Tuesday Tally

Tom Hanks Edition

That is, the top five Tom Hanks movies before his quartet of blockbusters, Sleepless in Seattle, A League of Their Own, Philadelphia and Forrest Gump and after Splash put him on the map.

Bachelor Party: Screwball rad 80's comedy, a cousin of Animal House. Tom Hanks being irreverent and zany. Also Towney Katain before David Coverdale. Fun flick.

The Man with One Red Shoe: Tom Hanks, Carrie Fischer, Dabney Coleman, Edward Herman, Charles Durning, Jim Belushi...a dark comedy about an innocent man, Tom Hanks caught in a war between two spy agencies. Lori Singer as the spy/love interest is lovely after the 80's style. A score that is 80's but not over synthed so its dates OK.

Nothing in Common: Tom Hanks is again a screwball, this time a go-go ad-man with an estranged father played brilliantly and believably by Jackie Gleason. Tom Hanks tries to get the account, the girl and reconciliation with his old man. Eva Marie Saint is his mother, Bess Armstrong the artsy old flame who reminds Hanks about what success has cost him.

Volunteers: You got Tom Hanks in 1962 or so lying his way into the Peace Corps to escape his gambling debts. He ends of in Southeast Asia with Rita Wilson and hello John Candy in a great role.

Dragnet: Tom Hanks being loony again, this time with Joe Friday played brilliantly by Dan Aykroyd. Tom Hanks is right at home in 80's LA, Dan Aykroyd is out of place. More Dabney Coleman as well as a nice cameo from Harry Morgan.

Honorable Mention: Tom Hanks' guest appearances on Family Ties.

*Tom Hanks was in some real clunkers too. I'm thinking of Joe vs the Volcano, Turner and Hooch, etc...That quartet of successes really kept him from being known for 80's tripe. See also The Burbs. I've never known what to think of Big.

**Of course, I remember him in that D&D movie...Tunnels and Trolls?