Risky Business: A Detailed Description
Title: Risky Business
Release Date: August 5, 1983
Director: Paul Brickman
Starring: Tom Cruise, Rebecca De Mornay, Joe Pantoliano, Richard Masur, Bronson Pinchot, Curtis Armstrong, Nicholas Pryor, Janet Carroll, Shera Danese, Raphael Sbarge, Bruce A. Young, Kevin Anderson
Genre: Comedy-Drama Runtime: 99 minutes Storyline Risky Business is
Storyline
Risky Business is a 1983 American coming-of-age teen comedy film written and directed by Paul Brickman in his directorial debut. The movie follows the story of Joel Goodsen (played by Tom Cruise), a high school senior who lives with his wealthy parents in the Chicago North Shore area of Glencoe. Joel is a promising candidate for Princeton University, which his father wants him to attend. However, when his parents go away on a trip, Joel decides to use his newfound freedom to have some fun.
The adventure begins when Joel raids the liquor cabinet, plays the stereo loudly, joyrides in his father’s car, and dances around the living room in his briefs and button-down shirt to Old Time Rock and Roll. His friend Miles convinces him to call a prostitute named Jackie, but the call turns out to be a male cross-dresser, so Joel pays him just to leave. However, Jackie gives Joel the number for another prostitute, Lana (played by Rebecca De Mornay), who is revealed to be a gorgeous blonde woman.
The night with Lana is a turning point in the story. Despite the initial hesitation, Joel and Lana spend the entire night together. The next morning, Lana asks Joel for $300 for her services, and he goes to the bank to get the money. However, when he returns, she is gone, along with his mother’s expensive Steuben glass egg. Joel finds Lana and demands the egg back, but her pimp Guido (played by Joe Pantoliano) interrupts them, pulling a gun. The situation escalates as Joel is chased by Guido in his father’s Porsche 928, but he eventually escapes.
Lana tells Joel that the egg is with the rest of her belongings at Guido’s. She lets him stay at his house while he goes to school. When he returns, his friends have come over, and Lana has invited another prostitute, Vicki, to stay. However, Joel rejects the idea, and the women leave. Later that night, Joel, Lana, Vicki, and Joel’s friend Barry go out and get high on marijuana. After Lana accidentally bumps the Porsche out of gear while retrieving her purse, the car rolls down the hill and onto a pier, where it sinks into Lake Michigan.
To fix the car, Joel and Lana decide to turn his parents’ house into a brothel for a night. The party is hugely successful, with the house packed with Joel’s friends and classmates and Lana’s co-workers. However, the recruiter from Princeton, Rutherford (played by Richard Masur), chooses that night to interview Joel for admission to Princeton. The interview is plagued by interruptions, and Rutherford is unimpressed by Joel’s résumé. After the party, Joel and Lana make love on the Chicago L train.
Cast and Crew
Tom Cruise as Joel Goodsen: The protagonist of the film, a high school senior who embarks on a wild adventure while his parents are away.
Rebecca De Mornay as Lana: A call girl who becomes Joel’s girlfriend for a couple of days.
Joe Pantoliano as Guido: Lana’s pimp who creates complications for Joel.
Nicholas Pryor as Mr. Goodsen: Joel’s father, who wants him to attend Princeton University.
Janet Carroll as Mrs. Goodsen: Joel’s mother, whose expensive Steuben glass egg is stolen by Lana.
Richard Masur as Bill Rutherford: The recruiter from Princeton who interviews Joel for admission.
Curtis Armstrong as Miles Dalby: Joel’s friend who convinces him to use his freedom for fun.
Bronson Pinchot as Barry: Joel’s friend who joins him in his adventures.
Shera Danese as Vicki: Another prostitute who stays at Joel’s house for a night.
Raphael Sbarge as Glenn: A minor character who appears in the film.
Production
The film was produced by Jon Avnet and Steve Tisch, with Paul Brickman writing and directing. The cinematography was handled by Bruce Surtees and Reynaldo Villalobos, while the editing was done by Richard Chew. The music for the film was composed by Tangerine Dream.
Famous Artists Involved in the Movie Poster
While there is no specific mention of famous artists involved in the creation of the movie poster for Risky Business, the film’s iconic imagery, including Tom Cruise dancing in his underwear, has become a cultural reference point. The poster likely featured key elements from the film, such as the main characters and the setting, which would have been designed to capture the essence of the movie’s themes and plot.
Framed Print and Canvas Print Options
For fans of the film, there are various options to own a piece of Risky Business memorabilia. Framed prints and canvas prints of the movie’s poster or key scenes can be purchased online. These items make great additions to any film enthusiast’s collection, allowing them to display their love for the movie in a visually appealing way.
Additional Information
Budget: $6.2 million
Box Office: $63.5 million
IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
Awards Nominations: 3
Risky Business is a film that not only captured the essence of teenage angst and rebellion but also explored deeper themes of capitalism, responsibility, and the pursuit of success. Its impact on popular culture is evident in its enduring imagery and influence on subsequent coming-of-age films. For those interested in film history and memorabilia, owning a piece of Risky Business—whether it’s a framed print or canvas print of the movie poster—can be a meaningful way to celebrate its significance in cinematic history.
Keywords: Movie Poster Film Poster Framed Print Canvas Print Film Enthusiast Memorabilia Cultural Reference Point Iconic Imagery Key Elements Main Characters Setting Themes Plot
