Used Cars (1980)

When the owner of a struggling used car lot is killed, it's up to the lot's hot-shot salesman to save the property from falling into the hands of the owner's ruthless brother and used-car rival.

Director:

Robert Zemeckis

Writers:

Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale

Stars:

Kurt Russell, Jack Warden, Gerrit Graham

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kurt Russell	...	Rudy Russo
Jack Warden	...	Roy L. Fuchs / Luke Fuchs
Gerrit Graham	...	Jeff
Frank McRae	...	Jim the Mechanic
Deborah Harmon	...	Barbara Fuchs
Joe Flaherty	...	Sam Slaton (as Joseph P. Flaherty)
David L. Lander	...	Freddie Paris
Michael McKean	...	Eddie Winslow
Michael Talbott	...	Mickey
Harry Northup	...	Carmine
Alfonso Arau	...	Manuel
Al Lewis	...	Judge Harrison
Woodrow Parfrey	...	Mr. Ghertner
Andrew Duncan	...	Charlie
Dub Taylor	...	Tucker

Storyline

Used car salesman Rudy Russo (Kurt Russell) needs money to run for State Senate, so he approaches his boss Luke (Jack Warden). Luke agrees to front him the $10,000 he needs, but then encounters an "accident" orchestrated by his brother Roy also played by Warden, who runs the car lot across the street. Roy is hoping to claim title to his brother's property because Roy's paying off the mayor to put the new interstate through the area. After Luke disappears, it's all out war between the competing car shops, and no nasty trick is off limits as Rudy and his gang fight to keep Roy from taking Luke's property. Then Luke's daughter shows up.

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Plot Keywords:

car | salesman | fight | used car lot | used car salesman | 

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Taglines:

The screen's wildest race against time is the biggest auto stampede ever!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Movie Channel [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 July 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

La grosse magouille

Filming Locations:

Downtown Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, A-Team

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min 103 min (Ontario)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Kurt Russell on the DVD Commentary, he kept having trouble saying the line "Best salad bar in town: Airport Lanes!". After constantly flubbing the line, Robert Zemeckis had to mouth the line to Russell so he would get it right.

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Goofs

New Deal Used Cars was able to lure customers away from Roy L Fuchs Pre-Owned Automobiles using strippers dancing atop the cars. The customers were families, enjoying a circus atmosphere. It seems unlikely that families with women and children present would be attracted by strippers.

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Quotes

Al's Kid: [pointing at the television] Hey look. Bare tits!
Al's Wife: That's disgusting! Oh, I don't want my children to see this!

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Connections

References The 700 Club (1966)

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Soundtracks

THE STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER
(uncredited)
Written by John Philip Sousa

User Reviews

Brilliant!!

******************SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!******************************

There are not many American films made any more which are as inherently cynical and as satirical as this. I know Rudy gives up his chance of becoming Senator to help Barbara but the last image we see is him giving the spiel to an old woman. The makers knew they wouldn't be able to get away with making a film which didn't have some sort of phoney closure so they stuck in the big finale, but they mean for us to be aware of Rudy's true identity; once a hustler, always a hustler.

It is also incredibly funny, packed with incidental pleasures as well as the foregrounded plot. In many ways the film could have been improved if they had just concentrated on the machinations of the rival dealerships but I think the film did need something more concrete to hang the narrative on. The last half an hour is a little disappointing but given that the preceding hour and a bit was so good, one can forgive them this.

There are so many things to mention I think I'll just list a few: Toby the dog, the two guerilla broadcasters, Rudy's first commercial, Jeff conning a customer into thinking he has killed the dog. There are so many great moments I can't think why this film isn't better known than it is.