Racing With the Moon

Description

RACING WITH THE MOON tells the story of small town pals, Henry "Hopper" Nash (Penn) and Nicky (Cage) enjoying their last boyish exploits before they enter the Marines during World War II. Henry begins a new romance, while Nicky gets himself into trouble and involves Henry and his new love interest. What ensues is the ultimate test of friendship.

Customer Reviews:

This movie is destined to become a classic........2006-06-25

It's really kind of sad how great movies such as this one get put on the "backburner". I have seen all of the movies of Sean Penn and Nicholas Cage, and this is by far the best movie that they have ever acted in. Elizabeth Mcgovern is perfect as Sean Penn's love interest and she plays her part beautifully. This is a feel good movie, you can't watch this movie without reaching out to the past and wishing that we were living in a world that was more innocent and simple. The story line of this movie will tug at your heart strings. The music is beautiful and the scenary is inspirational. This great movie is definitely worth your time and money. You will be transported to a time when "we americans" knew our roots and how to nourish them. Enjoy!

Rare Laserdiscs - dvds Movies Collector........2006-04-20

Racing With the Moon is a great Movie..A Must See for Sean Penn,I enjoyed The dvd :)

About friendship and a hazy future.......2005-09-19

Uneven but generally engaging movie set in northern California in 1942 that is concerned with two 17-year-old boys about to join the marines and their last month at home together. Both boys (Sean Penn and Nicholas Cage) have an amorous entanglement with different girls - Penn's leading to love (with Elizabeth McGovern), Cage's to an unwanted pregnancy and abortion (with Carol Kane). There isn't very much to the story, which leads to some unfortunate filler, such as a sequence in a pool hall where the boys try to hustle some sailors. But the movie gets across very well, and without bashing us over the head about it either, that these two guys are very good friends and, since WW II is going on, just may never see each other again. The romance between Penn and McGovern is poignant in its innocence, and there's just a nice feel-good quality about the whole thing. The settings are great, too, with careful attention to details shown. Worth a watch.

The Rockwellian Facade.......2004-10-15

Sean Penn, Nicholas Cage, and intelligently beautiful Elizabeth McGovern shine in their early performances in Richard Benjamin's nostalgic look at youthful romances in World War II California.
It has always struck me as ironic that Vaughn Monroe's 1941 hit tune from which this film takes its title was never played during the course of the movie.
But the title does represent the fast-paced lives of two buddies headed for wartime service in the Marines, the pranks they pull, their train jumping, and the girls they encounter.
Sean Penn had one of his best roles as Henry ("Hopper") Nash, a small-town kid who works at a bowling alley and is forced to take piano lessons by his mother (Rutanya Alda). His friend Nicky (Nicholas Cage) has led a life defined by loss, as he has had to bury numerous relatives, including his parents.John Karlen was simple and straightforward as Nash's caring, gravedigger father.
The two young men live in a world that Norman Rockwell could have captured on canvas, which appears perfectly wholesome on the surface, complete with an irascible old man named Elmer (Al Hopen)who habitually whacks Henry with a cane. Presumably, the name "Elmer" was taken from the then-popular song, "Elmer's Tune". It has occured to me that the Italian shoe store owner may have been inspired by another popular Glenn Miller tune, "Papa Niccolini (The Happy Cobbler)".
As Henry acquaints himself with the beautiful newcomer to the town, Cady Winger (a role in which Elizabeth McGovern is mostly calm, serious, but pleasant) they have a magical moment playing "Heart and Soul" at the piano of an abandoned tap room. But Henry is unaware of the fact that although she lives in the large house on the hill that she is the daughter of a maid in that house and not a member of the wealthy family who own it, which causes problems in their relationship later on.
As things heat up between Nicky and his girl Sally (Suzanne Adkinson), we are slowly led into the unseemly underbelly of this Rockwellian facade. Ever since I first saw this movie, I have always felt, however that I could have come up with the name, "Cady Winger" if I'd written the script for it.
Carol Kane has a cameo as the local prostitute, Annie, Schawn Schepps plays Cady's bubbly friend and co-worker, Gretchen, Crispin Glover, a year away from success in the film, "Back to the Future" is an obnoxious rich kid who provokes Henry while he's at work, and David Madsen has a poignant solemnity in his role as the amputee, Frank.
The dark side of an era known for more conservative values reaches its nadir when Herny, Nicky, and Cady take Sally to get an illegal abortion when the irresponsible Nicky refuses to marry her. Hopper, Nicky, and Cady reach a turning point in their relationship afterwards. But soon, all is resolved, and as we watch the two rogues travel out of sight and into an unknown future, we somehow feel that they will look out for each other.

Hard to forget and worth owning..even in VHS.......2004-06-20

This movie has been a long time favorite of mine though not available on DVD. The story is touching and a particulary poignant look at young men who were raised on patriotism and are headed off to war, a reality of which they know little.

The cinematography and actors make you long for young love and being caught in the rain and in more serious moments you feel the pain and peril of a illegal abortion and how cold and hard it is to dig a grave in Spring.

Elizabeth McGovern is hauntingly beautiful. Penn and Cage show the promise of talent we now consider legendary. On a telling note, Sean Penn's child shares the nickname of his character.

In contrast to another reviewer, I too see this film differently now then I did when I was younger. However, the "skin" and other adult themes added dimensions that expanded for me as I get older.

If you don't buy it at least rent it while you still can!

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