Racing with the Moon (1984)
- Starring:
- Sean Penn, Elizabeth McGovern, (more)
- Director(s):
- Richard Benjamin
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG
My RatingTheatrical Release Information | See Details About All Versions
Sean Penn graduated to full stardom with the 1984 drama Racing with the Moon, even though the film itself hardly set new box office records. Set in the early years of World War II, the film stars Penn as a small-town teen-aged hotshot, six weeks away from being shipped out to fight overseas. In the meantime, Penn begins to date Elizabeth McGovern, whom he assumes is from a wealthy family. Penn's pal Nicolas Cage, who's gotten his girlfriend Suzanne Adkinson pregnant, imposes upon Penn to hit up McGovern for the abortion money. That's when Penn discovers that the girl barely has a penny to her name. Convinced that Penn cared for her only when he thought she was rich, McGovern walks out on him, but later teams up with Penn to help the unfortunate Adkinson. The plot is pure James Dean, a fact not lost on fans who regarded Sean Penn as the second coming of Dean. A very slight piece, Racing With the Moon is buoyed by the engaging performances of the stars, and by director Richard Benjamin's meticulous attention to period detail-especially in those peerless bowling-alley and skating-rink sequences. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Theatrical Feature Running Time:
- 108 mins
Complete Cast:
- Sean Penn - Henry "Hopper" Nash
- Nicolas Cage - Nicky
- Rutanya Alda - Mrs. Nash
- Suzanne Adkinson - Sally Kaiser
- Julie Philips - Alice Donnelly
- Arlin Miller - Minister
- Sue Allen - Singer
- Phil Adams
- Barbara Howard - Gatsby Girl
- Page Hannah - High School Girl
- Crispin Glover - Gatsby Boy
- Dana Carvey - Baby Face
- Eve Brent Ashe - Mrs. Kaiser
- Max Showalter - Mr. Arthur
- Dominick Nardini - Soldier with Annie
- Walter Matthews - Sailor
- Michael Madsen - Frank
- Arnold Johnson - Tattoo Artist
- Lou Butera - Pool Player
- Victor Paul - Pool Hall Barman
- Fielding Greaves - Mr. Donnelly
- Elizabeth McGovern - Caddie Winger
- John Karlen - Mr. Nash
- Kate Williamson - Mrs. Winger
- Shawn Schepps - Gretchen
- Michael Talbott - Bill
- Jan Rabson - Sailor
- Scott McGinnis - Michael
- Patricia Allison - Mrs. Spangler
- Al Hopson - Elmer
- Ted Grossman - Skating Soldier
- Gerry Gibson - High School Principal
- John Brandon - Mr. Kaiser
- Shane Kerwin - R.D.
- Victor Rendina - Pool Hall Barman
- Charles Miller - Arnie
- Bob Maroff - Al
- Carol Kane - Annie
- Jonathan Charles Fox - Arnold Billings
- Chuck Picerni, Jr. - Bill's Shipmate
- Steve Lambert
- Phillip Romano - Bill's Shipmate
- Director(s):
- Richard Benjamin
- Writer(s):
- Steve Kloves
- Producer(s):
- Art Levinson, Sherry Lansing, John Kohn
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- PG(Adult Language, Mild Violence, Brief Nudity, Suitable for Teens, Adult Situations)
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions







