Stand by Me (1986)

Movie Details:

Cast & Characters:

• Wil Wheaton as Gordon “Gordie” Lachance (aged 12)
  • Richard Dreyfuss as adult Gordon (credited as “the Writer”)
• River Phoenix as Chris Chambers
• Corey Feldman as Teddy Duchamp
• Jerry O’Connell as Vern Tessio
• Kiefer Sutherland as John “Ace” Merrill, gang leader
• Casey Siemaszko as Billy Tessio, gang member and Vern’s older brother
• John Cusack as Dennis “Denny” Lachance, Gordie’s older brother
• Marshall Bell as Mr. Lachance
• Frances Lee McCain as Mrs. Lachance
• Gary Riley as Charlie Hogan, gang member and Billy’s best friend
• Bradley Gregg as Richard “Eyeball” Chambers, gang member and Chris’s older brother
• Jason Oliver Lipsett as Vince Desjardins, gang member
• Bruce Kirby as Mr. Quidacioluo
• William Bronder as Milo Pressman
• Scott Beach as Mayor Grundy
• Andy Lindberg as Davey “Lardass” Hogan
• Popeye as Chopper (dog)

Storyline:

It’s the summer of 1959 in Castlerock, Oregon and four 12 year-old boys – Gordie, Chris, Teddy and Vern – are fast friends. After learning of the general location of the body of a local boy who has been missing for several days, they set off into the woods to see it. Along the way, they learn about themselves, the meaning of friendship and the need to stand up for what is right.

About Movie:

Stand by Me is a 1986 American coming-of-age drama film directed by Rob Reiner, based on Stephen King’s 1982 novella The Body. The title comes from the Ben E. King song of the same name. Set in the fictional town of Castle Rock, Oregon, in 1959, the film stars Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O’Connell (in his film debut) as four boys on a journey to find the body of a missing boy.

Just days before filming began in the summer of 1985, Embassy Pictures, which was producing the film, was sold to Columbia Pictures, leading to plans to cancel the production. Norman Lear, co-owner of Embassy and developer of All in the Family, contributed $7.5 million of his own money to ensure the film’s completion, believing in the talent of Reiner and the strength of the script. However, with Embassy no longer distributing, the completed film was briefly without a distributor.

Principal photography took place from June 17 to August 23, 1985. Much of the film was shot in Brownsville, Oregon, chosen for its 1950s small-town atmosphere. Around 100 locals were employed as extras.

One of the most iconic scenes, where the boys outrun a steam train on an 80-foot trestle, was filmed on the McCloud River Railroad, above Lake Britton Reservoir in California. The sequence took a full week to film, using four small adult female stunt doubles dressed to resemble the young protagonists.

Upon its release, Stand by Me was met with positive reviews and went on to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. It was also nominated for two Golden Globe Awards, including Best Drama Motion Picture and Best Director.

Budget & Box Office Collection: