Ever look at a movie poster and wonder how on earth they paid for everyone on it? That’s basically the reaction most people have when they stumble across Scavenger Hunt. Released in 1979, this movie wasn't exactly a critical darling. Critics like Roger Ebert famously hated these "madcap" ensemble comedies, often calling them loud, obnoxious, and overstuffed. But honestly? Looking back at the scavenger hunt 1979 cast today is like looking at a time capsule of 70s comedy royalty and Hollywood legends that we’ll never see in the same room again.
The premise is simple. An eccentric, wealthy game inventor named Milton Parker dies. He leaves behind a massive fortune, but there's a catch. His potential heirs have to participate in a massive, chaotic scavenger hunt across San Diego. The winner takes the whole $200 million. It’s a premise we've seen before—think It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World—but the specific blend of people here is what makes it a cult classic.
The Heavy Hitters of Comedy
At the center of the chaos, you’ve got Richard Benjamin and James Coco. Benjamin plays Stuart Selsome, and if you know his work from Goodbye, Columbus, you know he does "uptight and flustered" better than almost anyone. James Coco, playing Henri, brings that theatrical energy he was known for in Broadway circles. They’re great, but they aren't even the half of it.
Then you have Cloris Leachman. She plays Mildred Carruthers, and she is arguably the MVP. Leachman had this incredible ability to be both terrifying and hilarious at the exact same time. She’s paired up with Richard Masur, who plays Georgie, and their dynamic is just pure 1970s slapstick.
But for many, the real reason to watch—or rewatch—is the appearance of Cleavon Little and Roddy McDowall. Little, fresh off the massive success of Blazing Saddles, plays a limo driver. Roddy McDowall, the man who was in everything from Planet of the Apes to Fright Night, plays Jenkins the butler. Watching a Shakespearean-trained actor like McDowall deal with the absolute absurdity of a scavenger hunt is one of those meta-joys of cinema.
Those Cameos You Forgot About
Wait. It gets weirder.
The movie also features Scatman Crothers. This was just a year before he appeared in The Shining. Seeing him go from this goofy, high-energy comedy to the psychological dread of Kubrick’s masterpiece is a testament to how hard these actors worked back then.
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Then there’s the Arnold Schwarzenegger of it all.
Yes, a pre-superstar Arnold is in this movie. He plays Lars, a gym instructor. It’s a relatively small role, but seeing him before Conan the Barbarian or The Terminator turned him into a global icon is a trip. He’s basically there to be the "muscle guy," but even then, his screen presence is undeniable. He’s paired with Tony Randall. Let that sink in for a second. The man from The Odd Couple and the future Governor of California are in a comedy together. It’s the kind of casting that feels like it was generated by a randomizer, yet it happened.
Why the Scavenger Hunt 1979 Cast Worked (And Why It Didn't)
Comedy ensembles are tricky. If you have too many stars, they fight for airtime. The director, Michael Schultz, had his hands full. Schultz was coming off Car Wash and Which Way Is Up?, so he knew how to handle large groups of people.
The problem? Sometimes the script just couldn't keep up with the talent.
When you have Ruth Gordon—yes, the Oscar winner from Rosemary’s Baby—playing Arvilla Drollinger, you expect every line to be gold. Gordon was a legend, a woman who had been in the industry since the silent era. Putting her in a movie where people are basically just screaming and running into things felt, to some critics, like a waste. But to a fan of the era, it’s just a joy to see her. She brings a certain "grandmotherly chaos" that rounds out the cast.
The film relies heavily on "the hunt" to keep things moving. We see different teams:
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- The greedy relatives (Leachman and Masur)
- The servants (Little and McDowall)
- The taxi driver and the widow (Gordon and Robert Morley)
- The guys from the gym (Schwarzenegger and Randall)
Each team has its own sub-plot, which helps prevent the scavenger hunt 1979 cast from feeling like one big, confusing mess. Instead, it’s five or six smaller movies happening at the same time, all crashing into each other at the end.
