Cold Turkey (1971 film)
Cold Turkey is a 1971 satirical black comedy film starring Dick Van Dyke and a long list of comedic actors. The film was written for the screen and produced by Norman Lear, who also directed the film, marking his directorial debut. It remains his only directorial feature film credit. Cold Turkey was based on the unpublished novel I'm Giving Them Up for Good by Margaret and Neil Rau. Randy Newman composed and performed original music for the film.
| Cold Turkey | |
|---|---|
1971 movie poster by Sandy Kossin | |
| Directed by | Norman Lear |
| Screenplay by | Norman Lear |
| Story by | Norman Lear William Price Fox, Jr. |
| Based on | I'm Giving Them Up for Good by Margaret and Neil Rau |
| Produced by | Norman Lear |
| Starring | Dick Van Dyke Pippa Scott Tom Poston Edward Everett Horton Bob and Ray Bob Newhart |
| Cinematography | Charles F. Wheeler |
| Edited by | John C. Horger |
| Music by | Randy Newman |
Production company | Tandem Productions |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release dates |
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Running time | 101 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $11,000,000 |
In the film, the fictional Valiant Tobacco Company stages a publicity stunt, offering $25 million tax-free dollars to any American town whose entire population can stop smoking cigarettes for a month. A charismatic, ambitious preacher, Reverend Clayton Brooks, encourages the depressed small town of Eagle Rock, Iowa, to take on the challenge, but the town struggles to overcome its addiction to tobacco.
The film was shot in Greenfield, Iowa and local residents served as extras.
The film was produced in 1969 but was shelved for two years by the distributor over concerns about its box-office potential.