Wildcats (1986)

Director:

Michael Ritchie

Writer:

Ezra Sacks (writer)

Release Date:

14 February 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Sport

Tagline:

Her dream was to coach high school football. Her nightmare was Central High.

Plot:

Molly is a high school track coach who knows just as much about football as anyone else on the planet...

Plot Keywords:

Coach | Fat Man | Shower Scene | Bathtub Scene | Court Scene

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Goldie Hawn	...	Molly McGrath
Swoosie Kurtz	...	Verna McGrath
Robyn Lively	...	Alice Needham
Brandy Gold	...	Marian Needham
James Keach	...	Frank Needham
Jan Hooks	...	Stephanie Needham
Bruce McGill	...	Dan Darwell
Nipsey Russell	...	Ben Edwards
Mykelti Williamson	...	Levander 'Bird' Williams (as Mykel T. Williamson)
Tab Thacker	...	Phillip Finch
Wesley Snipes	...	Trumaine
Jsu Garcia	...	Cerulo (as Nick Corri)
Woody Harrelson	...	Krushinski
Willie J. Walton	...	Marvel
Rodney Hill	...	Peanut
Lindsey Orr	...	Central Player
Albert Michel Jr.	...	Alonzo (as Albert Michel)
Eddie Frescas	...	Translator
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Walt Coes
Jenny Havens	...	Jeannie
Tony Salome	...	Mr. Remo
George Wyner	...	Principal Walker
Noel De Souza	...	Doctor
Ann Doran	...	Mrs. Chatham
Gloria Stuart	...	Mrs. Connoly
Pilar Delano	...	Angelique
Bruce French	...	Mayhew
Royce Wallace	...	Judge
Hakeem Abdul-Samad	...	Boy (as Hakeem)
Lee Weaver	...	Maurice
LL Cool J	...	Rapper (as L.L. Cool J)
Vincent J. Isaac	...	Companion #1 (as Vincent Isaac)
Stan Foster	...	Companion #2
Dap Sugar Willie	...	Poolhall Man #1 (as Dap 'Sugar' Willie)
Chino 'Fats' Williams	...	Poolhall Man #2
John Vargas	...	Poolhall Man #3
David Kanakes	...	Goon #1
David Nieker	...	Goon #2
Tom E. Willman	...	Prescott Assistant Coach
Gwen McGee	...	Bird's Girl
Tan'ya Harris	...	Central Cheerleader
Deborah Webber	...	Spectator
Gary Austin	...	Spectator
Richard Burton Brown	...	Referee (as Richard B. Brown)
Sylvester Blaylock	...	Referee
Steve Carlson	...	Prescott Quarterback (as Steven L. Carlson)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jimmy Borto	...	Football Player (uncredited)
Josef Cannon	...	Johnson (uncredited)
Ellia English	...	Marva (uncredited)
James Kall	...	Line Judge (uncredited)
Sabrina Padwa	...	Girl at Dance (uncredited)
Jennifer Scott	...	Cheerleader (uncredited)
Mark Tuggle	...	(uncredited)
Bob Wagner	...	Football Player (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Ritchie

Writing credits
Ezra Sacks		(writer)

Produced by
Goldie Hawn	....	executive producer
Anthea Sylbert	....	producer
Gordon A. Webb	....	associate producer

Original Music by
James Newton Howard

Cinematography by
Donald E. Thorin

Film Editing by
Richard A. Harris

Casting by
Marion Dougherty

Production Design by
Boris Leven

Art Direction by
Stephen Myles Berger

Set Decoration by
Phil Abramson

Makeup Department
Rodger Jacobs	....	makeup artist: Chicago
Cheri Minns	....	makeup artist
Kim Samson	....	hair stylist
Lillian Toth	....	hair stylist: Chicago (as Lillian A. Toth)

Production Management
Gordon A. Webb	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
J. Tom Archuleta	....	second second assistant director
Jim Benoit	....	second assistant director: Chicago
Thomas J. Mack	....	first assistant director
Stefanie Moore	....	additional second assistant director: Chicago (as Stefanie A. Moore)
Peter Norman	....	second unit director: Chicago
Emmitt-Leon O'Neill	....	second assistant director
Skip Surguine	....	first assistant director: Chicago
Marvin Towns Jr.	....	second assistant director: Chicago

Art Department
Mike Cunningham	....	assistant property master
Michael Ross	....	property master
Thomas Sedor	....	assistant property master: Chicago
Robert R. Volpe	....	assistant property master: Chicago
Joseph G. Pacelli Jr.	....	set designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Greg Agalsoff	....	boom operator
James R. Alexander	....	sound mixer
John Benson	....	sound effects editor
David Franklin Bergad	....	assistant sound editor
Karen Brocco	....	assistant sound editor
Gloria D'Alessandro	....	assistant sound editor
Vivien Hillgrove Gilliam	....	dialogue editor
Ronald Jacobs	....	supervising sound editor
Robert J. Litt	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Rob Litt)
Michael Magill	....	assistant sound editor
E. Jeane Putnam	....	assistant sound editor
Robert Shoup	....	sound effects editor
Karen Spangenberg	....	dialogue editor
Elliot Tyson	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Nutt	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)
Philip Rogers	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Cliff Wenger	....	special effects
Eric Roberts	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Donna Garrett	....	stunts
Kay Whipple	....	stunts (as Kay H. Whipple)

