Tucker: The Man and His Dream

"It's the idea that counts, and the dream."
This 1988 movie, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by George Lucas, has good acting from Jeff Bridges, Martin Landau, Frederic Forrest, and Joan Allen in the larger roles. Smaller supporting roles were also handled well by Christian Slater, Jay O. Sanders, Nina Siemaszko and Mako.

As reflected by the DVD cover, the movie is filmed in a splashy 1940's advertising style, and uses warm gold and sepia tones and some impressive camera work to tell the tale of the development of the "Tucker 48" automobile, also known as the "Torpedo" after its sleek lines (for the times), of which only about 50 were made. For its time, it had many innovative features, including a rear-mounted engine, seat belts and padded dash, push button controls, and a third central headlight that would turn when steering. The large, 4,800 pound behemoth got about 20 MPH.

In a somewhat dichotomous framework, the movie shows the result of American "Yankee ingenuity" coupled with the eventual demise of the...

A Story of Optimism and Indomitable Spirit
Being a car enthusiast and having read about the Tucker automobile and its inventor, I saw this picture at the theater and rushed out to buy it when it became available to purchase.

"Tucker-The Man And His Dream" is the story of auto maker/inventor/visionary Preston Tucker, who bucked incredible odds to see his dream of a revolutionary car come to life. Jeff Bridges plays the title role with such energy and enthusiasm that you end up thinking this guy could conquer the world. Joan Allen is her usual excellent self as Preston's devoted wife, and Martin Landau is brilliant in his Oscar-nominated role as Tucker's somewhat skeptical business partner. Christian Slater, in one of his earliest screen appearances, plays Tucker's oldest son. Although they are on screen together for only a brief period of time in the picture, it is wonderful to see Jeff Bridges with his father, the late great Lloyd Bridges. The elder Bridges plays Homer Ferguson, a U.S. Senator from Michigan...

Integrity...
I first saw this movie when I was going through my "Ayn Rand" stage of my life. Although my personal views of capitalism have shifted slightly since then, I still adore this movie.

Even though my father is "into" old cars and I grew up riding around in a 1949 Chevy pickup, I had never even heard of Tucker's automobile. Today, I have framed an old picture of a Tucker car, and I have it hanging in my bedroom.

Some reviewers have called it "The Best Movie No One has Ever Seen" and I agree. This is a movie for anyone. Whether you love or hate capitalism and whether you believe in the "American Dream" or not... this movie offers exceptional acting, a great soundtrack, phenominal camera work and screen changes, and a carefully crafted script. Coppola, Lucas, Bridges, Ladau, and Allen all displayed their own personal integrity in making this movie the work of art that it is.

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