D.C. Cab
Encyclopedia
D.C. Cab is a 1983 comedy
film, starring Mr. T
, Max Gail
, Adam Baldwin
, Gary Busey
and a special appearance by singer Irene Cara
. The film was co-written and directed by Joel Schumacher
. The R-rated
comedy was controversial upon release due to Mr. T's appeal among children, which resulted in the film being mis-marketed in many regions.
with plans to work for his late father's army buddy Harold (Gail), owner of the run-down taxicab
company D.C. Cab. Aware of the sorry state of his business and from the growing competition from the popular Emerald Cab Company, Harold wants to clean it up but doesn't have the financial means to do so. Complicating matters is the motley group of cab drivers that he has working for him. They all see driving as a dead end job while they wait for better lives, until Albert inspires them to work as a team.
A valuable violin
is found in one of the cabs earning Harold and his wife a $10,000 reward as owners of the cab. Harold wants to share the money with the drivers and let them invest in the cab company as partners. However, his greedy wife Myrna picks up the reward money and tosses Harold and Albert's belongings out of the house. The cabbies are not happy about losing their share of the reward, and Albert decides to donate his own money to the cab company and convinces the drivers to stay and make something of the company and themselves. The cabbies completely overhaul the entire business and the revitalized company soon supplants Emerald Cab as the most popular in the city.
Later on, the cabbies work together to rescue Albert and a diplomat
's two children after they're kidnapped.
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
film, starring Mr. T
Mr. T
Mr. T is an American actor known for his roles as B. A. Baracus in the 1980s television series The A-Team, as boxer Clubber Lang in the 1982 film Rocky III, and for his appearances as a professional wrestler. Mr. T is known for his trademark African Mandinka warrior hairstyle, his gold jewelry,...
, Max Gail
Max Gail
Maxwell Trowbridge "Max" Gail, Jr. is an American actor who has starred in stage, television, and film roles. He most notably portrayed the role of Detective Stan "Wojo" Wojciehowicz on the television sitcom Barney Miller....
, Adam Baldwin
Adam Baldwin
Adam Baldwin is an American actor, known for his roles as Animal Mother in Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket, Ricky Linderman in My Bodyguard, Knowle Rohrer in The X-Files, and Marcus Hamilton in Joss Whedon's Angel...
, Gary Busey
Gary Busey
William Gary Busey , best known as Gary Busey, is an American film and stage actor and artist. He has appeared in a large variety of films, as well as making regular appearances on Gunsmoke, Walker, Texas Ranger, Law & Order, and Entourage...
and a special appearance by singer Irene Cara
Irene Cara
Irene Cara is an American singer and actress. Cara won an Academy Award in 1984 in the category of Best Original Song for co-writing "Flashdance... What a Feeling." She is also known for her recording of the song "Fame", and she also starred in the 1980 film Fame.She married Hollywood stuntman...
. The film was co-written and directed by Joel Schumacher
Joel Schumacher
Joel T. Schumacher is an American film director, screenwriter and producer.-Early life:Schumacher was born in New York City, the son of Marian and Francis Schumacher. His mother was a Swedish Jew, and his father was a Baptist from Knoxville, Tennessee, who died when Joel was four years old...
. The R-rated
Motion picture rating system
A motion picture rating system is designated to classify films with regard to suitability for audiences in terms of issues such as sex, violence, substance abuse, profanity, impudence or other types of mature content...
comedy was controversial upon release due to Mr. T's appeal among children, which resulted in the film being mis-marketed in many regions.
Plot summary
Naive but good natured young man Albert Hockenberry (Baldwin) arrives in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
with plans to work for his late father's army buddy Harold (Gail), owner of the run-down taxicab
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
company D.C. Cab. Aware of the sorry state of his business and from the growing competition from the popular Emerald Cab Company, Harold wants to clean it up but doesn't have the financial means to do so. Complicating matters is the motley group of cab drivers that he has working for him. They all see driving as a dead end job while they wait for better lives, until Albert inspires them to work as a team.
A valuable violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
is found in one of the cabs earning Harold and his wife a $10,000 reward as owners of the cab. Harold wants to share the money with the drivers and let them invest in the cab company as partners. However, his greedy wife Myrna picks up the reward money and tosses Harold and Albert's belongings out of the house. The cabbies are not happy about losing their share of the reward, and Albert decides to donate his own money to the cab company and convinces the drivers to stay and make something of the company and themselves. The cabbies completely overhaul the entire business and the revitalized company soon supplants Emerald Cab as the most popular in the city.
Later on, the cabbies work together to rescue Albert and a diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
's two children after they're kidnapped.
