Tucker: The Man and His Dream

1988 Drama

History tells us that would-be automobile mogul Preston Tucker was a silver-tongued con man, who misappropriated his investors' money and played fast and loose with ethics and legalities in the pursuit of his dream. Filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola isn't buying this: to hear Coppola tell it, Tucker was "Mr. Smith Goes to Detroit," a sincere visionary who tried and failed to buck the Big Three auto manufacturers. Moreover, he was a staunch defender of family values, as witness his inseparable relationship with his loyal wife (Joan Allen) and adoring children. It was for his family's sake, rather than any dreams of financial gain, that Tucker created the oddball three-headlight vehicle which he envisioned as the "car of the future". Naturally, the corporate fat cats of 1947 can't abide competition from a rugged individualist; thus, with several politicos in their pockets, they crush the Tucker and the man who built it. We'd have been more inclined to believe the story had Coppola adopted a straightforward Capraesque approach and not utilized all sorts of complicated camera trickery. Somehow, by presenting Tucker in so showoffy a directorial manner, the character comes off more as a sleight-of-hand artist than a bastion of sincerity. Even so, Jeff Bridges does a nice job as Tucker, as does Martin Landau as Tucker's incongruous business partner. Jeff's dad, Lloyd Bridges, appears in an uncredited role as a "bought" senator. more..

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Joan Allen, Martin Landau, Frederic Forrest

Reviews

  • Tucker is the best Capra movie since Capra quit making them himself.

    Mike Clark - USA Today

    11 May 2013

  • A gorgeous, fluid, wonderfully exhilarating movie.

    - TV Guide

    11 May 2013

  • It's also

    Jay Carr - The Boston Globe

    11 May 2013

  • Stylistically, the film is a dream. But in every case, the style has a reason.

    Sheila Benson - Los Angeles Times

    11 May 2013

  • The result is a film consistent narratively, confident stylistically and abounce with the quaint quality that animated both the hero and his times, something we used to call pep.

    Richard Schickel - Time

    11 May 2013

Awards

  • Best Actor in a Supporting Role

    Academy Awards (1989)

     
  • Best Production Design

    BAFTA Awards (1989)

  • Best Supporting Actor

    Boston Society of Film Critics Awards (1989)

  • Best Casting for Feature Film, Drama

    Casting Society of America (1989)

     
  • Best Supporting Actor

    Chicago Film Critics Association Awards (1989)