The Double McGuffin

1979
PG
1h 41m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Ernest Borgnine, George Kennedy, Vincent Spano, Greg Hodges, Dion Pride, Elke Sommer, and Lisa Whelchel in The Double McGuffin (1979)

School kids accidentally stumble upon an assassination plot involving a briefcase and a body. Disbelieved by the police, they race against time to foil the conspiracy and bring the culprits ... Read allSchool kids accidentally stumble upon an assassination plot involving a briefcase and a body. Disbelieved by the police, they race against time to foil the conspiracy and bring the culprits to justice.School kids accidentally stumble upon an assassination plot involving a briefcase and a body. Disbelieved by the police, they race against time to foil the conspiracy and bring the culprits to justice.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

488

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 nominations total

Photos10

+ 5

Top cast27

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Dion Pride

Specks

Greg Hodges

Homer

Jeff Nicholson

Billy Ray

Vincent Spano

Foster
(as Vinnie Spano)

Elke Sommer

Madame Kura

Lori Lively

Michelle Carter
(as Lori Lynn Lively)

George Kennedy

Chief Talasek (Tally)

Lisa Whelchel

Jody

Ernest Borgnine

Mr. Firat

Garvin Edwards

Football Player

Anne Reailly

Cocktail Waitress

Rod Browning

Moras

Ed 'Too Tall' Jones

Assassin #1

Orson Welles

Narrator
(voice)

Lyle Alzado

Assassin #2

Mike Davis

Newlyweds
(as Mike and Peggy Davis)

Peggy Davis

Newlyweds
(as Mike and Peggy Davis)

Michael Gerard

Arthur

User reviews9

6.6488

Featured reviews

Perkunas

Brings back memories

Just saw this movie again, and it brings back lots of memories. Lots of the scenes were filmed in Charleston, SC, where I went to high school. I remember while they were filming it, and even got to watch. In fact, I think I'm even in one of the crowd scenes!

Twenty years ago, it seemed a lot better, but it was still very enjoyable. And yes, I do carry a Swiss Army Knife (actually, a Leatherman tool now... kids do grow up, and so do the toys!).

9whitelightning-ard

One of the best movies of the 70's, one of my favorites.

Great mystery movie with great acting from all in the movie.

9MJ92008

One of my favorites as a youngster!!!

I really enjoyed this movie as a young boy. Ever since I have wanted to learn to pick ocks, and carry a huge Swiss Army Knife.....

6mtittle-1

I was an extra in this movie

I was an extra in the Double McGuffin, which was filmed mostly in Charleston, SC (and some in Savannah, GA). Fond memories of watching the filming and seeing the stars. I still remember watching Ernest Borgnine eating a gross cup of chili early one morning while waiting for his scene. Some friends and I took one of the kids ("Billy Ray") bowling. Of course, I was in high school at the time, and Lisa Welchel was the one we all wanted to meet, because she had been on the Mickey Mouse Club. We did meet her and the other kids. Watching the trailer on IMDb was a trip down memory lane. I'll have to rent the movie again sometime. I remember I was paid $40 for one day and another $25 for my car, and thought I had hit the big time. It beat what I was making at Denny's!

twaddbi

Gadgets!?!

It's been years since I saw this movie, but as a kid I loved it. Does anyone else remember the cool gadgets those kids had and how everything in their room was hidden? If I remember, there was a TV underneath the pop up tray of a footlocker, a radio hidden in the bookcase and a dartboard hidden behind a painting. There are probably more, but these are the few I remember. Anyone else? Also, one of the kids DID read Playboy and let me tell you, kids that age will stare at a Playboy for hours in great interest if there is no parental/adult presence! I'll have to rent this movie and watch it again, but I do remember George Kennedy being in it, so it can't be that bad. Can it?

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
"McGuffin" is a Hollywood term for an item which a majority of the plot centers around the characters trying to find and/or protect, but which has minor significance to the plot itself (the Holy Grail in Indiana Jones et la Dernière Croisade (1989)). Hence, the money and the body which are found and lost at the beginning of this film, are the title's "Double McGuffin".

Goofs
When Arthur Honeycutt enters Specks' dorm room, Specks offers him a Coors beer. The film takes place in 1979, when it was released. Prior to 1981, Coors beer was available only in eleven Western states. Virginia, where the film is set, was not one of them. Thus indicating that the movie was filmed elsewhere.

Quotes
Narrator: [opening narration] A "McGuffin" is a term coined by the world's foremost teller of suspense stories to label that secret, elusive, mysterious something that everyone in the story is trying to find or find out about. It is, in effect, the pretext of the plot; the catalyst that brings the characters together and causes them to act or interact - the vial of microfilm, the money, the missing papers, the murderer, the motive, the single reason that causes the entire story to happen. Usually, there's only one.