Short Time

Last updated
Short Time
Shorttimeposter.jpg
Home video release poster
Directed by Gregg Champion
Written by John Blumenthal
Michael Berry
William Osborne
Produced by
  • Michael Borofsky
  • Bruce McNall
  • Joe Wizan
Starring
CinematographyJohn J. Connor
Edited by
Music by Ira Newborn
Production
company
Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Release date
  • May 4, 1990 (1990-05-04)
Running time
97 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$4,010,647 [1]

Short Time is a 1990 American action comedy film directed by Gregg Champion. It stars Dabney Coleman, Matt Frewer and Teri Garr. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Contents

Synopsis

Seattle detective Burt Simpson (Dabney Coleman) is a man who is so concerned about planning for the future that he cannot enjoy the present. This strains his relationship with his wife Carolyn (Teri Garr) and young son Dougie (Kaj-Erik Eriksen). However, this is to change when a mix-up at the hospital (caused by a bus driver who is trying to hide his recent use of marijuana) makes him believe that he has two weeks to live. Finding out that his family will only receive a small amount of money from their life insurance policy if he dies of natural causes but will receive hundreds of thousands if he is killed in the line of duty, Burt sets out with the latter task.

Simpson's first effort centers around a domestic disturbance call. Aware that such affairs routinely turn violent, he eagerly responds, but it turns out to be an elderly couple. One of them misheard the other because they were deaf, and a kind remark was mistaken for an insult. When the error is revealed, the two happily reconcile. A more promising situation follows, when Simpson is involved in a car chase with some fleeing suspects - who happen to be the henchmen of local gun smuggler Carl Stark (Xander Berkeley). Simpson's vehicle and their car wind up demolished, but no lives are lost. Simpson is awarded a medal for his bravery.

Simpson then intervenes in a hostage situation involving a crazed man with a bomb where, due largely to his newfound realization of the importance of life, he is able to convince the bomber to give himself up. Accidentally forgetting to retrieve the bomb, however, the building is blown up and he is awarded another medal.

Between these events, Simpson spends what he believes are his final days, starting to live in the here and now. He buys a sports car, spends time with his son and reconciles with his wife. He also reveals to his partner Ernie Dills (Matt Frewer) his genuine respect and affection for him. The latter, mystified at this strange behavior, investigates of his own and discovers the mix-up, but by this time Simpson has gotten involved in a running shootout with the heavily armed Stark. The ensuing chase leads to both men hanging on balance via a window washer's scaffold on a skyscraper. Simpson's partner reveals to him that he is not going to die, but it is apparently too late: Stark falls to his death and Simpson falls after him.

The final scene occurs at the funeral for the bus driver, who has died of his condition. Simpson is suddenly revealed as attending - out of respect for the man who "gave me back my life". A photo in his partner's possession shows what had really happened: although Simpson did fall from the scaffold, his leg became entangled in some ropes, and he wound up dangling upside-down. As Simpson and his friends drive off in a convertible, he sees a police chase, and decides to follow, but changes his mind and refuses to do so.

Cast

Home releases

The film was released on Region 2 DVD by Carlton International Media UK in 2002 and on Region 3 DVD in South Korea. It has only been released on VHS and Laserdisc by Live Home Video in the United States.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bart Simpson</span> Fictional character from The Simpsons

Bartholomew Jojo "Bart" Simpson is a fictional character in the American animated television series The Simpsons and part of the Simpson family. He is voiced by Nancy Cartwright and first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987. Cartoonist Matt Groening created and designed Bart while waiting in the lobby of James L. Brooks' office. Groening had been called to pitch a series of shorts based on his comic strip, Life in Hell, but instead decided to create a new set of characters. While the rest of the characters were named after Groening's family members, Bart's name is an anagram of the word brat. After appearing on The Tracey Ullman Show for two years, the Simpson family received its own series on Fox, which debuted December 17, 1989. Bart has appeared in every Simpsons episode except "Four Great Women and a Manicure".

