Ypsilanti, Michigan, 1945. Engineer Preston Tucker dreams of designing the car of future, but his innovative envision will be repeatedly sabotaged by his own unrealistic expectations and the Detroit automobile industry tycoons.

Credits: TheMovieDb.

Film Cast:

• Preston Tucker: Jeff Bridges
• Vera: Joan Allen
• Abe: Martin Landau
• Eddie: Frederic Forrest
• Jimmy: Mako
• Howard Hughes: Dean Stockwell
• Junior: Christian Slater
• Marilyn Lee: Nina Siemaszko
• Frank: Marshall Bell
• Kerner: Peter Donat
• Alex: Elias Koteas
• Kirby: Jay O. Sanders
• Noble: Corin Nemec
• Stan: Don Novello
• Johnny: Anders Johnson
• Bennington: Dean Goodman
• Ferguson’s Agent: John X. Heart
• Millie: Patti Austin
• Stan’s Assistant: Sandy Bull
• Judge: Joe Miksak
• Floyd Cerf: Scott Beach
• Oscar Beasley: Roland Scrivner
• Narrator (voice): Bob Safford
• Doc: Larry Menkin
• Fritz: Ron Close
• Dutch: Joe Flood
• Gas Station Owner: Leonard Gardner
• Garage Owner: Bill Bonham
• Ferguson’s Secretary #1: Abigail van Alyn
• Ferguson’s Secretary #2: Taylor Gilbert
• Woman on Steps: David Booth
• Newscaster (voice): Al Hart
• Security Guard: Cab Covay
• Man in Audience: James Cranna
• Board Member: Bill Reddick
• Mayor: Ed Loerke
• Head Engineer: Jay Jacobus
• Bennington’s Secretary: Anne Lawder
• Singing Girl #1: Jeanette Lana Sartain
• Singing Girl #2: Mary Buffett
• Singing Girl #3: Annie Stocking
• Recording Engineer: Michael McShane
• Tucker’s Secretary #1: Hope Alexander-Willis
• Tucker’s Secretary #2: Taylor Young
• Police Sergeant: Jim Giovanni
• Reporter at Trial: Joe Lerer
• Ingram: Morgan Upton
• SEC Agent: Ken Grantham
• Blue: Mark Anger
• Jury Foreman: Al Nalbandian
• Senator Homer Ferguson (uncredited): Lloyd Bridges
• Girl at Mellon Publicity Event (uncredited): Sofia Coppola

Film Crew:

