Motion Pictures: Midnight Madness
.: FILM REVIEW :.
.: DVD REVIEW :.
.: BRIEF PLOT SYNOPSIS :.
Five teams go against each other in order to win Leon’s ‘Great All-Nighter’ game. Through the course of one night, these 5 teams wreack havoc on the city of L.A. in order to reach the Finish Line and prove their worth to the other teams. Read an extremely detailed synopsis here.
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.: GENERAL FILM INFORMATION :.
GENRE: Comedy
WORKING TITLE: The Great All Nighter
TAGLINE: The most fun you’ll ever have…in the dark.
SETTING: Los Angeles, CA
FILMING LOCATION(S): Los Angeles, CA
RELEASE DATE(S): February 8, 1980 (USA)
RUNNING TIME: 113 Minutes; 1 hour 53 minutes
RATING: PG
.: CREW AND OTHER TECHNICAL INFORMATION :.
WRITER: David Wechter, Michael Nankin
DIRECTOR: David Wechter, Michael Nankin
PRODUCER: Ron Miller
CO-PRODUCER: David Wechter, Michael Nankin
EDITOR: Norman R. Palmer, Jack Sekely
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Frank V. Phillips
PRODUCTION DESIGN: John B. Mansbridge
ORIGINAL MUSIC BY: Julius Wechter
SPECIAL EFFECTS BY: Danny Lee
MAKE-UP BY: Robert J. Schiffer
HAIR STYLIST: Gloria Montemayor
PRODUCTION COMPANY: Walt Disney Productions
DISTRIBUTOR: Buena Vista Pictures
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.: CAST :: CHARACTER NAME…ACTOR NAME :.
The Yellow Team
Adam Larson…David Naughton
Donna…Debra Klinger
Flynch…Joel P. Kenny
Marvin…David Damas
Scott Larson…Michael J. Fox
The Blue Team
Harold…Stephen Furst
Lucille…Patricia Alice Albrecht
Melio…Andy Tennant
Barf…Brian Frishman
Blade…Sal Lopez
The Red Team
Donna…Maggie Roswell
Berle…Rosyn Petty
Peggy…Betsy Lynn Thompson
Lulu…Carol Gwynn Thompson
The White Team
Wesley…Eddie Deezen
Debator #1…Marvin Katzoff
Debator #2…Christopher Bands
Debator #3…Michael Gitomer
The Green Team
Lavitas…Brad Wilken
Blaylak…Dirk Blocker
Armpit…Curt Ayers
Cudzo…Trevor Hemley
Gerber…Keny Long
Game Central
Leon, Game Master
Candy…Debi Richter
Sunshine…Kirsten Baker
Mrs. Grimhaus…Irene Tedrow
Mr. Thorpe…John Fiedler
Mrs. Thorpe…Ceil Gabot
Tennant #1…Charlie Brill
Elderly Lady…Loretta Tuppor
Game Control Bookie…Eddie Bloom
Other Cast
Harold’s Father…Dave Shelley
Bonaventura Desk Clerk…Marvin Kaplan
Security Captain…Bert Williams
Police Sargeant…Arthur Adams
Cop #1…Tom Wright
Cop #2…Elven Havard
Miniature Golf Dad…Ernie Fuentas
Miniature Golf Mom…Pilar Del Ray
Old Lady in Car…Georgia Schmidt
Bratty Kid…J. Breman Smith
Bratty Kid’s Dad…Jon Maxwell
Pinball City Manager…Paul Reubens
Bellboy…John Voldstadt
Tow Truck Driver…Jack Griffith
Tourist…Dick Winslow
Teenage Girl #1…Emily Greer
Cashier…Paula Victor
Irving…Tony Salome
Busty Waitress…Donna Garrett
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.: SOUNDTRACK :: SONG TITLE…COMPOSER/LYRICIST…PERFORMER :.
Midnight Madness…David & Julius Wechter…Donna Fein
Don’t Know Why I Came…David & Julius WechteR…UNKNOWN
Someone New…David & Julius Wechter…UNKNOWN
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.: TRIVIA :.
- During the interrogation of Scott in the Blue Teams’ van, Andy Tennant (Melio) was sick with the flu and had a 103 degree fever.
- Midnight Madness was the second film that Disney produced that was rated PG. The first was The Black Hole. All previous Disney films had been rated G.
- When the Yellow Team stops for ‘dinner’ (I don’t really know what you’d call the meal that comes after Midnight), David Naughton is drinking a conspicuously placed Dr. Pepper. Naughton is famous for his Dr. Pepper commercials in the 1970′s….I’m a Pepper, she’s a Pepper, he’s a Pepper. Wouldn’t you like to be a Pepper too? Be a Pepper, drink Dr. Pepper… (See video below)
- SIX DEGREES OF MICHAEL J. FOX: David Naughton is most famous for his role of a young werewolf in the film An American Werewolf in London – Michael J. Fox starred in Teen Wolf as a young werewolf, which pays homage to Naughton’s film during the transformation sequence.
.: NEWS :.
.: EXTRAS :.
Quotes
Let us be frank; it is certainly no secret that these mentally deficient, giant, uncivilized vulgarians care nothing about the nobler pursuits; such as art, music and library science.
–Wesley
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Count me in. I’d like to get back at those MORON JOCKS!!
–Berle
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Who are we? M-E-A-T-M-A-C-H-I-N-E. Meat Machine! Meat Machine! All right, break!
–Lavitas & the Green Team
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If I’m lucky, I may get a view of Venus’ two moons.
–Bratty Kid
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Fagabeefe?
–Barf
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Yeah, they make a smaller moped, but there’s nothing like having one of these mean machines between your legs.
–Wesley
TV & Film References
One Million Years B.C. (1966)-In the wax museum, Armpit measures the bust of Rachel Welch dressed as her character from this film.
Star Wars (1977)-In Pinball City, the game that the teams have to beat is the Star Wars video game disguised as the Star Fire video game.
“Kojak” (1973- 1978) When all of the teams are in the airport, the ‘false prophets’ that Leon has sent to deliver the next clue are all bald. One of them continually bothers Harold, trying to give him the flier, but Harold turns on him and says, “Beat it, Kojack,” then sends all of the fliers…flying. For those of you not in the know, the role of Kojak was played by Telly Sevalis, who was very bald.
Midnight Madness Song Lyrics
Come see how good a night can be.
Are you ready for a brand new game?
(A brand new game).
Come take a change and play with me,
and you’re never gonna be the same…
CHORUS:
When Midnight Madness,
starts to get to you;
Doesn’t matter what you say,
doesn’t matter what you do.
You gotta play.
Just when you think you’ve had your fun,
and you’re ready to say goodnight.
(don’t say goodnight)
You’ll find the fun has just begun,
’cause the game’s gonna last all night.
Repeat CHORUS two times
Just when you think you’ve had your fun,
and you’re ready to say goodnight.
(don’t say goodnight)
You’ll find the fund has just begun,
’cause the game’s gonna last all night.
CHORUS A:
When Midnight Madness,
starts to get to you;
Doesn’t matter what you say,
doesn’t matter what you do.
Ooooh!
Videos
This is one of the Dr. Pepper commercials that David Naughton made back in the 1970′s.