Used Cars (1980)

When the owner of a struggling used car lot is killed, it's up to the lot's hot-shot salesman to save the property from falling into the hands of the owner's ruthless brother and used-car rival.

Director:

Robert Zemeckis

Writers:

Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale

Stars:

Kurt Russell, Jack Warden, Gerrit Graham

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kurt Russell	...	Rudy Russo
Jack Warden	...	Roy L. Fuchs / Luke Fuchs
Gerrit Graham	...	Jeff
Frank McRae	...	Jim the Mechanic
Deborah Harmon	...	Barbara Fuchs
Joe Flaherty	...	Sam Slaton (as Joseph P. Flaherty)
David L. Lander	...	Freddie Paris
Michael McKean	...	Eddie Winslow
Michael Talbott	...	Mickey
Harry Northup	...	Carmine
Alfonso Arau	...	Manuel
Al Lewis	...	Judge Harrison
Woodrow Parfrey	...	Mr. Ghertner
Andrew Duncan	...	Charlie
Dub Taylor	...	Tucker

Storyline

Used car salesman Rudy Russo (Kurt Russell) needs money to run for State Senate, so he approaches his boss Luke (Jack Warden). Luke agrees to front him the $10,000 he needs, but then encounters an "accident" orchestrated by his brother Roy also played by Warden, who runs the car lot across the street. Roy is hoping to claim title to his brother's property because Roy's paying off the mayor to put the new interstate through the area. After Luke disappears, it's all out war between the competing car shops, and no nasty trick is off limits as Rudy and his gang fight to keep Roy from taking Luke's property. Then Luke's daughter shows up.

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Plot Keywords:

female frontal nudity | female rear nudity | car dealership | female topless nudity | used car lot | 

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Taglines:

Like new, great looking and fully loaded with laughs.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

The stunt coordinator felt the impact of the 1974 Mercury Montego jumping the train and hitting the pavement was too much for a stunt driver to take, so a dummy was put in the driver's seat and the car was pushed toward a ramp at high speed and let go.

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Goofs

As the Montego hits the ground after jumping the train, it sustains major front-end damage. When it arrives at the car lot, there is only minor damage (to be increased again when Jeff slams into another car).

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Quotes

Luke Fuchs: $10,000. Is that all it takes to be elected senator these days?
Rudy Russo: Well, that's more like a down payment. After I'm elected its 50-50 on all the graft I take.

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Crazy Credits

The film's closing credits state: "The producers wish to thank the governor, people and motion picture office of the State of Arizona for their cooperation in the production of this motion picture."

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Alternate Versions

CBS edited 7 minutes from this film for its 1985 network television premiere.

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Connections

Referenced in Death Proof (2007)

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Soundtracks

Used Cars
Lyrics by Norman Gimbel
Music by Patrick Williams
Performed by Bobby Bare

User Reviews

Wildly funny comedy from Zemeckis

Rudy Russo (Kurt Russell) is an unscrupulous used car salesman of a rundown lot owned by Luke Fuchs (Jack Warden). Rudy wants to run for State Senate. Luke is willing to lend him the $10k needed as long he promises to help him keep his lot from his brother Roy (Jack Warden). Roy owns the lot across the street, and has tried buying off the mayor and sending in the Consumer Protection Agency. He even tries to kill Luke by sending in somebody to scare him to death. The scheme actually works and Rudy hides Luke's body with the help of Jeff (Gerrit Graham) and Jim (Frank McRae). They pretend that Luke is going to Florida. Rudy starts doing crazy schemes pirating the big football game broadcast, having strippers, and breaking into a presidential broadcast. Then Luke's estranged daughter Barbara (Deborah Harmon) shows up.

This is the start of a great run by Robert Zemeckis. This is hilarious starting with the outrageous boob shot in the pirated commercial. Kurt Russell is doing great. The wacky schemes are mostly funny. It just needs an extra stupid side kick for some wild physical comedy like Belushi or Bill Murray or John Candy. The pairing of David Lander and Michael McKean comes close, but they're only in the movie when they pirate broadcasts.

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Movie Channel [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 July 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

Used Cars

Filming Locations:

Downtown Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$11,715,321

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$11,715,321

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, A-Team, Amblin Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min 103 min (Ontario)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1