Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives
Encyclopedia
Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives! is the 1989 sequel to the 1983 cult classic
Eddie and the Cruisers
, and despite being a failure at the box office, has since joined its predecessor as a cult favorite. It is directed by Jean-Claude Lord, and based on literary characters created by author P. F. Kluge
. Michael Paré
and Matthew Laurance reprise their roles as Eddie Wilson and Sal Amato, respectively. The film is marketed with the tagline "The legend. The music. The man."
Director Lord and several members of the film's supporting cast (Marina Orsini
, Vlasta Vrana
, and Mark Brennan) had previously worked together on the French-Canadian television series Lance et Compte
.
But, when he gets involved in a struggling street band, it's not long before his passion for music - not to mention his desperate anger - resurfaces, and a decision must be made to determine Eddie's fate once and for all. After unrelenting attempts by local guitarist Rick Diesel, Eddie finally begins to play again. The two go about Montreal
hand-picking musicians for a new band, Rock Solid. Despite Eddie fighting the progress of the band every step of the way, Rock Solid begins to tour and wows audiences everywhere. Their popularity closely mirrors Eddie's former success with Eddie and the Cruisers, and he begins to see the similarities.
Rock Solid is discovered by executives from his former nemesis Satin Records, who rejected his album A Season in Hell twenty years earlier. His girlfriend Dianne Armani thwarts his attempt to drive himself off another bridge, and Eddie finally takes the stage with Rock Solid, leading to the band steadily becoming more popular. Rock Solid is selected to play the Montréal Music Festival, which will be the band's big debut. Prior to the performance, Eddie realizes that he has to make peace with his past. He shaves his moustache and cuts his hair to appear as he did twenty years before, and dons a black T-shirt and leather jacket. Then Eddie reconnects with former Cruisers bassist
Sal Amato at the same beach from years ago, only to have an anguished Sal charge at him for disappearing without a trace so many years ago. A tearful Eddie apologizes to his bandmate and they make up. Just before taking the stage at Montreal, he receives a telegram which simply reads "Eddie Lives—Love, Sal".
Satin Records takes notice of this new band, which dredges up bad memories for Eddie, and reassures him "We'll do it your way this time." However, after a while, he decides it is time to embrace his destiny. At the end of the band's first song, Eddie introduces all the members of the band, concluding the announcements with "and me... I'm Eddie Wilson."
Special guest appearances by:
Cult film
A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a highly devoted but specific group of fans. Often, cult movies have failed to achieve fame outside the small fanbases; however, there have been exceptions that have managed to gain fame among mainstream audiences...
Eddie and the Cruisers
Eddie and the Cruisers
Eddie and the Cruisers is a 1983 American film directed by Martin Davidson with the screenplay written by the director and Arlene Davidson, based on the novel by P. F. Kluge...
, and despite being a failure at the box office, has since joined its predecessor as a cult favorite. It is directed by Jean-Claude Lord, and based on literary characters created by author P. F. Kluge
P. F. Kluge
Paul Frederick Kluge , commonly known as P. F. Kluge, is a novelist living in Gambier, Ohio.Kluge was raised in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. He graduated from Kenyon College in Gambier in 1964 and teaches creative writing there now...
. Michael Paré
Michael Paré
- Early life :Paré was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Joan, a homemaker, and Francis Paré, who owned print shops. He had six sisters and three brothers. Paré's father was of French-Canadian ancestry and his mother of Irish ancestry....
and Matthew Laurance reprise their roles as Eddie Wilson and Sal Amato, respectively. The film is marketed with the tagline "The legend. The music. The man."
Director Lord and several members of the film's supporting cast (Marina Orsini
Marina Orsini
Marina Orsini is a Canadian actress of Italian background.-Background:Orsini had an extensive acting career starting in 1986 after a brief career in modeling in which she participated in a pageant in 1982...
, Vlasta Vrana
Vlasta Vrana
Vlasta Vrána is a Canadian actor of Czech descent, known for playing Jack Richards in A Year in the Death of Jack Richards. His surname means "crow" in Czech and several other Slavic languages.-Career:...
