Ruthless People (1986)

A couple, cheated by a vile businessman, kidnap his wife in retaliation, without knowing that their enemy is delighted they did.

Directors:

Jim Abrahams, David Zucker

Writer:

Dale Launer

Stars:

Bette Midler, Danny DeVito, Judge Reinhold

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 2 nominations.

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

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 ...

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Plot Keywords:

kidnapping | ransom | extramarital affair | police | hooker | 

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Taglines:

Barbara Stone has just been kidnapped by K-Mart, and what she doesn't know won't hurt her.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 June 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Por fin me la quité de encima

Filming Locations:

10690 Somma Way - Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$5,274,306, 29 June 1986

Gross USA:

$71,624,879

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Silver Screen Partners II, Zucker Brothers Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

There are some references to the Walt Disney world: Ken and Sandy Kessler are wearing duck masks (presumably Donald's nephews Huey and Dewey) as Barbara Stone says a few minutes later when they first uncover Barbara's face. When Sam Stone visits his lover Carol's house, he's singing "Zip-a-dee Doo-Dah" from Song of the South (1946). Ruthless People (1986) was released under Disney's Touchstone Pictures label, which was created so the studio could release more adult-oriented fare.

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Goofs

Ken's first attempt to collect the ransom from Sam Stone happens on a Monday. When Sam fails to show, Ken reschedules the drop for Wednesday. Following the failed attempt, Sandy goes down to the basement to bring Barbara more magazines. Barbara asks how long she's going to be there, and Sandy says, "As soon as Mr. Stone pays the ransom. Should be Monday." The day is Monday, so she should say "today."

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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 ...
[...]

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Crazy Credits

Dwight Gooden, the well-known major league baseball pitcher, is listed in the end credits as "Best Pitcher." Gooden won the 1985 National League Cy Young Award, which is given annually to the best pitcher in each league.

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Connections

Edited into Funny or Die Presents...: Fifty Shades of DeVito (2018)

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Soundtracks

Give Me The Reason
Performed by Luther Vandross
Written by Luther Vandross and Nat Adderley Jr.

User Reviews

one of my all-time favorites

This is one of my favorite movies. I laughed hysterically at every joke, every joke hit its target. But that's not what's so great about this movie. This movie has an all-star cast (Devito, Midler, Reinhold, Pullman) and they do a great job with the script. But that's not what's so great about this movie. The best thing about this movie is the intricately woven plot, which keeps your attention and comes to a hilarious finale. This is one of the funniest movies ever. See this and you won't regret it.