The San Diego Connection
The movie was shot mostly in San Diego, and it uses the city well. From the San Diego Zoo to the Balboa Park area, the locations are as much a part of the cast as the actors. There’s a specific scene involving a "stolen" ostrich that honestly feels like a fever dream. If you’re a local or a fan of Southern California history, the background shots are a treasure trove of 1970s nostalgia. You see old storefronts, vintage cars, and a version of the city that doesn't really exist anymore.
Misconceptions About the Movie
A lot of people confuse this movie with Midnight Madness, which came out a year later in 1980. Midnight Madness was a Disney movie and featured a young Michael J. Fox. While they have similar themes, the 1979 Scavenger Hunt is much more "adult" in its cynicism, even if it is a PG movie. The 1979 film is also much more obsessed with the idea of old Hollywood meeting the new guard.
Another misconception is that the movie was a massive flop. While it didn't break records, it did decent business on the burgeoning cable TV market and became a staple of Saturday afternoon television in the 80s. That’s where most people of a certain age actually saw it.
The Legacy of the 1979 Cast
Why do we care about the scavenger hunt 1979 cast now? Because we don't make movies like this anymore. Today, an ensemble cast usually means three or four Marvel actors and maybe a TikTok star. In 1979, an ensemble cast meant pulling from Vaudeville, the Golden Age of Hollywood, the New York Stage, and the bodybuilding world.
The sheer variety of the performers is staggering:
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- Vincent Price: He plays Milton Parker, the man who starts it all. Even though he’s only in the beginning (and in a recorded video message), his presence looms over the whole thing. It’s Vincent Price. The voice alone is worth the price of admission.
- Meat Loaf: He has a cameo! This was right around the peak of Bat Out of Hell fame.
- Pat McCormick: A legendary comedy writer and performer who most people recognize from the Smokey and the Bandit series.
Acknowledging the Flaws
Let’s be real for a second. The movie is loud. It’s messy. Sometimes the jokes land, and sometimes they fall completely flat. If you're looking for a sophisticated satire on wealth, this isn't it. Scavenger Hunt is about the physical comedy of people desperate for money.
The pacing can be exhausting. Because there are so many characters to check in on, the movie sometimes feels like it's stopping and starting. You’ll be enjoying a scene with Roddy McDowall, and suddenly you’re jerked away to see what Richard Benjamin is doing. It’s a common critique of ensemble films from this era.
However, there’s a genuine earnestness to the performances. These actors weren't "mailing it in." Cloris Leachman is going 100 miles per hour in every single frame. Cleavon Little is charming as hell. They were professionals who knew how to take a thin premise and make it watchable through sheer charisma.
How to Revisit the Film Today
If you’re looking to track down Scavenger Hunt, it can be a bit tricky. It’s not always on the major streaming platforms. Physical media collectors often hunt for the Blu-ray releases from boutique labels like Kino Lorber, which sometimes include interviews or commentaries that shed light on the production.
When you do watch it, don't look for a masterpiece. Look for the interactions. Look at the way Tony Randall reacts to Arnold Schwarzenegger. Look at the comedic timing of James Coco.
Actionable Insights for Film Buffs
- Watch for the Background: The 1979 San Diego setting is a character of its own. Check out the vintage signage and the Balboa Park architecture.
- Contrast the Acting Styles: Pay attention to the difference between the "Old Hollywood" style of Ruth Gordon and the "New Hollywood" vibe of Richard Masur. It’s a masterclass in how acting changed over fifty years.
- Check the Credits: Don't skip the opening and closing credits. The list of guest stars and bit players is like a "Who's Who" of 70s character actors.
- Compare and Contrast: If you’ve seen It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) or Rat Race (2001), watch Scavenger Hunt to see how the "ensemble chase" genre evolved—or didn't—over the decades.
Ultimately, the movie is a testament to a very specific time in filmmaking history. It was a time when you could throw twenty famous people into a van, tell them to chase an ostrich, and call it a movie. It’s chaotic, it’s dated, and it’s occasionally brilliant. Most of all, it’s a reminder of the incredible depth of talent that existed in Hollywood in the late 70s. Even a "silly" comedy could boast a cast filled with Oscar, Emmy, and Tony winners. That’s something worth celebrating.