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IMDbPro

The Toy

  • 19821982
  • PGPG
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
14K
YOUR RATING
The Toy (1982)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:39
1 Video
99+ Photos
Comedy
An underemployed reporter finds himself literally purchased as a toy for a rich spoiled brat.An underemployed reporter finds himself literally purchased as a toy for a rich spoiled brat.An underemployed reporter finds himself literally purchased as a toy for a rich spoiled brat.
IMDb RATING
5.8/10
14K
YOUR RATING
    • Richard Donner
    • Francis Veber(based on a film by)
    • Carol Sobieski(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Richard Pryor
    • Jackie Gleason
    • Ned Beatty
    • Richard Donner
    • Francis Veber(based on a film by)
    • Carol Sobieski(screenplay by)
  • Stars
    • Richard Pryor
    • Jackie Gleason
    • Ned Beatty
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 48User reviews
    • 16Critic reviews
    • 16Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos1

    The Toy
    Trailer 2:39
    Watch The Toy

    Photos128

    1 sheet
    The Toy (1982)
    Jackie Gleason, Richard Pryor, and Scott Schwartz in The Toy (1982)
    Jackie Gleason, Richard Pryor, and Scott Schwartz in The Toy (1982)
    Jackie Gleason, Richard Pryor, and Scott Schwartz in The Toy (1982)
    Jackie Gleason, Richard Pryor, and Scott Schwartz in The Toy (1982)
    Jackie Gleason, Richard Pryor, and Scott Schwartz in The Toy (1982)
    Jackie Gleason, Richard Pryor, and Scott Schwartz in The Toy (1982)
    Jackie Gleason, Richard Pryor, and Scott Schwartz in The Toy (1982)
    Jackie Gleason, Richard Pryor, and Scott Schwartz in The Toy (1982)
    Jackie Gleason and Scott Schwartz in The Toy (1982)
    The Toy (1982)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Richard Pryor
    Richard Pryor
    • Jack Brown
    Jackie Gleason
    Jackie Gleason
    • U.S. Bates
    Ned Beatty
    Ned Beatty
    • Mr. Morehouse
    Scott Schwartz
    Scott Schwartz
    • Eric Bates
    Teresa Ganzel
    Teresa Ganzel
    • Fancy Bates
    Wilfrid Hyde-White
    Wilfrid Hyde-White
    • Barkley
    Annazette Chase
    Annazette Chase
    • Angela
    Tony King
    Tony King
    • Clifford
    Don Hood
    Don Hood
    • O'Brien
    Karen Leslie-Lyttle
    Karen Leslie-Lyttle
    • Fraulein
    Virginia Capers
    Virginia Capers
    • Ruby Simpson
    B.J. Hopper
    • Geffran
    Linda McCann
    • Honey Russell
    Ray Spruell
    • Senator Newcomb
    Stocker Fontelieu
    • District Attorney Russell
    Stuart Baker-Bergen
    • Aerobics Class Leader
    Robert Adams
    • Store Executive
    Mark Bennett
    • Store Executive
      • Richard Donner
      • Francis Veber(based on a film by)
      • Carol Sobieski(screenplay by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In his E! True Hollywood Story (1996) bio, Scott Schwartz said that the hardest part of making this movie was working with Jackie Gleason. Schwartz was trained to memorize his lines, and Gleason's improvisations threw him off, resulting in Gleason yelling at him.
    • Goofs
      When Jack is rolling in the inflatable wheel, during a closeup a crew member's hand appears from the right side of the screen to help balance the wheel.
    • Quotes

      Jack Brown: Angela! Jesus H. Christ!

      Eric Bates: Is that her full name?

    • Crazy credits
      The closing credits are shown aside four toy darts.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Pryor to Murphy (1983)
    • Soundtracks
      I Just Want To Be Your Friend
      Performed by Jeffrey Osborne

      Music and Lyrics by Trevor Lawrence and Frank Musker

    User reviews48

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Nothing wrong with "The Toy"
    Underneath all the "controversy" about the rich whitey "buying" the po' black man as a toy for his son, there's actually a very touching story about a kid and his dad who don't know how to communicate their feelings.

    All this "slave" stuff seems a bit silly - in the early '80s, Richard Pryor was probably the most popular (and funniest) comedian out there, so who better to play the role of Jack Brown? They needed someone with great comic timing, who is fantastic delivering funny lines and doing slapstick, and who can emote as good as anyone then when a dramatic scene called for it. Who would have been a better choice than Pryor? No one.

    The bratty kid and his "toy" Pryor raise heck in every scenario, from a dinner party, to a democrat KKK fundraiser, to a printing press room, and just about everywhere in the dad's mansion. Along the way, Eric the kid learns more and more about how to be a decent person from Jack, who is trying to get a job from the kid's dad (the amazing Jackie Gleason) who owns the local newspaper, among everything else.

    Ned Beatty shines as always as one of Gleason's flunkies, showing that he was one of those guys who could play just about every kind of role.

    Pryor of course is absolutely hilarious as Jack, paid to befriend the kid, and take the brunt of the kid's jokes and pranks, always with hilarious results.

    Sure this isn't the funniest film ever made, but this is a very likable film for anyone that puts the prejudices against it aside and just chills and enjoys it.
    helpful•5
    0
    • stevenfallonnyc77
    • Aug 30, 2022

    FAQ4

    • The toy car the kid rides down the stairs with Richard Pryor?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 10, 1982 (United States)
      • United States
      • Sony Movie Channel (United States)
      • English
      • German
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • 19050 Perkins Rd E, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Delphi Films
      • Rastar Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 42 minutes
      • Color
      • Mono

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