American Flyers
Encyclopedia
American Flyers is a 1985 film starring Kevin Costner
, David Marshall Grant
, Rae Dawn Chong
, Alexandra Paul
and Janice Rule
about bicycle racing
.
It was directed by John Badham
and written by Steve Tesich
(who had previously won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for the similarly themed 1979 movie Breaking Away
).
Marcus (Costner) persuades his younger brother David (Grant) to come with him and train for a bicycle race across the Rocky Mountains, called "The Hell of the West". However, there is a history of cerebral aneurysm
in their family (which killed their father).
The two brothers have gone in very different directions. Marcus, already alienated from their mother, is suffering from symptoms of a cerebral aneurysm, and the condition may now be affecting David as well.
The first half of the film focuses on the family's history and background of the plot. Realizing they may not have much time left, the two brothers, along with Marcus' girlfriend (Chong), embark on a cross country journey to the bicycle race in Colorado
. Along the way, David picks up a beautiful, hippie
hitchhiker (Paul). While training during the trip, the brothers have an impromptu bikes vs. horses race, and the group has run-ins with old cycling buddies.
The second half of the film focuses on the three stage race. Set in the Colorado Rockies
with mountain and prairie backdrops, the brothers compete against the world's top cyclists on dangerous trails at break-neck speeds. Marcus, intending to hide his condition from his brother, eventually suffers an aneurysm and falls out of the race. David faces the dilemma: either to quit and look after his family, or continue and try to defy the odds and win the race. To do that, David, will have to conquer one of the toughest stages of the race, the "Tour of the Moon" at Colorado National Monument
.
that is featured in the movie was a real life team that competed in the Tour de France
in the '80s. The team was later sponsored by Motorola. Much of the race action was filmed at the Coors Classic
, a now-defunct stage race that was one of the world's leading cycling events at the time of the film. Two stages in the film's featured race, the Morgul-Bismarck circuit race in Boulder
and the "Tour of the Moon" at Colorado National Monument
, were legendary Coors Classic stages.
Cyclist Eddy Merckx
makes a brief appearance, starting stage 1. Jennifer Grey
made an appearance as a blind date, made hysterical by the brothers' arguing. John Amos
has a supporting role running a training facility, and Robert Townsend has a minor role as a cyclist.
ShaverSport, the company that sponsors Marcus and David in The Hell of the West, is an actual company. It was formed in 1980 by competitive cyclist Bob Shaver with its mission being to produce quality cycling wear. ShaverSport was asked by Warner Brothers to design the clothing for the film. To this day, the company exists and continues to produce not only cycling gear, but ShaverSport and Hell of the West replica jerseys that are featured in the film.
Kevin Costner
Kevin Michael Costner is an American actor, singer, musician, producer, director, and businessman. He has been nominated for three BAFTA Awards, won two Academy Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards. Costner's roles include Lt. John J...
, David Marshall Grant
David Marshall Grant
David Marshall Grant is an American actor and playwright.-Life and career:Grant was born in Westport, Connecticut, to physician parents...
, Rae Dawn Chong
Rae Dawn Chong
Rae Dawn Chong is a Canadian-American actress.-Life and career:Chong was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, the daughter of Maxine Sneed and Tommy Chong. She and her sister Robbi were raised by her grandmother, Tommy Chong's mother. Chong's father is of Chinese and Scottish-Irish ancestry and her...
, Alexandra Paul
Alexandra Paul
Alexandra Elizabeth Paul is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Lt. Stephanie Holden in the television series Baywatch from 1992–97. She has starred in over 60 movies and television programs.-Personal life:...
and Janice Rule
Janice Rule
-Early life and career:Born in Norwood, Ohio, her career included stage, screen and television work. Rule studied ballet and began dancing in Chicago nightclubs in her teens. She soon attracted attention in Hollywood and made her film debut in 1951...
about bicycle racing
Bicycle racing
Bicycle racing is a competition sport in which various types of bicycles are used. There are several categories of bicycle racing including road bicycle racing, cyclo-cross, mountain bike racing, track cycling, BMX, bike trials, and cycle speedway. Bicycle racing is recognised as an Olympic sport...
.
It was directed by John Badham
John Badham
- External links :...
and written by Steve Tesich
Steve Tesich
Stojan Steve Tesich was a Serbian-American screenwriter, playwright and novelist. He won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 1979 for the movie Breaking Away.-Career:...
(who had previously won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for the similarly themed 1979 movie Breaking Away
Breaking Away
Breaking Away is a 1979 American film. A coming of age story, it follows a group of four male teenagers in Bloomington, Indiana, who have recently graduated from high school. It stars Dennis Christopher, Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern , Jackie Earle Haley, Barbara Barrie and Paul Dooley...
).
Plot
Sports physicianSports medicine
Sports medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with physical fitness, treatment and prevention of injuries related to sports and exercise...
Marcus (Costner) persuades his younger brother David (Grant) to come with him and train for a bicycle race across the Rocky Mountains, called "The Hell of the West". However, there is a history of cerebral aneurysm
Cerebral aneurysm
A cerebral or brain aneurysm is a cerebrovascular disorder in which weakness in the wall of a cerebral artery or vein causes a localized dilation or ballooning of the blood vessel.- Signs and symptoms :...
in their family (which killed their father).
The two brothers have gone in very different directions. Marcus, already alienated from their mother, is suffering from symptoms of a cerebral aneurysm, and the condition may now be affecting David as well.
