Cold Turkey
1971 · Movie · PG-13 · 99 min · ★ 6.3 · 65% critics
A small Iowa town takes on a monthlong no-smoking challenge for a huge cash prize, led by a local minister. As cravings rise and outside forces try to sabotage the effort, everyday frustrations turn the contest into a chaotic community ordeal.
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Details
- Years
- 1971
- Release date
- 1971-02-19
- Language
- English
- Rated
- PG-13
- Runtime
- 99 min
- Max quality
- HD
- Critic score
- 65/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.3/10 (29 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you like broad, offbeat comedies about communities under pressure, somewhere between Edtv and The Secret of Santa Vittoria; Not for you if irritation-driven humor and older comic styles wear thin.
Pros: amusing small-town setup; lively group chaos; easygoing satire | Cons: dated humor style; thin character depth; repetitive gag beats
Themes
- cigarette
- iowa
- cold turkey
- addiction
- contest
- mass hysteria
- reverend
- tobacco industry
- big tobacco
- side effects
- advertising campaign
- quit smoking
- +4 more
Cast & crew
Dick Van Dyke
as Rev. Clayton Brooks
Pippa Scott
as Natalie Brooks
Tom Poston
as Mr. Stopworth
Edward Everett Horton
as Hiram C. Grayson
Bob Elliott
as Hugh Upson / David Chetley / Sandy Van Andy
Vincent Gardenia
as Mayor Wappler
Barnard Hughes
as Dr. Proctor
Graham Jarvis
as Amos Bush
Jean Stapleton
as Mrs. Wappler
Paul Benedict
as Zen Buddhist
Directed by Norman Lear