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Cold Turkey (1971)
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Overview
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Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
19 February 1971 (USA)
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Tagline:
What happens when an evil tobacco company offers $25,000,000 to an entire town to stop smoking for thirty days? What happens when 4,006 heavy smokers from Eagle Rock, Iowa take up the challenge? more
Plot:
Reverend Brooks leads the town in a contest to stop smoking for a month, But some tobacco executives don't want them to win...
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User Comments:
One of the Greatest Comedies of all time, a film ahead of its time
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Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Dick Van Dyke | ... | Rev. Clayton Brooks | |
| Pippa Scott | ... | Natalie Brooks | |
| Tom Poston | ... | Mr. Stopworth | |
| Edward Everett Horton | ... | Hiram C. Grayson | |
| Bob Elliott | ... | Hugh Upson / David Chetley / Sandy Van Andy (as Bob and Ray) | |
| Ray Goulding | ... | Walter Chronic / Paul Hardly / Arthur Lordly (as Bob and Ray) | |
| Vincent Gardenia | ... | Mayor Wappler | |
| Barnard Hughes | ... | Dr. Proctor | |
| Graham Jarvis | ... | Amos Bush | |
| Jean Stapleton | ... | Mrs. Wappler | |
| Barbara Cason | ... | Letitia Hornsby | |
| Judith Lowry | ... | Odie Turman | |
| Sudie Bond | ... | Cissy | |
| Helen Page Camp | ... | Mrs. Watson | |
| Paul Benedict | ... | Zen Buddhist |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
99 min
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Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
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Filming Locations:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The end (midnight) town square gathering was actually shot at 1am. The crew had to wait for the local high school band to arrive. The band has a football game to play in and they held up shooting for some time, because they were late to get to the set.
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Goofs:
Plot holes: While the whole town does sign the 30-day non-smoking pledge, unless there was a wall around the town to shut people in, nothing prevents people from traveling to other nearby towns and smoking there, then returning to Eagle Rock.
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Quotes:
Edgar Stopworth:
The booze bone is connected to the smoke bone and the smoke bone is connected to the head bone and that's the word of the Lord!
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Soundtrack:
Hail to the Chief
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Cold Turkey is my all time favorite comedy and a very underrated film that many people have not seen. Still relevant today it is a classic satire of smoking and American life. Filmed in Iowa in 1969 and released to the theater in 1971 the comedy is timeless. I have the laser disc, it is not available on DVD as of yet but is available on VHS video tape. Barnard Hughes gives the performance of his career as Dr. Proctor, the town surgeon and doctor who is a chain smoker. The best scene in the film is when Dr. Proctor is in the operating room with a cigarette and Dick Van Dyke and friends are trying to convince him not to light up because the town will not get the $25 million dollars for everyone not smoking for thirty days if he does. Then Walter Chronic appears in the operating room under a round light which is made to look like a halo. Pippa Scott is Dick Van Dyke's long suffering wife. Graham Jarvis is President of the Christopher Mott Society, a takeoff on the John Birch Society. Tom Poston has a small but important role as the town drunk Mr. Stopworth. Dick Van Dyke is the preacher at the Eagle Rock Community Church who almost single handedly whips the town into action. Edward Everett Horton in his final screen appearance as Hiram Grayson, head of the Valiant Tobacco Company. Bob Newhart in a somewhat unusual role as the villain from the tobacco company who is trying to win the bet with the town. An early vehicle for Norman Lear, this movie foretold his eventual success later. The old lady who is so cantankerous is priceless. Comedians Bob and Ray play numerous news anchors of the time. Vincent Gardenia plays the towns Mayor. I have seen this film many times. I recommend watching it if it comes on TV or buying the video tape if you come across one.