Crazy People (1990)

A bitter ad executive who has reached his breaking point, finds himself in a mental institution where his career actually begins to thrive with the help of the hospital's patients.

Directors:

Tony Bill, Barry L. Young

Writer:

Mitch Markowitz

Stars:

Dudley Moore, Daryl Hannah, Paul Reiser

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dudley Moore	...	Emory Leeson
Daryl Hannah	...	Kathy Burgess
Paul Reiser	...	Stephen Bachman
J.T. Walsh	...	Drucker
Bill Smitrovich	...	Bruce
Alan North	...	Judge
David Paymer	...	George
Danton Stone	...	Saabs
Paul Bates	...	Robles
Dick Cusack	...	Mort
Doug Yasuda	...	Hsu
Floyd Vivino	...	Eddie Aris
Mercedes Ruehl	...	Dr. Liz Baylor
Ben Hammer	...	Dr. Koch
David Packer	...	Mark Olander

Storyline

Emory works in advertising, and is beginning to crack-up. His latest idea is honesty, e.g. "Volvos, Yes they are boxy, but they're safe". This doesn't go down too well with the boss, so Emory is sent to a psychiatric hospital to 'recover'. Meanwhile, back at the office, Emory's work is accidentally sent to the printers. His ads are a huge success. But now Emory has fallen for Kathy (another patient) and so doesn't want to leave.

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Plot Keywords:

mental institution | advertising | female psychiatrist | mental patient | mental illness | 

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Taglines:

Caution: You must be in the theater to see this movie.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 April 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Les fous de la pub

Filming Locations:

Chatham, Virginia, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,357,800, 15 April 1990

Gross USA:

$13,236,513

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$13,236,513

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Intuitive TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Promotional artwork for this film on DVD, home video and movie posters has shown actor Dudley Moore wearing a strait-jacket. But in a contra-position to the film's main theme of "truth in advertising", Moore is never actually seen in the movie wearing a strait-jacket.

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Quotes

[Reading a magazine ad]
Drucker: "Paramount Pictures presents 'The Freak.' This movie won't just scare you, it will fuck you up for life." I want to know how the fuck the word "fuck" gets in the New York fucking Times!

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Crazy Credits

A disclaimer appears stating, "Characters in this film do not depict persons with mental illnesses. Mental illness is a serious disease which affects many millions of people."

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Connections

References The Dream Team (1989)

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Soundtracks

BRANDENBURG CONCERTO No 5 - ALLEGRO
By Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Karl Richter and his Chamber Orchestra
Courtesy of Teldec Records
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

The ads are fun

Emory Leeson (Dudley Moore) and Stephen Bachman (Paul Reiser) are writing partners in a New York ad agency. Frustrated Emory develops writer's block after his wife leaves him taking everything. He's tired of lying and his painfully honest ads infuriate their boss Drucker (J.T. Walsh). Bachman sends him to a psychiatric retreat in the care of Dr. Liz Baylor (Mercedes Ruehl). His ads are accidentally released and become hugely successful. Drucker sends Bachman to get him back but he has fallen for beautiful Kathy Burgess (Daryl Hannah) and the relaxed lifestyle. He and the group of misfits start writing highly successful ads.

The ads are fun. The idea of satire on the advertising industry has promise. The execution has some fun moments with the crazy people group. The romance however has no heat. Hannah is nice but there is little chemistry. The Drucker villain is too broad. The satire has no bite. It's not horrible but it's forgettable.