Tucker - The Man and His Dream

In this cinematic labor of love from "Godfather" and "Apocalypse Now" director Francis Ford Coppola, actor Martin Landau (who won a Golden Globe and earned an Oscar nomination for his excellent performance in this film) confesses to his costar Jeff Bridges that he only became his automotive business partner to make money--and then he adds, "But, Tucker, how could I have ever known that in the end I'd actually wind up CATCHING YOUR DREAM?!"And the real life businessman Landau was playing in this film, Abe Karatz, wasn't the only one who caught Preston Tucker's futuristic dream that year; investors from all over the country put down their hard earned money to purchase dealerships, while would-be customers put their names down on long waiting lists--all for a machine that didn't even exist yet. You see, all of them had caught Preston Tucker's wonderfully contagious dream too. The setting of this amazing true story is America in the late 1940s. World War II was finally over and the country was at last returning to normal. Surveys said that what Americans wanted most was a new car, and Preston Tucker's perfectly in-sync dream was to change the then opposed-to-innovation American car industry permanently for the better by offering people a dramatically superior automobile--something unlike anything they had ever seen before. Instead of delivering a car no different from those offered by Ford, Chrysler and GM that year, and the year before that--vehicles that were nothing but the same old cars wrapped up in new car bodies--Tucker dreamed of offering people something fundamentally different; he would give them the automobile of tomorrow, and he would give it to them then instead of all those decades into the future. Tucker dreamed of building affordable cars that were as safe as they were sleek, beautiful, futuristic, technologically advanced and reliable. He wanted to equip his cars of tomorrow with what were then cutting edge innovations the Detroit car industry didn't yet offer, many of which are now commonplace on the cars we drive today--and a few of which are still uncommon even after seven decades have passed. From it's rear engine to it's third headlight (which shined around corners during turns), his car would be nothing like the repackaged, ten years outdated 1930s technology Detroit was palming off on people as the newest and the greatest. The Tucker automobile would be many, many decades ahead of anything else that had ever existed before it--it would be the greatest car ever built! Preston Tucker went ahead and actually built one of his futuristic dream cars, too--and when it was shown to the world it was a truly beautiful thing to behold. People who saw it fell instantly in love with the Tucker while Preston Tucker himself was busily gearing up for mass-production of his incredible automobile. But, big-business Detroit didn't want to have to spend millions just to keep up with such highly advanced competition, so they decided instead that it would be much simpler to crush Tucker and his fledgling car business--and to do it before they grew too strong to be eliminated. They tried to destroy his reputation. They tried to drive the price he paid for steel sky high to bring up the cost of his cars so that few would be able to afford them. They tried to wrest control of his company away from him. When none of that worked they even enlisted the Washington politicians they had in their pockets and had him wrongly charged with fraud. But Preston Tucker didn't just roll over and admit defeat. He kept fighting for his dream tooth and nail. This is the incredible true story which tells why only 51 of these amazing Tucker vehicles ever made it out of the biggest automotive factory building in existence to see the light of day. And amazingly, most of those 51 Tuckers that made it to the outside world are still on the road today, still running strong, still serving as steel and glass testaments to their own superlative build-quality, durability and design. George Lucas owns one of these incredible automobiles. So does this film's director, Francis Ford Coppola (who's own father was one of those who'd purchased a dealership for these cars once upon a time). Even I'd like to own one of these fabulous machines after seeing this inspiring movie. I tell you, these beautiful cars really got under my skin. I fell utterly under their enticing spell. Just like the businessman Martin Landau portrays, Abe Karatz, and just like so many others who came before me; by the time this movie was over, I'd caught some of Preston Tucker's wonderful dream too. I know now that we really could have had one hell of a car all those decades before Detroit ever offered us anything even remotely like it. And I also know that, amazingly, even after almost 70 years have passed, some of the Tucker's clever and innovative features still haven't been offered to us again on any other car since it. This really was a fascinating story, and one which was very well told by an experienced and talented filmmaker. Mr. Coppola's heart was clearly in this movie one hundred percent of the way--that fact shows unmistakably throughout every aspect of this superlatively crafted production. From the cleverly applied recurring promotional-film motif, to the beautifully shot photography, to the costumes, the sets, and even to the wonderful period music, everything is absolutely top flight here. Jeff Bridges and Martin Landau both gave very memorable performances in this fine film--and were given a script that allowed them to really shine as actors (and Preston Tucker's self delivered closing argument to the jury when he was wrongly accused of fraud was amazingly prescient and is just as thought provoking today as it was back then). As always, that ever reliable actress Joan Allen also gave a very good performance in this movie--this time around playing the role of Tucker's gutsy wife. This film about the long standing American dream to build a "better mousetrap" (in this case, a radically better car) is a very good movie, and one which tells a fascinating true story more people really should know about. I heartily recommend this eye-opening and entertaining film to anyone who either loves cars or is even remotely interested in stories about the kind of entrepreneurial dreamers who try (and sometimes actually manage) to revolutionize whole industries. Tucker, attempting to be much like an automotive equivalent of Steve Jobs to his own era, was definitely one of these dreamers--and one who came within a hairs breadth of succeeding at it too. If only the Detroit car industry hadn't conspired to crush his dream, Preston Tucker would have changed the American automotive industry forever for the better, doing what Apple would one day do with the cell phone industry, advancing it technologically by literal decades practically overnight. The Tucker automobile really was one hell of an amazing car, and "Tucker: The Man and His Dream" is a movie I recommend very highly. Watch it and don't be surprised if you discover yourself unexpectedly falling under the very enticing spell of Tucker's wonderful dream too. I certainly fell under it big time--and I'm so very glad that I did.Do yourself a favor and do not miss a chance to see this very good movie about a fascinating true story and a little known far-seeing dreamer. You won't be disappointed.

