I wasn’t a fan of actor Chris Penn, brother of Sean Penn, but when I read that he died, I immediately thought of the movie I most identified him with: Footloose.
Some of you thirty- and fortysomethings may have gone to see it in 1984. I was in high school, and my best friend and I went to see a new movie with Kevin Bacon, set in a small Texas town that outlawed dancing. Bacon was the new kid from Chicago, out of place, and coming to terms with his parents’ divorce.
Needless to say he shakes up the sleepy, backward town and demands the right to dance, leading his new friends on a town council/bigot-fighting crusade. His best friend was a country boy who liked to fight named Willard, played by Chris Penn (on the right wearing the hat). As Bacon’s character is risking life and limb for a prom, he teaches Willard how to dance. Those are the funniest scenes in the movie because, of course, Kevin Bacon can’t dance either! Like the young and impulsive often do, my friend and I sat through another showing of “Footloose” that day, and my favorite character wasn’t the “star” but the star’s best friend, played by Penn.
I saw Penn in other 80s movies such as “Rumble Fish” with Matt Dillon, “All the Right Moves” with Tom Cruise, and “At Close Range” with his brother. By the way, if you’ve never seen “At Close Range” (1986), you really ought to. It’s one of the most underrated films of that decade, in my opinion.
Sean Penn was married to Madonna at the time, and she sang the haunting theme, “Live to Tell.” Sean and Chris were brothers whose estranged father was a charming criminal, played by scary-but-cool Christopher Walken. I don’t want to give too much away, but when Sean’s character realizes how cold and depraved his father really is and what he must do to stop him…the scenes are heartbreaking, especially the final one. I hate Sean’s politics, but his acting is a different story.
I didn’t know the state of Chris’s soul, but I can only hope…
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Even more shocking is that At Close Range was based on true events. I remember back in 1998-99 one of the suspects escaped from prison, which brought renewed interest to the case. I remember video stores were having a heck of a time keeping the video in stock because of the renewed interest.
If memory serves me, it was about three kids working as informants for the FBI who were eventually murdered by head of the crime family, or something to that effect.
Chilling indeed. And, yes, Madonna’s theme song is great. One of the best 80s ballads.
This is really thoughtful La Shawn. Before my “new birth” I was a Quentin Tarentino junky and therefore Reservoir Dogs was one of my favorite movies and it is what comes to mind when I think of Chis Penn.
It’s interesting how the Lord is pointing (is it just me or are the birth pains getting closer and closer) to everyone what is really important(money can’t save you, good works of feeding the poor and fighting aids can’t save you, being a good person can’t save you and many other things that people believe). Death is always a wake call (or should be)…
for the believer- Did you tell the Good News about the Savior?
for the non-believer – To everyone a time is allotted, the only difference is do you have a saving relationship with Him or not?
I was just thinking about Reservoir Dogs because of this. For some reason that is the movie that comes to mind when I think of Chris Penn.
With regard to Footloose, I believe I was 15 when that movie came out. I was young and easily impressed by the stupidest of things. But I remember even then thinking Footloose was just too immature for me.
Mike M. – I remember that, because I think (could be wrong) that family was from around my way – southeastern PA/Chester County? yes, real people, really screwed up family. my dad saw one of them (the dad?) in his ER once, or so he claims.
Maia,
Yeah…I live in Wilmington, Del. and I remember the frenzy people had when the one of the brothers involved in the crime family escaped, only to be caught 18 days later.
Here’s a link to the obit of Bruce Johnston, the head of the family.
L: thank you for reminding me of the character he played in Footloose. I too found it incredibly funny. I didn’t realize it was Chris Penn when I read headlines about his death last week. And I’ll be sure to check out At Close Range.
I loved Chris Penn in Footloose. He played a believable character. Sure, Kevin Bacon is great (heck, Kevin Bacon’s a great actor!), but Penn’s Willard was so honest, homely, and loveable.
I’m sorry to hear he’s gone.
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