Tucker: The Man and His Dream

Tucker: The Man and His Dream

Francis Ford Coppola

Paramount Home Video 08/88

PG

Tucker: The Man and His Dream is a high-octane morality play about an innovative outsider who wants to build a better, cheaper, and safer car than those produced by the Big Three in Detroit. Jeff Bridges stars as this real-life 1940s entrepreneur whose go-getter spirit and gung-ho philosophy serves as a catalyst to those around him. His wife and five children offer their vital support. Abe (Martin Landau) serves as his financial manager. A dedicated group of engineers work around the clock to produce a prototype of what Tucker has described in a magazine as " the car of tomorrow." Threatened by the public's fascination with the car and by Tucker's unwillingness to play the game by the rules, the Detroit automakers and their Washington political connections get the Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate Tucker's business operations. He is brought to trial on charges of taking millions of dollars from prospective car dealers under false pretenses. Tucker's dreams of mass producing the car of tomorrow are ended when his factory is taken away. But fifty cars are made and they are gems Ð'-- they contain many of the features which are now essential in today's automobiles: aerodynamic styling, pop-out windows, seat belts, rear engines, fuel injection, and disc brakes. Director Francis Ford Coppola has made a morally inspiring film that pays tribute to creative souls who are willing to go out on a limb in pursuit of their dreams and, as a result, contribute something special to the world.

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