Attack of the Killer Tomatoes 250902 225830020 2008-07-15T16:23:38Z 75.173.178.125 /* Spin-offs */ {{Infobox Film |name = Attack of the Killer Tomatoes |image = Attack of the Killer Tomatoes.jpg |caption = Theatrical release poster. |director = [[John De Bello]] |producer = John De Bello |writer = John De Bello<br />[[Costa Dillon]]<br />[[Stephen Peace]]<br /> |starring = [[David Miller (actor)|David Miller]]<br />[[George Wilson (actor)|George Wilson]]<br />[[Costa Dillon]] |music = John De Bello |cinematography = John K. Culley |editing = John De Bello |distributor = NAI Entertainment |released = 1978 |runtime = 87 minutes |country = {{USA}} |language = [[English language|English]] |awards = |budget = [[United States dollar|USD]]$90,000 |gross = |preceded_by = |followed_by = ''[[Return of the Killer Tomatoes]]'' (1988) |website = http://killertomatoes.com/ |amg_id = 1:3267 |imdb_id = 080391 }} '''''Attack of the Killer Tomatoes''''' is a [[1978 in film|1978]] [[comedy film]] directed by [[John De Bello]] and starring [[David Miller (actor)|David Miller]]. The film is a spoof of [[B-movie]]s. Made on a budget of less than [[United States dollar|USD]]$100,000, the story involves [[tomatoes]] coming to life by unknown means and revolting against humanity. Writing credits were shared by John De Bello, [[Costa Dillon]], and [[Stephen Peace]]. The concept of Killer Tomatoes was created by Dillon, and he is the only person to appear in this film and all three of its sequels. ==Plot== The film opens with a scroll dictating that, when [[Alfred Hitchcock]]'s film ''[[The Birds (film)|The Birds]]'' (1963) was released, audiences laughed at the notion of birds revolting against humanity, but when an attack perpetrated by birds occurred in 1975, no one laughed. This is followed by a pre-credits sequence of a tomato rising out of a woman's [[garbage disposal|garbage disposal unit]]. Her puzzlement turns into terror as the tomato draws her into a corner. Following the credits, we see the police investigating her death. One officer discovers that the red substance she is covered with is not blood, but tomato juice. A series of attacks perpetrated by tomatoes occur (including a sequence where the tomatoes attack innocent swimmers, in a parody of ''[[Jaws (film)|Jaws]]''). While the President's press secretary Jim Richardson and Ted Swan, the CEO of the fictional Mindmaker advertising agency, try to convince the public there is no tomato threat by unleashing a publicity blitz, the nation's officials employ a crack team of specialists under the command of Mason Dixon to try and find a way to defeat the tomatoes. Dixon's team includes Sam Smith, an [[African-American]] disguise expert who is seen at various points dressed as, among other things, [[George Washington]], [[Abraham Lincoln]], and even [[Adolf Hitler]]; [[Navy]] diver Greg Colburn; Russian [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] swimmer Gretta Attenbaum; and parachute-toting Wilbur Finnletter. Smith is sent out to infiltrate the tomatoes, eventually blowing his cover when he asks if anyone could "pass the [[ketchup]]." Finletter is sent to a hotel and suspects newspaper reporter Lois Fairchild, who tries to follow him for information, of being a [[spy]]. Both Finletter and Dixon are targeted by an unknown [[assassin]]. While driving, Dixon's car is cornered by large tomatoes who scurry away when the song "Puberty Love" by Ronny Desmond comes on the radio. Dixon is kidnapped by Richardson, who it turns out is actually the one behind the tomato revolt. Dixon manages to outwit him and escapes with a copy of "Puberty Love" on vinyl. The tomatoes are cornered in a stadium. "Puberty Love" is played over the loudspeaker, causing the tomatoes to shrink and allowing the various people at the stadium to squash them by stomping on them repeatedly. Fairchild, meanwhile, is cornered by a giant tomato wearing earmuffs. Dixon saves her by showing the tomato the sheet music to "Puberty Love." He professes his love to her, in song. The film ends by showing a [[carrot]] that rises from the Earth and says "All right, you guys. They're gone now." Similar gags suggesting that a carrot revolt is not far off are also used at the end of future ''Killer Tomatoes'' films. ==Cast== {| class="wikitable" ! Actor ! Role |- | [[Paul Robert Miller (actor)|Paul Robert Miller]] || Mason Dixon |- | [[George Wilson (actor)|George Wilson]] || Jim Richardson |- | [[Sharon Taylor]] || Lois Fairchild |- | [[J. Stephen Peace]] || Wilbur Finletter |- | [[Ernie Meyers]] || The President |- | [[Eric Christmas]] || Sen. Polk |- | [[Ron Shapiro]] || Newspaper editor |- | [[Al Sklar]] || Ted Swan |- | [[Jerry Anderson (actor)|Jerry Anderson]] || Maj. Mills |- | [[Don Birch]] || Old man |- | [[Tom Coleman (actor)|Tom Coleman]] || Singing soldier |- | [[Art K. Koustik]] || Fia director |- | [[Jack Nolen]] || Sen. McKinley |- | [[Byron Teegarden]] || Dr. Morrison |- | [[Paul Oya]] || Dr. Nokitofa |- | [[Jack Riley]] || Salesman |- | [[John Qualls]] || Captain |- | [[Ryan Shields]] || Tomoto |} ==Sequels== There have been a number of sequels and other spin-off material in various media as a result of this movie. They include three movie sequels * ''[[Return of the Killer Tomatoes]]!'' ([[1988]]) * ''[[Killer Tomatoes Strike Back]]!'' ([[1990]]) * ''[[Killer Tomatoes Eat France]]!'' ([[1991]]) The sequel, ''[[Return of the Killer Tomatoes]]'' [[1988]] uses