Used Cars (1980)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Robert Zemeckis

Writers:

Robert Zemeckis (written by) &
Bob Gale (written by)

Release Date:

11 July 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Estimated Laugh Count: 287 City, 410 Highway. Use these numbers only for comparison. Your actual laughs may vary depending on how you feel about used car salesmen, nude women, spectacular car stunts, and the President of the United States.

Plot:

When the owner of a struggling used car lot is killed, it's up to the lot's hot-shot salesman to save the property from falling into the hands of the owner's ruthless brother and used-car rival.

Plot Keywords:

Car | Salesman | Used Car Lot | Used Car Salesman | Bar

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Kurt Russell	...	Rudolph 'Rudy' Russo
Jack Warden	...	Roy L. Fuchs / Luke Fuchs
Gerrit Graham	...	Jeff
Frank McRae	...	Jim, the Mechanic
Deborah Harmon	...	Barbara Jane Fuchs
Joe Flaherty	...	Sam Slaton (as Joseph P. Flaherty)
David L. Lander	...	Freddie Paris
Michael McKean	...	Eddie Winslow
Michael Talbott	...	Mickey
Harry Northup	...	Carmine
Alfonso Arau	...	Manuel
Al Lewis	...	Judge H. H. Harrison
Woodrow Parfrey	...	Mr. Chartner
Andrew Duncan	...	Charlie
Dub Taylor	...	Tucker

Runtime:

113 min | Canada:103 min (Ontario)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:14A (Ontario) | Iceland:L | Sweden:15 | Australia:M | Norway:15 | Spain:13 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:12 | Finland:S

Filming Locations:

Berge Ford - 310 E Main Street, Mesa, Arizona, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale had originally developed the script for Universal, but when they passed on it they took it to Columbia Pictures, who was the co-production company of 1941 (1979), which they had written. Head of the studio Frank Price immediately loved the script and quickly greenlit the film. Steven Spielberg who was directing 1941 at the time would go on to executive produce this film.

Goofs:

Continuity: The Edsel mounted on the pole at Luke Fuchs' used car lot is a 1959 model. In a later scene where it is brought down from the pole (to orchestrate the "death" of Luke Fuchs) it is seen crashing into a power station. But the car so careening into the power station is actually a 1958 Edsel. You can also tell it's a 58 when they are loading Luke's body into the front passenger seat.

Quotes:

[First lines]
Rudy: Oww, fuck!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "HBO First Look: 'What Lies Beneath': Constructing the Perfect Thriller (#7.12)" (2000)

Soundtrack:

THE STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER

you get a lot of millage out of this baby

Kurt Russell is Rudy Russo a slimy, dishonest used car salesman working for Luke Fuchs (Jack Warden) who yearns to be in Congress, where the real payola is. When Luke dies from one of the schemes of his evil brother, Roy (Jack Warden again pulling double duty, who owns his own used car lot across the street) to get Luke's car lot, as his is going to be bulldozed to make room for a new offramp. It's up to Rudy to hide Luke's death from both Roy and Luke's daughter, Barbara (Deborah Harmon), whom Rudy is falling for despite himself. This movie is one of Robert Zemeckis's best films (right up there with the first "Back to the Future"), but whereas that's more or less a kid's fantasy, however great it might be. This is a true blue adult comedy that wears it's R rating on it's sleeve. And is all the more hilarious for it. Filled with a great many quotable lines, memorable scenes, and wonderfully zany characters, it's no wonder that I love it so much.

My Grade: B+

DVD Extras: Commentary by Robert Zemeckis, Kurt Russell, and Bob Gale; Outtakes; TV spot; 8 Radio spots; Advertising Gallery; filmagraphies; and Trailers for "So I Married an Axe Murderer", "Multiplicity" and "Groundhog Day"

Eye Candy: Deborah Harmon and Cheryl Rixon each get topless