Tobacco industry lobbyist Nick Naylor has a seemingly impossible task: promoting cigarette smoking in a time when the health hazards of the activity have become too plain to ignore. Nick, however, revels in his job, using argument and twisted logic to place, as often as not, his clients in the positions of either altruistic do-gooders or victims. Nick's son Joey needs to understand and respect his dad's philosophy, and Nick works hard to respond to that need without compromising his lack of values. When a beautiful news reporter betrays Nick's sexually-achieved trust, his world seems in danger of collapsing. But there's always one more coffin nail in Nick's pack.

Jason Reitman wrote individual letters to each of the stars in the film telling them why they would be right for the part. Every one of his first choices accepted their parts and most thanked Reitman for his great letter.

Nick Naylor:
The message Hollywood needs to send out is 'Smoking Is Cool!'

Continuity: When Odette is climbing up the ladder in the beginning during the song, her dress turned from blue and then when the camera comes back on her, it's white with green.

Written by Merle Travis, Tex Williams
Performed by Tex Williams and The Western Caravan
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under license from EMI Film & Television Music