Real Genius (1985)

Director:

Martha Coolidge

Writers:

Neal Israel (screenplay)
Neal Israel (story)
(more)

Release Date:

7 August 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

When he gets mad, he doesn't get even... he gets creative.

Plot:

Teenage geniuses deal with their abilities while developing a laser.

Plot Keywords:

Exploding House | Smart Kids | Beautician | Military | Weapon

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Val Kilmer	...	Chris Knight
Gabriel Jarret	...	Mitch Taylor (as Gabe Jarret)
Michelle Meyrink	...	Jordan Cochran
William Atherton	...	Prof. Jerry Hathaway
Jon Gries	...	Lazlo Hollyfeld (as Jonathan Gries)
Patti D'Arbanville	...	Sherry Nugil
Stacy Peralta	...	Shuttle Pilot
Daniel Ades	...	Laser Ray Victim
Andres Aybar	...	Bartender
Louis Giambalvo	...	Maj. Carnagle
Ed Lauter	...	David Decker
Charles Shull	...	Air Force General
Beau Billingslea	...	George
Charles Parks	...	Larry
Sean Frye	...	Boy at Science Fair
JoAnn Willette	...	Girl at Science Fair
Ina Gould	...	Old Lady
Nadine Vix	...	Student at Science Fair
Paul Tulley	...	Mr. Taylor
Joanne Baron	...	Mrs. Taylor
Chip Johnson	...	Darlington Recruiter
Monte Landis	...	Dr. Dodd
Sandy Martin	...	Mrs. Meredith
Severn Darden	...	Dr. Meredith
Randy Lowell	...	Cornell (as Randolph Dreyfuss)
Robert Prescott	...	Kent Torokvei
John Shepherd Reid	...	Carter
Tommy Swerdlow	...	Bodie (as Tom Swerdlow)
Mark Kamiyama	...	'Ick' Ikagami
Martin Gundersen	...	Math Professor
Brett Miller	...	Carpet Man
Dean Devlin	...	Milton
Yuji Okumoto	...	Fenton
Lynda Wiesmeier	...	Chris' Girl at Party
Penny Baker	...	Ick's Girl at Party
Marcia Karr	...	Cornell's Girl at Party
Isabelle Walker	...	Girl at Party
Marii Mak	...	Girl at Party
Cheri Wells	...	Girl at Party
Catherine MacNamara	...	Girl at Party
John Vasily	...	Student
Ed Garrabrandt	...	TV Makeup Man
Isabel Cooley	...	TV Stage Manager
Robin Stober	...	Waitress
Deborah Foreman	...	Susan Decker
David Marvit	...	Student in Hall
Michael Crabtree	...	Air Force SP at Gate
Charles Sweigart	...	Air Force SP at Gate
Peter Parros	...	Air Force SP at Gate
Ronald Taylor	...	Computer Technician
James Carrington	...	Air Force Major
Michael Backes	...	Air Force Controller
Corki Grazer	...	Air Force Sergeant
Jeanne Mori	...	Laser Technician
David Ursin	...	Engineer
Joe Dorsey	...	Congressman Dougton
Will Knox	...	Laser Specialist
Kevin Hurley	...	Air Force Technician
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joy Michelle Ferro	...	Party Girl on surfboard (uncredited)
David Monterosso	...	Student In Cafeteria (uncredited)
Tom Tangen	...	Student on ice skates (uncredited)

Directed by
Martha Coolidge

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Neal Israel		screenplay
Neal Israel		story
Pat Proft		screenplay
Pat Proft		story
Peter Torokvei		writer

Produced by
Sam Crespi-Horowitz	....	associate producer
Robert Daley	....	executive producer
Brian Grazer	....	producer

Original Music by
Thomas Newman

Cinematography by
Vilmos Zsigmond

Film Editing by
Richard Chew

Casting by
Janet Hirshenson
Jane Jenkins

Production Design by
Josan F. Russo

Art Direction by
Jack G. Taylor Jr.

Set Decoration by
Phil Abramson		(as Philip Abramson)

Costume Design by
Marla Denise Schlom		(as Marla D. Schlom)

Makeup Department
Zoltan Elek	....	makeup artist (as Zoltan)
Edie Panda	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Billy Ray Smith	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Stephen McEveety	....	first assistant director (as Steve McEveety)
Joseph Paul Moore	....	second assistant director (as Joseph P. Moore)
Mike Schilz	....	third assistant director (as Michael J Schulz)

Art Department
Erin M. Cummins	....	set designer
David L. Glazer	....	assistant property master
Steven Wolff	....	set designer

