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Personal Best

Year:

1982

Duration:

124 min

Genres:

Drama | Sport

IMDB rate:

6.3

Director:

Robert Towne

Details

Country: USA

Release Date: 1982-06-26

Filming Locations: 1305 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California, USA

Earnings

Opening Weekend: $99,797 (USA) (7 February 1982)

Gross: $2,119,003 (USA) (28 March 1982)

Cast

Actor

Character

Patrice Donnelly

Personal Best

Mariel Hemingway

Chris Cahill

Scott Glenn

Terry Tingloff

Kenny Moore

Denny Stites

Jim Moody

Roscoe Travis

Kari G. Peyton

Penny Brill (as Kari Gosswiller)

Jodi Anderson

Nadia 'Pooch' Anderson

Maren Seidler

Tanya

Martha Watson

Sheila

Emily Dole

Maureen

Pam Spencer

Jan

Deby Laplante

Trish

Mitzi McMillin

Laura

Jan Glotzer

Karen

Jan Van Reenen

Yelovitch

Allan Feuerbach

Zenk

Jane Frederick

Fern Wadkins

Cindy Gilbert

Charlene Benveniste

Marlene Harmon

Pam Burnside

Linda Waltman

Debbie Floyd

Cindy Banks

Kim Stone

Milan Tiff

Willie Lee

Earl Bell

Randy Van Zile

Larry Pennell

Rick Cahill

Luana Anders

Rita Cahill

George De La Pena

Raoul

Robert Patten

Colin Sales

Margaret Ellison

Nellie Bowdeen

Charlie Jones

Television Announcer #1

Frank Shorter

Television Announcer #2

Jim Tracy

Duane

Janet Hake

Waitress

Sharon Brazell

Hostess

Susan Brownell

Women's Team Member

Desiree Gauthier

Women's Team Member

Sharon Hatfield

Women's Team Member

Linda Hightower

Women's Team Member

Joan Russell

Women's Team Member

Themis Zambrzycki

Women's Team Member

Clim Jackson

Men's Team Member

John Smith

Men's Team Member

Chuck DeBus

Coach

Gregory Clayton

Trainer

David Edington

Waiter

Robert Horn

Water Polo Coach

Wendell Ray

P.A. Announcer

Len Dawson

Football Announcer

Leroy R. Perry Jr.

Chiropractor (as Dr. Leroy R. Perry Jr.)

Richard Martini

Meet Manager

Rick Dodele

Track Fan (uncredited)

John Kopack

Track Fan (uncredited)

Andrew Traister

Olympic Official (uncredited)

Jim Vitti

Track Fan (uncredited)

Dave Wong

Track Fan (uncredited)

Did you know?

Trivia

The film was part of a breakthrough cycle of mainstream Hollywood studio movies featuring gay partnerships and drag characters. Others included Making Love (1982), Cruising (1980), Victor Victoria (1982), Tootsie (1982) and Partners (1982).

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The movie featured a number of real life athletes including Jane Frederick (pentathlon), Jodi Anderson (pentathlon), Deby Laplante (hurdles), Pam Spencer (high jump), Maren Seidler (shotput), and Kenny Moore (marathon). All these performances were motion picture debuts.

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Second consecutive sports movie for cinematographer Michael Chapman who previously had lensed the boxing film Raging Bull (1980).

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Goofs

Tory goes through the other runners twice.

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At 1:04:55, there are three shoes on the track, but when seen again at 1:06:26, only one remains.

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At 2:00:00, the runners are more spread out than when seen in preceding or following shots.

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Quotes

Terry Tingloff: All right, one thing ya gotta understand: I could've been a man's coach. Backfield coach, Oregon State: I had the job, I had the job, I actually had the job. You understand? I had the job. Ah, well. Coach of the year. I was coach of the year last year. You know what that means when you're a womens' coach? Jack shit. I mean I could have coached football. Do you actually think that Chuck Knoll has to worry that Franco Harris is gonna cry 'cause Terry Bradshaw won't talk to him? - Hmm? - Jack Lambert can't play because Mel Blount hurt his feelings, that Lynn Swann is pregnant, that Rocky Bleier forgot his Tampax. Ah, fuck!

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Tory Skinner: You're quite the winner... for a guy.

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Terry Tingloff: The high jump is a masochists event-it always ends on failure.

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