On February 15, 1991, the movie-going public saw the drama Across the Tracks for the first time. Across the Tracks is only Brad Pitt’s first starring role in a theatrically released movie-
Pitt went on to star in 50 movies after Across the Tracks, so it is fair to say that the Chip Rosenbloom movie helped launch a star. With as long as Pitt has been in the public eye, it seems hard to believe he was a 25-year-old just starting in Hollywood all those years ago.
How Across the Tracks Came to Be
The production notes from Across the Tracks tell an interesting story on their own. Sandy Tung, a Hollywood writer and director, approached Chip Rosenbloom with the plot for a movie originally titled Lean on Me. Some characters in the movie, including Billy Maloney played by Rick Schroder and Joe Maloney played by Brad Pitt, are direct reflections of Tung’s childhood experiences. Tung was a juvenile delinquent who grew up on Staten Island with a father he describes as emotionally distant.
Chip Rosenbloom enjoyed the script and encouraged Tung to finish it. He also promised to produce the film. While the original plan of Tung and Rosenbloom was to hire unknown actors and actresses, that changed when child actor Rick Schroder read the script. Then 19 years old, Schroder requested to play the part of Billy. Filming began in 1989.
Chip and Sandy showed Across the Tracks at several film festivals before its official opening in early 1991. The movie won the Best Feature Film Award of 1990 at the Philadelphia Film Festival and the Bronze Award from the Houston WorldFest, also in 1990.
Movie Synopsis
The movie opens with teenager Billy Maloney and his friend Louie stealing a car in southern California. Both are under the influence of marijuana, and although Louie manages to escape arrest, Billy does not. His punishment is to live at a reform school for juvenile delinquents for one year.
On the same day that Billy returns to his family’s mobile home, his older brother Joe breaks a track and field record at his high school. Unfortunately for Joe, their mother Rosemary Maloney is too excited and distracted by Billy’s return home to give much attention to Joe’s news. Billy feels that Joe resents him returning home, but his brother denies it.
Billy starts high school the day after returning home with his new principal warning of serious consequences if he falls into his old ways. However, he must defend himself against a bully named Brad on the first day of school. At the same time, his brother Joe convinces his track coach to recommend him for a scholarship at the prestigious Stanford University.
When Billy’s friend Louie sees Brad and his friends hassling Billy the next day, he intervenes. Louie also thanks Billy for not turning him in to the police when they stole the car a year earlier. He quickly talks him into violating his probation by once again smoking marijuana. The pair then go on a shoplifting spree. Billy’s brother Joe is furious to see the two hanging out again and encourages him to join his school’s track team.
Billy takes his brother’s advice and joins the track team at his school, which is not the same school Joe attends. However, the brothers become closer as they train for track, and Billy learns some things about their deceased alcoholic father he never knew. He is especially surprised to hear his brother say that excelling in sports was the only way he could win their father’s love. Any losses resulted in the father’s harsh criticism of Joe.
Billy frequently outruns Joe in races, resulting in Joe giving into fits of rage. His anger also causes him to lose his job after he explodes at his boss. The day after, Joe quits his high school track team and gives up on his dream of a Stanford scholarship. He eventually goes back to the team, and the two brothers are slated to race against each other for the championship.
Knowing his older brother has a scholarship on the line and is in his senior year of high school, Billy slows his pace at the end of the race and allows Joe to win. Joe catches onto that fact and confronts his brother at home, but Billy talks him into accepting the scholarship. The movie ends with Billy and his mother saying goodbye to Joe as he leaves home to attend Stanford.
Audience Reactions to Across the Tracks
Few people had access to the internet in 1991, so most movie reviews were in the newspaper. Fortunately, those who saw the film later have shared their thoughts on Rotten Tomatoes. Here are some quotes praising the movie:
“This movie is great for all the runners, and it’s a great portrayal of great actors before they made it big! This movie is more inspiring than Chariots of Fire, PRE, and Without Limits combined.”
“A film I enjoyed, probably because of my liking of the sport, but it had a pretty good storyline between the brothers.”
“I thought this film was great; it is a simple and emotional story based on two brothers, who both happen to be good-looking and great actors. I really like Rick’s performance in this and think he looks gorgeous! Overall a great film and, of course not forgetting Brad Pitt, who is always excellent! I definitely recommend this film.”
Unlike Shiloh five years later, it does not appear that Roger Ebert reviewed Across the Tracks.
About Chip Rosenbloom
Dale “Chip” Rosenbloom was born in New York City in 1964. He later moved to California and graduated from the USC Film School. Chip Rosenbloom is a filmmaker, writer and composer. He recently co-wrote the music for the Broadway play Bronco Billy alongside John Torres. Across the Tracks was one of the earliest films Rosenbloom produced, and he has gone on to have a successful career since then.