, and Mark Brennan) had previously worked together on the French-Canadian television series Lance et Compte
Lance et compte
Lance et Compte is a series of Quebec téléromans revolving around a Quebec City ice hockey team. The series aired from 1986 to 1989 on the Radio-Canada network, and revival series on TQS in 2001 and on TVA from 2004 to the present....
.
Plot summary
Satin Records, who twenty years prior had rejected Eddie and the Cruisers last album, A Season in Hell, launches an "Eddie Lives!" campaign to make more money from his image in a publicity stunt, despite them not believing he is alive. The record label re-releases the band's first album, which becomes an even bigger hit than it had on its first release. As seen in the first film, the "lost recordings" from Season in Hell are released and become yet another hit album. In fact, Eddie Wilson is living, and had simply slipped away following the car crash in which he was believed killed. By that stage in his life, he simply wanted to leave music behind him. The newly generated constant spotlight surrounding his supposed death angers the reclusive rocker, by now living in Canada as a construction worker under the name Joe West.But, when he gets involved in a struggling street band, it's not long before his passion for music - not to mention his desperate anger - resurfaces, and a decision must be made to determine Eddie's fate once and for all. After unrelenting attempts by local guitarist Rick Diesel, Eddie finally begins to play again. The two go about Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
hand-picking musicians for a new band, Rock Solid. Despite Eddie fighting the progress of the band every step of the way, Rock Solid begins to tour and wows audiences everywhere. Their popularity closely mirrors Eddie's former success with Eddie and the Cruisers, and he begins to see the similarities.
Rock Solid is discovered by executives from his former nemesis Satin Records, who rejected his album A Season in Hell twenty years earlier. His girlfriend Dianne Armani thwarts his attempt to drive himself off another bridge, and Eddie finally takes the stage with Rock Solid, leading to the band steadily becoming more popular. Rock Solid is selected to play the Montréal Music Festival, which will be the band's big debut. Prior to the performance, Eddie realizes that he has to make peace with his past. He shaves his moustache and cuts his hair to appear as he did twenty years before, and dons a black T-shirt and leather jacket. Then Eddie reconnects with former Cruisers bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Sal Amato at the same beach from years ago, only to have an anguished Sal charge at him for disappearing without a trace so many years ago. A tearful Eddie apologizes to his bandmate and they make up. Just before taking the stage at Montreal, he receives a telegram which simply reads "Eddie Lives—Love, Sal".
Satin Records takes notice of this new band, which dredges up bad memories for Eddie, and reassures him "We'll do it your way this time." However, after a while, he decides it is time to embrace his destiny. At the end of the band's first song, Eddie introduces all the members of the band, concluding the announcements with "and me... I'm Eddie Wilson."
Cast
- Michael ParéMichael Paré- Early life :Paré was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Joan, a homemaker, and Francis Paré, who owned print shops. He had six sisters and three brothers. Paré's father was of French-Canadian ancestry and his mother of Irish ancestry....
- Eddie Wilson / Joe West - Marina OrsiniMarina OrsiniMarina Orsini is a Canadian actress of Italian background.-Background:Orsini had an extensive acting career starting in 1986 after a brief career in modeling in which she participated in a pageant in 1982...
- Dianne Armani - Bernie CoulsonBernie CoulsonBernie Coulson is a Canadian-born actor best known for his roles as The Thinker on the American television series The X Files, as well as Michael Reardon on the Canadian-based television series Intelligence and Pipefitter, the drummer of a reuniting punk band, in the Canadian mockumentary Hard...
- Rick Diesel - Matthew Laurance - Sal Amato
- Harvey AtkinHarvey AtkinHarvey Atkin is a Canadian voice actor who has worked in feature films and television. He has also done voice-overs, and has voiced animations.- Early life :...
- Lew Eisen
Special guest appearances by:
- Larry KingLarry KingLawrence Harvey "Larry" King is an American television and radio host whose work has been recognized with awards including two Peabodys and ten Cable ACE Awards....
- Martha QuinnMartha QuinnMartha Quinn is best known as one of the original video jockeys on MTV .-Early life:...
- Bo DiddleyBo DiddleyEllas Otha Bates , known by his stage name Bo Diddley, was an American rhythm and blues vocalist, guitarist, songwriter , and inventor...