Production
Well known nightclub singer Marci Lynne recalls being cast as a cab passenger. In one scene she was seated in the front seat with Mr. Busey while he drove the cab at high speed. In unexpected and unscripted moment, Mr. Busey turned around while driving and grabbed the actors in the cab's back seat by their shirts pulled them "in one motion" into the front between Ms. Lynne and Mr. Busey. Marci Lynne recalls that the director, Joel Schumacher, "was screaming 'Cut. Cut. Cut.' Although the cab nearly careened out of control, no one was injured and the scene was re-shot without further incident.Cast
- Max GailMax GailMaxwell Trowbridge "Max" Gail, Jr. is an American actor who has starred in stage, television, and film roles. He most notably portrayed the role of Detective Stan "Wojo" Wojciehowicz on the television sitcom Barney Miller....
... Harold Oswelt - Adam BaldwinAdam BaldwinAdam Baldwin is an American actor, known for his roles as Animal Mother in Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket, Ricky Linderman in My Bodyguard, Knowle Rohrer in The X-Files, and Marcus Hamilton in Joss Whedon's Angel...
... Albert Hockenberry - Mr. TMr. TMr. T is an American actor known for his roles as B. A. Baracus in the 1980s television series The A-Team, as boxer Clubber Lang in the 1982 film Rocky III, and for his appearances as a professional wrestler. Mr. T is known for his trademark African Mandinka warrior hairstyle, his gold jewelry,...
... Samson - Charlie BarnettCharlie Barnett (actor)Charlie Barnett was an American actor and comedian.Barnett was born in Bluefield, West Virginia, USA. He first made a name for himself in the late 1970s and early 1980s, performing several shows of raunchy comedy a day at outdoor parks in New York City, most notably in Washington Square Park,...
... Tyrone Bywater - Gary BuseyGary BuseyWilliam Gary Busey , best known as Gary Busey, is an American film and stage actor and artist. He has appeared in a large variety of films, as well as making regular appearances on Gunsmoke, Walker, Texas Ranger, Law & Order, and Entourage...
... Dell - Gloria GiffordGloria GiffordGloria Gifford is an American actress who has starred in films and on television.Gloria's first feature film was in the 1978 film California Suite, it was not until later she became to be best known among horror film fans for her role as the head nurse, Mrs...
... Miss Floyd - Marsha WarfieldMarsha WarfieldMarsha Warfield is an American actress and comedienne best known for her 1986–1992 role of Roz on the popular NBC sitcom Night Court. Roz, a tough, no-nonsense bailiff in Judge Stone's court, acted primarily as a straightwoman to the other bailiff character, Bull . She also starred in the sitcom...
... Ophelia - Bill MaherBill MaherWilliam "Bill" Maher, Jr. is an American stand-up comedian, television host, political commentator, author and actor. Before his current role as the host of HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, Maher hosted a similar late-night talk show called Politically Incorrect originally on Comedy Central and...
... Bob - Whitman MayoWhitman MayoWhitman B. Mayo was an American actor best known for his character Grady Wilson on the 1970s television sitcom Sanford and Son....
... Mr. Rhythm - Peter Paul ... Buddy (as Peter Barbarian)
- David Paul ... Buzzy (as David Barbarian)
- Paul RodriguezPaul RodríguezPaul Rodriguez is a Mexican-American stand-up comedian and actor.-Personal life:Rodriguez was born in Culiacán, Sinaloa, México to Mexican agriculture ranchers.. His family migrated to East Los Angeles, where he enlisted in the military; he was stationed in Iceland and Duluth, Minnesota...
... Xavier - Irene CaraIrene CaraIrene Cara is an American singer and actress. Cara won an Academy Award in 1984 in the category of Best Original Song for co-writing "Flashdance... What a Feeling." She is also known for her recording of the song "Fame", and she also starred in the 1980 film Fame.She married Hollywood stuntman...
... Herself - Jill SchoelenJill Schoelen-Early life:Schoelen was born in Burbank, California. Her mother is the famous fashion designer Dorothy Schoelen.-Acting career:Schoelen has starred in such movies as D.C...
... Claudette - José PérezJosé PérezJosé Pérez is a former Venezuelan boxer. At the 1988 Summer Olympics he lost in the second round of the men's lightweight division to Mongalia's eventual bronze medalist Nergüin Enkhbat.-References:*...
... Ernesto Bravo - Jim MoodyJim Moody (actor)Jim Moody is a television and film character actor. He played the tough talking counselor/teacher Gene Daniels in Bad Boys. His first feature film was in the 1980 hit film Fame, which he played Mr. Farrell, a drama teacher. Jim starred in the 1983 comedy film D.C. Cab as Arnie, a member of the...
... Arnie - Anne De Salvo ... Myrna Oswelt (Harold's wife)
- Diana Bellamy ... Maudie
- Bob ZmudaBob ZmudaBob Zmuda is an American writer, comedian, producer and director best known as the sidekick, co-writer and friend of cult personality Andy Kaufman....
... Cubby - Timothy CareyTimothy CareyTimothy Agoglia Carey was an American film and television actor....
... Angel of Death