Breaking Away
Comedy, Drama, Family, Sport
20th Century Fox  (1979) 100 mins PG

7.6 (7,722 votes)
"A smashing movie… one of the most rapturously funny, totally unique and eccentric film experiences…" -Rex Reed, Vogue

This charming, Academy Award® winner (1979, Best Screenplay) cycles high on comedy as four friends come to terms with life after high school. When top-notch cyclist Dave (Dennis Christopher) learns that the world's bicycling champions are always Italian, he attempts to turn himself into an Italian, driving his parents (Barbara Barrie, Paul Dooley) crazy. But everything changes after he meets the Italian racing team - an encounter that ultimately leads him and his friends (Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern, Jackie Earle Haley) to challenge the local college boys in the town's annual bike race....

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Cast and Crew
Dennis Christopher  ......  Dave Stoller
Dennis Quaid  ......  Mike
Daniel Stern  ......  Cyril
Jackie Earle Haley  ......  Moocher
Barbara Barrie  ......  Evelyn Stoller
Paul Dooley  ......  Raymond Stoller
Director  .....  Peter Yates
Producer  .....  Peter Yates
Writer  .....  Steve Tesich
Notes
Goofs:
Continuity: When Dave is drafting behind the Cinzano semi-truck, his bike is on the small chain-ring and he is managing to travel at 50+ miles per hour. An earlier shot shows him in the large, and correct, chain-ring behind the semi. (more)

Trivia:
In the scene where Dave admits to Catherine that he is not Italian but is actually a "Cutter" (one of the local residents), Catherine starts to walk off, then turns back and slaps him across the face. According to director Peter Yates, she did not 'fake' the slap but actually did strike him, and fairly hardly at that. (more)

Filming Locations:
Bloomington, Indiana, USA (more)

Quotes:
Dad: You guys still go swimmin' in the quarries?
Dave: Sure.
Dad: So, the only thing you got to show for my 20 years of work is the holes we left behind?
(more)

Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 9 wins & 9 nominations (more)