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Tin Men

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For the unrelated novel by Michael Frayn, seeThe Tin Men.
Tin Men
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBarry Levinson
Written byBarry Levinson
Produced byMark Johnson
Starring
CinematographyPeter Sova
Edited byStu Linder
Production
companies
Distributed byBuena Vista Distribution
Release date
  • March 6, 1987(1987-03-06)
Running time
112 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$11 million
Box office$25.4 million

Tin Menis a 1987 Americancomedy filmwritten and directed byBarry Levinson,produced byMark Johnson,and starringRichard Dreyfuss,Danny DeVito,andBarbara Hershey.[1]It is the second of Levinson'stetralogyof films set in his hometown ofBaltimore,Maryland,during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, along withDiner(1982),Avalon(1990), andLiberty Heights(1999).[2]

Plot

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Ernest Tilley and Bill "BB" Babowsky are rivaldoor-to-dooraluminum sidingsalesmen inBaltimore, Marylandin 1963, an era when "tin men," as they are called, will do almost anything, legal or illegal, to close a sale. Both have the required 'gift of the gab,' but while BB is a smooth-talkingcon manwho scams naive young women with his sales pitches, Tilley struggles to close his sales.

They first meet when BB, driving his newCadillacautomobile off the dealer's lot, backs into Tilley's own Cadillac. Though Tilley had theright of way,each man blames the other, and an escalating feud erupts between them.

After BB smashes Tilley's headlights and Tilley shatters BB's car windows in response, BB sets out to seduce Tilley's long-suffering wife Nora in revenge. Immediately after having sex with Nora, he calls Tilley to taunt him with the news. Tilley tells BB to keep Nora; he wants to be rid of her.

Meanwhile, both men have their own personal troubles. BB's older partner and mentor, Moe Adams, is hospitalized with a serious heart condition. Tilley has a gambling problem and squanders what little money he makes betting on horse races, causing a rift with Nora. He is in debt to various creditors and theIRS,which begins confiscating his possessions for unpaid property taxes. Exhausted by their rivalry, the two men decide to play a game ofpoolto decide who should get Nora in order to end to their personal war. BB loses, but he does not honor the bet. He has fallen in love for the first time, and Nora moves in with him.

The newly formedMaryland Home Improvement Commissionis investigating corrupt sales practices in the home improvement industry. Both men are subpoenaed, and after giving testimony about their sales practices, the commission takes away both of their licenses. While Tilley gives up his license reluctantly, BB does so willingly. Seeing that Tilley has lost everything, including his car, BB takes pity on him and gives him a ride. Together, the two freshly unemployed men with very similar personalities begin sharing ideas for a new business they can create for themselves.

Cast

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Reception

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Tin Menreceived positive reviews from critics, as the film holds a rating of 78% onRotten Tomatoes,with an average rating of 7/10, based on 23 reviews.[3]

Music

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The groupFine Young Cannibalsappears as thehouse bandin a nightclub in the film and contributed songs to the film'ssoundtrack,including the future US #1 "Good Thing".[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^Maslin, Janet(March 6, 1987)."FILM: 'TIN MEN,' COMEDY FROM BARRY LEVINSON".The New York Times.
  2. ^Levinson, Barry(November 14, 1999)."Barry Levinson: Baltimore, My Baltimore".The New York Times.
  3. ^Tin Men,retrieved2022-05-10
  4. ^Gerard, Chris (February 11, 2014)."Classic album revisited: Fine Young Cannibals" The Raw and The Cooked "".Metro Weekly.
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