Where the Day Takes You

Last updated
Where the Day Takes You
Where the Day Takes You Poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Marc Rocco
Written byMarc Rocco
Michael Hitchcock
Kurt Voss
Produced by Paul Hertzberg
Philip McKeon
Starring
CinematographyKing Baggot
Edited byRussell Livingstone
Music by Mark Morgan
Production
company
Distributed by New Line Cinema
Release date
  • September 11, 1992 (1992-09-11)
Running time
105 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$3 million [1]
Box office$390,152 [2]

Where the Day Takes You is a 1992 American drama film directed by Marc Rocco. The film stars Sean Astin, Lara Flynn Boyle, Peter Dobson, Balthazar Getty, Ricki Lake, James LeGros, Dermot Mulroney and Will Smith in his film debut. Its plot follows a group of teenage runaways trying to survive on the streets of Los Angeles. The film was released on September 11, 1992.

Contents

Plot

Fleeing various hardships, a group of young people form a protective family of their own on the streets of Los Angeles, led by King. In his early twenties, King has lived on the street for several years. After being released after two months in prison for assault, he feels the group (him, Greg, Little J, Crasher, and Brenda), fell apart in his absence. He is introduced to Heather, a 17-year-old from Chicago, whom he includes in his revenge on Tommy Ray, who killed his girlfriend, Devon.

One night, Greg and Little J get into a fight while stealing car stereos. Greg, mad the group always sides with Little J, seeks refuge with his drug dealer, Ted, and Ted's girlfriend, Vikki. He is rejected, however, due to not having any money. Going home to look for money, his father and stepmother have him arrested for grand theft.

Meanwhile, King and Heather have trouble earning money, but he won't turn to prostitution, unlike Little J's friends Rob and Kimmy. Rob entices Little J, but while servicing his client Charles, Little J recalls the childhood sexual abuse from his uncle. In jail, Greg admits to drug addiction, so a social worker gets him into a rehabilitation center and he is paroled.

Meanwhile, Tommy Ray, after threatening and assaulting King's legless friend Manny, finds out where King is living. Tommy Ray beats up King and nearly stabs him to death until Little J kills him. King, Heather, and Little J escape, but Crasher is arrested. King advises Heather to return to Chicago, but she refuses to go without him.

After a day spent begging for money, they decide to go to a hotel and spend the night making love. She admits she fled home because her brother raped her. Little J, meanwhile, temporarily takes refuge at Rob's and Kimmy's, but he is eventually kicked out by Rob and decides to contact Charles again. Greg flees from the rehabilitation center in the meantime, but unable to find the group, he goes to Ted, who is worried about him because he hasn't slept for four days and tries to 'help' him by shooting him up with heroin.

Once out of jail, Crasher tries to convince King and Heather to go with him to Dallas, as the police are looking for them. King doesn't want to leave without Greg and Little J, and starts looking for them. He is shocked to find Greg lying in his own vomit, high on drugs at Ted's place. Greg promises to go with him, but he is arrested by the police before he can.

They next find Little J under a bridge, having been kicked out of Charles' house and regretting having shot Tommy Ray. The three decide to leave without anyone else. Meanwhile, Greg, out of jail after informing the police about King's whereabouts, returns to Ted, overdosing. On their bus, King decides to get out to look for Greg, but he is held at gunpoint by the police. Little J tries to save him and attempts to shoot them, causing them to shoot back. King, however, jumps in front of him and is shot and killed, shocking a witnessing Heather. She decides to stay in the city and wait for Little J's release from jail. Accompanied by Brenda, she returns to the streets, doing as King taught her.

Cast

Production

The film's director, Marc Rocco was attracted to the production when he read the script from Michael Hitchcock. Hitchcock was inspired to write the script due to his experience on working at a shelter for teenage runaways in Hollywood. [1]

Despite the low budget, the film features an ensemble cast. Most cast members worked, against the advice of their agents, for a small salary. [1] They prepared for their role by spending days with actual teenage runaways in the Hollywood district. [1] Rocco explained their enthusiasm to work on the project in a 1992 interview: "So few scripts let these actors actually act, so few studios give these actors anything but light comedies, there are so few chances to let these actors create dimensional people." [1] Shooting of the film concluded in August 1991. [3] The shooting has involved locations all over Hollywood, and meant the closing of the boulevard on some nights. People who passed by were paid $40 to appear as extras in the film. [3]

Supporting cast member Alyssa Milano initially auditioned for the role of Heather, but fear of casting a former child actress initiated the producers to find her a smaller role instead. [4] The role of Heather eventually went to Lara Flynn Boyle. On why she accepted the role, Boyle commented in a 1991 interview that the script smacked her with reality: "One day when I was thinking about doing the movie, I passed Hollywood and Highland Avenue, and looked over and saw 30 kids hanging out. I thought of the movie and that sight made me eager to do it." [3]

