In scenic Massachusetts, haggard and hungover Ryan O'Neal (as Tim Madden) discovers a severed head in place of his drug stash. Bummer. Flashbacks dog Mr. O'Neal on his quest to solve the mystery. "Tough Guys Don't Dance" was nominated for several movie "Worst" awards by the organization calling them the "Golden Raspberries". It received dishonors as "Worst Picture" of the year, "Worst Actor" O'Neal, "Worst Actress" Debra Sandlund (as Patty Lareine), "Worst Supporting Actress" Isabella Rossellini (as Madeleine Regency), "Worst Director" Norman Mailer, "Worst Screenplay" (Mailer again), and "Worst New Actress" (Sandlund again). The film faced stiff competition from "Leonard part 6" and "Ishtar" but Mr. Mailer won, in a tie, the worst director honors; clearly his was the award most deserved. The aforementioned stars really are awful (some scenes are all-time worsts), but some of the other players are appealingly sleazy.
** Tough Guys Don't Dance (5/16/87) Norman Mailer ~ Ryan O'Neal, Debra Sandlund, Wings Hauser, Isabella Rossellini
** Tough Guys Don't Dance (5/16/87) Norman Mailer ~ Ryan O'Neal, Debra Sandlund, Wings Hauser, Isabella Rossellini