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Joe Versus the Volcano (1990)

PG 102 min  -  Comedy | Romance  -   9 March 1990 (USA)
5.4
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Ratings: 5.4/10 from 19,351 users  
Reviews: 180 user | 29 critic

When a hypochondriac learns that he is dying, he accepts an offer to throw himself in a volcano at a tropical island, and along the way there, learns to truly live.

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Hanks ...
Joe
Meg Ryan ...
DeDe / Angelica / Patricia
Lloyd Bridges ...
Graynamore
Robert Stack ...
Dr. Ellison
Abe Vigoda ...
Chief of the Waponis
Dan Hedaya ...
Mr. Waturi
Barry McGovern Barry McGovern ...
Luggage Salesman
Amanda Plummer ...
Dagmar
Ossie Davis ...
Marshall
Jayne Haynes Jayne Haynes ...
Nurse
David Burton David Burton ...
Mike
Jon Conrad Pochron Jon Conrad Pochron ...
Tony (as Jon Pochran)
Jim Hudson ...
Fred - Guard
Antoni Gatti Antoni Gatti ...
Italian Tailor
Darrell Zwerling Darrell Zwerling ...
Underwear Salesman
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Storyline

Joe versus the Volcano is a fable which opens with somewhat surrealistic scenes of the dehumanization of Joe Bank's job and work environment (at a company whose product rather literally screws people) with imagery that seems to have been inspired by the classic film Metropolis. Joe is diagnosed with an incurable disease, quits his dehumanizing job, and accepts an offer to briefly "live like a king, die like a man" - but to fulfill his agreement he must willingly jump into a live volcano on the island of Waponi Woo in order to appease the volcano god. En route to the island, Joe meets a series of interesting characters in NYC and LA, then boards a yacht, captained by Patricia Graynamore. During the voyage Joe and Patricia survive disaster, fall in love, and finally arrive at the island where they face their destiny. Written by <talford@mitre.org>  

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

Island | Volcano | Love | Tropical | Yacht  | See more »

Taglines:

A story of love, lava and burning desire. See more »

Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Joe Contra o Vulcão See more »

Filming Locations:

Hawaii, USA See more »

Box Office

Gross:

$39,404,261 (USA)
See more »

Company Credits

Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The crooked company logo bears a striking resemblance to the logo used by the Southern Company, an electric utility company based in the southeastern US. See more »

Goofs

Factual errors: The first night on the ship, when they are having dinner, we see a crescent moon with horns pointing downward. The crescent moon is actually a spherical object that is illuminated by the light of the sun. Therefore, the "horns" of the crescent always point away from the sun. In the northern hemisphere of the Earth, when the evening sun is below the horizon in the west, the horns of the crescent moon point upward and to the left. And several weeks later, when the morning sun is below the horizon in the east, the horns point upward and to the right. Downward horns would imply that the sun is above the horizon, therefore it would not be night. See more »

Quotes

Luggage Salesman: This is our premier steamer trunk, it's all handmade, only the finest materials. It's even watertight, tight as a drum. If I had the need, and the wherewithal, Mr. Banks, this would be my trunk of choice.
Joe Banks: I'll take four of them.
Luggage Salesman: May you live to be a thousand years old, sir.
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Soundtracks

"Mas Que Nada"
Written by Jorge Ben
Performed by Sergio Mendes & Brazil '66
used during the New York shopping spree See more »