Ruthless People
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| Ruthless People | |
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 Ruthless People DVD cover |
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| Directed by | Jim Abrahams David Zucker Jerry Zucker |
| Produced by | Michael Peyser |
| Written by | Dale Launer O. Henry (story The Ransom of Red Chief) |
| Starring | Danny DeVito Bette Midler Judge Reinhold Helen Slater |
| Music by | Michel Colombier |
| Distributed by | Touchstone Pictures |
| Release date(s) | June 27, 1986 (USA) |
| Running time | 93 min. |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
The 1986 movie Ruthless People is a black comedy that starred Danny DeVito, Bette Midler, Judge Reinhold and Helen Slater. It was directed by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker.
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[edit] Plot description
When Ken (Reinhold) and Sandy Kessler (Slater) find themselves in an untenable financial position, they hatch a desperate scheme to get rich by kidnapping Barbara Stone (Midler), the overweight loud-mouthed wife of ruthless businessman Sam Stone (DeVito). This scheme is motivated in no small part by the fact that Sam has stolen successful fashion designs from the couple and is thus largely responsible for their woes. They plan to demand a large ransom from Stone.
Things go astray, however, when it becomes obvious that Sam is not only sick of his wife, but is actually overjoyed to find that he doesn't have to go through the trouble of murdering her - all he needs to do is not pay the ransom, and the kidnappers will do his dirty work for him. Unfortunately for him, the Kesslers, while desperate, are not about to murder anyone.
Sandy and Ken discover that Barbara is not keen to return to Sam, either, and the three hatch a plot to get back at him.
[edit] Trivia
"Weird Al" Yankovic recorded a parody of the movie's theme song. The parody, "Toothless People" was released on Weird Al's fourth album Polka Party! in December 1986. He originally requested permission from Mick Jagger for the parody before the movie came out, assuming the song would be a hit. When it failed to crack the Top 40, Yankovic decided not to go ahead with the parody. However, when Jagger cleared the song for a parody, Yankovic felt that turning it down later would be an insult to the artist and recorded it. Ironically, Polka Party! also failed and became Al's worst-selling album.
Directors Jim Abrahams, David and Jerry Zucker are best known for their spoof comedies like the Airplane and Naked Gun films. This film by contrast is a straight comedy bordering on farce, with very few of the innumerable sight gags and puns and jokes of the others movies.
The movie is currently being adapted to the stage as a musical comedy by the original writer Dale Launer. The music is being written by Jeff Barry and Jed Leiber.
[edit] Quote
"I've been kidnapped by Kmart!" - Barbara Stone, on learning that Sam has beaten down the price that Ken has demanded as a ransom.
"I knew that." - Earl Mott, repeatedly.
"That's how I ruth." -Sandy Kessler, in the bar bathroom.
[edit] External links
Ruthless People at the Internet Movie Database
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