Night Shift (1982)

A morgue attendant is talked into running a brothel at his workplace after a deceased pimp is sent there. However, the pimp's killers don't look too kindly on this new 'business', nor does the morgue's owner.

Director:

Ron Howard

Writers:

Lowell Ganz, Babaloo Mandel

Stars:

Henry Winkler, Michael Keaton, Shelley Long

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Henry Winkler	...	Chuck Lumley
Michael Keaton	...	Bill Blazejowski
Shelley Long	...	Belinda Keaton
Gina Hecht	...	Charlotte Koogle
Pat Corley	...	Edward Koogle
Bobby Di Cicco	...	Leonard (as Bobby DiCicco)
Nita Talbot	...	Vivian
Basil Hoffman	...	Drollhauser
Tim Rossovich	...	Luke
Clint Howard	...	Jefferey
Joe Spinell	...	Manetti
Cheryl Carter	...	Tanya
Becky Gonzalez	...	Lupe
Corki Grazer	...	Sylvia (as Corki Corman)
Jaid Barrymore	...	Joyce (as Ildiko Jaid)

Storyline

A nebbish of a morgue attendant gets shunted back to the night shift where he is shackled with an obnoxious neophyte partner who dreams of the "one great idea" for success. His life takes a bizarre turn when a prostitute neighbour complains about the loss of her pimp. His partner, upon hearing the situation, suggests that they fill that opening themselves using the morgue at night as their brothel. Against his better judgement, he gets talked into the idea, only to find that it's more than his boss that has objections to this bit of entrepreneurship.

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Plot Keywords:

bare breasts | night shift | pimp | prostitute | voyeur | 

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Taglines:

Ever since two enterprising young men turned the City Morgue into a swinging business, people have been dying to get in.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Breakthrough and first starring role of Michael Keaton.

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Goofs

As Chuck get's his haircut, the barber holds up a mirror for Chuck to get a look. After he drops the mirror, his friend Bill, played by Michael Keaton is standing there for a surprise hello having come inside from the door to Chuck's right being blocked by the mirror. Right after Chuck holds the mirror up, we can see the top of Keaton's back sneaking into the film from Chuck's left which would have put his character right next to Chuck the whole time.

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Quotes

Bill: [points to morgue cold chambers] What's in here, just stiffs and stuff?
Chuck: Uh, no, we call them "corpses."
Bill: Can I take a peek?
Chuck: Sure.
Bill: Alright!
Chuck: I think there's one in #7.
Bill: Hey, this Carboni guy! What's he, like, our boss or what?
Chuck: No, no, he's the supervisor. He's not here at night.
Bill: Nuh-uh! Get outta town! Just you and me and the stiffs alone? Here? That's gonna be radical, Chuck!
[Chuck opens morgue drawer]
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in The Best of Eddie Murphy: Saturday Night Live (1989)

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Soundtracks

They're Tearin' Down Tim Riley's Bar
Written by Gerry Lekas (uncredited)
Performed by Kris Jensen
Courtesy of The Music Umbrella

User Reviews

"Get outta town, you two guys?!"- Excellent comedy w/dynamic duo of Winkler & Keaton

NIGHT SHIFT (1982) ***1/2 Henry Winkler, Shelley Long, Michael Keaton, Richard Belzer, Clint Howard. Fast paced and funny black comedy about a prostitution ring run from a NYC morgue and odd couple attendants Winkler and Keaton (in an amazing and hysterical film debut) as their pimps. Great dialogue and sharp direction by Ron Howard in this, his first big-budgeted directorial debut*. Look sharply for Kevin Costner as a frat boy in the morgue party scene. Best line: Keaton's Billy Blazejowski: "Is this a great country or what?!" Interesting note: closing song "That's What Friends Are For" sung by Rod Stewart is the same song later sung by Elton John & co. for AIDS benefit proceeds. * I know... Howard directed previously "Grand Theft Auto" for Roger Corman, so lighten up , Francis!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 July 1982 (USA)

Also Known As:

Night Shift

Filming Locations:

H&H Midtown Bagels - 2239 Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,539,633, 1 August 1982

Gross USA:

$21,095,638

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$21,095,638

Company Credits

Production Co:

Major Studio Partners, The Ladd Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1