stock footage from this film in the opening, with only one real change. The scene from the climax of the original portraying hundreds of people running into the stadium to squash the tomatoes is dubbed over to make it seem like they are evacuating the area. In the theme song for this film we hear about the death of Herbert Farbage by tomatoes, in the opening song for the sequel we learn that Herebert actually survived the attack and now has an upcoming TV show. American composer and orchestrator [[Gordon Goodwin]], one of the original composers for the film, later wrote a big band piece inspired by the music for this film, to be played with his jazz ensemble [[Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band]]. The piece is meant to poke fun at the soundtrack in a musically comic fashion, especially through the song's use of solo [[Bass Trombone]]. ==Spin-offs== The film was then reworked in [[1990 in film|1990]] as ''[[Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: The Animated Series]]'', a [[cartoon]] [[TV series]] which ran on [[Fox Kids]], but despite the name, it was based on ''Return of the Killer Tomatoes''. One scene did include live action footage of the Killer Tomatoes film, followed by a comment it is the worst torture a prisoner could endure. A novel released in [[1997]], ''[[Attack of the Killer Potatoes]]'', pays tribute to the film. Three different video games were developed; a [[Attack of the Killer Tomatoes (1986 video game)|1986 video game]] released for [[8-bit]] computers, which was based on the film, and a [[Attack of the Killer Tomatoes (1991 video game)|1991 video game]] released for [[Nintendo]] and the [[Gameboy]] games consoles, which was based on the animated series. [[Viper Comics]] will release a [[comic book]] adaptation of the film in October [[2008 in comics|2008]].<ref>[http://www.comicsbulletin.com/news/121304381210723.htm Viper Comics Launches All Horror Imprint "Black Mamba Books"], [[Comics Bulletin]], June 9, 2008</ref> ==Remake== A remake of the film is in the works from Kent Nichols and Douglas Sarine, creators of [[Ask A Ninja]]. This will be Nichols' directorial debut. M. Dal Walton III is co-producing along with Emmett/Furla Films. <ref>[http://www.vfxworld.com/?sa=adv&code=3631a5a1&atype=news&id=22490]</ref> Doug Sarine has said that he is interested in casting [[Jim Carrey]] and [[Bruce Campbell]] in the remake. <ref>[http://www.jimcarreyonline.com/recent/news.php?id=1179]</ref> This would mark the second time the actors have been in the same film; their first was 2000's ''[[The Majestic]]''. == Theme song == The theme song of the movie describes the tomatoes rampages through the world, describing that they've killed a man named Herbert Farbage, that they've scared off the [[National Guard of the United States|National Guard]] and that they've even eaten the [[narrator]]'s sister. This theme song is used in different variations over the course of the series, here simply sounding like the score of an old monster movie with lyrics and a more catchy tune. == Notable gags == Several gags in the movie are worth noting, including: Despite being African American, Wilbur mistakes Sam Smith for being [[Adolf Hitler]] and even attempting to kill him. The Japanese scientist working to stop the tomatoes is dubbed, parodying Japanese [[Kaiju]] films in which characters are badly dubbed. Although it was probably just a result of low budget, the scene where a woman is attacked by a giant tomato in a parking lot does barely anything to conceal that the tomato is being pulled by something. Wilbur arrives too late to save a member of his team, and finding her mangled body in the forest where she was sent, simply states, "I just wanted to warn you there's been tomato activity reported in your area. Carry on." However, the joke is that Mason told Wilbur to warn her no matter what happens. A man in a suit and hat (who is completely a throwaway character) walks by in a scene and greets one of the film's main characters, Lois, to which she responds, addressing him as "Clark." Moments later, it is apparent that the [[superman|Clark]] character, off-screen, has taken flight. In the credits, this character is credited as, "[[Superman]]" In the horrendously undersized meeting room there are numerous small pictures of U.S. Ships and the like decorating the walls. When the Japanese scientists are in the room, the erratic hand-waving of one of them accidentally knocks a picture of the [[U.S.S. Arizona]] off the wall and into a fishtank that is below the photo. == Critical reception == The film was poorly received by critics, garnering 27% positive reviews on [[Rotten Tomatoes|RottenTomatoes.com]].<ref>[http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/attack_of_the_killer_tomatoes/]</ref> ==Notes== {{Reflist}} == References == * Wingrove, David. Science Fiction Film Source Book (Longman Group Limited, 1985) *{{imdb title|id=080391|title=Attack of the Killer Tomatoes}} * [http://www.gordongoodwin.com/anotefromgordon01.html The Killer Tomatoes Persevere] ==External links == *[http://killertomatoes.com/ Official Site] [[Category:1978 films]] [[Category:Fruit and vegetable characters|Killer Tomatoes]] [[Category:Fictional plants|Killer Tomatoes]] [[Category:Parody films]] [[de:Angriff der Killertomaten]] [[fr:L'Attaque des tomates tueuses]] [[ja:アタック・オブ・ザ・キラー・トマト]] [[fi:Tappajatomaattien hyökkäys]] [[sv:Mördartomaterna anfaller]]