The first half of the film focuses on the family's history and background of the plot. Realizing they may not have much time left, the two brothers, along with Marcus' girlfriend (Chong), embark on a cross country journey to the bicycle race in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. Along the way, David picks up a beautiful, hippie
Hippie
The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's...
hitchhiker (Paul). While training during the trip, the brothers have an impromptu bikes vs. horses race, and the group has run-ins with old cycling buddies.
The second half of the film focuses on the three stage race. Set in the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
with mountain and prairie backdrops, the brothers compete against the world's top cyclists on dangerous trails at break-neck speeds. Marcus, intending to hide his condition from his brother, eventually suffers an aneurysm and falls out of the race. David faces the dilemma: either to quit and look after his family, or continue and try to defy the odds and win the race. To do that, David, will have to conquer one of the toughest stages of the race, the "Tour of the Moon" at Colorado National Monument
Colorado National Monument
- Trails :The Monument contains many hiking trails, with lengths and difficulties to suit all tastes. Summer storms can cause flash floods as well as dangerous trail conditions. Rattlesnakes are found on the Monument, and rough terrain exists everywhere, but most trails are well-maintained...
.
Cast
- Kevin CostnerKevin CostnerKevin Michael Costner is an American actor, singer, musician, producer, director, and businessman. He has been nominated for three BAFTA Awards, won two Academy Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards. Costner's roles include Lt. John J...
as Marcus Sommers - Rae Dawn ChongRae Dawn ChongRae Dawn Chong is a Canadian-American actress.-Life and career:Chong was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, the daughter of Maxine Sneed and Tommy Chong. She and her sister Robbi were raised by her grandmother, Tommy Chong's mother. Chong's father is of Chinese and Scottish-Irish ancestry and her...
as Sarah - Alexandra PaulAlexandra PaulAlexandra Elizabeth Paul is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Lt. Stephanie Holden in the television series Baywatch from 1992–97. She has starred in over 60 movies and television programs.-Personal life:...
as Becky - David Marshall GrantDavid Marshall GrantDavid Marshall Grant is an American actor and playwright.-Life and career:Grant was born in Westport, Connecticut, to physician parents...
as David - Janice RuleJanice Rule-Early life and career:Born in Norwood, Ohio, her career included stage, screen and television work. Rule studied ballet and began dancing in Chicago nightclubs in her teens. She soon attracted attention in Hollywood and made her film debut in 1951...
as Mrs. Sommers - Jennifer GreyJennifer GreyJennifer Elise Grey is an American actress. Her first major roles came in the 1984 war film Red Dawn and the 1986 comedy Ferris Bueller's Day Off. In 1987 she starred as Frances "Baby" Houseman in the hit film Dirty Dancing for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe. In the early 1990s, Grey...
as Leslie - Robert Townsend as Jerome
- John AmosJohn AmosJohn Amos is an American actor and former football player. His television work includes roles in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Good Times, the miniseries Roots, and a recurring role in The West Wing. He has also appeared on Broadway and in numerous motion pictures in a career that spans four decades...
as Dr. Conrad
Featured elements
The 7-Eleven team7-Eleven Cycling Team
The 7-Eleven Cycling Team, later the Motorola Cycling Team, was a professional cycling team founded in the U.S. in 1981 by Jim Ochowicz, a former U.S. Olympic cyclist...
that is featured in the movie was a real life team that competed in the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
in the '80s. The team was later sponsored by Motorola. Much of the race action was filmed at the Coors Classic
Coors Classic
The Coors International Bicycle Classic was a stage race sponsored by the Coors Brewing Company. Coors was the race's second sponsor, the first, Celestial Seasonings, named the race after its premium tea Red Zinger, which began in 1975...
, a now-defunct stage race that was one of the world's leading cycling events at the time of the film. Two stages in the film's featured race, the Morgul-Bismarck circuit race in Boulder
Boulder, Colorado
Boulder is the county seat and most populous city of Boulder County and the 11th most populous city in the U.S. state of Colorado. Boulder is located at the base of the foothills of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of...
and the "Tour of the Moon" at Colorado National Monument
Colorado National Monument
- Trails :The Monument contains many hiking trails, with lengths and difficulties to suit all tastes. Summer storms can cause flash floods as well as dangerous trail conditions. Rattlesnakes are found on the Monument, and rough terrain exists everywhere, but most trails are well-maintained...
, were legendary Coors Classic stages.
Cyclist Eddy Merckx
Eddy Merckx
Edouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx , better known as Eddy Merckx, is a Belgian former professional cyclist. The French magazine Vélo called him "the most accomplished rider that cycling has ever known." The American publication, VeloNews, called him the greatest and most successful cyclist of all...
makes a brief appearance, starting stage 1. Jennifer Grey
Jennifer Grey
Jennifer Elise Grey is an American actress. Her first major roles came in the 1984 war film Red Dawn and the 1986 comedy Ferris Bueller's Day Off. In 1987 she starred as Frances "Baby" Houseman in the hit film Dirty Dancing for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe. In the early 1990s, Grey...
made an appearance as a blind date, made hysterical by the brothers' arguing. John Amos
John Amos
John Amos is an American actor and former football player. His television work includes roles in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Good Times, the miniseries Roots, and a recurring role in The West Wing. He has also appeared on Broadway and in numerous motion pictures in a career that spans four decades...
has a supporting role running a training facility, and Robert Townsend has a minor role as a cyclist.
ShaverSport, the company that sponsors Marcus and David in The Hell of the West, is an actual company. It was formed in 1980 by competitive cyclist Bob Shaver with its mission being to produce quality cycling wear. ShaverSport was asked by Warner Brothers to design the clothing for the film. To this day, the company exists and continues to produce not only cycling gear, but ShaverSport and Hell of the West replica jerseys that are featured in the film.