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     Cold Turkey
1971  PG  COMEDY  1h 41min
CAST— Dick Van Dyke, Pippa Scott, Tom Poston, Bob Newhart, Vincent Gardenia, Bernard Hughes, Edward Everett Horton, Jean Stapleton, Graham Jarvis
MUSIC— Randy Newman  DIRECTOR— Norman Lear  BASED ON— I’m Giving Them Up for Good (novel), by Margaret Rau, Nail Rau

     A smoldering satire on America’s bad habits, Cold Turkey follows the story of a small town’s fifteen minutes of fame. One of the nation’s largest tobacco corporations takes the advice of one scrupulous PR man, played by Bob Newhart, and offers one American town the chance to win $25,000,000; all they must do is pledge to quit smoking for thirty days. Only one town in the nation pledges all of their smokers: Eagle Rock, Iowa, a desolate, dirt-poor town that views this chance at monetary splendor a godsend; especially since the entire anti-smoking drive is headed by local minister Dick Van Dyke. And when the smoking stops the fun begins; tempers flare, gluttony becomes the norm, and surprisingly, they become an inspiration to the world. Shot with a self-effacing eye, this comedy revels in withdrawal-induced chaos. Take a puff of fresh air and enjoy. Made in 1969.
OUR RATING— ** ½