Deal of the Century (1983): Cast, Box Office & Plot
Deal of the Century is a 1983 crime comedy directed by William Friedkin, starring Chevy Chase as Eddie Muntz, Louis Giambalvo and Wallace Shawn. It runs 1 hour 39 minutes and earned $10.4 million worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 39m (99 min)
- Director
- William Friedkin
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Dream Quest Images
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Deal of the Century About?
The premise of Deal of the Century without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Chevy Chase leads a team of arms dealers who sell second‑rate weapons to developing nations with no ill intent. Rival firms vie to supply the most expensive, high‑tech arms to a South American dictator. During talks, they use “gifts” to smooth the deal, one salesperson experiences a religious conversion, and a romance sparks between two rival dealers.
Deal of the Century Themes & Keywords
· 47 tags- narrated by character
- voice over inner thoughts
- satire comedy
- dark comedy
- dictator
- arms dealer
- helicopter
- used car salesman
- explosion
- missile
- aerial combat
- symbolic sex
+35 more Show fewer
- tire iron
- gun shop
- flamethrower
- baptism
- born again christian
- traffic helicopter
- aircraft
- arms deal
- suicide
- shot in the foot
- attempted mugging
- machine gun
- voice over narration
- no opening credits
- weaponry
- spin
- social commentary
- salesmanship
- public relations
- military industrial complex
- microcosm
- greed
- defense contractor
- cold war
- arms trade
- arms race
- arms industry
- allegory
- aggression
- advertising
- satire
- weapon selling
- christmas
- based on book
- title spoken by character
Deal of the Century Cast & Characters
Chevy Chase leads the cast as Eddie Muntz, with Louis Giambalvo as Freddie Muntz and Wallace Shawn as Harold DeVoto. Directed by William Friedkin; 58 actors are credited in all.
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Director William Friedkin
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Chevy Chase as Eddie Muntz - Louis Giambalvo as Freddie Muntz
-
Wallace Shawn as Harold DeVoto -
Tracey Walter as Luckup Computer Tech (uncredited)
Also Starring in Deal of the Century
· 54 more- Judith Baldwin Luckup Hostess #1
- Danny Nero Luckup Missile Technician (uncredited)
- Jan McGill Luckup Hostess #2
- Sigourney Weaver Mrs. DeVoto
- Vince Edwards Frank Stryker
- Robert Alan Browne Man from Grumman
- Bradford English Man from McDonnell Douglas
- Gregory Hines Ray Kasternak
- Tony Plana Chicano Man
- Pepe Serna Vardis
- Richard Libertini Masaggi
- Bob Harks Guest at Unveiling (uncredited)
- Graham Jarvis Babers
- Maurice Marsac Frenchman
- Richard Herd Lyle
- Jack Angel Announcer (voice) (uncredited)
Show all 58 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Robert Cornthwaite Huddleston
- Ray Manzarek Charlie Simbo
- John Hancock Baptist Minister
- Michael Yama Masaggi's Aide #2
- Helen Martin Baptist #3
- Alex Colon Street Robber
- Ebbe Roe Smith Bob
- Charles Levin Dr. Rechtin
- Loyda Ramos Chicano Woman
- Randi Brooks Ms. Della Rosa
- Jim Ishida Masaggi's Aide #1
- Robert David Hall Rick Penido
- William Marquez Gen. Cordosa
- Stephen Keep Mills Promoter
- James Staley JWT Assoc
- Tom Willett Air Force Colonel (uncredited)
- Miguel Piñero Molino
- J.W. Smith Will
- John Reilly Swain
- David Haskell Rockwell Official
- Frank Lugo Station Wagon Driver
- Jo Marie Payton Baptist #1
- John Stinson Helicopter Reporter
- Jonathan Terry Gaylord
- Joe Ross Russian Translator
- Patti Negri Showgirl (uncredited)
- Ken Letner Sen. Bryce
- Betty Cole Baptist #2
- Eddie Hice Bagman
- Eduardo Ricard Col. Salgado
- Gwil Richards Rev. Borman
- Wilfredo Hernández Rojas
- John Davey Pilot on Screen
- Kelly Lange Newscaster
- Carmencristina Moreno Woman Singer
- Wendy Solomon Freddie's Wife
- Janet Louise Smith Woman in Commercial
- Jesus Carmona Accordionist
More from William Friedkin
More films directed by William Friedkin, best-rated first: The French Connection, The Exorcist, To Live and Die in L.A. and The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial.
Deal of the Century Plot Summary
What happens in Deal of the Century from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Eddie Muntz is a small-time American arms dealer who talks his way into a job with a large defense corporation selling high-tech UAVs to a volatile South American dictator. He lands in war-torn and impoverished San Miguel to pitch weapons to both its leader and the rebels seeking his ousting. The world he steps into is a tense mix of profit, power, and peril, where every deal is shadowed by risk and every victory is bought with blood.
Full summary
The whole story of Deal of the Century, scene by scene
Deal of the Century Box Office
Deal of the Century grossed $10.4 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$10.4M
- US & Canada
- $10.4M
How Well Do You Know Deal of the Century?
9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 9
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
What is the full name of the small‑time arms dealer who drives the story?
Cars in Deal of the Century
28 cars on screen, including the 1973 Chevrolet Monte Carlo and the 1964 Dodge A-100.
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1973 Chevrolet Monte Carlo Important role -
1964 Dodge A-100 Important role -
Freightliner FLT 6442T Important role -
1971 International Harvester Travelall Important role
Deal of the Century Also Known As
12 alternative titles, including “Das Bombengeschäft” and “Le Coup du siècle”.
- Also known as
-
- Das Bombengeschäft
- Le Coup du siècle
- L'affare del secolo
- El contrato del siglo
- Az évszázad üzlete
- Сделка века
- Układ stulecia
- Asrın Anlaşması
- Transakce století
- Århundredets handel
- עסקת המאה
- Угода сторіччя
Seen Deal of the Century?
Movies Like Deal of the Century
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Deal of a Lifetime, Cadillac Man and Big Deal on Madonna Street.
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Deal of a Lifetime 2000 -
Cadillac Man 1990 -
Big Deal on Madonna Street 1958 -
The Heist of the Century 2020 -
Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues 1972 -
Dealers 1989 -
The Big Deal 1992 -
Making a Deal with the Devil 2019 -
One Time Deal 1987 -
Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round 1966 -
Dealin' with Idiots 2013 -
The Battle of the Century 1927
Deal of the Century FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of Deal of the Century, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Deal of the Century?
Deal of the Century runs 1 hour 39 minutes (99 minutes).
When was Deal of the Century released?
Deal of the Century was released on November 4, 1983.
Who directed Deal of the Century?
Deal of the Century was directed by William Friedkin.
More films by William Friedkin Who is in the cast of Deal of the Century?
Deal of the Century stars Chevy Chase as Eddie Muntz, Louis Giambalvo as Freddie Muntz and Wallace Shawn as Harold DeVoto, among 58 credited actors.
How much did Deal of the Century make at the box office?
Deal of the Century grossed $10.4 million worldwide.
Does Deal of the Century have a post-credit scene?
No. Deal of the Century has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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