The Gong Show Movie (1980)
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35% of users liked it
(595 ratings)
During the 1970s, the Gong Show was a game/talent show phenomenon. With equal measures of parody, camp and pure lowest-common denominator exploitation, it presented a bizarre assortment of talented and untalented contestants (for example, the musician who played his trumpet with his bellybutton)… More During the 1970s, the Gong Show was a game/talent show phenomenon. With equal measures of parody, camp and pure lowest-common denominator exploitation, it presented a bizarre assortment of talented and untalented contestants (for example, the musician who played his trumpet with his bellybutton) making their bid for stardom, and a ridiculous prize of $516.32 while three rambunctious minor celebrity judges looked on offering scores for acts they liked, or instantly stopping showing disapproval by pounding furiously on a large Chinese gong. The co-creator, producer and acid-witted but smarmy daytime host of this tawdry kitsch pastiche was Chuck Barris (AKA "Chuckie Baby"). This attempt at a serious drama chronicles a day in his hectic life as he tries to prepare a new episode of his crazy show. As he deals with a seemingly unending string of increasingly freaky acts, the pressure begins to get to the sensitive, caring (as portrayed in the film) Barris and by the day's end he becomes a true lunatic. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
- Directed By
- Chuck Barris
- Genres
- Comedy
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- May 23, 1980 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
A fascinating public act of career seppuku.
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Phil Hall, Film Threat
A therapeutic guilty pleasure.
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Cast
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Chuck Barris
as Himself
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Robin Altman
as Red
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Mabel King
as Mabel
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Lillie Shelton
as Mama
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Jaye P. Morgan
as Herself
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James Douglas
as Buddy Didio
- Jack Bernardi
- Bella Bruck
- Cathleen Cordell
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Jamie Farr
as Himself
- Steve Garvey
- Roosevelt Grier
- Harvey Lembeck
- Ed Marinaro
- Pat McCormick
- David Sheiner
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Rip Taylor
as Himself
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Murray Langston
as The Unknown Comic
- William Tregoe
- Pat Cranshaw
- James Winburn
- Patty Andrews
- Norm Blankenship
- Gary Mule Deer
