Movie Description
Based on Stephen King's novella THE BODY, director Rob Reiner's STAND BY ME is the disarmingly tender and subtly sublime story of four kids on the precipice of early adulthood who embark upon a quest. There's Gordie (Wil Wheaton), the intelligent, creative one with the obviously bright future. His best buddy, Chris (River Phoenix), hardens his image in order to hide the pain from the physical abuse he endures at home, all the while harboring the hope of escaping that image. Rounding out the foursome are Vern (Jerry O'Connell), the pudgy tagalong, and Teddy (Corey Feldman), a loyal and funny but troubled kid with a death wish.
When the four boys hear about a dead body 20 miles down the railroad tracks from their small Oregon town, they clandestinely set upon the unwieldy journey to lay eyes on this rare find. Amid numerous misadventures, Gordie, Chris, Vern, and Teddy savor what may be their last chance to revel in the simple life of children; around the corner is a future that could tear them apart, not to mention a tough teen gang who desires local fame by finding the body first. Enhanced by excellent performances and an engaging plot, STAND BY ME ranks among the best of the myriad coming-of-age films to dot the 1980s cinematic landscape.
| Credits | | Producer: | Andrew Scheinman, Bruce A. Evans, Raynold Gideon | | Cast: | Bradley Gregg, Casey Siemaszko, Jason Oliver, John Cusack |
| Details | | Edition: | Deluxe Edition with CD Premium |
Notes
DVD Features:
Full Frame - 1.33
Audio:
Mono - English, French, Spanish, Portuguese
Subtitles - English - Closed Captioning
Subtitles - French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, Thai - Optional
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentary - 1. Rob Reiner - Director
Featurette - 1. "Walking the Tracks"
Music Video - 1. Ben E. King - "Stand by Me"
Text/Photo Galleries:
Filmographies
Additional Product:
Bonus CD Soundtrack Compilation
Collectible Booklet, Shot on location in California and Oregon.
STAND BY ME was rated R by the MPAA because of its excessive use of foul language. The f-word is uttered at least 11 different times during the course of the film.
The film featured the one of the first major starring roles for actor River Phoenix, who died tragically and unexpectedly when he was only 23 years old.
The title song, Ben E. King's "Stand By Me," originally a #3 hit in 1961, returned to the pop top 10 in early 1987, propelled by its prominent use in the movie and the movie's popularity.
Editorial Reviews
"...While Reiner succeeds in building the story around Wheaton's convincing vulnerability, he also has achieved a rare feat of getting equally empathetic and outstanding performances from everyone else in the cast..."
Variety - Brit.
"...A compassionate, perfectly performed look at the real heart of youth. It stands, sweet and strong, ribald, outrageous and funny....It's one of those treasures absolutely not to be missed..."
Los Angeles Times - Sheila Benson (08/08/1986)
"...Tender..."
Entertainment Weekly - Entertainment Weekly Staff (09/08/2000)
"Rob Reiner's evocative rites-of-passager is still memorable for the performances of its four young stars..."
Total Film - James White (03/01/2001)
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