Cold Turkey (1971)

62% of users liked it
(882 ratings)

This comedy is notable as the final onscreen appearance (non-speaking) of Edward Everett Horton, a staple comic supporting actor from the early '30s onward. Dick Van Dyke plays an ambitious small-town minister who rallies the whole town to meet a challenge bet by a tobacco corporation. Cooked up by… More This comedy is notable as the final onscreen appearance (non-speaking) of Edward Everett Horton, a staple comic supporting actor from the early '30s onward. Dick Van Dyke plays an ambitious small-town minister who rallies the whole town to meet a challenge bet by a tobacco corporation. Cooked up by the tobacco company's public relations head (Bob Newhart), the bet is an offer to pay twenty five million dollars ($25,000,000.00) to any town that can quit smoking for the required period of time. Barnard Hughes is Dr. Proctor, a heart surgeon who has to be physically restrained to prevent him from smoking. Jean Stapleton is the mayor's wife, who swells visibly as her eating replaces cigarettes. Edward Everett Horton is eloquent as the mysterious tobacco tycoon who comes to observe the chaos first-hand. There is lots of frantic action as the townsfolk try to win the prize, and the tobacco company (which has no intention of paying off the bet) works to sabotage their efforts. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 39 min.
Directed By: Norman Lear
Written By: Norman Lear
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Feb 19, 1971 Wide
Studio: United Artists

Critic Reviews

Douglas Pratt, DVDLaser
at its best it is amusingly frantic and uses the cast in a number of effective characterizations

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

A very funny movie, with a good story and a good cast. I liked it.

Cast

            Pippa Scott as Natalie Brooks

            Bob Newhart as Merwin Wren

            Paul Benedict as Zen Buddhist

            Eric Boles as Dennis

            Sudie Bond as Cissy

            Helen Page Camp as Mrs. Watson

            Barbara Cason as Letitia

            Bob Elliott as TV Personality Bob

            Vincent Gardenia as Mayor

            Ray Goulding as TV Personality Ray

            Jack Grimes as TV Stage Manager

            Edward Everett Horton as Hiram C. Grayson

            Barnard Hughes as Dr. Procter

            Graham Jarvis as Amos Bush

            Harvey Jason as Hypnotist

            Gloria Le Roy as The Hooker

            Judith Lowry as Odie

            George Mann as Bishop Manley

            Woodrow Parfrey as Tobacco Executive

            Tom Poston as Mr. Stopworth

            Peggy Rea as Mrs. Proctor

            Walter Sande as Tobacco Executive

            Simon Scott as Mr. Kandiss

            Jean Stapleton as Mrs. Wrappler

            Dick Van Dyke as Rev. Clayton Brooks

            M. Emmet Walsh as Art

            Raymond Kark as Homer Watson

            Charles Pinney as Col. Galloway
See full cast