Lightning Jack
| Lightning Jack | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Simon Wincer |
| Produced by | Greg Coote Paul Hogan Simon Wincer |
| Written by | Paul Hogan |
| Starring | Paul Hogan Cuba Gooding Jr. Beverly D'Angelo |
| Music by | Bruce Rowland |
| Cinematography | David Eggby |
| Editing by | O. Nicholas Brown |
| Studio | Village Roadshow |
| Distributed by | Savoy Pictures |
| Release date(s) | March 11, 1994 |
| Running time | 98 minutes |
| Country | United States Australia |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $15,000,000 (Est.) |
| Box office | $23,650,325 (North America) |
Lightning Jack is a 1994 western film written by and starring Paul Hogan, as well as Cuba Gooding Jr. and Beverly D'Angelo.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Paul Hogan plays Lightning Jack Kane, an Australian outlaw who is continuously annoyed at not being recognised as an outlaw, partially due to his lackluster and occasionally completely failed robberies. Whilst attempting a robbery, he takes mute Ben Doyle (Cuba Gooding Jr.) as a hostage. He later discovers that, tired of never been treated with respect due to his disability, Ben wishes to join him.
Jack attempts to teach Ben how to shoot a gun and rob banks, with his first attempt at "on-the-job" training ending with Ben shooting himself in the foot. Across the course of the training, they pay occasional visits to saloons where Jack shows Ben the truth about adult life, including helping him to lose his virginity. However, the true nature of the saloon visits is for Jack to make contact with showgirl Lana Castel (Beverly D'Angelo), who, unbeknownst to Jack, is madly in love with him.
When Ben's training is complete, the pair learn of a bank which is said to be the hardest in the country to rob, the entire town armed and ready to protect it. Jack sees this as the test he has been waiting for, and together they hatch a plan to rob it. Everything seems to be going smoothly and they are set to begin, until Jack discovers that a rival gang of outlaws is also planning to rob the bank. He is prepared to give up when Ben has a plan of his own.
Ben silently tips off the townspeople, who quickly swarm the bank with the rival outlaws inside. The gang are arrested and the entire town celebrates, allowing Jack and Ben to slip unnoticed into the bank and swiftly strip it clean. Before leaving, Jack jumps into the celebrations, ensuring that his grinning face appears at the top of the town photo. By the time the true robbery is discovered, the pair - and Lana - are gone, with a bounty of thousands on their heads and all of America searching for them - the life that Jack had always wanted.
[edit] Production
Star and producer Hogan created a company, Lightning Ridge Ltd, which he then floated on the Australian Stock Exchange to help fund the film through investors buying stock.[2] Hogan raised funds this way in order to maintain creative control over the film.[3] The company was delisted in 2001.[4]
Major League Baseball pitcher Roger Clemens makes an uncredited cameo appearance as the eye-patched outlaw character "Dutch Spencer".
[edit] Box Office
Lightning Jack grossed $6,489,819 at the box office in Australia.[5] The movie reached the top 10 in the US.[6][7]
[edit] References
- ^ "LINKAGE Paul Hogan Betting a Bundle That `Lightning Jack' Will Strike Gold". The Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/1994-02-13/entertainment/ca-22208_1_paul-hogan. Retrieved 2010-12-25.
- ^ "9 Weird Ways To Fund A Movie". Total Film. August 5, 2009. http://www.totalfilm.com/features/9-weird-ways-to-fund-a-movie.
- ^ Robert Milliken (20 March 1994). "Australians create a crocodile market: Robert Milliken on Paul Hogan's financing lesson for the UK industry". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/australians-create-a-crocodile-market-robert-milliken-on-paul-hogans-financing-lesson-for-the-uk-industry-1430470.html.
- ^ "Lightning Jack Film Trust (LJF)". delisted.com.au. http://www.delisted.com.au/Company/4921/LIGHTNING%20JACK%20FILM%20TRUST.
- ^ Film Victoria - Australian Films at the Australian Box Office
- ^ "Oscar Winners Pick Up at the Box Office". The Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/1994-03-28/entertainment/ca-39477_1_box-office/2. Retrieved 2010-12-25.
- ^ "Weekend Box Office `Tess' Tops `Jack,' `Ace' and `Angie'". The Los Angeles Times. http://articles.latimes.com/1994-03-15/entertainment/ca-34071_1_weekend-box-office. Retrieved 2010-12-25.
[edit] External links
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