Main Cast: Henry Winkler, Michael Keaton, Shelley Long, Gina Hecht, Pat Corley
Release Year: 1982
Country: US
Run Time: 105 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Straight-laced Henry Winkler takes a night-shift job as a morgue attendant. Winkler falls under the spell of wheeler-dealer coworker Michael Keaton, whose catchphrase "Is this a great country or what?" is the clarion call for his many get-rich-quick schemes. His latest plan is to turn the morgue into a nocturnal brothel, for the benefit of anything-goes hooker Shelley Long-and incidentally, to line their own pockets. Director Ron Howard and his frequent scripters Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel turn the potentially lurid story material of Night Shift into an endearing comedy, with winning performances from its three often miscast stars. Keep an eye out during one of the party sequences for Kevin Costner as a carousing college boy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Young kids swear because doing something you are not supposed to do, something unexpected, usually provides a rush of freedom, the feeling that permeates Night Shift. Four of the brain trusts behind the genial situation comedy Happy Days, head writers Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel, director Ron Howard and lead actor Henry Winkler declared their freedom from their past with this adult-themed comedy about morgue workers who become pimps. Winkler plays a character as far away from Fonzie as one could imagine, while the writers pepper the material with jokes they could never have dreamed of getting away with on the small screen. Winkler's character, who grows from a put-upon quiet "good" guy into an assertive man of action, feels like a symbol for the Happy Days alumni. Michael Keaton, in his first film role, is the spark of energy that allows them to break free; he is like the older kid at school who teaches the younger kids the dirty words. His explanation of the root meaning of "prostitution" is a great example of schoolyard comedy. As seemingly "adult" as this film pretends to be, it is at heart the work of nice young boys who are enjoying the rush of talking dirty. Mix this film's sense of freedom with Happy Days wholesomeness, and you have the best of Howard, Ganz, and Mandel's collaborations -- Parenthood. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
Bobby Di Cicco - Leonard; Nita Talbot - Vivian; Basil Hoffman - Drollhauser; Tim Rossovich - Luke; Clint Howard - Jefferey; Joe Spinell - Manetti; Richard Belzer - Pig; Beau Billingslea - Donny; Grand L. Bush - Mustafa; Cheryl Carter - Tanya; Brett Baxter Clark - Paradise Doorman; Corki Corman - Sylvia; Kevin Costner - Frat Boy; Ashley Cox - Jenny Lynn; Reid Cruickshanks - Sgt. Averbach; Badja Djola - Cleon; Shannen Doherty - Bluebird; Dawn Dunlap - Maxine; Charles Fleischer - Prisoner; Monique Gabrielle - Tessie; Cassandra Gava - J.J.; Becky Gonzalez - Lupe; Jim Greenleaf - Frat Boy #4; Ildiko Jaid - Joyce; Jeremy Lawrence - Frat Boy; Ava Lazar - Sharon; Julius Le Flore - Franklin; Floyd Levine - Sal Carboni; Horace Long - Turkey Man; Jeanne Mori - Marsha; Jack Perkins - Tuttle; James Ritz - Morgue Worker; Jim Staahl - Red; Leonard Termo; K.C. Winkler - Cheryl; John Boyle - Leopard Boy; Vincent Schiavelli - Carl; Elizabeth Carder - Dolores; Mimi Lieber - Linda; Ola Ray - Dawn; Kevin Rodney Sullivan; Robbin Young - Nancy; Marc Flanagan - Steve; Jane Jenkins; Russell Forte - Frat Boy #3; Hugo Napier - Blind Man; Tom Mahoney - Judge
Credit
Peter Smith - Art Director, Jan Lloyd - First Assistant Director, Ron Howard - Director, Daniel Hanley - Editor, Michael Hill - Editor, Robert J. Kern, Jr. - Editor, Don Kranze - Executive Producer, Burt Bacharach - Composer (Music Score), Carole Bayer Sager - Songwriter, Jack T. Collis - Production Designer, James A. Crabe - Cinematographer, Brian Grazer - Producer, Allen Hall - Special Effects, Gary Combs - Stunts, Chris Columbus - Screenwriter, Lowell Ganz - Screenwriter, Babaloo Mandel - Screenwriter, Lee Reynolds - Screenwriter
Chuck (Winkler), formerly a successful stockbroker, has found a refuge from the ulcer-inducing Wall Street rat race in his job as an attendant at the New York City morgue. His displeasure at being "promoted" to night shift supervisor to make room for his boss's nephew is exacerbated by the irrational exuberance of Bill "Blaze" Blazejowski (Keaton), his new coworker. However, both men are inspired by the plight of Chuck's neighbor, Belinda (Long), to apply Chuck's M.B.A. education and Bill's entrepreneurial spirit to open a call girl service with headquarters at the morgue.
The official soundtrack was released in 1982 on the Ladd Company label and was distributed by Warner Bros. It included 10 selected tracks from the film, 6 of which were written just for the film. The tracks included are as follows:
"Night Shift Love Theme (instrumental)" by Burt Bacharach
The soundtrack was a vinyl only release. The versions of "Talk Talk" and "Penthouse and Pavement" that are on the soundtrack are different to any other release's of the songs as they were specially mixed for the soundtrack.
