Tin Men
| Tin Men | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Barry Levinson |
| Written by | Barry Levinson |
| Produced by | Mark Johnson |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Peter Sova |
| Edited by | Stu Linder |
| Music by | Fine Young Cannibals |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Buena Vista Distribution |
Release date |
|
Running time | 110 min |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $11 million |
| Box office | $25,411,386 |
Tin Men is a 1987 comedy film written and directed by Barry Levinson, produced by Mark Johnson, and starring Richard Dreyfuss, Danny DeVito, and Barbara Hershey.
It is the second of Levinson's four "Baltimore Films" set in his hometown during the 1940s, '50s, and '60s: Diner (1982), Tin Men (1987), Avalon (1990), and Liberty Heights (1999).
Synopsis
It is 1963. Ernest Tilley (Danny DeVito) and Bill "BB" Babowsky (Richard Dreyfuss) are door-to-door aluminum siding salesmen in Baltimore, Maryland. Working for different companies, the "tin men" are prepared to do almost anything—legal or illegal—to close a sale.
Their first meeting is when BB buys a new Cadillac and almost immediately crashes into another Cadillac driven by Tilley. The accident is caused by BB, as he reverses into the street from the dealer's forecourt. Tilley, though distracted, clearly has the right of way. Each vows to get even.
After they smash glass on each other's cars, BB takes it a step further. He sets out to seduce Tilley's wife Nora (Barbara Hershey) as an act of revenge. When he calls Tilley immediately after having sex with her, Tilley tells BB to keep Nora; he wants to be rid of her.
Exhausted by their rivalry, the two men decide to play a game of pool to decide who should get her. BB loses, but he does not honor the bet. He has fallen in love for the first time.
A newly formed Maryland Home Improvement Commission charged with uprooting corrupt sales practices in the home-improvement industry subpoenas both men and takes away their licenses. Reconciled to their fate, Tilley and BB begin sharing ideas for a new business.
Main cast
- Richard Dreyfuss as Bill "BB" Babowsky
- Danny DeVito as Ernest Tilley
- Barbara Hershey as Nora Tilley
- John Mahoney as Moe Adams
- Jackie Gayle as Sam
- Seymour Cassel as Cheese
- Bruno Kirby as Mouse
- Michael Tucker as Bagel
- J. T. Walsh as Wing
- Deirdre O'Connell as Nellie
See also
External links
- Tin Men at IMDb
- Tin Men at AllMovie
- Tin Men at Rotten Tomatoes
- Tin Men at Box Office Mojo