The Money Pit (1986)

A young couple struggles to repair a hopelessly dilapidated house.

Director:

Richard Benjamin

Writer:

David Giler

Stars:

Tom Hanks, Shelley Long, Alexander Godunov

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Hanks	...	Walter Fielding, Jr.
Shelley Long	...	Anna Crowley Beissart Fielding
Alexander Godunov	...	Max Beissart, the Maestro
Maureen Stapleton	...	Estelle
Joe Mantegna	...	Art Shirk
Philip Bosco	...	Curly
Josh Mostel	...	Jack Schnittman
Yakov Smirnoff	...	Shatov
Carmine Caridi	...	Brad Shirk
Brian Backer	...	Ethan
Billy Lombardo	...	Benny
Mia Dillon	...	Marika
John Van Dreelen	...	Carlos
Douglass Watson	...	Walter Fielding, Sr.
Lucille Dobrin	...	Macumba Lady

Storyline

Walter Fielding and Anna Crowley have to start looking for a new house- but there's not much they can afford! This soon changes when they meet a lonely old con artist who sells them a beautiful mansion at a ridiculously low price. Only there's a catch. The second they move into the house it falls apart, starting with the stairway collapsing to the bathtub falling through the floor to eventually the chimney falling into the house! Finally, they have to renovate the house before the frame collapses but the renovations also prove to be a disaster.

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Plot Keywords:

house | couple | problem | renovation | diy | 

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Taglines:

For everyone who's ever been deeply in Love or deeply in debt.

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Genres:

Comedy | Music

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 March 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

¿Hogar, dulce hogar?

Filming Locations:

Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

$37,499,651 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Amblin Entertainment, U-Drive Productions, Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby SR (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

For the scene with the bathtub falling two floors down after being filled with water, Tom Hanks does a obnoxious laugh. This clip of him laughing is commonly used for the Universal back-lot tour when the tour guides joke with the visitors.

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Goofs

When the lead Cheap Girl tells Walter they want to change their name, you hear "Meryl Streep" but his lips say something else. The same thing for Walter when he tells him he's not changing their name. Perhaps another name was originally used and the producers didn't get the permission to use it.

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Quotes

Max: [taking brush from a painter] UP and DOWN, UP and DOWN! Strong strokes! PAINT! Don't tickle. And don't smoke!
[steals his cigarette]

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Connections

Spoofs The Amityville Horror (1979)

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Soundtracks

"Ode to Joy"
(uncredited)
From "Symphony No. 9 in d-minor"
Written by Ludwig van Beethoven

User Reviews

Now the house is perfect...let's move!!!!

This film when it first came out was not given credit, it fell into the categories with the "Ghostbusters sequel" and other silly 80's movies. But, if you watch it again, it may have you laughing.

Shelley Long, while not a favorite, is good, and Tom Hanks, as a young couple finally buying that country mansion dream house every American should want. Maureen Stapleton is selling it; she is classic.

Joe Mantegna as Art Shirk, one of the many contractors and plumbers who take the young couple for a ride. Richard Benjamin has done a good job directing (You may want to watch "Goodbye, Columbus" again; he was excellent in that film).

The story is predictable, but will lighten your mood; it is not just a romantic comedy with a ridiculous premise. Anyone who has ever had to deal with house repairs and contractors will find this to be a good tonic. 8/10.