THE GOLDEN CHILD
US, 1986, 94 minutes, Colour.
Eddie Murphy, Charles Dance, Charlotte Lewis.
Directed by Michael Ritchie.
The Golden Child was designed as a star vehicle for comic Eddie Murphy. After his successful comic routines and Saturday Night Live career, Murphy made an impact in 48 Hours and then, Trading Places. This film was not such a success, critically or at the box office. After it he went back to the second Beverly Hills Cop film.
The story is a mixture of various elements from the fantasy films so popular in the '70s and '80s, especially the Indiana Jones films. It also has a lot in common with John Carpenter's Big Trouble in Little China with its mystical Eastern connections.
Murphy seems rather more subdued in this film though, of course, he is exuberant. British Charles Dance (Jewel in the Crown, Plenty, White Mischief) is an excellent villain.
The special effects and the stunt work are lavish, the presentation is quite vivid - but, all in all, it is minor Eddie Murphy and minor fantasy.
1. An enjoyable fantasy? in the vein of the adventures so popular in the '80s? An Eddie Murphy vehicle?
2. The eastern locations, Los Angeles locations? The exotic contrast of East and West? The special effects and fantasies for the Golden Child, for Sardo Numspa?The musical score?
3. The title, the prologue and focus on the Golden Child and the robbery of the Golden Child? Mystical powers? The Child in Los Angeles? The quest for the Child? The importance of Chandler Jarrell as being the chosen one? The build-up to the confrontation between Jarrell and Sardo Numspa? The help of the Golden Child? Kee Alang and her intervention? The saving of the Golden Child? Its future and restoring life to Kee Nang?
4. Eddie Murphy as Chandler Jarrell: his detective work, success and failure, living by himself, his comic jive style? The encounter with Kee Nang? The information about the chosen one and the Golden Child? His scepticism? His search for lost children? The discovery of the murdered girl? The visit to the Oracle? The importance of the guest? Hell on Earth and his being the chosen one to save the world? The Child appearing to Chandler? His belief? The importance of his visit to Tibet and his pilgrimage (with the comic asides)? The importance of Numspa' s vision to Chandler? The dagger and exchange? Getting the dagger in Tibet? The old beggar, the necklace, the old beggar being Kee Nang's father and leading on Chandler? The dagger, his dedication? The importance of his relationship with Kee Nang? Planning the marr-iage? The build-up to the confrontation with Sardo Numspa? His hench¬men? The magical bird? The freedom of the Child? The fight with the dragon? The protection with the necklace? The dagger? The happoy ending?
5. Sardo Numspa as villain, his style and entourage? The stealing of the Golden Child? His headquarters? The confrontation with Chandler? Numspa and his human appearances, his mysterious appearances? His vision and wanting the dagger? The final confrontation at the airport, the henchmen? The final battle and his transforming himself into a dragon? His being killed? _
6. Kee Nang, her father, the visit to Chandler, the relationship? The visit to Tibet, the old beggar and his mysterious appearance? His leading Chandler on? The dagger? The return to Los Angeles? Kee Nang and her death? Being raised to new life?
7. The popular themes of heroes and heroines, quests and endurance, achievement? An '80s cinema pop fantasy?
