Brain Donors
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| Brain Donors | |
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| Directed by | Dennis Dugan |
| Produced by | David Zucker Jerry Zucker Gil Netter James D. Brubaker |
| Written by | Pat Proft |
| Starring | John Turturro, Mel Smith, Bob Nelson, Nancy Marchand, George de la Pena |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
| Release date(s) | April 17, 1992 |
| Running time | 79 min. |
| Language | English |
| Budget | unknown |
| IMDb profile | |
Brain Donors (1992) is an American comedy movie released by Paramount Pictures, loosely based on the Marx Brothers comedy, A Night at the Opera, and apparently an attempt to update and revive the Marx Brothers' theater successes. The movie was a box office bomb. Nevertheless, its carefully stylized, fast-paced comedy and witty dialogue have resulted in a small cult following.
[edit] Plot
After the death of tycoon & philanthropist Oscar Winterhaven Oglethorpe, a ballet company is founded in his name by his widow, Lillian (Nancy Marchand). The formation of the ballet company leads to personal injury attorney Roland T. Flakfizer (John Turturro) vying against Oglethorpe's former attorney Edmund Lazlo (John Savident) to be director of the company. Lazlo is chosen to be director of the company after signing the greatest ballet dancer in the world, Roberto Volare, aka the Great Volare (George de la Pena) to dance for the company. Flakfizer, however — with assistance from his two associates Rocco Melonchek (Mel Smith) & Jacques (Bob Nelson) — earns a spot as co-director by wooing the wealthy widow and by signing the company's leading ballerina, Lisa (Julie Donald). The ensuing struggle between Flakfizer and Lazlo leads to comic hijinx, including a bizarrely sabotaged ballet performance.
