VIDEO: Richard Dreyfuss pitches the '70 AMC Javelin
We like Richard Dreyfuss. Whether it's the old-school Richard (Close Encounters, Jaws), the 80s Richard (Down and Out in Beverly Hills, Stakeout, Let it Ride), or the modern Richard (What About Bob?, Poseidon), Dreyfuss has demonstrated his formidable chops as a thespian many times over, often making us laugh along the way.
The laughs came again when we watched this TV spot for the '70 AMC Javelin, though we don't think they were exactly intentional. Dreyfuss is the "star" of the spot, in which he leads a very unintimidating band of hoods as they check out the coupe. Affecting a neo-Bugs Bunny accent with the cheese factor turned up to the max, he and his cohorts extoll the virtues of the Javelin while looking as if they could break into song -- West Side Story-style -- at any given moment.
Thankfully, they don't. Good thing. If we laughed any harder, someone would've had to call an ambulance. The overacting reaches Shatnerian levels, and the entertainment value is incalculable.
[Source: YouTube]
Add your comments
Please keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Email addresses are never displayed, but they are required to confirm your comments.
When you enter your name and email address, you'll be sent a link to confirm your comment, and a password. To leave another comment, just use that password.
To create a live link, simply type the URL (including http://) or email address and we will make it a live link for you. You can put up to 3 URLs in your comments. Line breaks and paragraphs are automatically converted — no need to use <p> or <br> tags.
Please note that gratuitous links to your site are viewed as spam and may result in removed comments.
New KITT Attack Mode revealed at Comic Con
London 2008: Honda OSM concept roadster says, "Cheerio!"
London 2008: Lotus unveils the Evora
2010 Chevy Camaro - Official Details and Images
2010 Chevy Camaro - LIVE from the reveal
In the Autoblog Garage: Aprilia RSV 1000 R
First Drive: Maserati Quattroporte S in Europe
First Drive: 2008 MINI Cooper S JCW
In the Autoblog Garage:2009 Nissan GT-R
North American Exclusive First Drive: Alfa MiTo
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
John B. @ Oct 17th 2006 7:04PM
In the SOuth we call that a "Northeastern speech impediment".
Shaun @ Oct 17th 2006 7:17PM
Hey they car had the same inline 6 that my '72 Gremlin had!
shrinkydinx @ Oct 17th 2006 7:40PM
The Jets are in gear,
Our cylinders are clickin'!
The Sharks'll steer clear
'Cause ev'ry Puerto Rican's a lousy chicken!
Jon @ Oct 17th 2006 8:55PM
I'd love to see Letterman spring that clip on him(Dreyfuss)the next time he comes on.
Doug @ Oct 17th 2006 9:29PM
Recently he has done voice over work for Honda ads. No funny accents for those.
Taylor Alexander @ Oct 17th 2006 9:52PM
I'm lovin these old ads. I was never around at the time, so it lets me see things I never would have seen. :)
-Taylor
Howard Kerr @ Oct 17th 2006 10:14PM
Great movies, and one or two not so great movies aside, what a leap: from pitching Javelins to Piloting Hondas.
Steven T. @ Oct 18th 2006 11:37AM
That's a fun blast from the past. One caveat: It's a 1968 Javelin, not a 1970.
gary @ Oct 18th 2006 12:26PM
Those supposedly pathetic Javelins came in 2nd place for the Trans-Am title that 1st year of production on a far smaller budget than Chevy, Ford or Chrysler. A couple years later they dominated Trans-Am racing with Penske Racing.
http://www.cartype.com/page.cfm?id=1632&alph=ALL&dec=ALL
Zachary Taylor @ Oct 18th 2006 1:51PM
how did Ben Stiller get in there? About a third of the way through . . .
red @ Oct 18th 2006 8:56PM
That is so awesome - hahaha
"Take the bumpah ... not NOW ..."
Alex Nunez @ Oct 18th 2006 11:57PM
red, it's priceless. Every line of it.
Thank God someone saw fit to stick it on YouTube.
Richard Warren @ Oct 19th 2006 5:41AM
#4 Agreed, would be great.
Cody @ Oct 24th 2006 5:46PM
Wow that needs a digital remaster bad. The car was cool though.
Jackhammer @ Nov 10th 2006 11:29PM
Isn't that William Devane from Knots Landing fame in shades talking about the car's glass, about a third of the way through the commercial?
H @ Nov 13th 2006 2:37PM
Oh MAN that's funny! A Brooklyn version of Curt Henderson.... So THAT's how he would've turned out if the Pharoes had got hold of him!