Gung Ho (1986)

When a Japanese car company buys an American plant, the American liason must mediate the clash of work attitudes between the foreign management and native labor.

Director:

Ron Howard

Writers:

Edwin Blum (story), Lowell Ganz (story),

Stars:

Michael Keaton, Gedde Watanabe, George Wendt

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Keaton	...	Hunt Stevenson
Gedde Watanabe	...	Oishi Kazihiro
George Wendt	...	Buster
Mimi Rogers	...	Audrey
John Turturro	...	Willie
Sô Yamamura	...	Mr. Sakamoto (as Soh Yamamura)
Sab Shimono	...	Saito
Rick Overton	...	Googie
Clint Howard	...	Paul
Jihmi Kennedy	...	Junior
Michelle Johnson	...	Heather DiStefano
Rodney Kageyama	...	Ito
Rance Howard	...	Mayor Conrad Zwart
Patti Yasutake	...	Umeki Kazihiro (as Patti Yasuiake)
Jerry Tondo	...	Kazuo

Storyline

Hunt Stevenson works for a large car manufacturer that has just been bought out by a Japanese firm. Suddenly finding himself having to justify his own job, he's forced to choose between redundancy or the seemingly inhuman Japanese work ethic that the new owners have brought with them.

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Plot Keywords:

japanese | fiat | unemployment | culture clash | labor relations | 

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Taglines:

When East meets West, the laughs shift into high gear!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 March 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Fábrica das Loucuras

Filming Locations:

Beaver, Pennsylvania, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$36,611,610 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Assan is a name-play for Nissan Motors, although they are based in Yokohama, next to Tokyo

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Goofs

When Hunt is talking to the workers at a union rally, he strikes up memories of the "high school state title basketball game in Pittsburgh". Pennsylvania's state title in basketball is always played in Hershey.

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Quotes

Kazihiro: You're fired.
Hunt Stevenson: What?!
[chair falls back]

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Connections

Referenced in King of the Hill: Stressed for Success (2004)

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Soundtracks

"TUFF ENUFF"
By Kim Wilson
Performed by The Fabulous Thunderbirds
Produced by Dave Edmunds
Courtesy of CBS Records

User Reviews

Michael Keaton At His Best! A Great Comedy!

Gung Ho is one of those movies that you will want to see over and over again. Michael Keaton is put in charge of wooing a Japanese car company to come to his town thus creating jobs for the residents of Hadleyville. What happens after that is one hilarious moment after another. The two cultures clash and it is up to Keaton to hold things together. Look for great performances from Keaton, Gedde Watanabe, George Wendt, Mimi Rogers, John Turturro, Soh Yamamura and Sab Shimomo. All are perfectly cast. Don't be fooled by the low number rating. This is a 7.5 in my book. It is interesting to note that the town name of Hadleyville was also used in High Noon. Yes, there is a real Hadleyville but in Oregon.