Camera and Electrical Department
James F. Boyle	....	gaffer
Gerrit Dangremond	....	camera operator: Chicago
Peter Davidian	....	electrical best boy
Craig Denault	....	camera operator
Brian C. Glover	....	first assistant camera: Chicago
Daniel C. Gold	....	first assistant camera
Rob Hahn	....	first assistant camera
Bill Hardin	....	second assistant camera: Chicago
Steven Hiller	....	first assistant camera: Chicago
Mort Hyatt	....	key grip: Chicago
Daniel R. Jordan	....	key grip
Mark Ludwig	....	second assistant camera
Frank Miller	....	camera operator: Chicago
William R. Neilsen Sr.	....	first assistant camera: Chicago
James A. Pendleton	....	second assistant camera: Chicago
Ron Phillips	....	still photographer: Chicago
Don Schwatz	....	dolly grip
Bruce W. Talamon	....	still photographer
Robert C. Thomas	....	camera operator
Lynn Troupe	....	best boy grip
Paul Vombrack	....	director of photography: second unit, Chicago (as Paul F. Vombrack)

Casting Department
Glenn Daniels	....	casting assistant
Lauren Lloyd	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Wayne A. Finkelman	....	costumes: Ms. Hawn
Eddie Marks	....	costume supervisor
Jennifer L. Parsons	....	costumer: women
Radford Polinsky	....	costumer: men, Chicago (as Radford Polensky)
Daniel Richter	....	costumer: men, Chicago
Nick Scarano	....	costumer: men
Carolyn Schraut-Barczak	....	set costumer: Chicago (as Carolyn Barczak)

Editorial Department
Pamela Easley	....	post-production coordinator
Roderick W. Finney	....	apprentice film editor (as Roderick W. Finney)
Jack Garsha	....	color timer
White Gloves	....	negative cutter
Harold E. Hinsle	....	assistant film editor: Chicago
Toni Morgan	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Donald Harris	....	music editor
James Newton Howard	....	music producer
Phil Marshall	....	musician: marching band
Hawk Wolinski	....	music recording producer
Christopher Flick	....	assistant music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Tino Caira	....	transportation captain
George DiLeonardi	....	transportation captain: Chicago (as George J. DiLeonardi)
Craig Pinkard	....	transportation coordinator
John M. Woodward	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Nancy E. Barr	....	production coordinator
Stanley Brossette	....	unit publicist
Pamela Cederquist	....	aide to producer
Tom Fears	....	football coach
Tom Gillman	....	assistant to producers
Joel Hall	....	football dance choreographer
Deloris Claris Horn	....	assistant: Ms. Hawn
Patti James	....	assistant: Ms. Sylbert
Harriet Kehl	....	script supervisor: second unit, Chicago (as Harriet E. Kehl)
Ira S. Rosenstein	....	location manager
John Sanders	....	assistant football coach: Ms. Hawn
Marshall Schlom	....	script supervisor
Paula Tracy Smuin	....	choreographer
Barbara Tobolowsky	....	assistant: Mr. Ritchie
Ernie Wheelwright	....	football coach
Craig Caddell	....	extras (uncredited)
Pam Ellington	....	assistant accountant (uncredited)
Catherine Holzer-Ballowe	....	assistant production accountant (uncredited)
Jeffrey P. Kloth	....	unit projectionist (uncredited)
Robert C. Romanus	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Karen Shaw	....	production coordinator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Hawn / Sylbert Movie Company
• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros. Pictures (1986) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1989) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (????) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Warner Home Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Mark Baron Company, The  studio publicity
• Sportsrobe  costumes
• Universal Title  titles and opticals
• Warner Bros. Records  soundtrack

Also Known As:

First and Goal

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:S | Singapore:NC-16 | Sweden:Btl | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Hawn / Sylbert Movie Company

Trivia:

Stadium scenes were filmed at Lane Technical High School's athletic field in Chicago, Illinois.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Whilst the team is exercising on the field, the shadow of the camera crew can be seen.

Quotes:

Trumaine: Don't worry baby, this my uncle's car, he lets me borrow it whenever I want.
Marva: OH YEAH! THEN WHY DID YOU HAVE TO HOT WIRE IT!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Robin Williams/James Taylor (#13.9)" (1988)

Soundtrack:

Show Me How It Works

before there were The Replacements, there were the Wildcats

One of my 80's sport's comedy ever. Goldie Hawn is at her best as Molly McGrath, a woman who feels that she can coach a winning football team. But feels she is taken seriously because she is a woman. Molly has other problems, she is divorced with two daughters, and has a nagging ex husband. And her job has a track coach is wearing thin. But with luck she finally gets the chance to coach a football team. When she finally gets there, she soon realizes that many other people would not dare coach there, and the team is a bunch of goof balls who don't seem to respect her and care about winning any more. Can Molly earn their respect, and show them they can be winners? I've always been a football fan, but this movie was great with Goldie Hawn starring in it.