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

Gross USA:

$31,261,269

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$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

The pictures that appear on the right of the swap meet doorway disappear completely when Dwayne and Frank bust open the door.

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Quotes

[last lines]
Donald: Get out. Go on back home.

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Alternate Versions

Most of the footage from the original cut was deleted when the film was re-shot in early 1981.

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Connections

References Godzilla (1954)

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Soundtracks

Ballad For D
Written by Roberta Flack, Ira "Buddy" Williams & Peabo Bryson
Performed by Peabo Bryson

User Reviews

A nice family comedy

This is a really nice film. I bought it on DVD and saw it last night. I had seen it various times through the years. Last night was the first time I had seen it in along time. Without Richard Pryor it could have been an after school special. I have always liked Richard Pryor in his films, he always played a normal human being, he never got into the supercop comedies like Eddie Murphy did. Pryor showed in this film that he could be tender as well as funny. It is a little gem of movie, very lite, but very funny and heartwarming.

Grade: B