Real Genius
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Real Genius

Year:
Duration:
108 min
Genres:
Comedy | Romance | Sci-Fi
IMDB rate:
7
Director:
Martha Coolidge
Awards:
2 wins & 2 nominations
Details
Country: USA
Release Date: 1985-08-07
Filming Locations: Claremont, California, USA
Earnings
Gross: $12,952,019 (USA) ( 1985)
Cast
Actor
Character
Val Kilmer
Chris Knight
Gabriel Jarret
Mitch Taylor
William Atherton
Prof. Jerry Hathaway
Jon Gries
Lazlo Hollyfeld
Patti D'Arbanville
Sherry Nugil
Stacy Peralta
Shuttle Pilot
Daniel Ades
Laser Ray Victim
Andres Aybar
Bartender
Louis Giambalvo
Maj. Carnagle
Ed Lauter
David Decker
Charles Shull
Air Force General
Beau Billingslea
George
Charles Parks
Larry
Sean Frye
Boy at Science Fair
JoAnn Willette
Girl at Science Fair
Ina Gould
Old Lady
Nadine Vix
Student at Science Fair
Paul Tulley
Mr. Taylor
Joanne Baron
Mrs. Taylor
Chip Johnson
Darlington Recruiter
Monte Landis
Dr. Dodd
Sandy Martin
Mrs. Meredith
Severn Darden
Dr. Meredith
Randy Lowell
Cornell
Robert Prescott
Kent
John Shepherd Reid
Carter
Tommy Swerdlow
Bodie
Mark Kamiyama
'Ick' Ikagami
Martin Gundersen
Math Professor
Brett Miller
Carpet Man
Dean Devlin
Milton
Yuji Okumoto
Fenton
Lynda Wiesmeier
Chris' Girl at Party
Penny Baker
Ick's Girl at Party
Marcia Karr
Cornell's Girl at Party
Isabelle Walker
Girl at Party
Marii Mak
Girl at Party
Cheri Wells
Girl at Party
Catherine MacNamara
Girl at Party
John Vasily
Student
Ed Garrabrandt
TV Makeup Man
Robin Stober
Waitress
Deborah Foreman
Susan Decker
David Marvit
Student in Hall
Michael Crabtree
Air Force SP at Gate
Charles Sweigart
Air Force SP at Gate
Peter Parros
Air Force SP at Gate
Ronald Taylor
Computer Technician
James Carrington
Air Force Major
Michael Backes
Air Force Controller
Corki Grazer
Air Force Sergeant
Jeanne Mori
Laser Technician
David Ursin
Engineer
Joe Dorsey
Congressman Dougton
Will Knox
Laser Specialist
Kevin Hurley
Air Force Technician
Robert J. Woodhead
Hacking Consultant
Helen Kelly
Party Guest (uncredited)
David Monterosso
Student In Cafeteria (uncredited)
Joy Michelle Moore
Party Girl on Surfboard (uncredited)
Tom Tangen
Student on Ice Skates (uncredited)
Did you know?
Trivia
When Mitch rides the cart into the steam tunnels, the viewer briefly sees the quotation, "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain" scrawled on the left wall. These are the original words of the German poet Friedrich Schiller. Relevant to the film, Isaac Asimov named three separate stories "Against Stupidity", "The Gods Themselves" and "Contend in Vain". He later combined them into a 1972 science fiction novel about a conspiracy by aliens who inhabit a parallel universe with different physical laws than ours, and who are trying to turn our Sun into a supernova in order to collect the resulting energy for their use.
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The writings on the walls in the steam tunnels ("light your way", etc) are references to the game "Wizardry" and its sequels, in which clues can be found scrawled on the walls of the dungeon. The ending credits contain: "Thank to Sir-Tech, for Wizardry". Alternatively, assuming that Real Genius is meant to represent Caltech, the writing on the walls of the steam tunnels could be representative of the real writing on the walls of the real steam tunnels at Caltech.
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Credited actor Michael Backes is the husband of the director, Martha Coolidge.
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Goofs
During the party scene, Chris first puts a blue lei around Mitch's neck and has a red lei in his hand. In the next shot, Mitch is wearing the red lei and Chris is holding the blue lei. Then in the next shot, Mitch is wearing the blue one and Chris is once again holding the red one.
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The successful laser test shoots a hole through the cinder blocks, out the lab window, and through the head of the statue on the campus lawn. Later, the statue is shown with the head intact.
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In the scene where Chris confronts Mitch about wanting to leave, right after he says, "If you want to leave," you see Chris' mouth move, but the sounds "go ahead" happen after he turns away.
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Quotes
Mitch: And from now on, stop playing with yourself.
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Chris Knight: Sir, let me take this moment to compliment you on your fashion sense, particularly your slippers.
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Mitch: [as he helps a hallway sledder up from a crash] Are you okay?
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Photos from cast
Michelle Meyrink Isabel Cooley
black sunglasses clip art sunglasses clip art black sunglasses clipart full rim