History Film / ColdTurkey

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

* ChekhovsGun: Odie Turman is constantly trying to get her hands on Amos Bush's pistol. [[spoiler:She eventually does, and it ends up accidentally shooting three people.]]

* ChekhovsGun: Odie Turman constantly tries to get her hands on Amos Bush's gun. [[spoiler:She eventually does, and it ends up shooting three people.]]

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

[[quoteright:303:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/cold_turkey_1971.jpeg]]

Notable for featuring the first movie score written by Music/RandyNewman, acting as the [[PoorMansSubstitute poor man's]][[invoked]] Music/ElmerBernstein for the film's music at the time before ultimately becoming the SpiritualSuccessor to the latter following his passing in 2004 (interesting enough, in the opening scene where Merwin Wren is talking to Hiram C. Grayson, a banjo can be heard playing Bernstein's theme music from ''Film/TheMagnificentSeven1960'').

In the economically 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 crafty public-relations expert Merwin Wren (Creator/BobNewhart), 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. But when Wren shows up in Eagle Rock to undermine his efforts, and nationally-famous media personalities (all played by Radio/BobAndRay) turn the spotlight of celebrity onto the town and its citizens, this wicked comedy kicks into high gear.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/img_0762_3.JPG]]

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 (Creator/BobNewhart), 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.

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

Notable for featuring the first movie score written by Music/RandyNewman. acting as the [[PoorMansSubstitute poor man's]][[invoked]] Music/ElmerBernstein for the film's music at the time before ultimately becoming the SpiritualSuccessor to the latter following his passing in 2004 (interesting enough, in the opening scene where Merwin Wren is talking to Hiram C. Grayson, a banjo can be heard playing Bernstein's theme music from ''Film/TheMagnificentSeven1960'').

Notable for featuring the first movie score written by Music/RandyNewman. acting as the [[PoorMansSubstitute poor man's]][[invoked]] Music/ElmerBernstein for the film's music at the time before ultimately becoming the SpiritualSuccessor to the latter following his passing in 2004 (interesting enough, in the opening scene where Merwin Wren is talking to Hiram C. Grayson, a banjo can be heard playing Bernstein's theme music from ''Film/TheMagnificentSeven'').

Notable for featuring the first movie score written by Music/RandyNewman. acting as the [[PoorMansSubstitute poor man's]][[invoked]] Music/ElmerBernstein for the film's music at the time before ultimately becoming the SpiritualSuccessor to the latter following his passing in 2004 (interesting enough, in the opening scene where Merwin Wren is talking to Hiram C. Grayson, a banjo can be heard playing Bernstein's theme music from ''Film/TheMagnificent Seven'').

Notable for featuring the first movie score written by Music/RandyNewman. acting as the [[PoorMansSubstitute poor man's]][[invoked]] Music/ElmerBernstein for the film's music at the time before ultimately becoming the SpiritualSuccessor to the latter following his passing in 2004.

* SinisterMinister: Reverend Clayton Brooks is a downplayed kind, having this ItsAllAboutMe in his EstablishingCharacterMoment following his sermons when he chastises his wife Natalie during the beginning of the film, presumed to engaged in love making with her unlike the celibate role a reverend should usually have during their no smoking period, accused as a "monster maker" by his wife and finally picketing youths protesting against him.

* SinisterMinister: Reverend Clayton Brooks is a downplayed kind, having this ItsAllAboutMe in his EstablishingCharacaterMoment following his sermons when he chastises his wife Natalie during the beginning of the film, presumed to engaged in love making with her unlike the celibate role a reverend should usually have during their no smoking period, accused as a "monster maker" by his wife and finally picketing youths protesting against him.

* UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist: Creator/DickVanDyke's character Reverend Clayton Brooks would qualify, one of a few rare roles outside of his usual upstanding lead roles.

Notable for featuring the first movie score written by Music/RandyNewman. acting as the [[PoorMansSubstitute poor man's]][[invoked]] Music/ElmerBernstein for the film's music.

Notable for featuring the first movie score written by Music/RandyNewman. acting act the [[PoorMansSubstitute poor man's]][[invoked]] Music/ElmerBernstein for the film.

Notable for featuring the first movie score written by Music/RandyNewman.

Notable as the first film score written by Music/RandyNewman.

* OverlyLongGag: The Mayor and Reverend waiting for the news story to come on with The Mayor's wife sneezing in the background.

* RandyNewman: Composed this 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.

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

--> "My drinking is directly connected to my smoking. Now, when I say 'directly', I mean there's a thing--a physical thing--that is directly connected from my liquor buds to the smoke pouch in my lungs. If you want me to quit smoking, you would have to cut-- I mean, you'd have to physically ''cut'' that thing! And when you do, my head's gonna fall off!"

** With the contest deadline approaching and Eagle Rock holding fast, Merwin Wren is in a car with Mr. Grayson and some other Valiant executives, reassuring him that his plan to get them smoking again can't possibly fail. He tells them, "Repeat after me: 'In Wren we trust.' ... 'In Wren we trust.' ... 'In Wren--'"... Cue Mr. Grayson loudly breaking wind.

* 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 an 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.

* PrecisionFStrike: Newsman David Chetley repeatedly attempts to interview a rival tobacco-company executive, who keeps telling him to "leave me the (bleep) alone!"

--> "My drinking is directly connected to my smoking. Now, when I say 'directly', I mean there's a thing - a physical thing - that is directly connected from my liquor buds to the smoke pouch in my lungs. If you want me to quit smoking, you would have to cut - I mean, you'd have to physically cut that thing! And when you do, my head's gonna fall off!"