A Fine Mess (1986)

An actor and a chef fathom a plot to fix a horse race and attempt at capitalizing it, while striving to tackle two of the hitmen responsible for the scheme.

Director:

Blake Edwards

Writer:

Blake Edwards

Stars:

Ted Danson, Howie Mandel, Richard Mulligan

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ted Danson	...	Spence Holden
Howie Mandel	...	Dennis Powell
Richard Mulligan	...	Wayne 'Turnip' Parragella
Stuart Margolin	...	Maurice 'Binky' Drundza
Maria Conchita Alonso	...	Claudia Pazzo
Jennifer Edwards	...	Ellen Frankenthaler
Paul Sorvino	...	Tony Pazzo
Rick Ducommun	...	Wardell
Keye Luke	...	Ishimine
Ed Herlihy	...	TV Reporter
Walter Charles	...	Auctioneer
Tawny Moyer	...	Leading Lady
Emma Walton Hamilton	...	First Extra
Carrie Leigh	...	Second Extra
Sharan Lea	...	Young Girl

Storyline

Two friends, an actor and a chef, discover a plot to fix a horse race and try to capitalize on it. But they must also deal with the two men who fixed the race, who are trying to silence them. Then there's the mob boss the two guys work for, who planned the fix, and whose wife is having an affair with the actor.

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Plot Keywords:

horse | actor | piano | auction | horse race | 

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Actors Stuart Margolin and Richard Mulligan portraying comic buddy duo Binky & Turnip had similar sounding last names - both words began with the letter "M", rhymed, and had three syllables each.

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Goofs

At the end of the movie, Spence (on a Western film shoot) walks through the swinging bar doors with a cigar in his mouth. He takes a few steps forward and the size of the cigar has nearly doubled.

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Quotes

Dennis Powell: Why's she called The Hummer?
Spence Holden: She can't whistle while she works so she hums.

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Connections

References A Fistful of Dollars (1964)

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Soundtracks

Love's Closin' In
Written, Produced and Performed by Nick Jameson

User Reviews

Originally Intended for Burt Reynolds and Richard Pryor

When Blake Edwards initially was putting this film together it was originally intended to star Burt Reynolds and Richard Pryor. Unfortunately due to Pryor's near fatal burning the film had to be recast. The Films original Title was 'The Music Box' taken from the Laurel & Hardy short film of the same title. Was made as a homage to classic comedies . Did not fair well at the box office. ************************************************************ ************************************************************ ************************************************************ ************************************************************

Details

Official Sites:

Sony Movie Channel [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 August 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Blake Edwards' A Fine Mess

Filming Locations:

Laird International Studio - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,620,657, 10 August 1986

Gross USA:

$6,029,824

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$6,029,824

Company Credits

Production Co:

Blake Edwards, Columbia Pictures, Delphi V Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1