Night Shift - A Movie Review

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"Night Shift" is a comedy that was released in 1982. It was written by Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel and directed by Ron Howard. Music was composed by Burt Bacharach. Henry Winkler was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy and Michael Keaton won a Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor. Reviews were mostly positive; and Winkler and Keaton's performances were applauded. CAST Henry Winkler - Chuck Lumley Michael Keaton - Bill "Blaze" Blazejowski Shelley Long - Belinda Keaton Gina Hecht - Charlotte Koogle Pat Corley - Edward Koogle Bobby DiCicco - Leonard Nita Talbot - Vivian Basil Hoffman - Drollhauser Tim Rossovich - Luke Clint Howard - Jefferey Joe Spinell - Manetti Richard Belzer - Pig Grand L. Bush - Mustafa Julius LeFlore - Franklin Badja Djola - Cleon The movie opens up with pimp Franklin being chased by gangsters Cleon and Pig. Franklin hasn't been giving them a cut of his prostitution profits. They drop him out of a high-rise window. The next day Belinda, one of Franklin's girls, comes in to identify the body at the New York City Morgue. Chuck Lumley is the morgue attendant on duty and a former stockbroker who couldn't take the stress. Belinda mentions that this is going to be tough on Franklin's girls. Then she looks at Chuck and says he looks familiar. As Chuck is going home, his boss tells him he is transferring him to the night shift to make room for the boss's nephew. Chuck is annoyed but makes no protest and doesn't stand up for himself. Charlotte, Chuck's fiance, who is neurotic and obsessed with dieting, is upset that he's going on the night shift and says that he should be more assertive. The first night shift Chuck must train a new man, Bill. This is Michael Keaton's first major screen role; and he shines. Bill talks constantly and thinks he's an idea man. He carries a tape recorder around to record his ridiculous ideas; such as, edible paper. Chuck invites Charlotte over on his one night off. She can't relax because there is someone playing country music really loud. Chuck knocks on the door of the apartment and is met with a huge man in his underwear and a cowboy hat. Belinda comes out and says, "I thought I knew you". She tells Chuck that they'll keep it down. Chuck comes home one evening and finds Belinda on the floor of the elevator. A client hit her because he didn't want to pay. She says that this wouldn't have happened if they had a pimp to look after them. The next day Chuck confides in Bill what happened to Belinda and the fact that they don't have a pimp. Bill says that they ought to become "Love Brokers" and run the business out of the morgue. What can I say? This is another good movie. Some may find the subject matter offensive; but if not, you will enjoy this one. Winkler and Keaton are stand-outs. The soundtrack is great; and I have purchased that as well as the DVD. Find out what happens to Chuck and Bill and their new business by watching this film. I definitely recommend this one. This movie is rated R. Photo Credit: Pixabay