Tilt (1979) - Turner Classic Movies

Brief Synopsis

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Tilt is the story of a young girl (Tilt (Brenda Louise Davenport)), who is a pinball machine wizard. Because she does not get on with her parents, Tilt is contemplating running away from home, and skipping school one day she decides to go to Mickey's Bar. Mickey, who is Tilt's good friend, helps her set up a gambler for a pinball game. Because the gambler is unaware of Tilt's pinball wizardry, he is easily hustled out of his money. While watching the confrontation, a young man (Neil Gallagher), who is a potential country and western singer and who has tried to hustle and cheat the pinball champion (Harold "The Whale" Remmens), is impressed with Tilt's ability, congratulating her after the win. Because Neil Gallagher has to raise money to make a demo tape of his songs, he has an idea of taking Tilt with him and having her hustle would-be gamblers. Neil invites Tilt to watch him sing at a rock concert, and after seeing him sing, she believes that he can become a great singer. Henry Bertolino, Neil's manager, thinks his plan is a bad idea and they have a dispute resulting in Henry abandoning Neil. Neil Gallagher then explains his story to Tilt, telling her that they will have a contract between them, and because she was already considering leaving home, she decides to go with Neil. But Tilt is unaware that she will eventually be playing Harold "The Whale" Remmens.

Cast & Crew

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Rudy Durand

Geoffrey Lewis

Susan Edelman

Bruce Mackey

Lloyd Nelson

Tom Poster

Film Details

MPAA Rating

Genre

Comedy

Drama

Release Date

1979

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 51m

Sound

Dolby

Color

Color (Technicolor)

Synopsis

When Neil Gallagher is caught cheating his bookie over a big-paying pinball bet, he leaves Texas and goes to Los Angeles to become a successful singer. Neil is getting nowhere with his new career when he meets Tilt. Tilt is a 14-year-old pinball expert and Neil sees a way to make big money and save his reputation back home. He tells Tilt that he needs to raise money to make a demo tape, and since she likes his music, she agrees to hitchhike back to Texas with him. Stopping at pinball arcades along the way, they hustle gamblers who are more than willing to bet against the young girl. When they get back to Texas, Neil challenges his former boss, the pinball champ known as "the Whale" to a $400 match against Tilt. But unbeknownst to Neil, Tilt has finally become aware of how she is being used, and joins forces with the Whale.

Director

Rudy Durand

Cast

Geoffrey Lewis

Susan Edelman

Bruce Mackey

Lloyd Nelson

Tom Poster

Devorah Teas

Lester Fletcher

Frank Pesce

John Crawford

Charles Durning

Harriet Brown

Michael A. Genne

Gary Mule Deer

Buffy Queen

George Jacobs

Robert Brian Berger

Joseph Granatelli

Helen Boll

Kathryn Gresham-lancaster

Brooke Shields

Gregory Walcott

Teck Murdock

Dale Cline

Morgan Stoddard

Jay Crago Vaughn

Paul Berlin

Fred Ward

Charlie Lehman

Gary Laszwitz

Daphne Parker

Harvey Lewis

Don Stark

Lorenzo Lamas

Ken Marshall

Michael Bates

Karen Lamm

Jim Galante

John Martin Cooper

Crew

Dick Alexander

John A. Anderson

Lon Bentley

Delana Bettoli

Randy Bishop

Randy Bishop

Donald Cammell

Dale Cline

Associate Producer

Joseph Dervin

Post-Production Supervisor

Ronnie Dobbs

Rudy Durand

Rudy Durand

Rudy Durand

Rudy Durand

Rudy Durand

Rudy Durand

George Enete

Andy Epper

Gary Epper

Stunt Coordinator

Tony Epper

Les Fresholtz

Walter Goss

Don Guidice

Marty Gwinn

Marty Gwinn

Lee Holdridge

Lee Holdridge

Thomas J Huff

Ron Joy

Executive Producer

Mike Keeley

Pat Kehoe

Assistant Director

Pat Kihoe

Assistant Director

Richard Kline

Director Of Photography

Tom Lupo

Ken Marshall

Lynn M Morgan

Assistant Director

Cal Naylor

Assistant Director

Sam Neely

Carl Olsen

Production Manager

Steve Orfanos

Ned Parsons

Production Designer

Arthur Piantadosi

Vern Poore

Hal Reed

Assistant Director

Hal Reed

Production Assistant

Dean Salmon

Michael Sehnart

Technical Advisor

Michael Sehnart

Melvin Simon

Rick Simpson

Keith Stafford

Morgan Stoddard

Steve Vandeman

Dan Wallin

Bill Wray

Bill Wray

Bill Wray

Jim Wray

Bob Wyman

Film Details

MPAA Rating

Genre

Comedy

Drama

Release Date

1979

Technical Specs

Duration

1h 51m

Sound

Dolby

Color

Color (Technicolor)

Quotes

Trivia

Miscellaneous Notes

Released in United States Winter January 1, 1979

Released in United States Winter January 1, 1979

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