Scavenger Hunt (1979)

To inherit a fortune, various addressees of a will must compete in a wild scavenger hunt to collect selected items, but cannot be simply bought.

Director:

Michael Schultz

Writers:

Steven Vail (story) (as Steven A. Vail), John Thomson (adaptation) (as John Thompson)

Stars:

Richard Benjamin, James Coco, Scatman Crothers

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Benjamin	...	Stuart Selsome
James Coco	...	Henri
Scatman Crothers	...	Sam
Ruth Gordon	...	Arvilla Droll
Cloris Leachman	...	Mildred Carruthers
Cleavon Little	...	Jackson
Roddy McDowall	...	Jenkins
Robert Morley	...	Bernstein
Richard Mulligan	...	Marvin Dummitz
Tony Randall	...	Henry Motley
Dirk Benedict	...	Jeff Stevens
Willie Aames	...	Kenny Stevens
Stephanie Faracy	...	Babbette
Stephen Furst	...	Merle
Richard Masur	...	Georgie Carruthers

Storyline

Milton Parker has made millions inventing and selling games. Upon his death, his relatives and domestic staff gather for the reading of the will. However, Old Mr. Parker is a game player to the last, and his will stipulates that a Scavenger Hunt will be held to determine the beneficiaries of his sizeable estate. The winning team gets all the money, the rest get nothing.

---

Plot Keywords:

year 1979 | 1970s | pantyhose | black pantyhose | female stockinged legs | 

---

Taglines:

Winner takes all!

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 December 1979 (USA)

Also Known As:

Galen i stålar

Filming Locations:

Centre City Building, 233 "A" Street, San Diego, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$7,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Melvin Simon Productions, Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

116 min

Sound Mix:

Mono Mono (Glen Glenn Sound)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Of the 100 items on the list, 67 are shown in the film: propeller beanie, teddy bear, toilet, crate of bananas, Rolls Royce grille, clown head from Jack-in-the-Box drive-thru, beehive, dentures, totem pole, cash register, safe, life preserver, nitrous oxide, wedding dress, mounted moose head, piñata, innertube, basketball goal, go-cart, tuba, saddle, weather vane, bulletproof vest, parachute, ostrich, milk canister, fox tail, medial skeleton, gumball machine, bowling pin, police uniform, whoopie cushion, cowbell, pogo stick, drum, baby carriage, rocking horse, swordfish, suit of armor, microscope, medicine ball, pool cue, football helmet, hockey stick, jackhammer, parking meter, crystal ball, cigar store Indian, bicycle, punching bag, coat rack, baseball bat, flippers, skis, turkey, kayak, barber pole, miner's helmet, surfboard, jack-o-lantern, traffic cone, globe, torpedo, crutches, butter churn, phonograph and sewing dummy (plus 50 bonus points for the team with the heaviest person).

---

Goofs

Just before Jeff, Kenny & Lisa head back to the house to drop the first load of stuff in their van following the laughing gas scene, Lisa is still wearing the outfit (minus one or two items) she was in when the will was read. When they return to unload what they collected she is wearing a checkered shirt & jeans, yet had no change of clothes.

---

Quotes

Jenkins: We have been together for quite some time, now; I see no reason to discontinue the association?
Jackson: I got the idea: Pie four ways is better than no pie at all.
Jenkins: Then we are in agreement?
Henri: Totally, completely, in every which way.
Babbette: Yes, yes, because pie is my most favorite dessert.

---

Alternate Versions

CBS edited 20 minutes from this film for its 1982 network television premiere.

---

Connections

Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Tony Randall/Buddy Rich/Kelly Monteith/Thomas Thompson (1979)

---

Soundtracks

Play to Win
Music by Billy Goldenberg
Lyrics by Carol Connors

User Reviews

Hilarious movie and very underrated

While not one of my favourite movies of all time, Scavenger Hunt is one that I do consider very underrated. The ending is predictable sure and some people may find some parts too on the cruel side. But the backdrop is lovely and it does look good still. While the story has a premise done a lot before and since and may feel thin to some, I personally found it never dull. If I were to compare it to It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World(which I've seen a lot of people comparing it to), which I do like very much, Scavenger Hunt is a lot shorter and the pace brisker, so first-time viewers of both movies may find themselves less exhausted-feeling depending on their patience levels watching this. I do agree that Scavenger Hunt is hilarious, the dialogue is plentiful, endlessly quotable and often enough to split the sides though you may be in danger of missing things from laughing. It isn't just the dialogue though, Cloris Leachman in 3-inch heels, Georgie's nasal whining("They killed Buzzy"), the laughing gas scene, the four servants overflowing the lab with suds, Scatman Crothers with the wedding veil and Richard Mulligan's priceless facial expression, James Coco trying to rob the market and the toilet-stealing scene are enough to raise a number of laughs. The cast show great comic timing and have plenty of star power. I personally don't think this is a case of a great cast working against the script. And this is not just the main parts(James Coco, Richard Benjamin, Stephanie Faracy and Scatman Crothers stood out), but also the cameos especially from Arnold Schwarznegger and Vincent Price. All in all, a hilarious and underrated if not perfect or award-worthy movie. 8/10 Bethany Cox