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Ruthless People (1986)
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Overview
User Rating:
Your Rating:
Directors:
Writers:
Release Date:
27 June 1986 (USA)
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Tagline:
Barbara Stone has just been kidnapped by K-Mart, and what she doesn't know won't hurt her. more
Plot:
A couple, cheated by a vile businessman, kidnap his wife in retalitation, without knowing that their enemy is delighted they did. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Golden Globe.
Another 1 win
&
1 nomination
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NewsDesk:
(5 articles)
Danny DeVito And His Weird Trollfoot Fetish In Today's Daily TwitPic
(From MTV Movies Blog. 4 December 2009, 6:00 AM, PST)
'Up In The Air,' 'Serious Moonlight' and 'Loot' In This Week's unLimited
(From MTV Movies Blog. 1 December 2009, 10:00 AM, PST)
(From MTV Movies Blog. 4 December 2009, 6:00 AM, PST)
'Up In The Air,' 'Serious Moonlight' and 'Loot' In This Week's unLimited
(From MTV Movies Blog. 1 December 2009, 10:00 AM, PST)
User Reviews:
One of the Funniest Comedies of Errors I Have Ever Seen (and Re-Seen)
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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 |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
93 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
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:
Company:
Fun Stuff
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.
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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.
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Quotes:
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "100 höjdare: Världens roligaste ögonblick 50-41 (#2.6)" (2005)
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Soundtrack:
Dance Champion
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (66 total)
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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")