Tin Men (1987)

A minor car accident drives two rival aluminum-siding salesmen to the ridiculous extremes of man versus man in 1963 Baltimore.

Director:

Barry Levinson

Writer:

Barry Levinson

Stars:

Richard Dreyfuss, Danny DeVito, Barbara Hershey

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Richard Dreyfuss	...	BB
Danny DeVito	...	Tilley
Barbara Hershey	...	Nora
John Mahoney	...	Moe
Jackie Gayle	...	Sam
Stanley Brock	...	Gil
Seymour Cassel	...	Cheese
Bruno Kirby	...	Mouse
J.T. Walsh	...	Wing
Richard Portnow	...	Carly
Matt Craven	...	Looney
Alan Blumenfeld	...	Stanley
Brad Sullivan	...	Masters
Michael Tucker	...	Bagel
Deirdre O'Connell	...	Nellie

Storyline

One step short of larceny, the aluminum siding salesmen in this movie sell their wares, compete with each other, and engage in a lot of great dialog. Tin Men focuses on the rivalry between BB Babowsky and Ernest Tilley. At the same time, the end of small world of which they are kings looms near as a government probe investigates their industry.

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Plot Keywords:

aluminum siding | car | car accident | 1960s | competing businesses | 

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Taglines:

The Year - 1963. Selling the American Dream is a risky, funny business - you could wind up paying with your wife!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

The fourth feature film directed by Barry Levinson.

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Goofs

When Tilley discusses his accident with his friends at the café, we hear him say "of all the people who could be running into me it has to be another tin man." However, his lips suggest the word "another" was a replacement for an expletive.

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Quotes

Sam: You notice Little Joe never says "Hey Pa, I'm gonna go into town to get a piece of ass"?

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Connections

Featured in The Directors: The Films of Barry Levinson (2000)

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Soundtracks

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Words by Hal David
Music by Burt Bacharach
Performed by Gene Pitney
Arranged by Chuck Sagle (uncredited)
Courtesy of CBS Records

User Reviews

I know these guys

I grew up with characters like Dreyfus and DeVito, hustlers out there selling anything. Somewhere between 1963 and the time the film came out, they disappeared from our streets, only to move into six story office buildings that dot the suburbs of Northeastern cities. Now they spend their time on the phone, trying to interest prospects that new windows will surely cut their fuel bills.

I came to realize this great truth one day in 1988 when I went to rent a car and was told to come to Executive Plaza 5, Suite 414. As I walked the halls, all I could see in open offices were the Tin Men of 1963 at it again.

The movie crackles and sets off sparks. You don't know who to root for, and for good reason. This is not a buddy movie, but I suspect a remembrance by Levinson of people he knew growing up.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 March 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

Tin Men

Filming Locations:

Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$11,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$187,381, 8 March 1987

Gross USA:

$25,411,386

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$25,411,386

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Silver Screen Partners II, Bandai Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1