Night Shift (1982) is a cult classic that combines the cool charisma of Henry Winkler with the wild energy of Michael Keaton, resulting in pure comedic gold. It was not only Ron Howard’s directorial debut but also the start of something special.
From Morgue to Mayhem
Set in a New York City morgue, the film features Chuck Lumley (Henry Winkler), a mild-mannered night shift worker, and Bill Blazejowski (Michael Keaton), his eccentric and ambitious new coworker. They stumble upon an unconventional business idea – turning the morgue into a base for a high-end escort service, which leads them into hilarious and unexpected situations. What makes the movie stand out is the clever humor and the great chemistry among the three leads, Henry Winkler, Michael Keaton, and Shelley Long, all of whom have incredibly likable characters.
Michael Keaton’s Breakthrough
Night Shift was a breakthrough for Michael Keaton. He was relatively unknown at the time, having only appeared in a B-comedy and a CBS comedy series. He had to go through numerous callbacks before landing the role. Keaton was brilliant as Bill “Blaze” Blazejowski, with his fast-talking style and unique look. To get into character, he would blast Bruce Springsteen’s “10th Avenue Freeze-Out” from the Born to Run album. On opening day, he went to watch the movie alone and enjoyed the experience.
