Friday, September 12, 2008

Tom Tuttle from Tacoma

So I understand VOLUNTEERS is still a cult classic at Washington State. Written by me and my partner, David Isaacs, here is one of my favorite scenes. John Candy, hilarious as Tom Tuttle from Tacoma, has just been kidnapped in Thailand by the Communists. Damn, I miss John Candy.

11 comments :

Anonymous said...

Hi Ken,

In case you didn't know, there is a realtor in Tacoma whose name is Tom Tuttle. I chuckle every time I see it when I pass by the signs on my runs around the North End of Tacoma.

D. said...

As a die-hard Cougar (and, since it's a Friday, completely drunk student), I can honestly say that Tom Tuttle's rendition of part of the fight song during the direst of conditions remains a favorite among the Cougar faithful. Fight, fight, fight will be three words that live on forever, no matter the opposition. Thank you, Sir.

Phil H. said...

As a long time reader and fan, as well as a resident of Pullman and long time Coug, I salute you sir. On a night that we got beat by Baylor 45-17, this is a reason to smile for WSU. And. yes, I think we all miss John Candy.

BTW, and you may have already answered this in a previous post, how did Tom Tuttle come to be a Coug? The Walla Walla bit I get, but I am stumped on the WSU connection.

Anonymous said...

Clyde Kusatsu! Not one of my favorite "Hey! Where have I seen him from?" actors, but always a pleasure when he appears.

Unknown said...

God I miss John Candy :-(

And Mitch Hedberg...

Marcus Bachan said...

You might say that all of us together made up Tuttle . . .

Doug Walsh said...

Obviously, it's supposed to be Thailand, but looks like Snoqualmie Falls to me. Ken, is that where this scene was filmed?

I live 2 miles from Snoq. Falls and I think you can almost make out Salish Lodge on the upper left-hand side of the falls (through the branches).

I could be wrong.

Stu said...

Mr. Levine, that scene is worthy enough for the team of Monty Python. You could easily see Graham Chapman in the Clyde Kusatsu role and Michael Palin in Candy's spot. Really excellent writing, tight enough to feel the beats, loose enough to allow the actors to bring their A game. Bravo.

Anonymous said...

Clyde Kustatsu IS one of my favorites! I loved the way he pronounced TAcoma!

Long, long ago, in a far away land, I wrote a MASH treatment with Clyde in mind as a Korean version of Radar.

I was young, naive... so, when the agent I went to stuck his tongue down my throat, I figured that was a sign not to take it any further.

Anonymous said...

Ken,

All of us who worked with John Candy still miss him.

I can't believe that it's been 14 years since his passing.

What contemporary movies could he have made so much funner just by being in them?

Anonymous said...

Hello all,

This is the real Tom Tuttle from Tacoma (America's son). I got a kick out of Rob Mcnair-huff's comments regarding the 'realtor' in N. Tacoma. Yes, that is me! I have been tormented all my life (well, since 8th grade when the movie came out). NO, it's all in good fun. A few facts: I was born at Tacoma General Hospital in 1970 and attended schools in Tacoma School District. No, I did not go to WSU or Thailand....but came close to both. Last year, I was contacted by a gentleman in the Peace Corp...Wisconsin who was writing a book and asked lots of ?'s as it is a cult classic in the Peace Corp as well as WSU. Anyway, thanks for the laugh today!