The Survivors (1983)

Having both lost their jobs, two strangers become unlikely friends after a run in with a would be robber, who is actually a hitman with a grudge against the two.

Director:

Michael Ritchie

Writer:

Michael Leeson

Stars:

Walter Matthau, Robin Williams, Jerry Reed

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Walter Matthau	...	Sonny Paluso
Robin Williams	...	Donald Quinelle
Jerry Reed	...	Jack Locke
James Wainwright	...	Wes Huntley
Kristen Vigard	...	Candice Paluso
Annie McEnroe	...	Doreen
Anne Pitoniak	...	Betty
Bernard Barrow	...	TV station manager
Marian Hailey	...	Jack's Wife
Joseph Carberry	...	Detective Matt Burke
Skipp Lynch	...	Wiley
Marilyn Cooper	...	Waitress
Meg Mundy	...	Mace Lover
Yudie Bank	...	Accosted Old Lady
Michael P. Moran	...	Gun Salesman (as Michael Moran)

Storyline

Sonny Paluso and Donald Quinelle are two unfortunate people who just lost their jobs, when they meet in a bar; Sonny's gas station has been blown away and Donald has just been fired by his bosses parrot!!! But that day, their lifes change when they prevent a robber from stealing the bar, and they become heroes. Unfortunately, Jack (the robber) is getting away, and when he sees Donald's face on the TV, he desides to go after them. In the meentime, Donald becomes obsessed with guns and leaves for the mountains, where he will learn to survive...

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Plot Keywords:

gas station | secret life | unemployment | robbery | jimmy hoffa | 

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Taglines:

Once they declare war on each other, watch out. You could die laughing.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

25 November 1983 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

A túlélők

Filming Locations:

Fairlee, Vermont, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Rastar Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Goodman:  As a Commando at the militaria shop. This film was one of Goodman's first movie roles.

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Goofs

When Donald shows his new "Assault Rifle" to his fiancé, he tells her it's "308 caliber with a... *snaps stock open* Folding stock". In fact, it's not. Donald's rifle is actually a Finnish Valmet Model 76 chambered in .223/5.56mm. While the Valmet 76 was available in .308/7.62 NATO, Donald's rifle is clearly, as noted by the size & shape of the magazine, the .223/5.56 model.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Betty: Mr. Quinelle!
Donald Quinelle: Morning, Betty!
Betty: Mr. Stoddard would like you to step into the board room.
Donald Quinelle: He wants to see me?
Betty: You can go right in.

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Connections

References Apocalypse Now (1979)

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Soundtracks

"NEW YORK, NEW YORK"
by Fred Ebb, John Kander

User Reviews

Nice movie, could have been better.

There was bound to be a movie like this in the early 1980s, a time of the Cold War, recession and survivalists. Walter Matthau plays Sonny Paluso, an ex-filling station operator. Kristen Vigard plays his teenage daughter Candice. Robin Williams plays Donald Quinelle. Donald and Sonny become friends. Donald gets put in the hospital. Donald says that being in the hospital makes him think about God. Donald gets fed up with modern civilization. Donald goes to a survivalist camp, even mushing sled dogs. Sonny goes to the camp with Candice to convince Donald that he is overreacting. The movie has a "happy ending" that seems somewhat phony. Perhaps that is why the movie is seldom shown.