Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Dick Van Dyke | ... | Rev. Clayton Brooks | |
Pippa Scott | ... | Natalie Brooks | |
Tom Poston | ... | Mr. Stopworth | |
Edward Everett Horton | ... | Hiram C. Grayson | |
![]() |
Bob & Ray | ... | Hugh Upson / David Chetley / Sandy Van Andy / Walter Chronic / Paul Hardly / Arthur Lordly (as Bob and Ray) |
Vincent Gardenia | ... | Mayor Quincey L. Wappler | |
Barnard Hughes | ... | Dr. Proctor | |
Graham Jarvis | ... | Amos Bush | |
Jean Stapleton | ... | Mrs. Wappler | |
Barbara Cason | ... | Letitia Hornsby | |
Judith Lowry | ... | Odie Turman | |
Sudie Bond | ... | Cissy | |
Helen Page Camp | ... | Mrs. Watson | |
Paul Benedict | ... | Zen Buddhist | |
Simon Scott | ... | Mr. Kandiss |
Reverend Brooks leads the town in a contest to stop smoking for a month, But some tobacco executives don't want them to win, and try everything they can to make them smoke. If townspeople don't go nuts from wanting a cigarette, or kill each other from irritation and frustration, they will win a huge prize. Written by Brian W Martz <B.Martz@Genie.com>
Much like "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World", "Cold Turkey" shows how crazy people can get when they're greedy. The plot centers on a town whose people are offered a lot of money if they can stop smoking for an entire month. They agree after getting convinced by the local clergyman (Dick Van Dyke), but things start going crazy when they don't get to have their cigarettes.
The movie also pokes fun at the media, with characters like "Hugh Upson" and "Walter Chronic". But overall, the movie makes fun of the "wholesome Middle America" image, showing how even seemingly idealistic small town folk can get corrupted when money is in the picture.