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.

---

Plot Keywords:

used car salesman | car dealership | used car lot | sex in bed | 1957 chevrolet | 

---

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.

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

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

Kevin Conway passed on the role of Roy L. Fuchs.

---

Goofs

during the opening scene, as the camera pans the Edsel mounted up on the post, you clearly see through the grill that the car has no engine. Later in the movie, dead Luke drives the car across the field and explodes it into the power station.

---

Quotes

[Rudy notices that some paint has washed off Manuel's cars]
Rudy: Manuei! What the hell are you using; water based paint?
Manuel: Sure. How much rain do we get around here anyway? If you don't like these, I'll get you some others. Here is my inventory.
Rudy: Manuel, this is a picture of 250 cars. I can't make a deal on a picture. Take these around back and I'll think of something.

---

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."

---

Connections

Referenced in Back to the Future: The Game - Episode 2, Get Tannen (2011)

---

Soundtracks

A CITY BUILT FOUR SQUARE
(uncredited)
Written by Dorothy Love Coates

User Reviews

Even the Dog is Funny

This is one funny movie. Kurt Russell shows his comedic side and is hysterical - so are Gerrit Graham and Jack Warden. Robert Zemeckis made a gem very few people saw and this is my favorite movie of his. See it if you want to laugh like hell.