Product Details

• Actors: James Garner, Jonathan Pryce, Peter Riegert, Joanna Cassidy, Fred Dalton Thompson
• Directors: Glenn Jordan
• Writers: Bryan Burrough, John Helyar, Larry Gelbart
• Producers: Jeffrey Downer, Marykay Powell, Ray Stark, Thomas M. Hammel
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
• Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Hbo Home Video
• DVD Release Date: September 25, 2001
• Run Time: 107 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005MHOC
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,643 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #13 in	Movies & TV > Television > HBO > HBO Films
  #43 in	Movies & TV > Television > Made-for-TV Movies
  #47 in	Movies & TV > Comedy > Satire

• For more information about "Barbarians at the Gate" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
This HBO original comedy, adapted by Larry Gelbart (Tootsie) from the book by Bryan Burrough and John Helyar, concerns one of the most compelling tales of corporate buyout madness in the go-go 1980s. James Garner plays F. Ross Johnson, CEO of RJR Nabisco. Following failed and expensive efforts to sell a smokeless cigarette to the public, Johnson decides that he's had enough of navigating around the wrath of the company's stockholders. Drawing up plans to buy RJR Nabisco outright, he soon finds himself outmatched (though still determined) in a race for the prize with takeover king Henry Kravis (Jonathan Pryce). The ensuing battle is both bitterly funny and full of acid-tinged insights into the '80s greed that changed corporate America forever. Besides Gelbart's great script and Glenn Jordan's competent direction, the star of this exciting film is Garner, who is absolutely wonderful as the gracious Johnson. --Tom Keogh

Product Description
WHEN THE CEO OF NABISCO DECIDES TO BUY OUT THE SHAREHOLDERS AND TAKE OVER THE COMPANY, NO ONE IS PREPARED FOR WHAT HITS THE FAN IN THIS COMEDY ABOUT BIG BUSINESS AND BIG BUCKS.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enormously entertaining satire of corporate America, May 4, 2002

By	Matthew Horner (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This especially witty satire is one of the best movies about modern corporate attitudes ever made. It's based on the true story of the leveraged buyout of RJR Nabisco in the 1980s. While the filmmakers have naturally taken some artistic license, I think they capture the spirit of the event. In big business, they assert, given the choice between being greedy and doing the right thing, being greedy usually wins. This was especially true in this case because the bidding war that broke out drove the purchase price into the stratosphere. The company's stock, which had been trading in the $40 range was driven up to over $100. A whole lot of rich people got a whole lot richer.

There are many things to enjoy about "Barbarians at the Gate", not the least of which is James Garner as F. Ross Johnson, the man who ran RJR. He is completely believable as a natural born salesman who rose to run one of the world's biggest corporations. His greed may be a turnoff, but his zest for living is infectious and charming. You can't help liking the guy. His nemesis in this high stakes game in the financier, Henry Kravis, played by Jonathon Pryce. It's a deliciously villainous role, and Pryce makes the most of it. Also of note is the great character actor Peter Riegert as Peter Cohen, Johnson's right-hand man in the deal.

I especially liked the movie's tone. It looks upon the goings on with an eye as jaundiced as the players themselves. It views them as overgrown boys fighting over a very big toy, but it does so with an amused, almost affection, flavor. The result is an enormously entertaining and very funny movie.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Barbarians: Fast funny satire, and it's true too!, October 16, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Barbarians at the Gate [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Who knew you could make a comedy about a Leveraged Buyout (LBO)? James Garner, in a brilliant performance, plays F. Ross Johnson, the CEO of RJR Nabisco who wants to buy out the company. He learns about LBOs from the cool slick Henry Kravis, the then-master of the buyout (played by Jonathan Pryce). When Ross takes Kravis' advice and goes out on his own, Henry gets MAD and fires his own salvo. This was a time when people threw figures like "$25 billion" around and thought nothing of it. The technicals of the deal are explained with enough detail that non-financiers can easily follow what's going on. Nice satirical touches like Ross' wife's manicurist explaining the art of the deal to her. A lot of cussing; after all, this was the ultimate boys' game. Fine fun movie. END

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Miss This One!, June 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Barbarians at the Gate [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I first saw this movie on HBO when it debuted in 1993 and have watched it over and over ever since. It is hillariously funny yet full of all the drama that the world of corporate buy outs holds - and whether you are familiar with that world or just as ignorant to all of it's inner workings as I was, you will easily follow the story. This movie is very well written (based on actual events that took place at RJR Nabisco)and provides superior performances by both James Garner and Jonathan Pryce. If you enjoy a story that combines comedy and drama geared for those that are beyond those Gen X years - give this a try. You'll love it!