The Coca-Cola Kid (1985)

Ex-marine turned Coca-Cola marketing guru Becker is on a mission to boost sales in Australia when he discovers a dry spot in the Outback, where everyone is guzzling homegrown brew - and not a drop of his company's cola.

Director:

Dusan Makavejev

Writers:

Frank Moorhouse (screenplay by), Denny Lawrence (additional dialogue)

Stars:

Eric Roberts, Greta Scacchi, Bill Kerr

8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Eric Roberts	...	Becker
Greta Scacchi	...	Terri
Bill Kerr	...	T. George McDowell
Chris Haywood	...	Kim
Kris McQuade	...	Juliana
Max Gillies	...	Frank
Tony Barry	...	Bushman
Paul Chubb	...	Fred
David Slingsby	...	Waiter
Tim Finn	...	Phillip
Colleen Clifford	...	Mrs. Haversham
Rebecca Smart	...	DMZ
Esben Storm	...	Country Hotel Manager
Steve Dodd	...	Mr. Joe
Ian Gilmour	...	Marjorie

Storyline

An eccentric marketing guru visits a Coca-Cola subsidiary in Australia to try and increase market penetration. He finds zero penetration in a valley owned by an old man who makes his own soft drinks, and visits the valley to see why. After "the Kid's" persistence is tested he's given a tour of the man's plant, and they begin talking of a joint venture. Things get more complicated when the Coca-Cola man begins falling in love with his temporary secretary, who seems to have connections to the valley.

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Plot Keywords:

coca cola | mother daughter relationship | australia | american abroad | land baron | 

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Taglines:

A movie felt never so refreshing!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

The nick-name of Becker (Eric Roberts) was "The Coca-Cola Kid".

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Goofs

Just after Becker takes the old lady from the Tiger Moth and carries her over to his Jeep, the airplane has turned around by itself and moved over to the side of the road.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Cabin Steward: G'day ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Australia.

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Crazy Credits

The film opens with the following disclaimer, in this exact way as written heightening the exact words in capital letters. "This FILM is a WORK of FICTION. Neither the FILM nor its MAKERS have any CONNECTION with THE COCA-COLA COMPANY or any of its SUBSIDIARIES or AFFILIATES. THE COCA-COLA COMPANY has not licensed, sponsored or approved of this FILM in any way. All PERSONS, EVENTS and CHARACTERS in this FILM are entirely fictional. The FILM in no WAY purports to present an accurate ACCOUNT of THE COCA-COLA COMPANY, its SUBSIDIARIES or AFFILIATES in AUSTRALIA - PAST, PRESENT or FUTURE. COCA-COLA and COKE are registered TRADEMARKS which identify the same PRODUCT of THE COCA-COLA COMPANY. The DYNAMIC RIBBON DEVICE is also a TRADEMARK of THE COCA-COLA COMPANY."

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Connections

Featured in The Real Thing: The Making of the Coca Cola Kid (2009)

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Soundtracks

Strange Night
Composed & written by Tim Finn
Performed by Tim Finn, Neil Finn, Nigel Griggs, Ricky Fataar & Paul Hester
Produced by Mark Moffatt (as Mark Moffat) & Ricky Fataar
With the permission of Mushroom Records, Mushroom Music & Enz Music

User Reviews

a brilliant movie!

This is one of the most fantastic movies ever made.

I'm not kidding.

Essentially the movie is about corporate America vs. Australia. More broadly, the film is about American corporate imperialism and a country's attempt to resist it.

Eric Roberts plays the gung-ho American coca-cola executive ("the marines have landed on every continent except Australia.. AND HERE I AM!"), intent on establishing a coca-cola franchise in the heart of Australia. The stubbornly independent Australians resist the American businessman with their own brand of humour and subversiveness.

Watch for several layers of meaning throughout the film. Especially the "Waltzing Matilda" scene.

Notable quote: "We have bottling franchises in every country on the planet. Including the moon."

A brilliant movie that will change your life.. or a movie that you'll ignore.

Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 July 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Coca-Cola Kid

Filming Locations:

Katoomba, New South Wales, Australia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinema Enterprises, The Australian Film Commission, Grand Bay Films International Pty.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Stereo

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1