Volunteers (1985)

Lawrence is a rich kid with a bad accent and a large debt. After his father refuses to help him out, Lawrence escapes his angry debtors by jumping on a Peace Corp flight to Southeast Asia, ... See full summary »

Director:

Nicholas Meyer

Writers:

Keith Critchlow (story), Ken Levine (screenplay)

Stars:

Tom Hanks, John Candy, Rita Wilson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Hanks	...	Lawrence Bourne III
John Candy	...	Tom Tuttle from Tacoma
Rita Wilson	...	Beth Wexler
Tim Thomerson	...	John Reynolds
Gedde Watanabe	...	At Toon
George Plimpton	...	Lawrence Bourne Jr.
Ernest Harada	...	Chung Mee
Allan Arbus	...	Albert Bardenaro
Xander Berkeley	...	Kent Sutcliffe
Ji-Tu Cumbuka	...	Cicero (as Ji-Tu Cumbaka)
Guillermo Río	...	Sumo Guard (as Guillermo del Rio)
Jacqueline Evans	...	Aunt Eunice
Pamela Gual	...	Tammy the Stewardess
Philip Guilmant	...	Yale President (as Phillip Giulmant)
Chick Hearn	...	Announcer

Storyline

Lawrence is a rich kid with a bad accent and a large debt. After his father refuses to help him out, Lawrence escapes his angry debtors by jumping on a Peace Corp flight to Southeast Asia, where is assigned to build a bridge for the local villagers with American-As-Apple-Pie WSU Grad Tom Tuttle and the beautiful and down-to earth Beth Wexler. What they don't realize is that the bridge is coveted by the U.S. Army, a local Communist force, and a powerful drug lord. Together with the help of At Toon, the only English speaking native, they must fight off the three opposing forces and find out what is right for the villagers, as well as themselves.

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Plot Keywords:

product placement | coca cola | one word title | laughing | falling in love | 

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Taglines:

The boys from "Splash" are back together!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 August 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

Alles hört auf mein Kommando

Filming Locations:

Mae Hong Son, Thailand

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,184,360, 18 August 1985, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$19,875,740

Company Credits

Production Co:

HBO Pictures, Silver Screen Partners, TriStar Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"The Washington State University Fight Song" was used instead of the famous "Colonel Bogey March" from David Lean's The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957).

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Goofs

On the plane, the Peace Corp volunteers are singing "Puff, the Magic Dragon" in 1962. Peter, Paul and Mary recorded the song in 1962 and it wasn't released until 1963.

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Quotes

John Reynolds: Bourne? Hey, I got a telegram about you.
[Reads telegram]
John Reynolds: You must have some friends in pretty high places, Bourne.
Lawrence Bourne III: Yah... Well, we do consider Washington our general store.
John Reynolds: Damndest thing I ever saw. Training waiver, vocational approval; just like that - you're officially in the Peace Corps.
Lawrence Bourne III: [Looses his cool. Cigarette drops from his mouth] HEY! John... John... John, this is ridiculous. Now, I am obviously not of Peace Corps fiber. It's not that I can't help these people, it's just that... I ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

Tom Hanks' character has firstname "Lawrence". Hanks saves the village. As film fades to black for credits, a large group of "volunteers" gather around Hanks. Just as black for start of credits shows, chants of "Lawrence, Lawrence, Lawrence..." are heard. Absolutely a tribute to scene of O'Toole as Lawrence of Arabia marching across traintop to chants of "Lawrence, Lawrence, Lawrence..."

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Connections

Featured in Biography: To John with Love: A Tribute to John Candy (1995)

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Soundtracks

Blue Moon
Performed by The Marcels
Written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart

User Reviews

Excellent film spoofing many of the great classics.

"Volunteers" successfully spoofs more classic films than any other - from Casablanca, through Bridge over the River Kwai, to Lawrence of Arabia, they're all there if you're watching carefully enough.

It also offers a glimpse of a much younger, fresher and more natural Tom Hanks than the over-processed multi-millionaire product we see so much of today.

Full of belly-laughs and quick fire one liners, and packed with so many more subtle references that you'll have to pay close attention and watch it many times to pick up even half of them, this hilarious film really does the job. The Austin Powers and Naked Gun series are almost the only others packing this much fast paced humour into a feature film. Highly recommended!