<i>Tootsie</i> 1982 film directed by Sydney Pollack

Tootsie is a 1982 American satirical romantic comedy film directed by Sydney Pollack and starring Dustin Hoffman. Its supporting cast includes Pollack, Jessica Lange, Teri Garr, Dabney Coleman, Bill Murray, Charles Durning, George Gaynes, Geena Davis and Doris Belack. The film tells the story of a talented but volatile actor whose reputation for being difficult drives him to adopt a new identity as a woman to land a job. The film was adapted by Larry Gelbart, Barry Levinson (uncredited), Elaine May (uncredited) and Murray Schisgal from a story by Gelbart and Don McGuire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teri Garr</span> American actress (born 1944)

Teri Ann Garr is an American former actress, dancer, and comedian. She has frequently appeared in comedic roles throughout her career, which spans four decades and includes over 140 credits in film and television. Her accolades include an Academy Award nomination, a BAFTA Award nomination, and a National Board of Review Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dabney Coleman</span> American actor (born 1932)

Dabney Wharton Coleman is an American actor. Coleman's best known films include 9 to 5 (1980), On Golden Pond (1981), Tootsie (1982), WarGames (1983), Cloak & Dagger (1984), The Beverly Hillbillies (1993), You've Got Mail (1998), Inspector Gadget (1999), Recess: School's Out (2001), Moonlight Mile (2002), and Rules Don't Apply (2016).

"The Telltale Head" is the eighth episode of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on February 25, 1990. It was written by Al Jean, Mike Reiss, Sam Simon and Matt Groening, and directed by Rich Moore. In the episode, Bart cuts the head off the statue of Jebediah Springfield in the center of town to impress Jimbo, Kearney and Dolph, three older kids he admires. The town's residents, including the three boys, are horrified and Bart regrets his actions. After telling Lisa and Marge, Homer and Bart head to the center of town, where they are met by an angry mob. After Bart tells the mob that he has made a mistake, the townspeople forgive Bart and the boy places the head back on the statue. The episode's title is a reference to the short story "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Simpsons Already Did It</span> 7th episode of the 6th season of South Park

"Simpsons Already Did It" is the seventh episode of the sixth season of the American animated television series South Park and the 86th episode of the series overall. It originally aired on Comedy Central in the United States on June 26, 2002. In the episode, which continues on from the events of the previous episode "Professor Chaos," Butters thinks up a series of schemes to take over the world, but realizes that each one has already been performed on the show The Simpsons. Meanwhile, Ms. Choksondik dies and Cartman, Kyle and Stan think that they are responsible.

<i>Modern Problems</i> 1981 American fantasy comedy film by Ken Shapiro

Modern Problems is a 1981 American science fiction black comedy film written and directed by Ken Shapiro and starring Chevy Chase, Patti D'Arbanville, and Dabney Coleman. The film grossed $26.2 million on an $8 million budget in the United States. A DVD release of the film was issued in 2005.

Robert Leslie Shapiro is an American attorney and entrepreneur. He is best known for being the short-term defense lawyer of Erik Menéndez in 1990, and a member of the "Dream Team" of O. J. Simpson's attorneys that successfully defended him from the charges that he murdered his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and Ron Goldman, in 1994. He later turned to civil work and co-founded ShoeDazzle, LegalZoom, and RightCounsel.com, appearing in their television commercials.

<i>The Phantom of the Opera</i> (miniseries) 1990 television film directed by Tony Richardson

The Phantom of the Opera is a 1990 American two-part television miniseries directed by Tony Richardson and starring Charles Dance in the title role. It is adapted from Arthur Kopit's book from his stage musical Phantom, which is based loosely on Gaston Leroux's 1910 novel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stark Raving Dad</span> 1st episode of the 3rd season of The Simpsons

"Stark Raving Dad" is the first episode of the third season of the American animated television series The Simpsons. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on September 19, 1991. In the episode, Homer is sent to a mental institution for wearing a pink shirt to work, where he shares a room with a man who claims to be pop star Michael Jackson. Meanwhile, Bart promises his sister Lisa he will get her the best birthday present ever.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Max Headroom</span> Fictional British character

