A couple, cheated by a vile businessman, kidnap his wife in retaliation, without knowing that their enemy is delighted they did.
Writer:
Dale Launer
From metacritic.com
The former "Walking Dead" star relied on her own heartbreaking experiences in her new NBC series, "Council of Dads."
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Title: Ruthless People (1986)
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Edit
Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Danny DeVito | ... | Sam Stone | |
| Bette Midler | ... | Barbara Stone | |
| Judge Reinhold | ... | Ken Kessler | |
| Helen Slater | ... | Sandy Kessler | |
| Anita Morris | ... | Carol | |
| Bill Pullman | ... | Earl | |
| William G. Schilling | ... | Police Commissioner | |
| Art Evans | ... | Lt. Bender | |
| Clarence Felder | ... | Lt. Walters | |
| J.E. Freeman | ... | Bedroom Killer | |
| Gary Riley | ... | Heavy Metal Kid | |
| Phyllis Applegate | ... | Loan Officer | |
 |
Jeannine Bisignano | ... | Hooker in Car |
|
|
J.P. Bumstead | ... | Technician |
|
|
Jon Cutler | ... | Stereo Store Customer |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
Sam Stone (Danny DeVito) is a clothing manufacturer, who married his wife Barbara (Bette Midler), for the money that she was supposed to inherit from her dying father, but her father didn't die for another fifteen years. He is now planning to kill her and he tells his girlfriend Carol Dodsworth (Anita Morris) what he is going to do. He then on his way home to do just that but when he gets there, she's not there. He then receives a call from someone claiming to have kidnapped Barbara and threatening to kill her if he informs the police, which he does hoping that they do. What Stone doesn't know is that the kidnappers, Ken (Judge Reinhold) and Sandy (Helen Slater) Kessler are a couple whose idea for a garment he stole and made fortune off, are not that lethal, as a matter of fact Barbara's more lethal. And what Stone doesn't know is that Carol, has another boyfriend named Earl Mott (Bill Pullman), and they plan to blackmail Sam, by videotaping him disposing of Barbara's body. When Earl ... Written by <rcs0411@yahoo.com>
Taglines:
Sam Stone's wife has just been kidnapped... And he doesn't want her back! See more »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Edit
See more on IMDbPro »
See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
27 June 1986 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Ruthless People See more »Edit
Box Office
Budget:
$13,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend USA:
$5,274,306, 29 June 1986Gross USA:
$71,624,879Cumulative Worldwide Gross:
$71,624,879Company Credits
Production Co:
Touchstone Pictures, Silver Screen Partners II, Zucker Brothers Productions See more »
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
DolbyColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
Edit
Sam Stone: Carol, did I ever tell you why I married her?
Carol: Yes, Sam, you told me many, many...
Sam Stone: Her father was very, very rich, and very, very sick. The doctors assured me he'd be dead any minute. There wasn't a second to lose! I rushed right out and married the boss's daughter. He was so sick, it was like the Angel of Death was sitting in the room with him, watching the clock. They pulled the plug on him... he wheezed and shook for about an hour... and then... he stabilized. The son-of-a-bitch ...
[...]
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
The film was released under Disney's Touchstone Pictures label, which was created so the studio could release more adult-oriented fare. See more »Goofs
When Barbra tries to escape, she throws a coffee mug at Ken, hitting his nose. You can see the plexiglass in front of Ken reflecting light on his shirt. Also, slowing down the frames, before the mug hits Ken, you can clearly see the cut mark already painted on his nose before the mug hits him. See more »Quotes
[first lines]Sam Stone: Carol, did I ever tell you why I married her?
Carol: Yes, Sam, you told me many, many...
Sam Stone: Her father was very, very rich, and very, very sick. The doctors assured me he'd be dead any minute. There wasn't a second to lose! I rushed right out and married the boss's daughter. He was so sick, it was like the Angel of Death was sitting in the room with him, watching the clock. They pulled the plug on him... he wheezed and shook for about an hour... and then... he stabilized. The son-of-a-bitch ...
[...]
See more »
Crazy Credits
Opening credits are shown in neon colors and shapes, in split screen, with the other part of the screen depicting various methods of knocking someone off. See more »Frequently Asked Questions
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Bette Midler, Danny DeVito, Judge Reinhold and Helen Slater all mixed and matched perfectly in this film about one loud and obnoxious woman. Hilarious in its implementation, the way the lives of the characters unfold in a funny and unpredictable manner. If you haven't seen this classic comedy, then get a whiff of this film, just to see the genius of DeVito and Midler in their primes. While the humor may be a little dated, it still offers some fairly clean fun for all to enjoy.