RAISING ARIZONA

Raising Arizona

Sponsored by

701 San Anselmo Avenue, San Anselmo

415-459-1612

1987 Circle 94m

The promise that was evident in BLOOD SIMPLE, the Coen Brothers' remarkably assured debut, is fulfilled in RAISING ARIZONA, an entertaining, energetic, and stylish comedy about a simple but loving couple who long to be parents.

H.I., "HI" McDonnough (Nicholas Cage) is a hopeless inept petty crook who attempts to go straight after he marries prison officer Edwina (Holly Hunter), and they settle down in a trailer in the middle of the Arizona Desert. They long for a normal family life, but are childless and unable to adopt due to HI's criminal past. When they read that the wife of a wealthy Furniture store owner, Nathan Arizona, has just had quintuplets, they decide that their prayers have been answered and take one of the little tikes for themselves.

RAISING ARIZONA is populated with excellent performances, especially from its two leads. Cage creates a homey and thoroughly likable character who earns the respect of the audience, but Hunter is the real surprise. Appearing in her first starring role, the stage veteran displays so much energy that she forces the audience to pay attention. The supporting cast is equally impressive, particularly John Goodman and William Forsythe as a couple of escaped convicts who pay a visit to their old friend HI. Former professional boxer Randall "Tex" Cobb is also memorable as a thoroughly bizarre and very menacing bounty hunter.

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1987

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June 30th Glasnost introduced in USSR

October 19th World stockmarket crash

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Deaths

3/4 Randolph Scott

5/14 Rita Hayworth