Max Headroom is a fictional character played by actor Matt Frewer. Advertised as "the first computer-generated TV presenter", Max was known for his biting commentary on a variety of topical issues, arrogant wit, stuttering, and pitch-shifting voice. The character was created by George Stone, Annabel Jankel, and Rocky Morton. Max was advertised as "computer-generated", and some believed this, but he was actually actor Frewer wearing prosthetic makeup, contact lenses, and a plastic moulded suit, and sitting in front of a blue screen. Harsh lighting and other editing and recording effects heighten the illusion of a CGI character. According to his creators, Max's personality was meant to be a satirical exaggeration of the worst tendencies of television hosts in the 1980s who wanted to appeal to youth culture yet were not a part of it. Frewer proposed that Max reflected an innocence, largely influenced not by mentors and life experience but by information absorbed from television.

Drexell's Class is an American sitcom that aired Thursday at 8:30 on Fox as part of its 1991–92 lineup. The show was created by Andrew Nicholls and Darrell Vickers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaj-Erik Eriksen</span> Canadian actor

Kaj-Erik Eriksen is a Canadian actor. He is known for his roles as David Scali in The Commish, Danny Farrell in the television series The 4400, and Jeremy Peters in the television series Boston Public.

<i>Fresno</i> (miniseries) American TV series or program

Fresno is a 1986 American television comedy miniseries that parodied prime time soap operas of the time such as Falcon Crest, Dallas, and Dynasty. Fresno was directed by Jeff Bleckner. The series featured high production values, including lavish haute couture gowns by leading costume designer Bob Mackie, a main cast including Carol Burnett, Teri Garr, Charles Grodin and Dabney Coleman, and supporting cast including Charles Keating, Pat Corley, Louise Latham, Tom Poston and Henry Darrow. It was noted at the time as being the first American satirical TV comedy to be made in the then-popular miniseries format.

<i>Far from Home</i> (1989 film) 1989 film by Meiert Avis

Far from Home is a 1989 American thriller film. It stars Matt Frewer, Drew Barrymore, Richard Masur, and Susan Tyrrell. It centers on a divorced father and his teenage daughter who run out of fuel in a small desert town and are forced to stay there in a run down trailer park while they attempt to find fuel for their car where at the same time, a series of killings begin to take place as the daughter becomes the obsession of two troublesome boys.

<i>Where the Red Fern Grows</i> (2003 film) 2003 American film

Where the Red Fern Grows is a 2003 American family adventure film directed by Lyman Dayton and Sam Pillsbury and starring Joseph Ashton, Dave Matthews, Ned Beatty and Dabney Coleman. Based on the children's book of the same name by Wilson Rawls and a remake of the 1974 film of the same name, it follows the story of Billy Colman who buys and trains two Redbone Coonhound hunting dogs to hunt raccoons in the Ozark mountains.

Life in Pieces is an American sitcom television series created by Justin Adler. It aired on CBS from September 21, 2015 until June 27, 2019. The series was produced by 40 or 50 Years, Inc., Kapital Entertainment in association with 20th Century Fox Television, with Adler serving as showrunner. Life in Pieces was canceled by CBS after four seasons on May 10, 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Blumenthal</span> American novelist and screenwriter

John Blumenthal is an American novelist and screenwriter, known for co-writing the screenplays for the films Short Time and Blue Streak.

Gregg Champion is an American film director, known for his work on wide release and TV Hollywood movies. His parents are Marge Champion and Gower Champion.

References

  1. Short Time at Box Office Mojo
  2. Lealos, Shawn (June 13, 2015). "The 411 Movies Top 5: The Top 5 Terminal Illness Movies". 411 Mania. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  3. Ebert, Roger (May 4, 1990). "Short Time". RogerEbert.com . Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  4. Kempley, Rita (May 4, 1990). "'Short Time' The Homily Squad". The Washington Post . Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  5. Rosenbaum, Jonathan. "Short Time". Chicago Reader . Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  6. Himmelsbach, Erik (May 1990). "Teri-Fic". Orange Coast Magazine . Emmis Communications. 16 (5): 77. Retrieved March 9, 2021 via Google Books.