The Goonies (1985)

The Goonies is a 1985 American adventure comedy film directed by Richard Donner, who produced with Harvey Bernhard. The screenplay was written by Chris Columbus from a story by executive producer Steven Spielberg. A band of kids who live in the “Goon Docks” neighborhood of Astoria, Oregon, attempt to save their homes from demolition, and, in doing so, discover an old Spanish map that leads them on an adventure to unearth the long-lost fortune of One-Eyed Willy, a legendary 17th-century pirate. During the entire adventure, they are chased by a family of criminals, who want the treasure for themselves.

Warner Bros. released it on June 7, 1985, in the United States. The film grossed $61.5 million worldwide and has become a cult film.

In 2017, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.[

Facing foreclosure of their homes in the Goon Docks area of Astoria, Oregon, to an expanding country club, a group of children who call themselves “the Goonies” gather for a final weekend together. The Goonies include optimist Mikey Walsh, his older brother, Brandon, the inventive Data, the talkative Mouth and the overweight klutz Chunk.

Rummaging through the Walshes’ attic, they come across a 1632 doubloon and an old treasure map purporting to lead to the famous pirate “One-Eyed” Willy’s hoard located somewhere nearby, whom Mikey considers to be the original “Goonie”. The kids elude Brandon and make their way to a derelict restaurant on the coast that coincides with the map; Brandon soon follows, along with Andy, a cheerleader with a crush on him, and Stef, Andy’s friend. The group quickly discovers the defunct restaurant is being used as a hideout by the criminal Fratelli family: Francis, Jake, and “Mama”.

The Goonies find an underground tunnel in the basement and follow it, but Chunk is captured by the Fratellis and tied up with their deformed, immensely strong younger brother, Sloth. The Fratellis intimidate Chunk until he reveals where the Goonies have gone, and begin pursuit. Chunk is left behind with Sloth, but befriends him. Sloth frees them and Chunk calls the police, then they follow the Fratellis.

The Goonies evade several deadly booby traps along the tunnels while staying ahead of the Fratellis. Finally, they reach the grotto where Willy’s pirate ship, the Inferno, is anchored. The kids discover the ship is filled with treasure and start filling their pockets; Mikey warns them not to take any on a set of scales in front of Willy, considering that to be their tribute to him. As they leave the ship, the Fratellis appear and strip them of their loot. Chunk arrives with Sloth and distracts the Fratellis long enough for the Goonies to jump overboard. With the children gone, the Fratellis proceed to grab all the treasure they can, including those on Willy’s scales. This triggers another trap, causing the grotto to collapse; with Sloth’s help, the Goonies and Fratellis barely make it out in time.

The two groups emerge on Astoria’s beach, where they meet the kids’ families and the police. The Fratellis are captured, but Chunk prevents Sloth from being arrested. As the kids eagerly describe their adventure to their parents, Mikey discovers that his marble bag had not been taken by the Fratellis and is filled with gems he took from the ship. Mikey’s father rips up the foreclosure papers, declaring they have enough money to buy their homes back. Chunk invites Sloth to live with him. As the Goonies celebrate, they see the Inferno, having broken free of the grotto, sailing off on its own in the distance.

Cast

  • Sean Astin as Mikey
  • Josh Brolin as Brand
  • Jeff Cohen as Chunk
  • Corey Feldman as Mouth
  • Kerri Green as Andy
  • Martha Plimpton as Stef
  • Jonathan Ke Huy Quan as Data
  • John Matuszak as Sloth
  • Robert Davi as Jake
  • Joe Pantoliano as Francis
  • Anne Ramsey as Mama Fratelli
  • Lupe Ontiveros as Rosalita
  • Mary Ellen Trainor as Mrs. Walsh
  • Steve Antin as Troy

Director Richard Donner makes a cameo appearance as a deputy. The film’s cinematographer, Nick McLean, also has a cameo as Mouth’s father.

In 2017, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *