Chi trova un amico, trova un tesoro (1981)

Director:

Sergio Corbucci

Writers:

Mario Amendola (writer)
Sergio Corbucci (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

10 December 1981 (Australia)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Action

Plot:

On a small pacific island, Alan and Charlie try to find a war treasure left behind by the Japanese army in World War II.

Plot Keywords:

Island | Treasure | Pacific | Soldier | Buddies

Cast

Terence Hill	...	Alan
Bud Spencer	...	Charlie O'Brien
John Fujioka	...	Kamasuka (as John Fujoka)
Louise Bennett	...	Mama (as Luise Bennett)
Salvatore Borghese	...	Anulu
Kainowa Lauritzen	...	Ulla
Mirna Seya	...	Dimhea
Terry Moni Mapuana	...	Alua
Linda Prast
Kathy Lun
Herb Goldstein	...	Uncle Brady (as Herbie Goldstein)
Arnie Ross
Tom Tully	...	Marine Captain
Baba Subraniam
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jay Amor	...	Pirate, black dressed, with neckband (uncredited)
Salvatore Basile	...	Frisco Joe (uncredited)
Giancarlo Bastianoni	...	Frisco Joe's Thug (uncredited)
Giovanni Cianfriglia	...	Frisco Joe's Thug (uncredited)
Ottaviano Dell'Acqua	...	Pirate (uncredited)
Alex Edlin	...	Puncher in Uncle Bradys house (uncredited)
Roberto Messina	...	Pirate with sunglasses (uncredited)
Riccardo Pizzuti	...	Frisco Joe's Thug (uncredited)
Claudio Ruffini	...	Kador, Chief Pirate (uncredited)
Sergio Smacchi	...	Frisco Joe's Thug (uncredited)
Marcello Verziera	...	Pirate (uncredited)

Directed by
Sergio Corbucci

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Mario Amendola		writer
Sergio Corbucci		writer
Gene Luotto		dialogue

Produced by
Victor Gillespie	....	executive producer
Josi W. Konski	....	producer

Original Music by
Carmelo La Bionda
Fratelli La Bionda
Michelangelo La Bionda

Cinematography by
Luigi Kuveiller

Film Editing by
Ashley Daleki

Production Design by
Marco Dentici

Costume Design by
Franco Carretti

Makeup Department
Fausto De Lisio	....	hair stylist
Luciano Giustini	....	makeup artist (as Lucien St. Just)
Maurice St. Just	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Vittorio Galiano	....	production manager (as Victor Gillespie)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mimmola Girosi	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Len Hirscrit	....	sound

Special Effects by
Cass Gillespie	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Antonio Annunziata	....	assistant camera
Ermanno Serto	....	still photographer
Hank Whitecliff	....	camera operator

Other crew
Baba Chandran	....	script girl
Pino Locchi	....	voice dubbing: Terence Hill

Production Companies

• Take 1 Productions

Distributors

• Compagnia Edizioni Internazionali Artistiche Distribuzione (CEIAD) (198?) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Film (1981) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Filmverleih (1981) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Jef Films International (2002) (USA) (VHS)
• MV_Movies (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Vídeo Mercury Films (2005) (Spain) (DVD)

Also Known As:

A Friend Is a Treasure (International: English title)
Who Finds a Friend Finds a Treasure
Banaanipojat hula-hula saarella (Finland) [fi]
De vier vuisten hebben de tropenkolder (Netherlands) [nl]
Foi-se o Tesouro, Ficou o Amigo (Portugal) [pt]
Kante to stavro sas... erhomaste! (Greece) [el]
Kincs, ami nincs (Hungary) [hu]
Kto znajduje przyjaciela, znajduje skarb (Poland) [pl]
Quien encuentra un amigo, encuentra un tesoro (Argentina) [es]
Quien tiene un amigo, tiene un tesoro (Spain) [es]
Salut l'ami, adieu le trésor (France) [fr]
Sammen tar vi prisen (Norway) [no]
Snedseglarna (Sweden) [sv]
Zwei Asse trumpfen auf (West Germany) [de]

Runtime:

Finland:102 min | Netherlands:108 min | Argentina:110 min | Italy:108 min

Country:

Italy | USA

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Certification:

Spain:T | Iceland:L | West Germany:6 (f) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1982) | UK:PG | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Key Biscayne, Florida, USA

Company:

Take 1 Productions

Quotes:

Charlie O'Brien: There ain't no one here filled with more pure loathin', and hatred... than me.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Sajtóvadászat (2006)

Soundtrack:

Movin' Cruisin'

The treasure island story

As usual for Hill and Spencer movies, they are two self centered and greedy characters, who basically care only for themselves, but still manage to do the right thing when the time comes.

Hill and Spencer could easily be the modern day equivalent of everymen. The only thing that has them motivated (in any of their movies) is greed for money, because they don't have it and are prepared to do many things to get it (although they would never really cross the border of the law).

In this case there's an old uncle with a treasure map and his nephew (Hill), who doesn't really believe him, but once he gambled away all of the mafia's money, the treasure seems to be the only way out for him. So he hides away on a sailboat as a last possible way to get away from the pursuers. The captain (Spencer) is only doing this trip with the sailboat to get the money from the sponsor Puffin (making a product he hates himself). And after they loose the boat (as usual Hill dragged Spencer in the middle of it all) they have nothing left but the treasure to search for.

As with other similar movies like "Go For It", "Crime Busters", "Double Trouble" or "Odds and Evens" Spencer is a grouchy leave-me-alone character and Hill the happy-go-lucky character. The first half an hour is a way to bring these two everymen in a situation where the slapstick comedy occurs. Although always shallow, the plot is plausible enough to let you settle in it and the opening part of the movie, when they are just getting to the point, is as always the funniest, for it doesn't rely on slaps and punches.

After the landing on the island with the treasure the slapstick comedy gets on the way. So expect punches, kicks, slaps and many hurt bad guys. And as usual there is the reward to be had, so they find the treasure - still they can't get rich off it. It's never that easy, so just like the real modern everyman they are left more or less empty handed in the end.

All in all a very amusing and simple movie, that would fall in the category of upbeat movies that will brighten your day, even though when you really think about it, you'll see it has a lot more to offer the it first seems.