Cold Turkey (1971)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Norman Lear

Writers:

Norman Lear (story) and
William Price Fox Jr. (story) ...

Release Date:

19 February 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

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?

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...

Plot Keywords:

Contest | Cigarette | Smoking | Tobacco | Gunshot Wound

Cast

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

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Sweden:11 | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Des Moines, Iowa, USA

Company:

DFI

Trivia:

Dropping the cigarettes onto the crowd, in the last midnight town square gathering, was actually done by putting 8" diameter, 25'-long pipes against the trees in the town square. The pipes were then filled with cigarettes. Then, on cue, air was blasted into the pipe bottom, shooting them into the air and onto the crowd.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Prior to being challenged to start smoking himself, the Reverend is shown (talking with his wife after a speech) holding a lit cigarette.

Quotes:

Edgar Stopworth: My drinking is directly connected to my smoking. Now, when I say "directly", I mean there's a thing - a physical thing - that is directly connected from my liquor buds to the smoke pouch in my lungs. If you want me to quit smoking, you would have to cut - I mean...

Soundtrack:

Listen to the Mockingbird

One of the Greatest Comedies of all time, a film ahead of its time

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.