr.	....	technical advisor: tai chi
Rosa Gonzalez	....	assistant production accountant
Pauline Gross Robles	....	second assistant accountant
Andrew Lipschultz	....	unit publicist
Gregory Manson	....	assistant production accountant
Paul J. Memmi	....	translator
Michael Papac	....	armorer
Alicia Rivera Frankl	....	production accountant
Tamara Smith	....	production associate
Michael Tamburro	....	helicopter pilot (as Mike Tamburro)
Benny Urquidez	....	technical advisor: martial arts
Ladd Vance	....	assistant: Joel Silver (as Ladd Rosenberg-Vance)
Ellen Wolff	....	assistant production coordinator
RaeAnn Emery	....	stand-in: Kelly Lynch (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Silver Pictures
• Star Partners II Ltd.

Distributors

• United Artists (1989) (USA) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1989) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1989) (UK) (theatrical)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1990) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (199?) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (1999) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (199?) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Tony's Food Service  catering

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Portuguese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-16 (1990) (cut) | Finland:K-18 (1989) (cut) | Iceland:16 | South Korea:18 | Australia:R | Canada:18A | France:-12 | Norway:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R (certificate #29677) | West Germany:18 | Canada:R (Ontario) | Argentina:18 | Germany:BPjM Restricted

Filming Locations:

Valencia, California, USA

Company:

Silver Pictures

Trivia:

The band playing at the start of the movie is the band Cruzados. After the band disbanded, the singer Tito Larriva formed the band Tito & Tarantula, which is the band that plays at the Titty Twister in the movie From Dusk Till Dawn (1996).

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Reflection of lighting truck and crew on the side of the mustang when backing out of the driveway at Red's auto parts store.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Bouncer Checking IDs: [to Frank Tilghman, as he enters the Bandstand] Go ahead, sir.

Movie Connections:

References First Blood (1982)

Soundtrack:

Cliff's Edge

Splendidly bad

This movie is so ridiculous it's sublime! Ben Gazzara's portrayal of ascot-clad uber-villain Brad Wesley is...delicious! The showdown between Dalton and Wesley's top goon comes off more like rough sex between two gay ballet dancers than an epic tough-guy battle. I've never seen a fight with so many perfectly pointed toes.

Dalton's love interest (a blonde doctor with a family of five living in her giant hair) inexplicably wears a picnic-table cover throughout the entire movie.

And we have a musical cameo! Jeff Healey's every line seems to scream "fire my agent". Luckily for him he didn't have to see the movie.

And I won't ruin it, but the final line of the flick, uttered by a fat guy in a "CAT" hat, is solid gold as well. If you want a great laugh, this is solid gold! I give it a 10 on entertainment value alone.