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

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

The name of the island was "Pongo Pongo". It was also know as "Chow Key". Both were fictional names. One of the track's on the film's soundtrack is called "Corbucci's Island", the name of the movie's director being Sergio Corbucci.

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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

Spoofed in Sajtóvadászat (2006)

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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

a nostalgic movie

WHO FINDS A FRIEND FINDS A TREASURE is my favourite Bud Spencer- Terence Hill flick. Recently I got hold of the DVD of the same- and it took me back 20 odd years. As a young kid (around 10 years or so) I remember my parents taking me to see this movie in the theatre. It was in the early Eighties when the only English movies appearing in theatres were these dubbed Italian movies, dubbed French movies (read as Crazy Boys- aka Les Charlots) and Indo- Chinese movies- dubbed Chinese kung-fu action flicks. Original Hollywood movies took a while to reach India (at least 10 years). And Bud & Terence provided huge guffaws. The movie is all about a treasure hunt in a supposedly desert island in the pacific. Terence hill is a stowaway in Bud's boat and he manipulates the ship's navigation controls to take them to this island. Then on it's a laugh riot with the duo endearing themselves to the natives of the island. The laughs may not be of that quality we associate with modern day movies- but as nostalgic remembrance of my childhood, I treasure this movie.