Details
Movie Description
In director Daniel Petrie's ROCKET GIBRALTAR, the affluent and somewhat eccentric Rockwell clan gets together in honor of Levi (Burt Lancaster), the family's patriarch, on his 77th birthday. Reunited on the shores of Levi's idyllic Saggaponack home, his children and their large brood of grandchildren prepare themselves for a festive celebration. While Levi spends his time leisurely reminiscing about family traditions, his adult children pursue various obsessions such as sex, baseball, and movie production. Costars include Kevin Spacey (in an early screen appearance), Bill Pullman, John Glover, Patricia Clarkson, Suzy Amis, Sinéad Cusack, and Frances Conroy as Levi's various children and their spouses, a wild crew of neurotic and self-obsessed yuppies eager to please the sentimental Rockwell patriarch. As the large family spends the weekend together, they revel in past joys and memories of their youth and prepare for the big event while engaging in ever-present sibling rivalry and marital squabbles. But as a surprise, Levi's grandchildren (including a very young Macaulay Culkin in his film debut) have come up with a rather moving and unorthodox present to honor Levi's most cherished wish in a touching and insightful finale to this quiet family drama that relishes the youthful exuberance and imaginative creativity of childhood.
Synopsis
To celebrate Levi Rockwell's 77th birthday, his children and grandchildren return to his home on the shores of Saggaponack. What begins as a joyful day turns into a moving event as the grandchildren honor Levi's most cherished wish.
Film Notes
Film debut for Macaulay Culkin.
A few weeks into production, Daniel Petrie took over the task of directing from screenwriter Amos Poe, who had previously directed independent, experimental films.
An Ulick Mayo Weiss production.
Shot in DuArt color, Deluxe prints.
Additional cast: John Bell (Orson Rockwell), Nicky Bronson (Max Hanson), Sara Rue (Jessica Hanson).
Additional credits: Betsy Klompus (set decoration).
Industry Reviews
"...A heartening film....[Lancaster] gives Levi a touch of majesty, a grace and gravity, a sense of being ethereal, yet rooted to the earth..."
Los Angeles Times - Michael Wilmington (09/02/1988)
Quotations
"My life is 90 per cent memory, past." -- Levi Rockwell (BURT LANCASTER)
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