Fatso (1980 film)
| Fatso | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Anne Bancroft |
| Produced by | Stuart Cornfield |
| Written by | Anne Bancroft |
| Starring |
Dom DeLuise Anne Bancroft Ron Carey Candice Azzara |
| Music by | Joe Renzetti |
| Cinematography | Brianne Murphy |
| Edited by | Glenn Farr |
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Production
company |
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| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
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Release date
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February 1, 1980 |
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Running time
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93 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $7,653,061 |
Fatso is a 1980 American comedy film written and directed by Anne Bancroft, her only such credit, and starring Dom DeLuise, Ron Carey and Candice Azzara. It was the first film produced by Mel Brooks' Brooksfilms company. The film examines the issue of obesity.
As the DiNapoli siblings -- Antoinette (Bancroft), Dominic (DeLuise), and Frank Jr. (Carey) - are growing up, whenever young Dom became upset by something, the one thing his mother did to comfort him and make him feel cared for was to feed him. This included giving him a cannoli after being urinated on by his baby brother as the baby's diaper is being changed. Because of this, Dom grew up with a love of food, a trait shared by his equally obese cousin, Salvatore (Sal).
When Sal suddenly dies at age 39, the family grieves. This prompts Antoinette to urge Dom to visit a diet doctor to avoid his cousin's unhealthy eating habits and not drive himself into an early grave as well. Dom agrees to do so once he recognizes signs that obesity is ruining his health. Dom is deeply disheartened when given his new diet plan, seeing the long list of delectable foods and dishes that he enjoys very much but now has to avoid. When the diet fails, Dom's eating habits drive his sister crazy, so she enrolls him in the "Chubby Checkers" support group.
Meanwhile, Dom meets Lydia (Azzara), who owns the neighborhood antiques shop, and finds they have a lot in common. But being self-conscious about his weight, he fears rejection, and can't bring himself to ask her out.
Now further depressed, Dom seeks comfort from his Chubby Checkers -- Sonny and Oscar (Richard Karron and Paul Zegler) -- who turn out to be no help at all, as their reminiscing about favorite desserts and delicacies drives them to having a pig-out party in the kitchen.
Dom then has Frankie padlock the fridge and larder. This, too, ends in failure as Dom, crazed by cravings for his favorite decadent delights (even having dreamed of marzipan candy), demands the keys from his brother, even threatening him with violence at one point, of which he is extremely ashamed afterward.
To help their brother, Antoinette and Frankie bring together Dom and Lydia. While dating, Dom doesn't realize that he has been eating less and less, and is shocked to discover at how loosely his clothes fit in a matter of weeks.
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