History Film / ColdTurkey

* AsTheGoodBookSays: Brooks, naturally. To his displeasure, his wife quotes a relevant passage herself when she thinks that things are getting out of hand: ''what profit it a man if he gain the world and lose his soul?''

* ToiletHumor: The opening credit sequence shows a dog walking forlornly down a road leading into Eagle Rock, past signs for various shuttered or departed businesses and the entrance to the abandoned army base. At last the pooch stops at a welcome sign from the town's churches, which he promptly lifts his leg and pees on.

* CreatorCameo: During a scene showing various Eagle Rock residents coming unglued from nicotine withdrawal, Norman Lear can briefly be glimpsed as a man sitting on a park bench and sobbing.

* RandyNewman: Composed the film's music score, his first of many. The opening/closing theme, "He Gives Us All His Love", would appear in a re-recorded version on his ''Sail Away'' album the following year.

* CaliforniaDoubling: Averted. The film was shot in and around the real-life Iowa town of Greenfield.
** There's even some Iowa Doubling, in fact: The opening scene, ostensibly set at Hiram Grayson's residence in the South, was actually filmed at the governor's mansion in Des Moines.

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!!The film provides examples of:

* TheVoiceless: Hiram C. Grayson, the elderly, wheelchair-bound Valiant Tobacco founder (played by veteran character actor Edward Everett Horton in his final screen role).

A 1971 satirical comedy film produced, directed, and written by NormanLear (just prior to his creating television's ''AllInTheFamily'').

In the depressed town of Eagle Rock, Iowa, the Reverend Clayton Brooks (Creator/DickVanDyke) spearheads his community's effort to rise to the Cold Turkey challenge. In a campaign devised by public-relations expert Merwin Wren (Bob Newhart), the Valiant Tobacco Company has promised a $25-million cash prize to any town in America that can [[GoingColdTurkey quit smoking completely]] for 30 days. So Brooks leads the charge in this "Battle of the Butt", hoping to become a local hero in the process. However, when Wren shows up to undermine his efforts, and well-known TV newscasters (all played by Radio/BobAndRay) turn the spotlight of celebrity on the town and its citizens, this wicked comedy kicks into high gear.

In the depressed town of Eagle Rock, Iowa, the Reverend Clayton Brooks (Creator/DickVanDyke) spearheads his community's effort to rise to the Cold Turkey challenge. In a campaign devised by public-relations expert Merwin Wren (Bob Newhart), the Valiant Tobacco Company has promised a $25-million cash prize to any town in America that can [[GoingColdTurkey quit smoking completely]] for 30 days. So Brooks leads the charge in this Battle of the Butts, hoping to become the local hero in the process. However, when Wren shows up to undermine his efforts, and well-known TV newscasters (all played by Radio/BobAndRay) turn the spotlight of celebrity on the town and its citizens, this wicked comedy kicks into high gear.

** There's even some Iowa Doubling: The opening scene, ostensibly set at Hiram Grayson's residence in the South, was actually filmed at the governor's mansion in Des Moines.

* BolivianArmyEnding / BittersweetEnding: The film ends with the town celebrating their victory, oblivious to the fact that Reverend Brooks, Dr. Proctor, and Merwin Wren have all just been shot and are calling for help. And Eagle Rock is "saved" by the arrival of a defense plant that soon enshrouds the entire town in the pollution belched from its giant, cigarette-shaped smokestacks.

In the depressed town of Eagle Rock, Iowa, the Reverend Clayton Brooks (Creator/DickVanDyke) spearheads his community's effort to rise to the Cold Turkey challenge. In a campaign devised by public-relations expert Merwin Wren (Bob Newhart), the Valiant Tobacco Company has promised a $25-million cash prize to any town in America that can [[GoingColdTurkey quit smoking completely]] for 30 days. So Brooks leads the charge in this Battle of the Butts, hoping to become the local hero in the process. However, when Wren shows up to undermine his efforts, and well-known TV newscasters (all played by BobAndRay) turn the spotlight of celebrity on the town and its citizens, this wicked comedy kicks into high gear.

* SpringtimeForHitler: Merwin convinces Valiant to hold the contest in the firm belief that no town will even be able to unanimously sign the pledge, never mind last the month. In fact, Eagle Rock is the only one that does, [[OhCrap but it only takes one]]...

* PuttingOnTheReich: PlayedForLaughs with the right-wing Christopher Mott Society (a TakeThat to the real-life John Birch Society), who take it upon themselves to enforce the cigarette ban and set up checkpoints to stop smuggling.

* PuttingOnTheReich: PlayedForLaughs with the Christopher Mott society, who take it upon themselves to enforce the cigarette ban and set up checkpoints to stop smuggling.

* PlayingAgainstType: Mild-mannered OnlySaneMan Bob Newhart is a CorruptCorporateExecutive here.

* AllStarCast: Besides Van Dyke and Newhart, the film featured a number of other well-known (or soon-to-be-well-known) comedic actors, including Jean Stapleton (''Series/AllInTheFamily''), Tom Poston (''Series/{{Newhart}}''), Vincent Gardenia (''Film/{{Moonstruck}}''), Barbara Cason (''[[Series/ItsGarryShandlingsShow It's Garry Shandling's Show]]''), and Paul Benedict (''Series/TheJeffersons'').
** [=Maureen McCormick=] (yep, [[Series/TheBradyBunch Marcia Brady]] herself) provides TheVoice of a novelty talking doll sold in town. ("I love you! Smoking gives you cancer!")

* AllStarCast: Besides Van Dyke and Newhart, the film featured a number of other well-known (or soon-to-be-well-known) comedic actors, including Jean Stapleton (''Series/AllInTheFamily''), Tom Poston (''Series/{{Newhart}}''), Vincent Gardenia (''Film/{{Moonstruck}}''), Barbara Cason (''Series/ItsGarryShandlingsShow''), and Paul Benedict (''Series/TheJeffersons'').

* TheVoice: Marueen [=McCormick=] (yep, [[Series/TheBradyBunch Marsha Brady]] herself) provides the voice of a novelty talking doll sold in town. ("I love you! Smoking gives you cancer!")

* SpringtimeForHitler: Merwin convinces Valiant to hold the contest in the firm belief that no town will even be able to unanimously sign the pledge, never mind last the month. In fact, Eagle Rock is the only one that does, [[OhCrap but it only takes one]]....

* DyingTown: Eagle Rock is losing many of its townsfolk after the closing of the nearby military base.

* BolivianArmyEnding / BittersweetEnding: The film ends with the town celebrating their victory, oblivious to the fact that Reverend Brooks, Dr. Proctor, and Merwin Wren have all just been shot and are calling for help. And Eagle Rock is "saved" by the arrival of a defense plant that enshrouds the entire town in the pollution belched from its giant, cigarette-shaped smokestacks.

* BolivianArmyEnding / BittersweetEnding: The film ends with the town celebrating their victory, oblivious to the fact that Reverend Brooks, Dr. Proctor, and Merwin have just been shot and are calling for help. And Eagle Rock is "saved" by the arrival of a defense plant that enshrouds the entire town in the pollution belched from its giant, cigarette-shaped smokestacks.