Fire Sale (film)
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| Fire Sale | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Alan Arkin |
| Produced by | Marvin Worth |
| Written by | Robert Klane |
| Starring | Alan Arkin Rob Reiner Vincent Gardenia Sid Caesar |
| Music by | Dave Grusin |
| Cinematography | Ralph Woolsey |
| Editing by | Richard Halsey |
| Release date(s) | 6 January 1978 |
| Running time | 88 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
Fire Sale is a 1977 comedy film starring Alan Arkin (who also directed) as Ezra Fikus; Rob Reiner as his brother Russel; Vincent Gardenia as their father Benny; Sid Caesar as Benny's brother Sherman; Anjanette Comer as Marion (Ezra's wife); and Kay Medford as Ruth (Benny's wife).
[edit] Synopsis
Benny Fikus decides to cash in on his business' fire insurance by committing arson. Benny plans to have Sherman, who is in a mental hospital believing that World War II is still being fought, escape and burn down Benny's failing clothing store which he has made Sherman believe is the German military headquarters.
During a vacation trip with Marion, Benny has a heart attack, and his sons Ezra and Russel take over the store. The lowley self esteemed Russel wants to expand the store and marry his girlfriend, while Ezra needs money to "hire" an orphan to allow him to adopt him so the high-school basketball team he coaches will win and he won't lose his job. Russell discovers that his father is bankrupt, with the only asset is the surrender value in his fire insurance policy. Russell cashes in the policy and splits it with Ezra, using the money to buy more stock. Back at home, Benny is pracitally comatose after his heart attack. An "in denial" Marion is told by house painters helping with a home redecoration project that her husband is "very sick" which she interprets as Benny being already dead. She then decides to change redecoration plans to prepare for funeral services.
Meanwhile, Sherman has escaped and is on his way to burn down the German Headquarters (as he believes the store is), Benny recovers from his heart attack, and informs Russell that Sherman is on his way to burn down the store so they can collect the fire insurance that they no longer have.
Hilarity ensues as Ezra's has his wife run his basketball team while he and Russell attempt to stop Sherman from his quest to fight the Huns by any means necessary.
