In 1986 Howard Zuker and Neil Cohen directed their first and only film, CHIEF ZABU, a low budget, audacious socio-political comedy about New York real estate operators who scheme to take over a Polynesian country while its leader is in New York seeking admission to the UN. Featuring a cast of legendary character actors - Allen Garfield (The Conversation), Zack Norman (Romancing the Stone), Allan Arbus (Putney Swope), Marianna Hill (The Godfather: Part 2), Manu Tupuo (Hawaii),... (Full plot summary below)
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In 1986 Howard Zuker and Neil Cohen directed their first and only film, CHIEF ZABU, a low budget, audacious socio-political comedy about New York real estate operators who scheme to take over a Polynesian country while its leader is in New York seeking admission to the UN. Featuring a cast of legendary character actors - Allen Garfield (The Conversation), Zack Norman (Romancing the Stone), Allan Arbus (Putney Swope), Marianna Hill (The Godfather: Part 2), Manu Tupuo (Hawaii), Ed Lauter (The Longest Yard), Shirley Stoler (Seven Beauties), plus the harp-playing "Miss California," Lucianne Buchanan - and set in Manhattan, The Hudson Valley, Beverly Hills, Las Vegas and the fictional island nation of Tiburaku, CHIEF ZABU was shot almost entirely on a college campus, in 15 days, for under $200,000 (with the cast, crew, and student interns all living together in the dorms). After a series of snafus that paralleled the film's madcap plot, and despite featured coverage of its production in LIFE MAGAZINE, CHIEF ZABU was never completed, distributed, nor publicly shown. Now, 30 years later, inspired by the rise of Donald Trump, the first-time directors (now with the aggregate age of 141 years) have finally finished their film about a realtor with a dream of political influence: the never-before-seen CHIEF ZABU.
Leave your thoughts about Chief Zabu.
| ColeSmithey.comCole SmitheyIt took until 2016 for a newly-edited cut of "Chief Zabu" to be publicly presented. If you ever have a chance to see it, don't pass it up. Here is a rare comic artifact worth savoring. |
| The Hollywood ReporterSheri LindenThough its mix of the loopy, the broad and the deadpan is uneven, its story of American business designs on a tiny Polynesian nation still has satirical bite. |
| Los Angeles TimesMichael RechtshaffenChief Zabu may have been buried for the past three decades, but this tiresomely talky would-be satire is no treasure. |
| User ReviewLizAlexander841Chief Zabu is the ingenious story of two outrageous New York businessmen who’s dream of political influence and power lead to a scheme to take over a Polynesian island nation. This insightful comedy includes boldly hilarious moments between the incredibly talented ensemble cast that I found truly hilarious. Zack Norman and Allen Garfield’s chemistry on screen is remarkably entertaining and makes for a great film. If you love movies with quick-witted humor, I highly recommend Chief Zabu. |
| User ReviewRika RChief Zabu is an incredibly amusing socio-political comedy starring Zach Norman, Allen Garfield and Allan Arbus. Three Manhattan real estate tycoons conspire to take over a fictional country named Tiburaku while their leader, Chief Zabu, seeks admittance into the United Nations. Filmmaker's Neil Cohen and Zach Norman really landed with this film, especially with it's Trump-like characters and hilarious take on international politics. It's hard to believe that it was filmed 30 years ago with how relevant it actually is. There were some really great laugh out loud moments! |
| User ReviewSuzanne MWe saw the movie last night and enjoyed it thoroughly. The cast is hilarious- especially Zack and Allen, but the whole cast meshes together very well. I love the 80's setting. |
| User ReviewMatt SIt's hilarious! I'm so glad they were finally able to release it! |
| User ReviewMegan CChief Zabu is an outrageous, over-the-top, hysterical film that features two realtors who are tired of their jobs and dream of being rich. They devise a get-rich-quick scheme that involves coercing an uninformed, frivolous investor into buying the rights to a small island in French Polynesia, called "Tiburaku". The realtors exaggerate the potential prosperity of the island with such skill, they almost begin to believe it, themselves. Set and filmed in the 80s, the film had a $100,000 budget but delivers quality, laughter-inducing content worth much more. It was recently found under the staircase of the director, 30 years after its creation. It's a timeless film that features comedian, Zack Norman, at his best: spewing quick, witty monologues that will leave viewers' heads spinning to catch up, and laughing hysterically once they do. You may think you know how it will end, but you don't. This is a film like no other that will leave you questioning all the investments you've ever made. Hold onto your wallets and get ready to laugh! This is a must-see. |
| User ReviewmandyxChief Zabu tells the hysterical story of two realtors who are sick and tired of their penny-paying, eye-rolling jobs and who devise a plan to trick their frivolous investor friend to buy the rights of a small island in French Polynesia. Exaggerating its potential prosperity, the businessmen attempt to convince their gullible friend to write a check for $1million. Made in the 80s and stored under the stairs until just recently, you’ll wonder why no one saw its potential and released it sooner! It’s a timeless film that captures the stereotypes of the business world and will leave you shaking your head, wondering if there truly are people like the characters in the real world. |
| User ReviewSophiaWhiteChief Zabu gives an intelligently comedic twist on the world of business and international politics. Actors Allen Garfield (Ben Sydney) and Zack Norman (Sammy Brooks) gave hilarious performances as they play a unique duo of hopeful entrepreneurs that dream of becoming rich and successful. It’s cleverly written political satire with a quick, but smart dialogue and great plot that kept me entertained until the very end. If you’re looking for a good laugh, I recommend adding Chief Zabu to your watch list. |