1st let me say the Video & Audio is a 10/10, both looked and sounded great on my THX certified 7.1Yamaha 1500 watt system. While only TrueHD Dolby Surround, the original soundtrack was only 2.0Dolby stereo, so even a TrueHD 5.1 is way better than you ever heard it in the theater. I guess others just has inferior sound systems, just cause it pumps out a Bizzilion watts does not make it any good. to get good sound you gotta have top end Blu ray player(Oppo), Sound system Yamaha that can handle Uncompressed sound and up 196kbs. If it can't play DVD audio or Sony SACD sound, forget it. Speakers have to top notch also, any weak link anywhere in the Audio/Video line, to your 240hertz LED TV, Can'tget a diamond if you're trying to use a turd system. Any good 5.1, 7.1 will have soft spots and loud spots, that's just the way the make sound tracks today, ALL new movie soundtracks are like that. This being a newer 5.1 mix I am presuming they mixed it just like any other NEW movie soundtrack are mixed today, hard to hear normal talking proceeded by blasting you out on music, explosion, actions sequences, All Disney, Marvel, DC movies do the same type of soundtracks. Yes the original lousy 2 channel analog dolby stereo soundtrack would have had better voices that this new mix, beyond me why they did not include it on this disc(Knock down to 4 stars because of this). Maybe because Lucas himself not running Lucasfilm any more, just some 20 something fresh face kid, trying to mimic all the other soundtracks out there.

I owned Tucker #19. My father purchased the auto in 1959 for 1250.00. He gave it to me right before the movie premier in 1988 due to his failing health, along with many other of his classic autos. I was the sole female owner of a Tucker for many years. It brought me much fame and attention. I drove it to many different events in No California and had a blast. My dad always got a kick out of seeing our videos of the places we drove the car. She never let me down and besides paint, and ulpolstery, tires and battery... she was just as she came out of the plant back in 1948. I let the San Diego Auto Museum show the car for the past 8 years.#19 was in our family for over 50 years before I recently sold it for an offer I could not refuse, well over the million dollar mark. My dad told me , kinda tongue in cheek, " if anyone ever offers you a million dollars for that car ... take it!! and I got even more.. and it went to a good home because it was not sold at auction... I got to pick who I sold it to.....and there were many offers and interested buyers!!!.. I can hear my dad snickering.Some of the best memories I have is the time I spent with my dad during the filming of the movie in San Francisco and Oakland. He was late showing up to the set so when they asked who was driving Tucker #19 I had to raise my hand. Needless to say their first comment was "you cant drive a Tucker "your a woman". And in 1948 that was almost true... but if they wanted #19 in the movie that day... I was their only driver! The got 26 of the original 51 cars on the set for the movie, many with thier owners as drivers. I did not want to tell anyone at that point I had NEVER driven the car yet? So off to make up I went... only to come out looking like "mommie dearest" with my red lipstick and hair done up. I was so pleased to to see my dad arrive upon my return from make-up ! He was rushed off to be suited up in proper attire and so when "drivers" were called to the cars ... I just jumped in the passenger seat and no one told me to get out... it would be a waste of a lot of red lipstick and nice floppy hat. So I got to spend the day with my Dad drivng in his Tucker in a great movie. So in the scene that the Tuckers are driving outside the courthouse.... you will see the rim of my hat...in the blue Tucker. Thats me and my dad!!!To review the movie... I think it was a very good and truthful account of the Tucker history. Anyone who enjoyed the film should go to the TuckerAutomobile Club of America and join... you will learn so much about the car and thier hisory. The movie did not get the attention it deserved... but Jeff was a great Preston Tucker and Francis Ford Coppola has owned a Tucker since the 70's and without his drive to make the movie with Lucus Films... our Tuckers would not be selling in the millions now! He made the movie entertaining.... even to people who were not "car people". Great movie!!!

I remember renting this movie when this came out on video tape so have happy memories of it. A great 30 th anniversary edition obviously a labour of love by Francis ford Coppola who made the original movie with some nice original behind the scenes interviews from when the movie came out .

a nice forgotten film. i wasn't sure about the story in the the first half the film but second part was great . funny and emotional

Although the item arrived in good time, the quality of the DVD was fairly poor - a stop-start motion all the way through which did not make for enjoyable viewing. Is this something to do with trying to make it compatible for all regions? No problem with the film itself, it's an enjoyable story, but I wouldn't recommend buying this particular version.

I love the film (saw it on TV before) so bought it for our collection. Unfortunately the sound quality is very poor. I had kept it for too long before playing it but really should sent it back for a full refund.

If you have been shocked by the recent behaviour of VW you obviously haven't seen Tucker - a true story exposing the ethics (or their absence) in big business . Jeff Bridges is outstanding!