Sound Department
Anna Boorstin	....	sound editor
George Budd	....	sound designer
David E. Campbell	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Dave Campbell)
Virginia Cook-McGowan	....	sound editor (as Virginia A. Cook)
Julia Evershade	....	supervising sound editor
Roxanne Jones	....	sound editor (as Roxanne R. Jones)
C. Darin Knight	....	sound mixer (as Darin Knight)
Carl Lewis	....	sound editor
John T. Reitz	....	sound re-recording mixer (as John Reitz)
John Roesch	....	foley artist
Gregg Rudloff	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Greg Rudloff)
John Vigran	....	sound recording consultant
Paul C. Warschilka	....	assistant sound editor
Marshall Winn	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Phil Cory	....	special effects coordinator (as Philip C. Cory)
Raymond Klein	....	special effects crew (as Raymond J. Klein)
Mike Reedy	....	special effects technician
Robert Rowan	....	special effects crew
Ray Svedin	....	special effects crew
Thomas R. Ward	....	special effects crew
Jerry D. Williams	....	special effects crew
Hans Metz	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Richard Bennett	....	visual effects supervisor
Syd Dutton	....	special visual effects
David Stipes	....	visual effects supervisor
Bill Taylor	....	special visual effects

Stunts
Kenny Alexander	....	stunts
Cynthia Lea Clark	....	stunt driver
Shane Dixon	....	stunts
Kenny Ferrugiaro	....	stunts
Linda Lee Franklin	....	stunts
Allan Graf	....	stunts
David M. Graves	....	stunts (as David Michael Graves)
Marian Green	....	stunts
Bernie Pock	....	stunts (as Bernhard Pock)
Debby Porter	....	stunts
Spiro Razatos	....	stunts
Edward J. Ulrich	....	stunt coordinator (as Ed Ulrich)
Edward J. Ulrich	....	stunts (as Ed Ulrich)

Camera and Electrical Department
Colin J. Campbell	....	electrical gaffer (as Colin Campbell)
John J. Connor	....	camera operator
Frederick Elmes	....	photographer: second unit
Robert Jason	....	electrical best boy (as Robert E. Jason)
Ken Nishino	....	first assistant camera (as Kenneth Nishino)
Robert Samuels	....	second assistant camera (as Robert B. Samuels)
William D. Barber	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Frank Montoya	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Jill Simpson	....	casting assistant

Editorial Department
Arthur Coburn	....	additional editor
Albert Coleman	....	first assistant editor
Alexandra Leviloff	....	second assistant film editor
Bill Wilner	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Becky Mancuso-Winding	....	music supervisor (as Becky Mancuso)
Michael Papale	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Joanie Blum	....	script supervisor
Ron Cobb	....	laser technology
Brad Dechter	....	source arrangements
Joan Eisenberg	....	unit publicist
Wayne Fitzgerald	....	title designer
Judith Gill	....	production coordinator
Jan Walker	....	assistant to producer
Robert J. Woodhead	....	hacking consultant
Craig Miller	....	marketing consultant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Delphi III Productions

Distributors

• TriStar Pictures (1985) (USA) (theatrical)
• CBS Television (1989) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (????) (USA) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (1986) (Argentina) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (2002) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2002) (Argentina) (VHS) (re-release)
• RCA (video)

Special Effects

• Apogee Productions
• David Stipes Productions (visual effects)
• Movie Magic
• Universal City Studios Matte Department

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Iceland:L | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Crystal Springs Ranch, Canyon Country, California, USA

Company:

Delphi III Productions

Trivia:

The recurrence of the initials "DEI" in the movie is no accident. The truck that is used to transport the popcorn to Dr. Hathaway's new house has "Drain Experts Inc." emblazoned on its side. The company Chris interviews with at the beginning (and which funds Dr. Hathaway's show "Everything") is Darlington Electronic Instruments. The initials are rumored to have been inscribed by Caltech alumni at (among other places) the summit of Everest, on the moon and on many satellites and space probes manufactured at Jet Propulsion Labs (which sits just up the hill from Caltech in Pasadena). There has long been an unofficial contest to see who could place the letters DEI into the most prominent public view. Their placement in this film was with the full complicity of director Martha Coolidge and her Caltech advisor, David Marvit.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The coordinates entered into the computer to redirect the laser at the end of the movie actually point to a place in China near Dongkan Town (34D 10M 15.21S North, 119D 7M.) However, if treated as West longitude, the location is near Oxnard, California (slightly north of Point Mugu NAS).

Quotes:

Chris Knight: Sir, let me take this moment to compliment you on your fashion sense, particularly your slippers.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Holiday (2006)

Soundtrack:

All She Wants to Do Is Dance

A High IQ version of Animal House

This movie is in the genre of Animal House and Revenge of the Nerds but features a cast of geniuses working on a laser, with one of the professors and his minions being the opposition.

It is in my top 10 films of all time list.

The humorous dialog goes on between ALL the characters but Val Kilmer has center stage even though the story seems to be about Mitch, the new 15 year old, premature college geek.

It is a magical movie that can truly lift your spirits if you are depressed. You can watch it over and over again because its power is not so much in the story but in the superb and genuinely captivating interaction between Val Kilmer and the rest of the cast.