Bustin' Loose (1981)

Joe Braxton is an ex-con who has been given a second chance to freedom after violating his probation. He has been hired by a school teacher named Vivian Perry to repair and drive an old ... See full summary »

Directors:

Oz Scott, Michael Schultz (uncredited)

Writers:

Lonne Elder III (adaptation), Richard Pryor (story)

Stars:

Richard Pryor, Cicely Tyson, Angel Ramirez Jr.

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Pryor	...	Joe Braxton
Cicely Tyson	...	Vivian Perry
Angel Ramirez Jr.	...	Julio (as Ángel Ramírez)
Jimmy Hughes	...	Harold
Edwin DeLeon	...	Ernesto
Edwin Kinter	...	Anthony
Tami Luchow	...	Linda
Janet Wong	...	Annie
Alphonso Alexander	...	Martin
Kia Cooper	...	Samantha
Robert Christian	...	Donald
George Coe	...	Doctor Wilson T. Renfrew
Bill Quinn	...	Judge Antonio Runzuli
Roy Jenson	...	Klan Leader
Fred Carney	...	Alfred Schuyler

Storyline

Joe Braxton is an ex-con who has been given a second chance to freedom after violating his probation. He has been hired by a school teacher named Vivian Perry to repair and drive an old school bus and drive a group of Special kids to Ms. Perry's Washington Farm from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to give them a new home after The Clarmont Center for Children is shut down by the city. The kids have severe mental problems and Joe is not looking forward to the trip at all, but Joe later bonds with Vivian and the children, offering his support and love and changes his outlook on life. But Donald, the social worker and Vivian's lover who gave Joe his break is hot on their tail and wants Joe back in prison. Joe and Vivian must now prevent Donald from sending the children back to Philadelphia, where they'll have no future.

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Plot Keywords:

school | teacher | farm | bus | mentally challenged | 

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Taglines:

He's mad, he's bad, and he's Bustin' Loose!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 May 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

Family Dream

Filming Locations:

Washington, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,622,753, 25 May 1981, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$31,261,269

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film's closing credits state: "We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Crystalite Productions" and "Universal Studios wishes to thank the cities of Redmond, Ellensburg and Seattle, and the state of Washington, for their cooperation in the making of this picture."

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Goofs

In several shots during the movie, the actors appear in the red interior of the probation officer's Cadillac Seville. At the end of the movie they flip flop back and forth between a car with red interior and a car with white interior. (Very obviously when Richard Pryor opens the door while sitting in car it is red, when he gets out it's white.)

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Quotes

Joe Braxton: [yelling at the kids after they learned of the possible farm loss and are whining amongst themselves] Shut up!
Ernesto: [to Joe] Go take a hike!
Joe Braxton: [smacks him across the face hard enough to knock him down] Shut up!

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Connections

Referenced in The King of Comedy (1982)

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Soundtracks

Rollin' On
Written by Roberta Flack & Ira "Buddy" Williams
Performed by the Orchestra

User Reviews

very funny

This movie may appear to be a family movie, but yet Richard Pryor's Braxton character is clearly not a family man. He swears and yells at children, slaps them, teaches them strip poker and is constantly smoking stogies.

I found myself really enjoying this movie though. There are quite a few laugh out loud moments. I especially liked when the Miss Perry character told Braxton to be careful with his cigar because he might set himself on fire!

The movie even features comedian Paul Mooney in a small cameo at the beginning.