Who Finds a Friend Finds a Treasure (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:

island | treasure | pacific | soldier | buddy | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Action

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Details

Country:

Italy USA

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

December 1981 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Banaanipojat Hula-Hula saarella

Filming Locations:

Key Biscayne, Florida, USA

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Terence Hill says the line "He who finds a friend finds a treasure" in the earlier Terence Hill-Bud Spencer movie "Crimebusters} [Crime Busters (1977)].

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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: [to Pakita the parrot] Yeah, up yours too

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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 Question in Details (2010)

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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

WHO FINDS A FRIEND FINDS A TREASURE is an amusing and entertaining Hill and Spencer movie

Alan (Terence Hill ) obtains a map about a Japanese hidden treasure in a far island. Being pursued by some gangsters he aboard on Charlies's (Bud Spencer) boat who justly sails around the world. Later on , they are shipwrecked and find the treasure island. There they discover which it is not as abandoned as they thought. Then they meet one Japanese soldier (John Fujioka) and a tribe with savage natives (the ordinary Italian secondary Salvatore Borghese, among others). After that, the pair become involved in several adventures, and rare situations full of risks , dangers and fun.

The big time duo from Spahetti Western wrapped in humor as ¨They call me Trinity ¨ and its following as ¨Trinity is still my name¨ and ¨Trouble makers¨ were run out and then they turned into the Police, action, and adventure genre . As they played the Miami series which are set in Florida, such as ¨Miami Supercops¨, ¨Crime Busters¨, and ¨Superfuzz¨ . At Europe these movies are shown on TV very frequently and are part of growing up on kids and teenagers. The stories are plenty of humor and based on diverse personality and physical differences among them . This one deals with the adventure genre and set on a small Pacific island where is stashed a treasure since the end of WWII. It packs silly comedy, tongue in cheek, slapdash, slapstick and the habitual struggles without blood , nor violence, full of abundant kicks, punches, leaps and bounds. Lousy and jolly musical score composed by means of synthesizer by the usual La Bionda. Furthermore it contains average and quite poor cinematography. The motion picture is professionally directed by Sergio Corbucci, an expert on Spaghetti Western, such as he proved in ¨Django¨,¨The Mercenarios¨,¨Compañeros¨,¨Minessota Clay¨,¨Ringo and the golden gun¨,¨Hellbenders¨, among others. The film is absolutely hilarious for Hill and Spencer enthusiasts and ranks among their most famous and most representative ones; , a must see for all their fans. Rating : Mediocre but entertaining.