Tucker - The Man and His Dream (1988)

Director Francis Ford Coppola and executive producer George Lucas shared a strong desire to film the story of Preston Tucker, the man who revolutionized car design in the late 1940s, only to have his innovation squelched by the "big three" automakers in a legal battle between Tucker and powerful political lobbies. Coppola surely related to and sympathized with Tucker as a visionary underdog, and so this stylish, energetic film envisions "the man and his dream" in idealistic terms--an unabashed optimist (played by Jeff Bridges) who realizes his vision through blind faith and tenacity. Martin Landau gives a superb, heartbreaking performance as an associate who desperately wants to share Tucker's enthusiasm, but knows that corporate wolves are knocking at the door and will soon burst in with fangs bared. Joan Allen is equally good as Tucker's supportive wife, and the film's combination of dazzling costumes, production design, and the fabulous Tucker itself (of which only 50 models were made) creates an infectious atmosphere of postwar optimism. In the end, however, this fascinating film is much like Coppola himself: possessed of genius, blinded by ambition, and prone to create works of erratic brilliance. Don't take that as criticism, however; this is a sharp, underrated film about a dreamer whose dream was a worthy one, even if it only briefly came true. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com essential video

 A Fun Movie And A Bit of History
The American automotive industry has quite the history, and this movie tells the story of one of it's forgotten: The Tucker Torpedo. It's done in a very period-esque style, indulging in many styles of the 1940s, from the big band sounds from that era, to the flaky movie style. It's a great movie, and doesn't institute any sex or violence. On top of all those qualities, you will inadvertently learn something.

Tucker created a car that would have brought the rest of the automotive industry to it's knees. The Torpedo was a durable good, free of planned obsolescence. This would have killed the industry because it was based on the ideals and morals of the original Model T. The story that unfolds is one of corruption, greed, and back-stabbing tactics that often surround big industry. All the while, the movie entertains and is a fund joy ride through automotive history.

Not a 5 star epic by any means, but any movie collection would only be improved with this as an addition. April 23, 2008

 One of my all-time favorites!
You ask the average person today on the street who was Preston Tucker, or even better what is a Tucker Torpedo they will look at you and say what the h*&% are you talking about. This is an important part of history, people need to know how much are country has changed. There was a time where the little guy could get ahead. Someone in an earlier review said who cares about seat belts or shatterproof windshields. You would if you were the one who was killed as a result of lack there of. This is not a story of the rich get richer, what you do not realize is that Preston Tucker was actually very far in debt, he invested so much in his dreams, waiting for them to be realized he didn't have much till he made it. Just because you guys have no desire to better your life does not mean that you need to bash a guy who had a dream and went for it. I could not have picked a better cast, you talk about it being boring, and yet you criticize the casting of Jeff Bridges, ha I will admit it may have been a boring movie w/o Jeff Bridges. Over all this is a must see for all ages, and will give you the true meaning of what the American dream is all about. November 9, 2007

 Excellent But Frustrating
Boy, what a frustrating film to watch....even though it is very good and has been a part of my collection for a number of years now. Still, it's hard to see the good guy, the little guy, beaten up by the big guys. Here's one story where Goliath beats David.

Anyway, this was an interesting supposedly- true-life story of how Preston Tucker got a raw deal form the Big Three car-makers of the day, and by the government after he built a much better automobile in 1948. The film details how the big boys made sure Tucker's company never sold any of those cars.

Jeff Bridges does a solid job of portraying Tucker, an upbeat, positive-thinking inventor. It also was refreshing to see a nice, supportive family, too. I enjoyed all the main actors in this film: Bridges, Joan Alen, Martin Landau, Frederic Forest, Elias Koteas and Christian Slater

The 1940s atmosphere in this film is very good and the old music is fun to hear, too. The cinematography is great, too, with some tinted vintage-type color at times. It looks wonderful on DVD. September 17, 2007

 Tucker - The Man and His Dream
This film is a great and very entertaining piece of American history about a man that never really got the kind of recognition that I feel he deserved. Done up in "epic" movie making form, it is a worthy item to have in you collection if you like and enjoy cars, or the history there of or both at the same time!
Well cast and excellently acted. A most enjoyable film indeed! May 7, 2007

 Good but Flawed Movie
Not many Americans knew much about Preston Tucker or his car before this movie came out. Since 1988 enough people became aware of both to send the value of the remaining Tucker 48's skyrocketing, assuring I'll never now own one!

This is an enjoyable movie for a car guy with numerous biographical details, good sets, costumes, and acting by Jeff Bridges that threatens to go just over the top. It's too bad that Coppola chose to beat the sterotypical "small guy with a big heart gets ground down by the big guy" horse. But good drama needs a protagonist and an antagonist, and that conspiratorical angle to be expected from Hollywood, USA. I learned a long time ago not to go to the movie theatre for a history lesson.

Fact is that Tucker tried too quickly to bring an underdeveloped product to market with an undercapitalized company. In only a few short years, much bigger companies with established product lines (Nash, Packard, Hudson, Kaiser, Studebaker, etc.) would all suffer the same fate his did.

Still, there were rumors this DVD was going out of print. Does that mean that a 20th anniversary edition is in the works? April 5, 2007

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