Jimmy the Kid (1982)

PG | 86 mins | Comedy | 12 November 1982

Director:

Gary Nelson

Writer:

Sam Bobrick

Producer:

Ronald Jacobs

Cinematographer:

Dennis Dalzell

Production Designer:

Bill Ross

Production Company:

Zephyr Productions
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HISTORY

The Summary for this unviewed film was based on reviews in the 15 Dec 1982 Var, 8 Feb 1983 LAT, and the Apr 1983 Box. Therefore, the credits are incomplete and may not reflect what is listed onscreen. Although credits announced actor Walker Olkewicz in an "introducing" role, he received onscreen credit in several previous releases.
       The 9 Jan 1980 Publishers Weekly announced the acquisition of motion picture rights for Donald E. Westlake’s novel, Jimmy the Kid, by Zephyr Productions. Writer Sam Bobrick had already begun work on the screenplay, and child actor Gary Coleman had committed to the title role. Principal photography began more than a year later in downtown Los Angeles, CA, on 4 May 1981, as reported in the 5 May 1981 DV.
       An article in the 12 Jun 1981 HR stated that Jimmy the Kid was originally to be produced in Dallas, TX, the setting of the source novel. When producer Ronald Jacobs learned that neither of the city’s professional production units were available, he considered Chicago, IL, before settling on Los Angeles, CA, where he could make the best use of his modest $4 million budget and strict seven-week schedule. Locations included the Hope Ranch in Malibu, CA, Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park in Valencia, CA, the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles, and the nearby cities of Sylmar and Oxnard.
       According to a news item in the 25 Jun 1981 HR, written during production, the film’s publicists attempted to promote actors Gary Coleman and Ruth Gordon as a ...

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The Summary for this unviewed film was based on reviews in the 15 Dec 1982 Var, 8 Feb 1983 LAT, and the Apr 1983 Box. Therefore, the credits are incomplete and may not reflect what is listed onscreen. Although credits announced actor Walker Olkewicz in an "introducing" role, he received onscreen credit in several previous releases.
       The 9 Jan 1980 Publishers Weekly announced the acquisition of motion picture rights for Donald E. Westlake’s novel, Jimmy the Kid, by Zephyr Productions. Writer Sam Bobrick had already begun work on the screenplay, and child actor Gary Coleman had committed to the title role. Principal photography began more than a year later in downtown Los Angeles, CA, on 4 May 1981, as reported in the 5 May 1981 DV.
       An article in the 12 Jun 1981 HR stated that Jimmy the Kid was originally to be produced in Dallas, TX, the setting of the source novel. When producer Ronald Jacobs learned that neither of the city’s professional production units were available, he considered Chicago, IL, before settling on Los Angeles, CA, where he could make the best use of his modest $4 million budget and strict seven-week schedule. Locations included the Hope Ranch in Malibu, CA, Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park in Valencia, CA, the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles, and the nearby cities of Sylmar and Oxnard.
       According to a news item in the 25 Jun 1981 HR, written during production, the film’s publicists attempted to promote actors Gary Coleman and Ruth Gordon as a comedy team, to which the publication responded with derisive comments regarding Coleman’s pre-adolescence and Gordon’s dotage. On 26 Jun 1981, DV reported that photography was completed two days ahead of schedule, though no exact date was given. Gordon’s commitment to the production forced her to cancel a speaking engagement at the Quincy, MA, high school, where she was a student seven decades earlier.
       A year later, on 7 Jul 1982, Var announced New World Pictures’ plans for a wide release in the northwestern U.S., at 400 to 600 locations. The 18 Aug 1982 Var later revised the number to a minimum of 500 locations, with a scheduled release date of 12 Nov 1982. New World founder Roger Corman told the 15 Nov 1982 DV that his company received $2.5 million in “guarantees and advances” for his services and anticipated gross receipts of $5 million to $10 million.
       Jimmy the Kid opened 28 Jan 1983 in Los Angeles, and garnered mostly negative reviews. Among them were the 8 Feb 1983 LAT, which argued that kidnapping was an inappropriate premise for a comedy, and the 31 Jan 1983 LAHExam, which labeled it “the worst movie of the year.”

