Trenchcoat (film)
Trenchcoat is a 1983 American action comedy film directed by Michael Tuchner and starring Margot Kidder and Robert Hays. It was produced by Walt Disney Productions during an era that focused on releasing strongly adult-oriented films, including The Devil and Max Devlin, Tex, Night Crossing, Never Cry Wolf, Something Wicked This Way Comes, and The Watcher in the Woods.
| Trenchcoat | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Michael Tuchner |
| Produced by | Jerry Leider |
| Written by | Jeffrey Price Peter S. Seaman |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Charles Fox |
| Cinematography | Tonino Delli Colli |
| Edited by | Frank J. Urioste |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Buena Vista Distribution |
Release date |
|
Running time | 91 min |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | unknown |
| Box office | $4,304,286 (US)[1] |
Because of the film's limited promotion and mostly negative reviews, Trenchcoat is among the most forgotten Disney films and is one of the most difficult to find.
Synopsis
The aspiring mystery writer Mickey Raymond (Margot Kidder) travels to Malta to research her first novel and falls in love with a handsome, mysterious American (Robert Hays). She is drawn into a conspiracy both fuelled by her vivid imagination and real-world drama. David Suchet plays a local police official who seemingly is one step behind events. Raymond's odd luck leads her to become embroiled in an international plutonium smuggling ring and comedic chaos ensues. Because of this, she becomes tired of being the victim and she begins to investigate herself what makes her unlucky. At the same time, a couple of two elderly people who met Mickey at their hotel see her a couple of times before she finds out the real culprits of the whole mess. At the end, Terry and Mickey stay together and they share a kiss in the dark.
Cast
- Margot Kidder as Mickey Raymond, the writer
- Robert Hays as Terry Leonard, the spy
- Gila von Weitershausen as Eva Werner
- Daniel Faraldo as Nino Tenucci, Mickey's taxi driver
- Ronald Lacey as Princess Aida
- John Justin as Marquis De Pena
- Leopoldo Trieste as Esteban Ortega
- Jennifer Darling as Laurie
- Kevork Malikyan as the Arab who kidnaps Mickey
- Vic Tablian as Achmed
Release
The film was produced by Walt Disney Productions but not promoted as such, due to its adult themes (though Disney promoted in the Japanese and Germany VHS releases). Trenchcoat, Never Cry Wolf and Dragonslayer are widely regarded as the films that led to the launch of Touchstone Pictures on February 15, 1984.
The film was released on March 11, 1983 at movie theatres. It was released by Walt Disney Home Video on VHS and Betamax in 1983 and was released by Buena Vista Home Entertainment on DVD on January 31, 2012.
As of March 22, 2011, Trenchcoat was available on iTunes and Amazon.com for digital rental, with the Walt Disney logo being attached to the film for the first time since its theatrical release. Otherwise, the movie is hard to find because of its lack of promotion.
Unlike some other 1980s films such as The Journey of Natty Gann, Condorman and Something Wicked This Way Comes, Trenchcoat doesn't have a soundtrack that has been released yet by Intrada Records.
Reception
The film was a box office failure, earning only a total of $4,304,286 domestically.
The film has been received negatively. Siskel and Ebert named it one of the "Stinkers of 1983".[2]