Contents • • • • • • • Plot [ ] Flashy young bowler Roy Munson () wins the 1979 state bowling championship and leaves home to turn professional. In his professional bowling tour debut, he defeats established pro Ernie McCracken (), who takes the loss poorly and seeks revenge. McCracken convinces Roy to join him in a group of local amateur bowlers. When the amateurs become furious after realizing they are being, McCracken flees while Roy is brutally beaten and loses his hand when it is forced into the, ending his career. Seventeen years later, Roy uses a and is living in as an alcoholic, unsuccessful traveling salesman of bowling supplies.

He is always behind on his rent and is constantly harassed by his landlady Mrs. Dumars (), eventually being reduced to trade sexual favors with her for a break on his back rent. On a to a nearby bowling alley, Roy meets Ishmael Boorg (). Roy tries to convince Ishmael to turn pro, with Roy acting as manager. Ishmael declines, explaining that he is from the local community and that his bowling hobby is a secret.

Roy then sees a poster in a bowling magazine advertising a $1 million winner-take-all tournament in. Learning that Ishmael's family is about to lose their farm to the bank, Roy eventually convinces Ishmael's family to let him join Roy. Roy discovers that the childlike Ishmael is not aware of some of bowling's basic rules and skills, but after some coaching, Ishmael improves. The duo earn money in various local tournaments and by hustling bowlers. Ishmael defeats a wealthy bowling enthusiast named Stanley Osmanski (), but Stanley attacks the duo after discovering that the roll of cash Roy put up was fake. As the group flee Osmanski's mansion, his girlfriend Claudia (), who had also been a victim of Osmanski's violence, joins them. Roy suspects Claudia has and is distracting Ishmael.

* Bill Murray really bowled three strikes in a row in the scene where his character, Ernie McCracken does the same. Dr Dre Drum Kits on this page. * My favorite quotes from Kingpin. Great memorable quotes and script exchanges. As the conflicted Michael Corleone-type character who finds himself inexorably but. Ernie McCracken: It all. When Bill Murray played Big Ernie McCracken in the. Kingpin Big Ern Ernie McCracken T. Let's just get right into some great Ernie McCracken quotes to. Discover and share Ernie Mccracken Quotes. Explore our collection of motivational and famous quotes by authors you know and love.

After Roy gets in a big fight with her, Ishmael flees. During his absence, Roy and Claudia drive on and end up at his family home, abandoned ever since Roy's father died years earlier, where Roy confesses he never went back for the funeral due to feeling ashamed for his failure as a pro bowler. They eventually find Ishmael and continue on to Reno. In Reno, the group runs into McCracken, who is now a national bowling superstar. McCracken insults and makes fun of Roy and infuriates Ishmael, who attempts to punch McCracken but instead hits a wall and breaks his hand, leaving him unable to bowl.

Later on, Claudia disappears with all of their money after being discovered by Stanley. Feeling distraught, Ishmael convinces Roy that they still have a chance to win the $1,000,000 – if Roy bowls.

Roy enters the tournament, rolling the ball with his prosthetic rubber hand. He wins his first several rounds, ending up in the televised finals against McCracken. During the final match, Ishmael's brother, who had been sent by the Boorg family, arrives and takes Ishmael back to Pennsylvania. When Roy realizes he is alone, he struggles and McCracken wins the tournament by one pin. Afterwards, Roy is again living in Pennsylvania when he is visited by Claudia, who explains she had disappeared with Stanley in Reno in an attempt to keep him from hurting Roy and Ishmael. She made Stanley believe she was running away with McCracken, and confesses her love for Roy, offering him money Stanley earned from gambling on McCracken in the finals.

Roy responds that he has already earned $500,000 in an endorsement deal for based on his prosthetic rubber hand. Roy and Claudia visit Ishmael's family home.

Ishmael's parents explain that Roy and Claudia told them about Ishmael's forbidden bowling career, but also about the moral strength and decency he showed during his travels. Roy tells them how Ishmael straightened out Roy and Claudia's lives. Roy pays off the Boorg family's debts with his endorsement check, and Roy and Claudia drive away together. • as Roy Munson • as young Roy • as Ishmael Boorg • as Claudia • as Ernie 'Big Ern' McCracken • as the gambler • as himself • as himself • as himself Professional baseball pitcher appears in a cameo as the character Skidmark during the restaurant scene., and appear as opponents that Roy Munson defeats on his way to the final match in Reno against McCracken. The film also features several musical acts. (who would play an even bigger musical role in the Farrelly brothers' next film ) fronts the band performing in the restaurant scene, while performs the national anthem at the tournament in Reno.