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The Dark Backward (1991)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer:
Adam Rifkin (writer)
Tagline:
It's the world inside out.
Plot:
A man pursues stand-up comedy encouraged by his fellow garbage man. Though his friend, who accompanies him on accordion...
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Plot Keywords:
Accordion
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Freak
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Surrealism
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Black Comedy
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Brat Pack
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Awards:
1 nomination
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NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
The world's only Bill Paxton pinball machine
(From Corona's Coming Attractions. 29 September 2009, 11:18 PM, PDT)
Adam Rifkin
(From The Wrap. 4 May 2009, 5:40 PM, PDT)
(From Corona's Coming Attractions. 29 September 2009, 11:18 PM, PDT)
Adam Rifkin
(From The Wrap. 4 May 2009, 5:40 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Dark Comedy & Carnivalesque
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Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Judd Nelson | ... | Marty Malt | |
| Bill Paxton | ... | Gus | |
| Wayne Newton | ... | Jackie Chrome | |
| Lara Flynn Boyle | ... | Rosarita | |
| James Caan | ... | Doctor Scurvy | |
| Rob Lowe | ... | Dirk Delta | |
| King Moody | ... | Twinkee Doodle | |
| Claudia Christian | ... | Kitty | |
| Danny Dayton | ... | Syd | |
| Carrie Lynn | ... | Nicolette | |
| Anna Berger | ... | Mrs. Malt | |
| Lydell M. Cheshier | ... | Dexter | |
| Tom Hodges | ... | Marjorie Zipp | |
| Theodocia Goodrich | ... | Mrs. Bielfuss | |
| Laurianne Jameson | ... | Shirley |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
The Man with Three Arms (UK)
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Runtime:
101 min
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Fun Stuff
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Welcome to Hollywood (1998)
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Cult director Adam Rifkin (Never on a Tuesday, The Chase, Detroit Rock City) delivers once more. Those of you familiar with his work will undoubtedly be familiar with his oddball characters and outlandish plots. For those of you new to his work, 'The Dark Backward' is the best place to begin. Marty Malt (Judd Nelson) is the worst stand-up comic in the entire world. He is equally terrible at his day job, a garbage collector. It seems that Marty is not destined for stardom ... until one day something strange happens that changes his life forever.
His accordion playing, garbage-collecting co-worker, Gus (Bill Paxton), notices a lump growing out of Marty's back while they are doing the rounds. This odd growth is diagnosed by the disturbingly incompetent Doctor Scurvey (James Caan) as a third arm.
What would normally be an embarrassingly freakish human deformity, turns out to be Marty's comedic calling. Before, Gus was his sole fan; now he has a mass following. Enter the slimy Dirk Delta (Rob Lowe), who offers Marty the chance of Hollywood stardom. So begins a successful career in comedy ... ?
Seemingly straight out of a Ray Bradbury short tale, Rifkin's film is furnished with carnivalesque characters. You will be astounded and revolted by characters like 'the fat woman', 'the muscle man', and 'the human xylophones'. Rob Lowe is unrecognizable in his role as slick Hollywood bigwig (a role he would later reprise in 'Wayne's World','Tommy Boy', 'Austin Powers' 1-3 and 'Thankyou for Smoking'). James Caan is frighteningly brilliant as Dr. Scurvey, and leading man, Judd Nelson, puts in his best performance since 'St. Elmo's Fire' and 'The Breakfast Club' (look out for Judd's oddball cameo in Rifkin's 'Never on a Tuesday').
'The Dark Backwards' is arguably Rifkin's best film, not having directed anything since to equal it. It is certainly his strangest movie since 'Never on a Tuesday'. If you are a fan of cult movie directors like David Lynch and John Waters, check this film out. If you are afraid of zombies, freaks, midgets and men with three arms I suggest you look elsewhere.
Cast: Judd Nelson, Bill Paxton, Rob Lowe, James Caan, Lara Flynn Boyle, Wayne Newton, et al
Matthew J Lee-Williams, Review.