All the Right Moves Totally Explained

Everything about All The Right Moves totally explained

All the Right Moves is a 1983 drama/romance film directed by Michael Chapman and starring Tom Cruise, Craig T. Nelson, Lea Thompson, Chris Penn, and Gary Graham. It was filmed entirely on location during WPIAL football season in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and Pittsburgh. It joins Slap Shot as another sports film classic filmed in both locales. He has everything at stake.
He can't afford to lose.
He's got to make all the right moves.
(Taglines)

Plot summary

Tom Cruise's character is a high school defensive back seeking a college football scholarship to escape an economically depressed small Pennsylvania town
   Most of the film takes place before the big football game against undefeated Walnut Heights High School. Ampipe appears headed to win the game, when a fumbled handoff in the closing seconds leads to a Walnut Heights victory. Following the game Coach Nickerson (Craig T. Nelson) lambastes the fumbler in the locker room, telling him he "quit". When Stef (Tom Cruise) retorts that the coach himself quit, the coach kicks him off the team. In the immediate aftermath of the game disgruntled Ampipe fans vandalize Coach Nickerson's home/yard. Stef is present and is a reluctant participant but is none the less seen by Coach Nickerson as the vandals flee. From there, Stef deals with personal battles, including dealing with the coach blacklisting him among colleges because of his attitude and participation in the desecration of Coach Nickerson's yard.
   Meanwhile, Stef's teammates deal with personal battles as well, including one who decides to marry his pregnant girlfriend, and another arrested for armed robbery.
   Later, Stef frustrated by what Nickerson did, angrily confronts his former coach. In the end, Nickerson realizes he was wrong for blacklisting Stef, and informs him that he's accepted a coaching position at a college in California. He also offers Stef a full scholarship in engineering.

Cast

Tom Cruise - Stefen "Stef" Djordjevic
Craig T. Nelson - Nickerson
Lea Thompson - Lisa Litski
Charles Cioffi - Pop
Gary Graham - Greg
Paul Carafotes - Salvucci
Chris Penn - Brian
Sandy Faison - Suzie
James A. Baffico - Bosko
Mel Winkler - Jess Covington
Walter Briggs - Rifleman
George Betor - Tank
Leon - Shadow
Terry O'Quinn - Freeman Smith

Trivia

The fumbled handoff in the movie was virtually the same situation as the 1978 "Miracle at the Meadowlands" where New York Giants quarterback Joe Pisarcik made a similar end of game fumble.

The name of the fictional town of Ampipe is derived from the equally fictional American Pipe and Steel Company. There is a real town northwest of Pittsburgh called Ambridge. It was a company town of the American Bridge Company.

Near the beginning of the film, while talking about his potential college coaching job, Nickerson mentions that it's between him and "you know who" from Aliquippa. The real-life coach of Aliquippa HS at the time the movie was made was Donald Yannessa, who portrayed the Walnut Heights coach.

The uniforms and team colors used in the film were from Ferndale Area High School, a small high school in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where the film was made.

The director wanted Lea Thompson and Tom Cruise to go undercover to remember what high school was like. They went to separate schools, and while Cruise was spotted after just one day because someone recognized him from Taps (1981), Thompson went four days, was asked out by many guys and got caught smoking.

Continuity Goof: During the movie, Stefan takes his plaid shirt off twice in the locker room before practice.

This film is historically noted because Tom Cruise, one of Hollywood's biggest stars, reveals full frontal nudity.

The film was referenced in the film Scream, stating that 'if you pause it just right, you can see his penis", referring to Tom Cruise.

The small newsstand that Tom Cruise is standing nearby in one scene at night actually does exist to this very day. It wasn't a prop. It is Gallo's Newsstand, which sells newspapers and PA Lottery Tickets. It is located in Johnstown, PA. Across the street is another real store as well. George's Song Shoppe.

Originally, only Lea Thompson's character was supposed to be shown nude in the film. However upon reading the script, Tom Cruise decided it was unfair and therefore, both appeared nude in the film. According to an interview with Lea Thompson on The Rosie O'Donnell Show, both actors wore nothing but the socks on their feet.

In one scene, when discussing with a potential recruiter, Tom Cruise's character claimed to be 5'10", while Tom Cruise is actually 5'7".Further Information

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