A failed businessman is hired by the army to teach a group of underachieving recruits in order to help them pass basic training.A failed businessman is hired by the army to teach a group of underachieving recruits in order to help them pass basic training.A failed businessman is hired by the army to teach a group of underachieving recruits in order to help them pass basic training.
- Pvt. Donnie Benitez
- (as Lillo Brancato Jr.)
- Pvt. Melvin
- (as Greg Sporleder)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAccording to Penny Marshall's memoir "My Mother Was Nuts", the part of Sergeant Cass was originally offered to Ving Rhames. He turned it down, as a friend (Quentin Tarantino) had written a part for him specifically in Pulp Fiction. When he turned the role down, it was offered to Gregory Hines. Penny Marshall's only concern was that Gregory Hines was too nice. Even when he was yelling at the troops, he came off as nice.
- GoofsNear the end of the movie, Sergeant Cass is marching a new bunch of recruits, and the group of men are supposed to be singing the "Hamlet" cadence. However, although we can hear them, none of the men's lips are moving.
- Quotes
Bill Rago: Excuse me. Excuse me. I'm looking for the Army Education Center.
[reads referral]
Bill Rago: Captain Tom Murdoch.
MP Directing Traffic: Captain Murdoch's not at the A.E.C. Captain Murdoch's at the A.R.C
Bill Rago: [fumbling to write down directions] A.R.C., A.E.C.
MP Directing Traffic: [Walks up to Rago] You lookin' for Captain Murdoch?
Bill Rago: Yeah.
MP Directing Traffic: The A.E.C. is building 2310. You want building 4475.
Bill Rago: 447...
MP Directing Traffic: Look, here's what you do. You go right here. Take another right at the P.X. Go half a click 'til you see the D.P.T.M. Center. Then take a left.
Bill Rago: [writing furiously] P.M., P.X.
MP Directing Traffic: If you hit the R.F.P.C., you've gone too far.
[returns to post]
Bill Rago: [reviewing notes] D.P.T.M., R.F.P.C.
[pause]
Bill Rago: Can I buy a vowel?
- SoundtracksCantaloop (Flip Fantasia)
Performed by Us3
Written by Mel Simpson, Geoff Wilkinson, Rahsaan Kelly and Herbie Hancock
Courtesy of Blue Note Records, a division of Capitol Records, Inc.
Under license from CEMA Special Markets
I remember first time I had watched Renaissance Man. I was twelve years old, I knew somewhat about the military, Shakespeare, and illiteracy so even though I was a little to dumb to understand what the movie was about it did peak my interest enough to revisit it a numerous amount of times since. I have to say this is Penny Marshal's most underrated film.
Bill Rago (Danny Devito) is a recently fired and divorced advertising agent who is given a job at a nearby Army Base by an unemployment agency. Rago, with no teaching degree and not wanting to be there, must find a way to help eight underachieving army recruits pass basic training. When the students become interested in a play Rago is reading he soon begins to explain why Hamlet is the greatest thing every written.
As each of the eight students become interested in Hamlet, Mr. Rago becomes interested in them, helping the students become ideal candidates. Before the remaining students can graduate though they must pass Mr. Rago's test if they choose to take it. In the end Mr. Rago finds love and respect from his students, the drill instructors, his daughter and even a new woman.
Although Renaissance Man is not a popular film I guarantee you it is a better and more dramatic film then those that followed (Major Payne, Sgt. Bilko). Danny Devito can do no wrong, this isn't the best character he's played but he certainly outshines the rest of the cast which includes Gregory Hines, James Remar, Stacey Dash, Kadeem Hardison and Marky Mark (Mark Wahlberg). The movie is wonderfully written by Jim Burnstein who's only other notable writing credit includes D3: The Mighty Ducks.
If you're in the mood to revisit a classic do yourself a favor and make it RENAISSANCE MAN. Trust me you'll like it.
- yusufpiskin
- Aug 13, 2020
- Permalink
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- By the Book
- Filming locations
- Fort Jackson, Columbia, South Carolina, USA(Training Scenes)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $40,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $24,332,324
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $5,557,590
- Jun 5, 1994
- Gross worldwide
- $24,332,324
- Runtime2 hours 8 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1