[go: up one dir, main page]

    Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalIMDb Stars to WatchSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Chu Chu and the Philly Flash

  • 1981
  • PG
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
4.2/10
370
YOUR RATING
Alan Arkin and Carol Burnett in Chu Chu and the Philly Flash (1981)
Comedy

Flash used to be a talented baseball player, but he took to drinking and now he sells stolen watches in the streets. One day he meets Chu Chu, who, before falling into alcoholism like him, w... Read allFlash used to be a talented baseball player, but he took to drinking and now he sells stolen watches in the streets. One day he meets Chu Chu, who, before falling into alcoholism like him, was a successful entertainer. Now she still dances, but in the streets, for no more than a ... Read allFlash used to be a talented baseball player, but he took to drinking and now he sells stolen watches in the streets. One day he meets Chu Chu, who, before falling into alcoholism like him, was a successful entertainer. Now she still dances, but in the streets, for no more than a cent or two. Luck seems to smile at them the day they find stolen government documents for... Read all

  • Director
    • David Lowell Rich
  • Writers
    • Barbara Dana
    • Henry Barrow
  • Stars
    • Alan Arkin
    • Carol Burnett
    • Jack Warden
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    4.2/10
    370
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • David Lowell Rich
    • Writers
      • Barbara Dana
      • Henry Barrow
    • Stars
      • Alan Arkin
      • Carol Burnett
      • Jack Warden
    • 13User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations total

    Photos7

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster

    Top cast38

    Edit
    Alan Arkin
    Alan Arkin
    • Flash
    Carol Burnett
    Carol Burnett
    • Emily
    Jack Warden
    Jack Warden
    • The Commander
    Danny Aiello
    Danny Aiello
    • Johnson
    Adam Arkin
    Adam Arkin
    • Charlie
    Danny Glover
    Danny Glover
    • Morgan
    Sid Haig
    Sid Haig
    • Vince
    Vincent Schiavelli
    Vincent Schiavelli
    • B.J.
    Ruth Buzzi
    Ruth Buzzi
    • Consuelo
    Vito Scotti
    Vito Scotti
    • Vittorio
    Lou Jacobi
    Lou Jacobi
    • Landlord
    Barbara Dana
    • Betty
    Scott Beach
    Scott Beach
    • Harry
    Geoff Hoyle
    • Clem
    Morgan Upton
    Morgan Upton
    • Butts
    Neile Adams
    Neile Adams
    • Car Woman
    • (as Neile McQueen)
    Tony Arkin
    • Puppeteer
    Francine Lembi
    • Poet
    • Director
      • David Lowell Rich
    • Writers
      • Barbara Dana
      • Henry Barrow
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews13

    4.2370
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    10gunner-9

    Very dry humor, with underplaying by some great actors

    Can't understand why this flick hasn't gotten better ratings. It's a dry humor comedy of lost souls on the streets of San Francisco. IT is fantasy, comedy, drama, action and very dry humor all rolled into one. I see reminders of some of the great movie comedians of the past here. Have any of you ever been to Fisherman's Wharf area of San Francisco? Used to see people like this all the time. And in the neighborhoods. These are local characters in many of them.
    7DodsworthMcgillicutty

    Out of circulation

    Must be a good kids film. In the mid-80's I watched this CBS broadcast VHS recording several times. For some reason this captivated me. Perhaps because Arkin and Burnett are treasures to watch. I wanted to see this again, but where is it??? It looks like it only had one limited VHS release, and is not even VOD on Warner archives or streaming, nor is it ever mentioned. I believe this received widespread undeserved 1 star ratings in 1981. This deserves more. Maybe it won't hold up, viewing as an adult. I'd like to find this though.
    5capricorn9

    Better than it sounds -

    Carol Burnette and Alan Arkin star in this offbeat comedy and I must say that Miss Burnette has given a very underplayed, for her, performance. This does show she can act and not over the top. Arkin is at his manic best and his son is in great form as another of the homeless that get involved in the caper. It is well paced and most times the dialogue is snappy and well written. This little known film should be given a second chance. I just happened to pick it up on VHS at a local video store who was sell tapes off for under a buck! Glad I did. I had heard about it when it first came out, but never got to see it. Probably because it came and went before anyone would see it! Give it a chance.........
    robc-11

    I Just Felt Sorry For Carol

    Carol Burnett is so talented! She can be dramatic, silly, downright hilarious. I am a huge fan of Carol's 70's variety show. However, this movie is a terrible load of crap. You won't believe how bad this is unless you have seen it. Burnett is street entertainer "Chu Chu" (a "Charo" imitation that Burnett got loads of laughs for on her television show, but it is strangely unfunny in this debacle.) Chu Chu meets up with a homeless bum, (Alan Arkin), who is known on the streets as the "Philly Flash" because he was once a professional baseball player. Somehow, these two stumble upon a brief case that contains secret government documents...and, well, I can't write anymore. This has to be seen to be believed.
    10maustin-13558

    Great vehicle for two veteran greats.

    OMG! I've been looking for this movie for years. I don't think it even got a DVD release. I'm watching on YouTube. I saw it first on HBO about the time it was released. It's a cute story about a community of underdogs, two in particular, trying to get by in life. It speaks volumes to anyone who has been dealt a low blow in life. The comedic acting is fist rate and the story, although familiar, is touching. I kind of get the critic reviews. It takes a special personality type to appreciate this kind of movie.

    More like this

    The Tenth Month
    7.3
    The Tenth Month
    Simon
    6.3
    Simon
    Full Moon High
    4.8
    Full Moon High
    The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank
    6.4
    The Grass Is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank
    Peter et Tillie
    6.2
    Peter et Tillie
    Deux amies
    6.2
    Deux amies
    The Laundromat
    6.9
    The Laundromat
    Life of the Party: The Story of Beatrice
    7.4
    Life of the Party: The Story of Beatrice
    Mort au combat
    7.2
    Mort au combat
    Rafferty et les auto-stoppeuses
    6.4
    Rafferty et les auto-stoppeuses
    Out
    3.0
    Out
    Schmok
    5.5
    Schmok

    Related interests

    Will Ferrell in Présentateur vedette: La légende de Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Danny Glover and Jim Haynie had both previously appeared in L'évadé d'Alcatraz (1979). They would go on to appear together in Out (1982) and Silverado (1985).
    • Goofs
      When Emily is dancing on the street dressed as Carmen Miranda, she's sometimes completely in the shadow of the building and sometimes in the sun.
    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: Continental Divide, Mommie Dearest, Only When I Laugh, Body Heat, First Monday in October (1981)
    • Soundtracks
      Whole Lot of Money
      Music by Pete Rugolo

      Lyrics by Alan Arkin

      Performed by Alan Arkin

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ16

    • How long is Chu Chu and the Philly Flash?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • August 28, 1981 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Crazy Street Life - Ich glaub' mich tritt ein Koffer
    • Filming locations
      • San Francisco, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Melvin Simon Productions
      • Twentieth Century Fox
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $7,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 32m(92 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.