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GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS
SOURCE CITATIONS
SOURCE
DATE
PAGE
Box Office
Apr 1983
---
Daily Variety
5 May 1981
---
Daily Variety
26 Jun 1981
---
Daily Variety
18 Aug 1982
p. 4
Daily Variety
12 Nov 1982
---
Daily Variety
15 Nov 1982
---
Hollywood Reporter
6 May 1981
---
Hollywood Reporter
12 Jun 1981
---
Hollywood Reporter
25 Jun 1981
---
Hollywood Reporter
27 Jan 1983
---
Hollywood Reporter
1 Feb 1983
p. 6
LAHExam
31 Jan 1983
---
Los Angeles Times
8 Feb 1983
p. 6
Publishers Weekly
9 Jan 1980
---
Variety
20 Apr 1981
---
Variety
7 Jul 1982
---
Variety
18 Aug 1982
---
Variety
15 Dec 1982
p. 20
CAST
PRODUCTION CREDITS
NAME
PARENT COMPANY
PRODUCTION COMPANY
PRODUCTION TEXTS
Zephyr Productions Presents
A Gary Nelson Film
A Ronald Jacobs Production
DISTRIBUTION COMPANY
NAME
CREDITED AS
CREDIT
DIRECTORS
Prod mgr
Asst dir
2d asst dir
PRODUCERS
Exec prod
Exec prod
WRITER
PHOTOGRAPHY
Dir of photog
2d unit photog
Lenses and Panaflex cameras
Gaffer
Best boy
Cam op
1st asst cam
Key grip
Dolly grip
Still photog
ART DIRECTOR
Art dir
FILM EDITORS
Assoc ed
Editorial coord
SET DECORATORS
Set dir
Prop master
Asst prop man
Leadman
Const foreman
COSTUMES
Cost supv
Asst costumer
MUSIC
Mus coord
Mus ed
SOUND
Sd ed
Post prod sd
Mixer
Sd mixer
Boom op
VISUAL EFFECTS
Titles and photog eff
Spec eff
MAKEUP
Makeup artist
Hairstylist
PRODUCTION MISC
Casting
Casting
Exec consultant
Loc facilities
Scr supv
Loc mgr
Transportation coord
Transportation capt
Craft service
Prod coord
Prod secy
Prod asst
Prod asst
Prod asst
Unit pub
Prod accounting
Prod auditor
Prod auditor
Prod auditor
STAND INS
Stunt coord
Stunt coord
ANIMATION
Graphics
Dir of anim
Story board
Caricatures
COLOR PERSONNEL
Col
SOURCES
LITERARY
Based on the novel Jimmy the Kid by Donald E. Westlake (New York, 1974).
LITERARY SOURCE AUTHOR
DETAILS
Release Date:
12 November 1982
Premiere Information:
Los Angeles opening: 28 Jan 1983
Production Date:
4 May 1981--late Jun 1981
Copyright Info
Claimant
Date
Copyright Number
Zephyr Productions, Inc.
29 October 1982
PA156851
Physical Properties:
Sound
Color
Duration(in mins):
86
MPAA Rating:
PG
Country:
United States
Language:
English
SYNOPSIS

Inspired by a book he read in the prison library, ex-convict Andy Kelp convinces his partner in crime, John Dortmunder, to commit a “child heist,” with the expectation of collecting a large ransom. Aided by Kelp’s mother, Bernice, and John’s wife, May, they don animal masks and kidnap Jimmy Lovejoy, the conservative, precocious son of African American country music stars Nina and Herb Lovejoy, as he returns home from a psychotherapy session. Jimmy’s parents summon private detective Harry Walker to their home, and he begins his investigation by inadvertently damaging many of the family’s valuables. Meanwhile, May and Bernice introduce Jimmy to childhood pleasures such as comic books and junk food, while encouraging him to abandon his businesslike persona. Nina and Herb decide to cooperate with the kidnappers and deliver Jimmy’s ransom, accompanied by Walker, who finds it necessary to disguise himself as the boy’s mother. Once the satchel of money is delivered, the kidnappers make their escape, with Jimmy driving the getaway car and Walker in pursuit. After outrunning the detective, John and Kelp release their hostage and flee with the ransom, unaware that Jimmy has replaced the money with schoolbooks. Upon his return home, Jimmy forsakes his adult pretensions and embraces childhood. ...

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Inspired by a book he read in the prison library, ex-convict Andy Kelp convinces his partner in crime, John Dortmunder, to commit a “child heist,” with the expectation of collecting a large ransom. Aided by Kelp’s mother, Bernice, and John’s wife, May, they don animal masks and kidnap Jimmy Lovejoy, the conservative, precocious son of African American country music stars Nina and Herb Lovejoy, as he returns home from a psychotherapy session. Jimmy’s parents summon private detective Harry Walker to their home, and he begins his investigation by inadvertently damaging many of the family’s valuables. Meanwhile, May and Bernice introduce Jimmy to childhood pleasures such as comic books and junk food, while encouraging him to abandon his businesslike persona. Nina and Herb decide to cooperate with the kidnappers and deliver Jimmy’s ransom, accompanied by Walker, who finds it necessary to disguise himself as the boy’s mother. Once the satchel of money is delivered, the kidnappers make their escape, with Jimmy driving the getaway car and Walker in pursuit. After outrunning the detective, John and Kelp release their hostage and flee with the ransom, unaware that Jimmy has replaced the money with schoolbooks. Upon his return home, Jimmy forsakes his adult pretensions and embraces childhood.

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Legend
Viewed by AFI
Partially Viewed
Offscreen Credit
Name Occurs Before Title
AFI Life Achievement Award

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The American Film Institute is grateful to Sir Paul Getty KBE and the Sir Paul Getty KBE Estate for their dedication to the art of the moving image and their support for the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and without whose support AFI would not have been able to achieve this historical landmark in this epic scholarly endeavor.