Brain Donors (1992)

Three manic idiots; a lawyer, cab driver and a handyman team up to run a ballet company to fulfill the will of a millionaire. Stooge-like antics result as the trio try to outwit the rich ... See full summary »

Director:

Dennis Dugan

Writers:

Pat Proft (screenplay), George S. Kaufman (screenplay),

Stars:

John Turturro, Bob Nelson, Mel Smith

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Turturro	...	Roland T. Flakfizer
Bob Nelson	...	Jacques
Mel Smith	...	Rocco Melonchek
George De La Pena	...	Roberto Volare
John Savident	...	Edmund Lazlo
Spike Alexander	...	Alan Grant
Juliana Donald	...	Lisa Le Baron (as Juli Donald)
Nancy Marchand	...	Lillian Oglethorpe
Teri Copley	...	Tina
Irene Olga López	...	Pedestrian
Warren Thomas	...	Paramedic
Dick Monday	...	Rob
Katherine Heard	...	Laura
Michael Ciotti	...	Kid
Gary Grossman	...	Father

Storyline

Three manic idiots; a lawyer, cab driver and a handyman team up to run a ballet company to fulfill the will of a millionaire. Stooge-like antics result as the trio try to outwit the rich widow and her scheming big-shot lawyer, who also wants to run the ballet.

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Plot Keywords:

reference to the marx brothers | vaudeville | slapstick | stop motion | remake | 

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Taglines:

The producers of Airplane! and The Naked Gun invite you to a night of ballet. Fasten your seat belts.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 April 1992 (USA)

Also Known As:

Lame Ducks

Box Office

Gross:

$918,239 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Zucker Brothers Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In 1991, Paramount Pictures was preparing to release the film under the title "Lame Ducks" with a major ad campaign, playing up the fact that it was produced by David and Jerry Zucker who produced Airplane (1980) and The Naked Gun (1988), but when the brothers bailed on the project, the movie was shelved, the publicity campaign was scrapped and the title was changed to "Brain Donors". It was released in a few theaters to some positive reviews, but it really made it's money on home video where it has attracted a small cult following.

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Goofs

When Lazlo the lawyer is hit over the head with a vase in a doorway, it smashes everywhere. Seconds later, Flakfizer and Mrs. Oglethorpe go through the same doorway and the vase pieces are gone.

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Quotes

Lillian Oglethorpe: Then it's settled. I am so excited.
Roland T. Flakfizer: You're excited? Feel these nipples.

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Connections

Referenced in BASEketball (1998)

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Soundtracks

"LET'S CALL THE WHOLE THING OFF"
by George Gershwin & Ira Gershwin

User Reviews

The funniest one-liners since Groucho.

A lot of critics moaned when this movie came out that its characters were pale imitations of the Marx Brothers. Fine, that might be true. But this movie is still hilarious. On the surface, it appears to be a very dumb comedy, but if you listen to John Turturro's constant string of dialogue, you'll realize that his insults are the most sharp-edged one-liners since Groucho died. Obviously it's not as good as any Marx Brothers comedies, but it's not bad either.