The Toy

It is every boy's dream to have the best toy in the world. For the son of a multimillionaire, it means any toy your heart desires. Eric Bates (Scott Schwartz) is the son of a wealthy father (Jackie Gleason) who decides his toys are boring. Having a room full of a multitude of toys isn't enough for the spoiled boy, whose father has purchased hundreds of expensive toys to keep him occupied and to buy his love. His father had remarried. Business matters and his stepmom, Fancy Bates (Teresa Ganzel), kept his father too busy to spend time with his son. Eric is entertained with unemployed reporter Jack Brown (Richard Pryor) and has chosen Jack as his new toy. He informs his father that he wants Brown as a playmate and toy. His father purchases Brown by offering Jack thousands of dollars. Jack is as broke as most unemployed workers and decides to take the offer for himself and his family. Jack is a target for every antic Eric throws at him. Eric stages a multitude of pranks on the unsuspecting new toy. Jack plays the role well in the beginning but soon tires of the spoiled child's pranks. He begins to show young Eric the meaning of respect by reprimanding him each time he misbehaves. The Toy is a movie based on the premise that money can't buy a perfect family or replace family love. Jack shows the family that spending time together is the best form of happiness there is. The Toy opened in theaters in 1982 and boasts over $6 million in opening weekend income. As the months went by, the box office sales topped over $47 million until it was taken off the marquee in February 1983. Columbia Pictures Corporation definitely had a hit in The Toy.