Real Genius

Real Genius is a 1985 comedy film starring Val Kilmer. The movie is set on the campus of "Pacific Tech," a fictitious university in the United States. Chris Knight, played by Val Kilmer, is a genius in his senior year working on a chemical laser. He came to the university as a subdued, assiduous student, but over time turned into a prankster and fun character after deciding to enjoy life more. Mitch, played by Gabriel Jarret, is a new student to the campus who is paired up with Knight to work on the laser. He is like a young Knight, and originally has trouble settling in, but Knight manages to teach him how to live on campus without "burning out".

Related Topics:
1985 - Comedy film - Val Kilmer - United States - Gabriel Jarret - Burning out

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More recently, comparisons have been made between "Real Genius" and the Airborne Laser project for the U.S. Air Force. The most obvious difference, however, is that the Airborne Laser is defensive in nature.

Related Topics:
Airborne Laser - U.S. Air Force

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While the actual campus used in the filming was that of Occidental College, many references suggest that "Pacific Tech" is meant as a thinly disguised version of Caltech. Dave Marvit, a former Caltech undergraduate student, was a consultant for the film, and photographs of graffiti on the walls of Dabney House at Caltech were used for interior sets. Martha Coolidge, the Director, was a stickler for authenticity, so many Caltech undergraduate students spent many days on the set as extras during multiple scenes, including many scenes involving the dorm halls. Regrettably for the Caltch students, the "student beauticians" scene, which featured actors in swimwear during the Tanning Invitational (an actual Caltech annual event at the time), was filmed during finals week, and therefore all the extras in that scene are non-students.

Related Topics:
Occidental College - Caltech - Dabney House

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