This Blu-ray disc from the MVD Rewind Collection is currently available at all retailers.
As many readers will already know, the 80s were a remarkable decade for movie lovers. A lot of this had to do with the proliferation of the VCR, or Videocassette Recorder. In decades past, if you wanted to catch up with a movie, you had to see it during its run at theaters, hope it aired on TV (and watch it live) years later or wait for a screening at a repertory cinema. The introduction of VCRs into homes changed all that. You could find and rent older titles with much more ease and even catch up with new flicks you missed (even though you would have to wait a year or so after its release before it appeared on VHS or Betamax). This technology became so popular that there was an unexpected demand for product. As a result, smaller movies were being picked up and rushed out on VHS, reaching wider audiences outside the cinema circuit.
Liar’s Moon was an independently produced feature from Texas that premiered at the WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival in 1981. It landed a small distributor and earned a minor theatrical release in 1982, but ended up making a much bigger impact on videocassette. Fans still adore the movie, so much so that the MVD Rewind Collection has decided to give it the Blu-ray treatment. This Collector’s Edition presents the movie in widescreen high definition and looking better than it ever has before (certainly putting the old full-frame VHS to shame).
The movie was devised to appeal to young ladies and the story throws in a liberal dose of old-fashioned romantic melodrama. Set in the 1940s, the story follows Jack Duncan (Matt Dillon), a genial, friendly kid from the wrong side of the tracks. When a local banker’s daughter Ginny Peterson (Cindy Fisher) takes a break from her boarding school to return home, she and Jack cross paths. Initially, the young lad can’t seem to do anything right around local aristocrat Ginny, but as time passes the two become close. While Jack’s dad Cecil (Hoyt Axton) is happy that the pair are having fun together, his mother (Margaret Blye) is upset by the burgeoning relationship. So are Ginny’s parents… particularly her father (Christopher Connelly), who seems determined to keep them apart. Frustrated, the teens rebel, eloping across state lines to get married. They try to start a new life together, but find themselves being hunted by Det. Roy Logan (Richard Moll).
Yes, this is definitely a teen romance, but one that features some interesting details about its characters that you wouldn’t see in many other genre titles. In particular, there’s an amusing greased pig-catching contest at a fair that ultimately brings the protagonists together. Dillon and Fisher really stand out as the stars of the show.
None of this would work without onscreen chemistry between the teens and the two youths really impress. Their relationship develops in a sweet and low-key manner, with both stars keeping things authentic and believable. They manage to draw viewers in as the story progresses and introduces more unusual story twists. And I do mean very unusual… the final act adds heavier themes into the mix, including teen pregnancy and even incest. The film thankfully doesn’t go over-the-top with these bits and handles them in a straightforward manner, but they certainly add heightened emotional turmoil into the proceedings. Naturally, it does result in some histrionics, as well as Jack telling a couple of the adults off for their awful biases and horrendous behavior.
It seems pretty clear that the makers of this film were trying to generate interest and excitement by casting up-and-comers Matt Dillon and Cindy Fisher. Co-star Dillon had only popped up in a few tittles at this point in his career, including the villain in My Bodyguard and one lead in Tex. He hadn’t even appeared in The Outsiders or Rumble Fish yet. Clearly, the strategy worked in the long run (while it didn’t make waves initially, not long after the flick was released on VHS, it drew in viewers eager to see more works featuring the actor).
The feature benefits from some great production design, which manages to keep almost every background element looking of the era. There’s only one strange aspect which doesn’t get referred to in movie (or any of the extras). Jack has a pair of friends who serve as comic relief, getting the lead into trouble, but also bringing him together with Ginny. One of them sports an unusual mohawk-like hairstyle that seems incongruous with everything else in the picture. He’s an entertaining character, but one wonders exactly who devised his appearance and the reason they chose that particular look.
It is also handsomely photographed by John Hora. He captures some impressive images nicely and the cinematography (which includes some great night shots at a local fair and inside a movie theater) is always pretty. Interestingly enough, he would go on to shoot some major Hollywood features for Joe Dante including Gremlins, Explorers, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Matinee, as well as the “Smooth Criminal” video for Michael Jackson. The images have been very nicely transferred to Blu-ray by distributor MVD.
This is a decent teen coming-of-age drama on its own, but the Blu-ray also contains some impressive bonuses. For one, there’s a feature-length documentary that includes interviews with writer/director David Fisher, co-writer Janice Thompson, actress Tonja Walker, composer/song-writer Ray Benson, Jeanene Hanna (wife of producer Billy Hanna) production manager Susan Vogelflang and set decorator Maria Caso. It’s a very informative piece that goes through the entire process of how this independent film was created and managed to snag a distributor.
Viewers learn about what inspired the story, the director’s approach to making a teen love story, as well as the unusual plot devices that appear towards the climax. Some of the most interesting material involves the last act. Specifically, the finale and how two different versions were shot. One is described as happy (although it does include one major element of tragedy), while the other finish ends the life of one of the leads. They all discuss why two ending were shot and how the alternate ending ended up being used and released in a few territories. It’s all fascinating stuff.
The version on this Blu-ray has the ending that was seen in most countries, but the alternate close is also available on the disc as an extra. There is also an entertaining featurette with composer/song-writer Ray Benson and the director on the music created for the movie. Additionally, the Collector’s Edition comes with a trailer for the movie.
“Liar’s Moon” is certainly am exaggerated teen romance, but one that works better than expected thanks to the great cast and crew behind the camera. It’s also fun to see a star in the making with a very young Matt Dillon taking on a co-lead role. The Blu-ray is equally impressive, including about two hours of bonus material that really paints a detailed picture of how the independent flick came together. This is a very fun release that will certainly impress fans of the movie and those interested in seeing a young Dillon making his mark on the big screen.