Handle with Care (1977)

This movie interlaces the stories of several characters in a small town united by their use of CB (citizen's band) radio. Paul LeMat is the local CB coordinator who has time for little else... See full summary »

Director:

Jonathan Demme

Writer:

Paul Brickman

Stars:

Paul Le Mat, Candy Clark, Bruce McGill

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Le Mat	...	Spider
Candy Clark	...	Electra
Bruce McGill	...	Blood
Roberts Blossom	...	Papa Thermodyne
Charles Napier	...	Chrome Angel
Ann Wedgeworth	...	Dallas Angel
Marcia Rodd	...	Portland Angel
Alix Elias	...	Hot Coffee
Richard Bright	...	Smilin' Jack
Ed Begley Jr.	...	The Priest
Michael Rothman	...	Cochise
Michael Mahler	...	The Hustler
Harry Northup	...	The Red Baron
Will Seltzer	...	Warlock
Leila Smith	...	Grandma Breaker

Storyline

This movie interlaces the stories of several characters in a small town united by their use of CB (citizen's band) radio. Paul LeMat is the local CB coordinator who has time for little else in his life. His father, Roberts Blossom is a sour old man who is nice on the radio. Charles Napier is a trucker hospitalized after an accident, with hilarious consequences.

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Plot Keywords:

citizens band radio | father son relationship | imperative in title | prostitute | truck driver | 

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Taglines:

Everybody is somebody else

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 September 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

Citizen's Band

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Bruce McGill's first movie.

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Goofs

Planes do not operate on the same frequencies as CB radio, neither to they carry regular CB aboard, as the frequencies used interfere with the navigation equipment.

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Connections

Referenced in The Directors: The Films of Jonathan Demme

User Reviews

One of the best of the 70s CB movies, probably THE best!

This movie was made in the 1970s (3 years after American Graffiti) when use of the Citizens Band radio was at it's all time high. Hollywood, not being one to let a good craze go untapped when they can make good money from it, did EXACTLY that with this movie. Starring Paul Le Mat and Candy Clark, both of American Graffiti fame, it chronicles the lives of some CB radio fanatics living in a rural town who have nothing better to do than "Be someone else" on the radio.

Paul Le Mat (Spider)plays a CB regulator of sorts, a REACT station operator, who goes on a crusade to clean up the airwaves. he tries to accomplish this by cruising around in his very cool 1956 Chevy Nomad Stationwagon CB equipped of course! He peruses The Hustler, a 10yo self proclaimed ladies man for using ch9, the emergency channel. He also goes after Grandma Breaker, a non stop talker for keeping the channel all locked up 24-7. He goes after The Rad Baron, a Nazi wannabe who hates everything and everyone NON white. He goes up against The Priest, played very well by Ed Beagly Jr, who turns in a very believable performance for preaching the gospel on the radio without a license. He only breaks off his pursuit of these folks when he and his buddy almost get shot by the Red baron who catches them in his yard.

One must take this movie for face value in that it is a relatively simple movie but the actors and direction is perfect for portraying the lifestyle of rural CBers in the America of the times.

One of the greatest lines in the movie, spoken my Paul (Spider) is "No one in this town is who they are supposed to be!" He is referring to the fact that people on the radio are sometimes far different in real life, an alter ego of sorts, compared to reality. His girlfriend Candy Clark plays Elektra, a sexy talking lady on the radio who talks dirty to other CBers (like Warlock) in an attempt to rid herself of the small town blues. Then there is Chrome Angel, who gets stuck in town after a trucking accident after Paul (Spider) saves his life because of his REACT station. Chrome Angel is a bigamist who's two wives come to meet him unknown to each other till they meet on the bus. Paul's Father, Papa Thermodyne, is an ex trucker who seems to listen to only what comes over the CB so much so that Spider has to use a CB in another room to talk to him. It is only when Papa Thermodyne gets fed up and leaves home suitcase in hand, attempting to walk to Canada and everyone has to band together to find him that everyone gets along.

The movie has a good pace as well, never getting boring especially if you were also a CB junkie in the 60s~the 80s. Great acting, great script, great characters. Definitely a worthwhile watch! I highly recommend it and since it is available instantly you know where, it is a great watch. I wish it was available on DVD as I would buy it.