Brain Donors
| Brain Donors | |
|---|---|
VHS cover
|
|
| Directed by | Dennis Dugan |
| Produced by | Gil Netter James D. Brubaker |
| Written by |
James Kevin McGuinness (story) George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind (screenplay "A Night at the Opera") Pat Proft (screenplay) |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Ira Newborn |
| Cinematography | David M. Walsh |
| Edited by | Malcolm Campbell |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
|
Release date
|
|
|
Running time
|
79 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | Unknown |
| Box office | $918,239 (USA) |
Brain Donors (1992) is an American comedy movie released by Paramount Pictures, loosely based on the Marx Brothers comedies A Night at the Opera and A Day at the Races (the two films the Marx Brothers did after leaving Paramount). The film co-stars John Turturro, Mel Smith, and Bob Nelson in the approximations of the Groucho, Chico, and Harpo roles, with Nancy Marchand in the Margaret Dumont dowager role.
The project was filmed as Lame Ducks; however, when the film's producers (David and Jerry Zucker) left for another studio, Paramount scrapped the publicity campaign, changed the title, and withdrew the film after its initial screenings. Brain Donors attracted attention on the home video market, which has resulted in a cult following according to its screenwriter, Pat Proft.
After the death of tycoon and philanthropist Oscar Winterhaven Oglethorpe, a ballet company is founded in his name by his widow, Lillian (Nancy Marchand). Ambulance-chasing attorney Roland T. Flakfizer (John Turturro) competes against Oglethorpe's former attorney, Edmund Lazlo (John Savident), to be director of the company. Lazlo is chosen for the position after signing the greatest ballet dancer in the world, "The Great Volare" (George de la Pena). Flakfizer — with assistance from his two associates Rocco (Mel Smith) and Jacques (Bob Nelson) — earns a spot as co-director by wooing the wealthy widow and by signing the company's leading ballerina (Juliana Donald, billed as Juli Donald) and her dancer boyfriend Alan Grant (Spike Alexander). The ensuing struggle between Flakfizer and Lazlo leads to comic hijinks, including a badger game involving a chorus girl (Teri Copley), and an opening-night performance ludicrously sabotaged by Flakfizer and his cohorts.
...
Wikipedia