Breaking Away (Widescreen Edition)
by Peter Yates
List Price:
Our Price: $4.39
You Save: $5.59 (56%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Barbara Barrie, Daniel Stern, Dennis Christopher, Dennis Quaid, Jackie Earle HaleyDirector: Peter Yates
Brand: Fox
Cinematographer: Matthew F. Leonetti
Producer: Peter Yates
Editor: Cynthia Scheider
Producer: Art Levinson
Writer: Steve Tesich
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language); French (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 101 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2002-01-29
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
DVD Reviews of Breaking Away (Widescreen Edition)
DVD Review: Nominated for best picture in 1979
Summary: 5 Stars
This is an excellent movie with several themes woven together. The main theme is a how a clique of four boys, principally Dave, feel like outsiders in their hometown of Bloomington Indiana as they search for an identity after high school. They are starting to realize that their search will inexorably pull them apart. None of the four are in college, and Bloomington's local economy, especially the fading quarries, seems to hold little promise aside from serving the Indiana University (IU) college students. The IU students derisively call local kids "cutters" in reference to the quarries their fathers worked in. The four in fact have a favorite closed quarry as their hangout and swimming pool, and they resent it when the IU kids want them to stay off campus but feel free to invade this quarry.
Two of the four had ideas for college athletics, but are aimless now that their high school careers are over and do not provide structure. There are several excellent scenes depicting their confusion and disappointment over what to do next. My favorite is when the four are watching Indiana football practice. Dennis Quaid still keeps in shape, and he says that he can't bring himself to light the cigarettes he keeps in his mouth because he can't get give up his opinion that he was a pretty good high school quarterback and should be on the college gridiron. Now he's just "20-yr old Mike". Eventually he will be just "30-yr old Mike" and then just "40-yr old Mike". Every year there will be new contenders for starting quarterback, and "every year it's not gonna be me." Daniel Stern, as Cyril, has to overcome his dad's low expectations and too-willing acceptance of failure even though Cyril is a talented person.
Meanwhile, Dave, like many adolescents, has a silly, romantic ideas of what he will become. He decides to transform into an Italian because his passion is cycling, and because he believes Italians are the best cyclists then he should become Italian too. Dave is played by Dennis Christopher, who was raised Catholic in Philadelphia and has a real last name of Carelli. So Dave adopts an accent, listens to Italian opera and language records, calls the family cat "Fellini", and teachse his parents about supposed Italian family values from what seem to be the 1920s. His dad is adamant as he addresses the cat: "Your name is Jake, dammit!" Dave's struggle with and eventual reconciliation with his dad provides about half of the movie and comedy. His dad, who is no great role model himself, has conflicting ideas of what Dave should become, The dad does not realize that he is silly himself with what he does and should expect more from Dave. The actors, Paul Dooley as the father and Dennis Christopher as Dave, are so convincing that according to IMDB they have played father and son on three occasions! The father is the funniest person in the movie; so funny that you forget the poignancy of what is happening. Several scenes are so unforgettable that I still think of them, for example when I hear the word "refund!". After you see the movie you might do the same.
Another theme, already alluded to, is that of the townies vs college kids. A colleague of mine used to live in Bloomington, and she says this rivalry is profound. The four are able to fight back against the college kids by representing the townies in the the "little 500", a bike race which is a huge event on IU's campus. Apparently IU has built a new stadium for this race because it is so popular.
Oh yes, this is also an underdog movie about athletics, in this case cycling. We see Dave's cycling career cycle up and down throughout the movie, culminating in The Big Race.
Two of the actors, Dennis Quaid and Daniel Stern, were up and coming, while one, Jackie Earle Hailey, had seen better days as Kelly Leak in "Bad News Bears" but still gets roles. According to IMDB, Dennis Christopher has had a productive career mainly on television.
This movie has a very wide appeal and is suitable for high schoolers and adults alike. I think it would be especially good for adolecents as they struggle with their identity. There is profanity and a few things about about girls that adolescent boys would say, but I recommend it wholeheartedly. It is one of those fine movies that gets overlooked but is a wonderful discovery.
Description of Breaking Away (Widescreen Edition)
BREAKING AWAY - DVD MovieBestsellers in DVD
![The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS]Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS]by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops:
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
![Strike the Original Match [VHS] Image](/images/Strike-the-Original-Match-VHS-0001374079-X.jpg)
Strike the Original Match [VHS]New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] Image](/images/Medjugorje-The-Miracles-and-the-Message-VHS-0001373293-X.jpg)
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops:
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single Userby Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops:
Cost Accounting [VHS]by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Biography - Lance Armstrong: Racing for His Life (A&E DVD Archives)A and E Home Video; Release date: 2005-07-26; DVD
Best price: $1.19
Price in other shops:
Hell on WheelsKoch International; Release date: 2005-11-22; DVD
Best price: $16.49
Price in other shops:
QuicksilverBACON,KEVIN; Release date: 2002-12-10; Published: 2002-12-01; DVD
Best price: $3.31
Price in other shops:
Big Six- Lance Armstrong's Greatest Moments of the Tour De FranceRelease date: 2005-06-14; DVD
Best price: $2.46
Price in other shops:
HoosiersTeam Marketing; Release date: 2000-02-29; Published: 2000-02-01; DVD
Best price: $6.93
Price in other shops:
The Flying ScotsmanMILLER,JONNY LEE; Release date: 2007-09-18; DVD
Best price: $2.03
Price in other shops:
Chariots of FireWarner Brothers; Release date: 2011-01-04; DVD
Best price: $4.75
Price in other shops:
American FlyersTeam Marketing; Release date: 1999-12-21; Published: 1999-12-01; DVD
Best price: $3.98
Price in other shops:
Bicycle Dreams/ Race Across America 2-PackPublished: 2010; DVD
Best price: $39.95
Bicycle DreamsPublished: 2010; DVD
Best price: $24.95