Reception

The film received generally positive reviews but was a box-office disappointment, earning $190,961 at 93 theaters during its opening weekend. [5] Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times wrote in his 1992 review: "The movie is effective, well-acted and convincing. [..] Mulroney carries the movie. [..] Many of the other characters are sharply drawn, including Greg, played by Astin. [..] Getty is very effective in a scene where he tries to be a male prostitute but hates himself for it. And Boyle is good in the somewhat stereotyped role of the pretty newcomer to the group. [..] It is not a poetic or pseudo-romantic view of runaway life (which seems like a hell interrupted by occasional laughs), but on the other hand it isn't hysterical, either. [..] The story is convincing up until the end, which feels manufactured for movie purposes." [6]

Home media

In 2003, the film was released in a full-frame edition DVD by Columbia TriStar Home Video. [7] In October 2009, Anchor Bay released a widescreen edition DVD. [8] In 2019, Sony released a widescreen Blu-ray release. [9]

Related Research Articles

<i>Trainspotting</i> (film) 1996 film by Danny Boyle

Trainspotting is a 1996 British black comedy-drama film directed by Danny Boyle and starring Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, Kevin McKidd, Robert Carlyle, and Kelly Macdonald in her film debut. Based on the 1993 novel of the same title by Irvine Welsh, the film was released in the United Kingdom on 23 February 1996.

<i>Men in Black II</i> 2002 science fiction action film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld

Men in Black II is a 2002 American science fiction action comedy film based on the Marvel Comics series of a similar name. Produced by Columbia Pictures in association with Amblin Entertainment and MacDonald Parkes Productions, and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing, it is the sequel to Men in Black (1997) and the second installment in the Men in Black franchise. The film was directed by Barry Sonnenfeld from a screenplay by Robert Gordon and Barry Fanaro, and it stars Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Lara Flynn Boyle, Johnny Knoxville, Rosario Dawson, Tony Shalhoub, and Rip Torn. It also featured Michael Jackson's last theatrical film appearance before his death in June 2009. In the film, the emergence of an assumed subdued alien threat reunites Kevin Brown / Agent K (Jones) and James Darrell Edwards III / Agent J (Smith).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alyssa Milano</span> American actress (born 1972)

Alyssa Jayne Milano is an American actress, producer, activist, and former singer. She has played Samantha Micelli in Who's the Boss?, Jennifer Mancini in Melrose Place, Phoebe Halliwell in Charmed, Billie Cunningham in My Name Is Earl, Savannah "Savi" Davis in Mistresses, Renata Murphy in Wet Hot American Summer: 10 Years Later, and Coralee Armstrong in Insatiable.

<i>Tommy Boy</i> 1995 film by Peter Segal

Tommy Boy is a 1995 American buddy comedy film directed by Peter Segal, written by Bonnie and Terry Turner, produced by Lorne Michaels, and starring former Saturday Night Live castmates and close friends Chris Farley and David Spade. This was the first of many films that Segal has filmed with former SNL castmates.

<i>King of New York</i> 1990 film by Abel Ferrara

King of New York is a 1990 neo-noir gangster film directed by Abel Ferrara and written by Nicholas St. John. It stars Christopher Walken as a New York City drug kingpin rebuilding his criminal empire after his release from prison, while also attempting to go legitimate. Laurence Fishburne, David Caruso, Victor Argo and Wesley Snipes co-star, with supporting roles played by Giancarlo Esposito, Steve Buscemi, Paul Calderón, Janet Julian and Theresa Randle. It was released by Carolco Pictures on September 28, 1990, to generally positive reviews.

<i>Casualties of Love: The "Long Island Lolita" Story</i> 1993 American TV series or program

Casualties of Love: The "Long Island Lolita" Story is a 1993 American television crime drama film based on the story of Amy Fisher and Joey Buttafuoco, written and directed by John Herzfeld. Alyssa Milano and Jack Scalia played the main characters. It aired on CBS on January 3, 1993, the same night and time as ABC's film The Amy Fisher Story, though the latter film was much higher rated in the TV ratings and critically praised.

<i>Alexander: The Other Side of Dawn</i> 1977 television film directed by John Erman

Alexander: The Other Side of Dawn is a 1977 American made-for-television drama film directed by John Erman, and a sequel to Dawn: Portrait of a Teenage Runaway (1976). It premiered on NBC on May 16, 1977.

<i>Surrender</i> (1987 film) 1987 film comedy by Jerry Belson

Surrender is a 1987 American comedy film that was written and directed by Jerry Belson. It stars Sally Field, Michael Caine, Steve Guttenberg, Peter Boyle, Iman, and Jackie Cooper in his final film role.

