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:

used car salesman | exploding car | fraud | car dealership | used car lot | 

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Taglines:

Estimated Laugh Count: 287 City, 410 Highway. Use these numbers only for comparison. Your actual laughs may vary depending on how you feel about used car salesmen, nude women, spectacular car stunts, and the President of the United States.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Movie Channel [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 July 1980 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mit einem Bein im Kittchen

Filming Locations:

Downtown Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$11,715,321, 31 December 1980

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation,A-Team

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min 103 min (Ontario)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film features the comic pairing of Michael McKean and David L. Lander , famous for their roles as Lenny and Squiggy in the television series Laverne & Shirley (1976), which was still in production at the time of this film's release.

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Goofs

After Toby is "run over", Jeff (Gerrit Graham) picks him up, but the rock he had pushed under the left rear wheel to simulate the dog being run over is now gone. Additionally, the tire track for the "left wheel" is only a few feet from the next row of cars, far too close for the Vista Cruiser to pass on that side.

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Quotes

Judge H. H. Harrison: For uttering those contemptuous words in my presences, I'm goin' to have your balls in a sling.

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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

References Grease (1978)

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Soundtracks

The Stripper
(uncredited)
Music by David Rose

User Reviews

The Most Underrated, Overlooked Comedy EVER!

This classic was largely overlooked back in 1980, due to a botched release and competition from Airplane! Even 35 years later, it still provides huge laughs and is a great vehicle for a then-young Kurt Russell. Truly raunchy, but not gratuitously so, this is definitely a movie for guys (and maybe some women who have a good sense of humor) and takes advantage of the era before political correctness took over(think Blazing Saddles). The supporting cast is terrific (including "Toby" the dog), the faux commercials are priceless, and the wild ending unforgettable, regardless of the silliness of it all.

One last thing: if you get the DVD, definitely watch the movie with the commentary by Kurt Russell, Bob Gale, and Bob Zemenkis. It's by far the best commentary I've seen for any movie and is nearly as funny as the movie itself. The fact that it was made 20 years after the movie was released means they have fun pointing out the films technical flaws and back stories.