Two children of divorce bond in this gentle, character-driven comedy from acclaimed director Robert M. Young. Franny (Trini Alvarado, in her feature film debut) knows her wealthy parents (John Lithgow and Kathryn Walker) are splitting up. Though they keep up a good front, she’s well aware that her father sleeps elsewhere and then sneaks into their apartment at 5 a.m. At her exclusive private school, she bonds with new kid Jamie (Jeremy Levy), who at the age of 12 is already an old hand at dealing with divorced parents. As he helps her navigate the tricky emotional terrain, the two grow close and consider sexual explorations, setting the stage for an explosive confrontation with their clueless parents. Young made a name for himself as a documentarian, most notably with his Peabody-winning civil rights film Sit-In (1960). He moved into narrative features with the screen version of Miguel Pinero’s explosive prison drama Short Eyes (1977), followed by a study of illegal immigration, Alambrista! (1977), which won the Camera d’Or at Cannes. For Rich Kids, he worked with producers Robert Altman and George W. George on a script by George’s wife, playwright Judith Ross. They did location shooting on New York’s exclusive Upper West Side, including the Calhoun School. Unfortunately, their parent studio, United Artists, cut the film’s budget to pump more money into Heaven’s Gate (1980). Alvarado went on to a long career in such films as Mrs. Soffel (1984) and Little Women (1994). This was Levy’s only film credit. He dropped out of the business and eventually became a physics professor at the University of Pittsburgh.
by Frank Miller
Rich Kids
Brief Synopsis
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12-year-old Trini Alvarado is going through a tough time because her parents are divorcing. But she is encouraged when she becomes friends with Jeremy Levy whose parents divorced years ago. Jeremy tells Trini that there are some advantages of being a child of divorce and makes such a convincing argument that he almost begins to believe it himself.
Cast & Crew
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Robert M Young
Director
Jeremy Levy
Jamie Harris
John Lithgow
Paul Philips
Trini Alvarado
Franny Philips
Kathryn Walker
Madeline Philips
Terry Kiser
Ralph Harris
Film Details
MPAA Rating
Genre
Comedy
Drama
Release Date
1979
Production Company
Pacific Title & Art Studio
Distribution Company
United Artists Films
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 36m
Sound
Stereo
Color
Color (Technicolor)
Synopsis
12-year-old Trini Alvarado is going through a tough time because her parents are divorcing. But she is encouraged when she becomes friends with Jeremy Levy whose parents divorced years ago. Jeremy tells Trini that there are some advantages of being a child of divorce and makes such a convincing argument that he almost begins to believe it himself.
Director
Robert M Young
Director
Cast
Jeremy Levy
Jamie Harris
John Lithgow
Paul Philips
Trini Alvarado
Franny Philips
Kathryn Walker
Madeline Philips
Terry Kiser
Ralph Harris
David Selby
Steve Sloan
Roberta Maxwell
Barbara Peterfreund
Paul Dooley
Simon Peterfreund
Diane Stilwell
Stewardess
Dianne Kirksey
Ralph'S Secretary
Irene Worth
Madeleine'S Mother
Olympia Dukakis
Lawyer
Jill Eikenberry
Juilliard Student
Kathryn Grody
Gym Teacher
Beatrice Winde
Corine
Stacy Peppell
Susan
Jack Hausman
Jamie'S Grandfather
Lacey Neuhaus
Receptionist
Patti Hansen
Beverly
Michael Miller
Bus Boy
Shag Starbird
Shag
Lou Bonacki
Crew
John Alper
Song ("Goodbye Yesterday")
John Alper
Supervisor
Robert Altman
Executive Producer
Trini Alvarado
Song Performer ("Happy Ida And Broken-Hearted John")
Randall Badger
Production Assistant
Alan Bellink
Song ("Goodbye Yesterday")
Edward Beyer
Editor
Ralf D Bode
Director Of Photography
Richard Brandt
Props
Carole Lee Carroll
Production Assistant
Patricia Churchill
Post-Production Supervisor
Joseph Cuervo
Makeup
Mercedes Danevic
Assistant Editor
Craig Doerge
Song ("Happy Ida And Broken-Hearted John" "Fast Asleep" "Reasons" "Hot Love In A Minute" "You Changed All That" "I Don'T Wanna Dance" "You Knock Me Out")
Craig Doerge
Music
Ted Drachman
Song ("Goodbye Yesterday")
Jay Dranch
Assistant Editor
Neil Fallon
Sound Mixer
Sam Gemette
Sound Editor
George W. George
Producer
Christopher Goode
Production Assistant
Robert Gravenor
Sound Rerecording Mixer
Robert Grimaldi
Hairstyles
Michael Hausman
1st Assistant Director
Michael Hausman
Producer
Shawn Hausman
Production Assistant
Judy Henske
Song ("Happy Ida And Broken-Hearted John" "Fast Asleep")
David M Horton
Sound Editor
Nancy Lee Katz
Stills
Paul Martino
Casting
Sandy Mcleod
Script Supervisor
Richard Merrell
Set Decorator
Billy Miller
Key Grip
David J Mitchell
Art Direction
Florence Nerlinger
Production Coordinator
Evelop Perez
Scenic Artist
Richard Portman
Sound Rerecording Mixer
Pam Rhodes
Production Assistant
Hilary Rosenfeld
Costume Designer
Judith Ross
Screenwriter
Patrice Ryan
Title Design
Harold Sasso
Set Decorator
Tom Schwinn
Production Assistant
Gabell Smith
Sound Mixer
Michael L Stone
Camera Operator
Bridget Terry
Publicist
Tommy Thompson
Production Manager
Joel Tuber
2nd Assistant Director
Film Details
MPAA Rating
Genre
Comedy
Drama
Release Date
1979
Production Company
Pacific Title & Art Studio
Distribution Company
United Artists Films
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 36m
Sound
Stereo
Color
Color (Technicolor)
Articles
Rich Kids
Rich Kids
Two children of divorce bond in this gentle, character-driven comedy from acclaimed director Robert M. Young. Franny (Trini Alvarado, in her feature film debut) knows her wealthy parents (John Lithgow and Kathryn Walker) are splitting up. Though they keep up a good front, she’s well aware that her father sleeps elsewhere and then sneaks into their apartment at 5 a.m. At her exclusive private school, she bonds with new kid Jamie (Jeremy Levy), who at the age of 12 is already an old hand at dealing with divorced parents. As he helps her navigate the tricky emotional terrain, the two grow close and consider sexual explorations, setting the stage for an explosive confrontation with their clueless parents. Young made a name for himself as a documentarian, most notably with his Peabody-winning civil rights film Sit-In (1960). He moved into narrative features with the screen version of Miguel Pinero’s explosive prison drama Short Eyes (1977), followed by a study of illegal immigration, Alambrista! (1977), which won the Camera d’Or at Cannes. For Rich Kids, he worked with producers Robert Altman and George W. George on a script by George’s wife, playwright Judith Ross. They did location shooting on New York’s exclusive Upper West Side, including the Calhoun School. Unfortunately, their parent studio, United Artists, cut the film’s budget to pump more money into Heaven’s Gate (1980). Alvarado went on to a long career in such films as Mrs. Soffel (1984) and Little Women (1994). This was Levy’s only film credit. He dropped out of the business and eventually became a physics professor at the University of Pittsburgh.by Frank Miller
Quotes
They're too old to play "Doctor" and too young to do anything else.- Corine
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States Winter January 1, 1979
Released in United States Winter January 1, 1979
