Who Finds A Treasure Finds A Friend (1981)

On a small pacific island, Alan and Charlie try to find a war treasure left behind by the Japanese army in World War II.

Director:

Sergio Corbucci

Writers:

Mario Amendola (screenplay) (as Amendola), Sergio Corbucci (screenplay) (as Corbucci)

Stars:

Terence Hill, Bud Spencer, John Fujioka

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Terence Hill	...	Alan
Bud Spencer	...	Charlie
John Fujioka	...	Kamasuka (as John Fujoka)
Louise Bennett	...	Mama (as Luise Bennett)
Sal Borgese	...	Anulu
Kainowa Lauritzen	...	Ulla
Mirna Seya	...	Dimhea
Terry Moni Mapuana	...	Alua
Linda Prast	...	Linda, the barmaid
Kathy Lun
Herb Goldstein	...	Brady (as Herbie Goldstein)
Arnie Ross	...	Warner
Tom Tully	...	Major
Baba Subraniam	...	Healer

Storyline

Alan gets a map to some war treasure which the Japanese army left behind on a small Pacific island at the end of World War II. But some gangsters try to steal the map from him and so he hides on Charlie's boat which just leaves the harbor. He manipulates the ship's compass so that Charlie is not aware that he is sailing to the treasure island. But when they step on the island, they discover that it is not as abandoned as they believed: there are some natives - and a Japanese soldier still defending the treasure.

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Plot Keywords:

buddy comedy | sailboat | sea | fistfight | brawl | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Action

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The name of Charlie O'Brien (Bud Spencer)'s boat was "Puffin" whilst the name of the bikie-pirate gang's catamaran was "Trick".

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Goofs

In the scene where the natives lead Bud and Terence to the jap tank, they both wear parts of US uniforms they took from the abandoned WWII US military depot. Hill's shirt has US Air Force written on it, which is incorrect, as the USAF didn't exist before 1947, two years after the end of WWII.

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Quotes

Charlie O'Brien: There ain't no one here filled with more pure loathin', and hatred... than me.

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Alternate Versions

On the Spanish DVD the last shot freeze frames before the last dialogue (in which the title of the movie is out spoken). There is also no end credits.

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Connections

Referenced in Chispita y sus gorilas (1982)

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Soundtracks

Movin' Cruisin'
(uncredited)
Written by Carmelo La Bionda and Michelangelo La Bionda
Performed by Carmelo La Bionda and Michelangelo La Bionda (as The Oceans)

User Reviews

The treasure island story

As usual for Hill and Spencer movies, they are two self centered and greedy characters, who basically care only for themselves, but still manage to do the right thing when the time comes.

Hill and Spencer could easily be the modern day equivalent of everymen. The only thing that has them motivated (in any of their movies) is greed for money, because they don't have it and are prepared to do many things to get it (although they would never really cross the border of the law).

In this case there's an old uncle with a treasure map and his nephew (Hill), who doesn't really believe him, but once he gambled away all of the mafia's money, the treasure seems to be the only way out for him. So he hides away on a sailboat as a last possible way to get away from the pursuers. The captain (Spencer) is only doing this trip with the sailboat to get the money from the sponsor Puffin (making a product he hates himself). And after they loose the boat (as usual Hill dragged Spencer in the middle of it all) they have nothing left but the treasure to search for.

As with other similar movies like "Go For It", "Crime Busters", "Double Trouble" or "Odds and Evens" Spencer is a grouchy leave-me-alone character and Hill the happy-go-lucky character. The first half an hour is a way to bring these two everymen in a situation where the slapstick comedy occurs. Although always shallow, the plot is plausible enough to let you settle in it and the opening part of the movie, when they are just getting to the point, is as always the funniest, for it doesn't rely on slaps and punches.

After the landing on the island with the treasure the slapstick comedy gets on the way. So expect punches, kicks, slaps and many hurt bad guys. And as usual there is the reward to be had, so they find the treasure - still they can't get rich off it. It's never that easy, so just like the real modern everyman they are left more or less empty handed in the end.

All in all a very amusing and simple movie, that would fall in the category of upbeat movies that will brighten your day, even though when you really think about it, you'll see it has a lot more to offer the it first seems.

Details

Country:

Italy USA

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

10 December 1981 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Who Finds A Treasure Finds A Friend

Filming Locations:

Key Biscayne, Florida, USA

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$19,957

Company Credits

Production Co:

Elpico Cinematografica, Take 1 Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min (edited)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1