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

First ever movie about Reaganomics.

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Goofs

After Sonny and Candice arrive at Donald's cabin, Donald is serving scrambled eggs to his guests. While he is serving, he has four bullets on his vest on his right-hand side. After turning around to return the pan to the stove, he is missing one bullet.

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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

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: The Best of Robin Williams (1991)

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Soundtracks

"WHEN YOU'RE SMILING (THE WHOLE WORLD SMILES WITH YOU)"
by Mark Fisher, Joe Goodwin, Larry Shay

User Reviews

Great film on several levels...

What a great film!!! A true sleeper! Foremost, I think this film works on a comedic level mainly because Matthau and Williams play off each other so well. Williams plays his comedy in that typically frenzied style of his, injecting a good dose of physical humor to boot(pardon the pun). Matthau plays more of a straight man, but with his own style of deadpan humor figured in. Vigard's daughter character has her moments as well, her facial expressions(especially during the staircase scene) are very funny.

This film also works as a commentary on the early Eighties scene, touching upon a number of issues faced by American society. This is the real reason why I believe this film is such a great movie, it gives a funny glimpse at what was happening in America on many different fronts. It covers topics such as losing your job, job hunting, and that interesting social-economic phenomena, unemployment compensation. It sheds light upon big corporate America's lack of allegiance towards its employees, a concept that was just beginning to take hold of the employment scene at the time. I'm sure that just about everyone(in middle class America at least) can relate to what Matthau's character experiences in the job montage sequence in the film. It also shows examples of the ever changing face of American society, such as the Spanish immigrant trying to collect unemployment and the Indian clerk Matthau encounters upon his application for unemployment, touching an issue that has gained tremendous momentum at the present day. It also covers the concept of Americans becoming so disenfranchised with their own society that they are driven to para-military lifestyles, which William's character explores through several really funny moments--"you shot my gun"!!. It also examines America's never ending fascination with guns.

The film also covers ground on relationships,(as all good films do) mainly between the two main characters and the ways they try to help each other through their personal woes. Matthau helps Williams on a more direct level, but Williams helps Matthau's character in the sense that his antics help to distract Matthau from his own unemployment dilemma. Also covered, to a lesser degree, is the relationship between Williams and his fiancée, which underlines the balance between devotion and sensibility. The scene between Reed's character and his wife is both funny and insightful as well.

Finally, the film's comedy itself is a very good blend of slapstick that will make you howl(the staircase scene!!) as well as the verbal aspects of well written comedy(police station,phone booth to name a few). Matthau and Williams are constantly playing off each other quite humorously. This film has several catchy lines, I find myself and my brother recalling them from time to time for a really good laugh--"Tell young Kojack what he done" and "...you've got the technique down". So, these are the reasons why I believe this film deserves a good look, it provides a rather serious look at American done in a very funny way. 10/10