The Money Pit (1986)

A young couple struggles to repair a hopelessly dilapidated house.

Director:

Richard Benjamin

Writer:

David Giler

Stars:

Tom Hanks, Shelley Long, Alexander Godunov

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Hanks	...	Walter Fielding
Shelley Long	...	Anna Crowley
Alexander Godunov	...	Max Beissart
Maureen Stapleton	...	Estelle
Joe Mantegna	...	Art Shirk
Philip Bosco	...	Curly
Josh Mostel	...	Jack Schnittman
Yakov Smirnoff	...	Shatov
Carmine Caridi	...	Brad Shirk
Brian Backer	...	Ethan
Billy Lombardo	...	Benny
Mia Dillon	...	Marika
John Van Dreelen	...	Carlos (as John van Dreelen)
Douglass Watson	...	Walter Fielding, Sr.
Lucille Dobrin	...	Macumba Lady

Storyline

Walter Fielding and Anna Crowley have to start looking for a new house- but there's not much they can afford! This soon changes when they meet a lonely old con artist who sells them a beautiful mansion at a ridiculously low price. Only there's a catch. The second they move into the house it falls apart, starting with the stairway collapsing to the bathtub falling through the floor to eventually the chimney falling into the house! Finally, they have to renovate the house before the frame collapses but the renovations also prove to be a disaster.

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Plot Keywords:

house | dilapidated house | renovation | couple | slapstick comedy | 

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Taglines:

For everyone who's ever been deeply in Love or deeply in debt.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish Chinese Russian Portuguese

Release Date:

26 March 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Money Pit

Filming Locations:

Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, 3251 South Miami Avenue, Miami, Florida, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,344,555, 30 March 1986

Gross USA:

$37,499,651

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$17,500,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Amblin Entertainment, U-Drive Productions, Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) Dolby Stereo (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The closing credits have a special section called "The Construction Crew" for several actors who played tradesmen in the film, but had no character name billing.

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Goofs

When the bathtub falls through the floor, Walter is pouring water into it but when the camera angle shifts to an upward shot from the floor below, there's no water being poured.

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Quotes

[Walter and Anna are discussing the possibility of buying the house]
Walter: You know what this is? This is the short line in Motor Vehicles.
Anna: What?
Walter: Yeah! You go to Motor Vehicles to get your license renewed, and you get on this line that reaches to Spain, and right next to it is this little short line with only two guys on it, but you don't get on that line, 'cause you think something must be "wrong" with it - otherwise everyone else would be on it - so you waste three hours!
Anna: I got on the short line ...

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Alternate Versions

When originally released theatrically in the UK, the BBFC made cuts of 5 seconds to secure a 'PG' rating. All cuts were waived later in 1986 when the film was re-rated with a '15' certificate for home video.

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Connections

Referenced in At the Movies: Bright Lights, Big City/The Seventh Sign/Beetlejuice/Babette's Feast (1988)

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Soundtracks

Web of Desire
Written by White Lion
Performed by White Lion and Louise Robey (as Robey)

User Reviews

Now the house is perfect...let's move!!!!

This film when it first came out was not given credit, it fell into the categories with the "Ghostbusters sequel" and other silly 80's movies. But, if you watch it again, it may have you laughing.

Shelley Long, while not a favorite, is good, and Tom Hanks, as a young couple finally buying that country mansion dream house every American should want. Maureen Stapleton is selling it; she is classic.

Joe Mantegna as Art Shirk, one of the many contractors and plumbers who take the young couple for a ride. Richard Benjamin has done a good job directing (You may want to watch "Goodbye, Columbus" again; he was excellent in that film).

The story is predictable, but will lighten your mood; it is not just a romantic comedy with a ridiculous premise. Anyone who has ever had to deal with house repairs and contractors will find this to be a good tonic. 8/10.