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Eddie and the Cruisers Part I came out in 1983. The movie was set in 1963 and Eddie Wilson and his band, The Cruisers, had a string of hits, but then Eddie wanted to veer in a different direction and the music producers said no. This led to Eddie’s disappearance. Later, a reporter speculated that Eddie’s work could be compared to the late poet, Arthur Rimbaud, who wrote a poem called Season in Hell.
My friends and I loved the movie and I saw it about 4 or 5 times. My daughter was a toddler, and she remembers it. The movie had magic, mystique, and mystery.
I’m not giving you any spoilers. The writers and producers of the movie did that in Part I.
When Eddie and the Cruisers Part II came out six years later, Eddie’s disappearance is explained. The story of mystery became a study of human creativity and sometimes disappointment.
When I was young, I did not like Part II because Part I was so powerful for me. Now that I am older, I appreciate Part II. You have to see both movies, which tell the whole story of Eddie and his band. Michael Pare and Tom Berenger (Wordman) were great as were all the cast. Standouts were Joe Pantoliano and Matthew Laurance. Helen Schneider was beautiful and marvelous as Eddie’s girlfriend, Joann. It should be noted that Michael Pare was Eddie in both movies. It was a stellar breakout performance.
The music from both films, composed by John Cafferty and The Beaver Brown Band, was wonderful. My personal favorite was the music from Part I and my favorite songs were Tender Years and Season in Hell.
If you get a chance, check out Eddie and the Cruisers Part I and II. You won’t be disappointed.
