Ratboy
Ratboy | |
---|---|
Directed by | Sondra Locke |
Written by | Rob Thompson |
Produced by | Fritz Manes |
Starring | Sondra Locke Robert Townsend Christopher Hewett Bill Maher Larry Hankin Sydney Lassick Gerrit Graham Louie Anderson Sharon Baird John Witherspoon |
Cinematography | Bruce Surtees |
Edited by | Joel Cox |
Music by | Lennie Niehaus |
Production company | |
Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
Release date |
|
Running time | 104 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Ratboy is a 1986 American
Principal photography started on September 6, 1985, and ended in October 1985. Ratboy had a troubled production[2] and was both a critical and commercial failure.[3]
Synopsis
A former window dresser named Nikki overhears mention of a mysterious "Ratboy" named Eugene while dumpster diving at a dump. After finding and befriending him, Nikki makes several attempts at marketing his uniqueness to the public. At the same time, Eugene wishes to avoid public attention.
Cast
- Sondra Locke as Nikki Morrison
- Sharon Baird as Eugene / Ratboy (as S.L. Baird)
- Gordon Anderson as the voice of Eugene/Ratboy
- Robert Townsend as Manny
- Christopher Hewett as Acting Coach
- Larry Hankin as Robert Jewell
- Sydney Lassick as Lee 'Dial-A-Prayer'
- Gerrit Graham as Billy Morrison
- Louie Anderson as Omer Morrison
- Billie Bird as Psychic
- John Witherspoon as Heavy
- Charles Bartlett as Catullus Cop
- Tim Thomerson as Alan Reynolds (uncredited)
Marketing
Release
The film was given a limited opening in only two cities, Los Angeles and New York.[4]
Reception
The film has a 'rotten' rating of 25% on Rotten Tomatoes. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave it two out of four stars, calling the film 'perplexing' and criticizing the film's unique premise devolving into a more standard narrative.[5] Janet Maslin of The New York Times called the film 'disorganized', criticizing the script and directing choices of Locke.[6] On the opposite end, Michael Wilmington of The Los Angeles Times was more positive, calling the film, 'Grimm Brothers-style, mixing wonder with rough edges, undertones of pain beneath the fantasy.'[7]
Awards
Sondra Locke received a
References
- Time Warner). Retrieved July 10, 2016.
- ^ a b "LOCKE EXERCISES CONTROL OVER 'RATBOY,' HER CAREER". Los Angeles Times. August 19, 1986. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
- ^ "Ratboy". Rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ "'RATBOY': SNARED IN THE STUDIO TRAP". Los Angeles Times. February 15, 1987.
- ^ Ebert, Roger. "Ratboy movie review & film summary (1986) | Roger Ebert". Rogerebert.com. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
- ^ Maslin, Janet (October 17, 1986). "Ratboy (1986) SCREEN: 'RATBOY'". The New York Times. New York City. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
- ^ "MOVIE REVIEW : 'RATBOY' SWIMS AGAINST MAINSTREAM". Los Angeles Times. 20 March 1987. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
External links
- Ratboy at IMDb
- Ratboy at Rotten Tomatoes