Ruthless People (1986)

Directors:

Jim Abrahams
David Zucker

Writers:

Dale Launer (written by) and
O. Henry (story)

Release Date:

27 June 1986 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

Barbara Stone has just been kidnapped by K-Mart, and what she doesn't know won't hurt her.

Plot:

A couple, cheated by a vile businessman, kidnap his wife in retalitation, without knowing that their enemy is delighted they did.

Plot Keywords:

Police | Hooker | Blackmail | Revenge | Murder

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Danny DeVito	...	Sam Stone
Bette Midler	...	Barbara Stone
Judge Reinhold	...	Ken Kessler
Helen Slater	...	Sandy Kessler
Anita Morris	...	Carol Dodsworth
Bill Pullman	...	Earl Mott
William G. Schilling	...	Chief Henry Benton
Art Evans	...	Lt. Bender
Clarence Felder	...	Lt. Walters
J.E. Freeman	...	Bedroom Killer
Gary Riley	...	Heavy Metal Kid
Phyllis Applegate	...	Loan Officer
Jeannine Bisignano	...	Hooker in Car
J.P. Bumstead	...	Technician
Jon Cutler	...	Stereo Store Customer

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Argentina:16 (video rating) | Iceland:12 | USA:PG-13 (re-rated) | USA:TV-14 (uncut) | UK:18 (original rating) | UK:15 (video rating) (2002) | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Silver Screen Partners II

Trivia:

There are some references to the Walt Disney world: Ken and Sandy Kessler are wearing duck masks (presumably Donald's nephews Huey and Dewey) as Barbara Stone says a few minutes later when they first uncover Barbara's face. When Sam Stone visits his lover Carol's house, he's singing "Zip-a-dee Doo-Dah" from Song of the South (1946). Ruthless People (1986) was released under Disney's Touchstone Pictures label, which was created so the studio could release more adult-oriented fare.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Barbra tries to escape, she throws a coffee mug at Ken, hitting his nose. You can see the plexiglass in front of Ken reflecting light on his shirt. Also, slowing down the frames, before the mug hits Ken, you can clearly see the cut mark already painted on his nose before the mug hits him.

Quotes:

[One of the policemen notices a puddle on the floor of the mansion and takes a taste. Sam quickly explains]
Sam Stone: It's the dog. She's not properly house-trained.
[the other policemen look disgusted]
Policeman: No. It's sweet.
Sam Stone: The dog's a little diabetic.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "100 höjdare: Världens roligaste ögonblick 50-41 (#2.6)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Dance Champion

One of the Funniest Comedies of Errors I Have Ever Seen (and Re-Seen)

The executive of the clothing industry Sam Stone (Danny DeVito) tells his mistress Carol Dodsworth (Anita Morris) that he can not bear his wealthy wife Barbara (Bette Midler) anymore and that he is going to kill her. When Sam arrives at his mansion in Bel-Air with chloroform, he does not finds Barbara; sooner he receives a phone call telling that Barbara has been kidnapped and asking a five hundred thousand dollar ransom. Further, he is warned that he should not call the press or the police, otherwise Barbara would be murdered. However, forty-five minutes later, his house is surrounded by the police and the press and Sam is celebrating the abduction in his room, without any intention of paying the ransom and expecting that the kidnappers kill Barbara for him. Meanwhile, the clumsy and inexperienced kidnappers Ken Kessler (Judge Reinhold) and his wife and stylist Sandy (Helen Slater) have been lured in a business with Sam in the past, when he stole a design of Sandy an raised a fortune, and they are actually seeking a financial compensation for their loss; however they are having difficulties to handle with Barbara in the basement of their lower medium-class house. When Carol asks her stupid lover Earl Mott (Bill Pullman) to make a videotape of Sam killing Barbara, Earl commits a mistake and records the Chief of Police Henry Benton (William G. Schilling) having kinky and noise sex with a prostitute in his car instead. Carol decides to blackmail Sam with the tape believing he killed Barbara, and she sends a copy to Benton to press him to arrest Sam. Ken reduces the ransom to ten thousand dollars, but Sam refuses to pay while Barbara loses twenty pounds working out while imprisoned and befriends Sandy. When Barbara discovers the intentions of Sam, she decides to help the young couple to take Sam's money.

"Ruthless People" is one of the funniest comedies of errors I have ever seen and re-seen. The plot is excellent, supported by a magnificent screenplay and wonderful performances highlighting Bette Midler and Danny DeVito). Bill Pullman in the beginning of his career is recognizable performing a tacky and stupid character. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Por Favor Matem a Minha Mulher" ("Please Kill My Wife")