• Executive Producer: George Lucas
• Director: Francis Ford Coppola
• Producer: Fred Roos
• Additional Music: Carmine Coppola
• Director of Photography: Vittorio Storaro
• Production Design: Dean Tavoularis
• Editor: Priscilla Nedd-Friendly
• Casting: Janet Hirshenson
• Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Richard Beggs
• Producer: Fred Fuchs
• Casting: Jane Jenkins
• Music Editor: Mark Adler
• Supervising Sound Editor: Gloria S. Borders
• Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Tom Johnson
• Set Decoration: Armin Ganz
• Costume Designer: Milena Canonero
• Unit Production Manager: Ian Bryce
• Foley Artist: Dennie Thorpe
• Sound Effects Editor: Tim Holland
• Leadman: Doug von Koss
• Second Unit Director: Buddy Joe Hooker
• Assistant Costume Designer: Judianna Makovsky
• Assistant Makeup Artist: Karen Bradley
• Set Designer: Jim Pohl
• Camera Operator: Jamie Anderson
• Foley Editor: Sandina Bailo-Lape
• Stunts: Jimmy Nickerson
• Screenplay: Arnold Schulman
• Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Randy Thom
• ADR Editor: Louise Rubacky
• Original Music Composer: Joe Jackson
• Researcher: Anahid Nazarian
• Assistant Sound Designer: Mildred Iatrou
• Location Casting: Aleta Chappelle
• Stunts: Gary McLarty
• Screenplay: David Seidler
• First Assistant Director: H. Gordon Boos
• Stunts: Dick Ziker
• Makeup Artist: Richard Dean
• ADR Editor: Tom Bellfort
• Art Direction: Alex Tavoularis
• Assistant Hairstylist: Terry Baliel
• Technical Advisor: Enrico Umetelli
• Property Master: Douglas E. Madison
• Script Supervisor: Wilma Garscadden-Gahret
• Still Photographer: Ralph Nelson Jr.
• Stunts: Steve M. Davison
• Sound Effects Editor: Robert Shoup
• Stunts: Tim A. Davison
• Assistant Sound Editor: Martha Pike
• Hairstylist: Lyndell Quiyou
• Costume Supervisor: Winnie D. Brown
• Assistant Sound Editor: Michele Perrone
• Foley Editor: Diana Pellegrini
• First Assistant Camera: Billy Clevenger
• Assistant Property Master: Douglas T. Madison
• Construction Coordinator: John J. Rutchland Jr.
• Unit Publicist: Susan Landau Finch
• Second Assistant Director: L. Dean Jones Jr.
• Production Sound Mixer: Michael Evje
• Assistant Sound Editor: Clare C. Freeman
• Assistant Sound Editor: Paige Sartorius
• Location Manager: Rory Enke
• Second Assistant Director: Daniel R. Suhart
• Gaffer: Pat Fitzsimmons
• Dialogue Editor: Melissa Dietz
• Associate Producer: Teri Fettis-D’Ovidio
• Boom Operator: D. G. Fisher
• Special Effects Supervisor: David Pier
• Production Accountant: Joe Murphy
• Negative Cutter: Donah Bassett
• Second Assistant Camera: Doug Hunt
• Visual Effects: Robert Finley Jr.
• Dolly Grip: David Heron
• Transportation Coordinator: Steve Collins
• Assistant Sound Editor: E. Jeane Putnam
• First Assistant Camera: Michael Santy
• Assistant Location Manager: Jonathan Shedd
• Set Designer: Bob Goldstein
• Production Coordinator: Maureen Murphy
• Key Grip: Richard Dova Spah
• Choreographer: Paula Tracy-Smuin
• Key Costumer: Louis Infante
• Second Assistant Camera: Deborah Morgan
• Assistant Location Manager: Susan Griffin
• Assistant Accountant: Linda Knechtli
• Production Secretary: Kimberly Nelson
• Key Costumer: Anne Polland
• Key Costumer: Jill Maley
• Grip: Dennis Pope
• Dolly Grip: Leo Loverro
• Assistant Editor: Roderick W. Finney
• Assistant Sound Editor: Nicole Boris

Movie Reviews:

• Wuchak: ***Fascinating story of a genius; done with kinetic and amusing style***
• Based on the real-life story of Preston Tucker from the late 1930s-1950, the genius inventor (Jeff Bridges) designs the Tucker 48 sedan, aka the “Tucker Torpedo,” an automobile way ahead of its time with aerodynamic style, padded dash, seat belts, pop-out windows, fuel injection and disc brakes. He rounds up a team, develops the prototype and starts producing cars in his Chicago factor. But this didn’t sit well with the Big Three automakers in Detroit and the politicians & sharks (lawyers) in their pockets; so they try to squash him like a bug with a smear campaign and legal attacks.
• The setting is historical (mostly taking place during the 40s) while the tone is fun & snappy and the pace is quick, akin to “Seabiscuit” (2003), which shows that the movie itself was ahead of its time. It was released in 1988, but has a timeless feel, like it could be released today, no kidding; probably because it was directed by Francis Ford Coppola, a genius in his own right.
• Speaking of Francis, he was probably attracted to the story because Tucker’s experiences parallel his own in the movie business. The big shots who run any industry don’t want some new guy, virtuoso or not, waltzing in to their territory and taking a piece of their pie, making them look bad in the process. Tucker’s story parallels independent prodigies in any industry, like Trump strolling into D.C. and stirring up the slanderous ire of the Demonic-rats and their Left-leaning media, not to mention the RINOs.
• The film runs 1 hour, 50 minutes and was shot in the Bay Area, California.
• GRADE: A-/B+