Made in U.S.A. (1987 film)

Made in U.S.A.

Company type	Film
Industry	Entertainment
Founded	1987
Key people	Ken Friedman (director), Zbigniew Kempinski (writer)
Products	Crime drama, black comedy film

Made in U.S.A. is a 1987 American crime drama combined with black comedy, directed by Ken Friedman and scripted by Zbigniew Kempinski.

Plot

The narrative centers on two young men, portrayed by Adrian Pasdar and Chris Penn, who leave their blue-collar coal-mining community in Pennsylvania to journey westward to California. During their trip, they pick up a hitchhiker (played by Lori Singer) and embark on a series of criminal acts. Their travels take them through multiple locations across the United States that have been severely impacted by human-caused environmental catastrophes, beginning in their declining hometown of Centralia, Pennsylvania and continuing through sites such as the ghost town of Times Beach, Missouri and the area affected by the Church Rock incident in New Mexico.

Cast

• Adrian Pasdar as Dar
• Chris Penn as Tuck
• Lori Singer as Annie
• Marji Martin as Ma Frazier
• Tiny Wells as Pa Frazier
• Judith Baldwin as Dorie
• Jacqueline Murphy as Cora
• Frank Beddor as Bud
• Dean Paul Martin as Cowboy
• Katherine Kelly Lang as Kelly

Soundtrack

Music for the film was provided by the American group Sonic Youth, who later released an album titled Made in USA in 1995 featuring tracks recorded specifically for the movie. In 2016, they issued "Spinhead Sessions," which includes extended versions of these original compositions.

Release and Versions

The film experienced a postponed release due to a conflict over creative authority between director Friedman and John Daly of Hemdale Films, the copyright holder. Friedman presented his cut without Hemdale’s consent at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival. Subsequently, Hemdale issued their own version on home video in 1989.

Trademark dispute over the film's title

Initially named USA Today, the film faced legal action from Gannett, publisher of the USA Today newspaper, who sued Hemdale Film Corporation over the use of the title. Federal court documents reveal that as part of the resolution, Hemdale agreed to rename the movie Made in U.S.A..