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Volunteers (1985)

 -  Comedy  -  16 August 1985 (USA)
5.1
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Lawrence is a rich kid with a bad accent and a large debt. After his father refuses to help him out, Lawrence escapes his angry debtors by jumping on a Peace Corp flight to Southeast Asia, ... See full summary »

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Title: Volunteers (1985)

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
...
...
At Toon
...
Lawrence Bourne Jr.
Ernest Harada ...
Chung Mee
...
Albert Bardenaro
...
Kent Sutcliffe
Ji-Tu Cumbuka ...
Cicero (as Ji-Tu Cumbaka)
Guillermo Río ...
Sumo Guard (as Guillermo del Rio)
Jacqueline Evans ...
Aunt Eunice
Pamela Gual ...
Tammy the Stewardess
Philip Guilmant ...
Yale President (as Phillip Giulmant)
Chick Hearn ...
Announcer
Edit

Storyline

Lawrence is a rich kid with a bad accent and a large debt. After his father refuses to help him out, Lawrence escapes his angry debtors by jumping on a Peace Corp flight to Southeast Asia, where is assigned to build a bridge for the local villagers with American-As-Apple-Pie WSU Grad Tom Tuttle and the beautiful and down-to earth Beth Wexler. What they don't realize is that the bridge is coveted by the U.S. Army, a local Communist force, and a powerful drug lord. Together with the help of At Toon, the only English speaking native, they must fight off the three opposing forces and find out what is right for the villagers, as well as themselves. Written by Michael Silva <silvamd@cleo.bc.edu>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

The boys from "Splash" are back together! See more »

Genres:

Comedy

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

Language:

Release Date:

16 August 1985 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Alles hört auf mein Kommando  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

(Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See  »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

When John Candy attempts to destroy the bridge he says "What have I done?" This is the same line Colonel Nicholson (Alec Guinness) says before the bridge is destroyed in _Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)_. See more »

Goofs

On their flight to Lung Taho they are using a Bell 212 (a twin turbine version of the military Bell 202/Huey 1a). Bell did not start manufacturing the Bell 212 (known in military service as the Huey 1d) until 1967. The first models where not shipped till 1968. The movie is set in 1962. See more »

Quotes

Chung Mee: We must all do what we must do, for if we do not, then what we must do does not get done.
See more »

Crazy Credits

Tom Hanks' character has firstname "Lawrence". Hanks saves the village. As film fades to black for credits, a large group of "volunteers" gather around Hanks. Just as black for start of credits shows, chants of "Lawrence, Lawrence, Lawrence..." are heard. Absolutely a tribute to scene of O'Toole as Lawrence of Arabia marching across traintop to chants of "Lawrence, Lawrence, Lawrence..." See more »

Connections

References Route 66 (1960) See more »

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User Reviews

Excellent film spoofing many of the great classics.
12 April 2001 | by (Birmingham, England) – See all my reviews

"Volunteers" successfully spoofs more classic films than any other - from Casablanca, through Bridge over the River Kwai, to Lawrence of Arabia, they're all there if you're watching carefully enough.

It also offers a glimpse of a much younger, fresher and more natural Tom Hanks than the over-processed multi-millionaire product we see so much of today.

Full of belly-laughs and quick fire one liners, and packed with so many more subtle references that you'll have to pay close attention and watch it many times to pick up even half of them, this hilarious film really does the job. The Austin Powers and Naked Gun series are almost the only others packing this much fast paced humour into a feature film. Highly recommended!


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