<i>Attack of the 60 Foot Centerfold</i> 1995 American film

Attack of the 60 Foot Centerfold is a 1995 comedy satirical science fiction film directed by Fred Olen Ray and starring J.J. North, Ted Monte, Tammy Parks, Raelyn Saalman, Nikki Fritz, John LaZar, Tim Abell, Jay Richardson as well as cameos by Russ Tamblyn, Michelle Bauer and a "running man" credit for science fiction author Brad Linaweaver. The film is a parody of Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, but contains much nudity. The film was loosely remade as Attack of the 50 Foot Cheerleader (2012).

<i>Speed Zone</i> 1989 film by Jim Drake

Speed Zone is a 1989 American action comedy film set around an illegal cross-country race. The plot follows the race sponsors, who must line up new contestants after the previous racers are all arrested before the race begins.

<i>The Meteor Man</i> (film) 1993 film by Robert Townsend

The Meteor Man is a 1993 American superhero comedy film written, directed, co-produced and starring Robert Townsend with supporting roles by Marla Gibbs, Eddie Griffin, Robert Guillaume, James Earl Jones, Bill Cosby, and Another Bad Creation. The film also features special appearances by Luther Vandross, Sinbad, Naughty by Nature, Cypress Hill, and Big Daddy Kane. Townsend stars as a mild-mannered schoolteacher, who becomes a superhero after his neighborhood in Washington, D.C. is terrorized by street gangs.

<i>Deal</i> (2008 film) 2008 film by Gil Cates Jr.

Deal is a 2008 poker drama film starring Burt Reynolds, Bret Harrison and Shannon Elizabeth. It follows the former poker player tutoring a younger player (Harrison). The film's climax is a fictional World Poker Tour championship.

<i>The Noose Hangs High</i> 1948 film by Charles Barton

The Noose Hangs High is a 1948 film starring the comedy team of Abbott and Costello. The film is a remake of the Universal Pictures film For Love or Money (1939).

<i>The Canterville Ghost</i> (1986 film) American TV series or program

The Canterville Ghost is a 1986 American-British made-for-television syndicated comedy fantasy horror film based on the 1887 short story "The Canterville Ghost" by Oscar Wilde, directed by Paul Bogart. It was shot at Eastnor Castle in England and stars John Gielgud, Ted Wass, Andrea Marcovicci and Alyssa Milano.

<i>Sundays at Tiffanys</i> 2008 novel by Piznarski and Charbonnet

Sundays at Tiffany's is a romance novel by the authors James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet released on April 29, 2008. It has also been adapted into a Lifetime Television original movie that premiered on December 6, 2010.

<i>Wisegal</i> American TV series or program

Wisegal is a 2008 American made-for-television crime drama film directed by Jerry Ciccoritti and starring Alyssa Milano, James Caan and Jason Gedrick. The film premiered on Lifetime on March 15, 2008.

<i>Gacy</i> (film) 2003 American film

Gacy is a 2003 American crime horror thriller film written and directed by Clive Saunders, and co-written by David Birke. A direct-to-video release, it is based on the crimes of John Wayne Gacy, an American serial killer who raped, tortured, and murdered at least thirty-three men and boys in Chicago, Illinois during the 1970s. It stars Mark Holton as Gacy.

<i>Triangle</i> (2009 British film) 2009 psychological horror film

Triangle is a 2009 psychological horror film written and directed by Christopher Smith and starring Melissa George and Michael Dorman. The film was released in the United Kingdom on 16 October 2009. George portrays a single mother who goes on a boating trip with several friends. When they are forced to abandon their ship, they board a derelict ocean liner, where they become convinced that someone is stalking them.

The Willies is a 1990 American comedy horror anthology film, written and directed by Brian Peck. The movie was filmed in both California and Connecticut.

<i>Rites of Spring</i> (film) 2011 horror film

Rites of Spring is a 2011 American horror film written and directed by Padraig Reynolds. It stars A. J. Bowen, Sonny Marinelli, and Katherine Randolph as kidnappers who encounter an unrelated kidnapping victim who is fleeing a monster.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Weinraub, Bernard (July 23, 1992). "Film on Hollywood's Underbelly: How Success Lures Runaways". The New York Times . Retrieved 2011-07-13.
  2. ↑ "Where the Day Takes You". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 Fox, David J. (August 4, 1991). "Off-Centerpiece : If She Looks Strangely Familiar, Don't Give Her a Dime". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 2012-12-16.
  4. ↑ Suju Vijayan, Julie Frankel, Alyssa Milano (2003). "Intimate Portrait: Alyssa Milano". Intimate Portrait . Lifetime.
  5. ↑ "Sneakers races quickly into top slot at box office", Los Angeles Times . September 15, 1992.
  6. ↑ Ebert, Roger (September 11, 1992). "'Where the Day' Takes Hard Look at Runaways". The Chicago Sun-Times . Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  7. ↑ "Where the Day Takes You". www.dvdtalk.com. November 11, 2003. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
  8. ↑ "Where the Day Takes You". Amazon. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Where the Day Takes You Blu-ray". blu-ray.com. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.