Cannonball! (1976)

Director:

Paul Bartel

Writers:

Paul Bartel (writer)
Don Simpson (writer)

Release Date:

6 July 1976 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The annual Trans-American outlaw road race - A cross country demolition derby without rules!

Plot:

Ex-con-turned-race car driver Coy "Cannonball" Buckman signs up for the annual Trans-American Grand Prix...

Plot Keywords:

New York City | Mafia | Road | Sniper | Motorcycle

Cast

David Carradine	...	Coy 'Cannonball' Buckman
Bill McKinney	...	Cade Redman
Veronica Hamel	...	Linda Maxwell
Gerrit Graham	...	Perman Waters
Robert Carradine	...	Jim Crandell
Belinda Balaski	...	Maryann
Judy Canova	...	Sharma Capri
Archie Hahn	...	Zippo
Carl Gottlieb	...	Terry McMillan
Mary Woronov	...	Sandy Harris, Girl in the Van #1
Diane Lee Hart	...	Wendy, Girl in the Van #2
Glynn Rubin	...	Ginny, Girl in the Van #3
James Keach	...	Wolfe Messer
Dick Miller	...	Bennie Buckman
Stanley Bennett Clay	...	Beutell (as Stanley Clay)
David Arkin	...	TV Producer / Anchorman
John Herzfeld	...	Sharpe
Louisa Moritz	...	Louisa
Patrick M. Wright	...	Brad Phillips (as Patrick Wright)
John Alderman	...	Team Manager
Deirdre Ardell	...	Terry's Daughter
Gretchen Ardell	...	Terry's Daughter
Allan Arkush	...	Panama
Gary Austin	...	Len
Paul Bartel	...	Lester Marks
Wendy Bartel	...	Reporter at Finish Line
Linda Civitello	...	Piano Teacher
Jim Connors	...	Deke Scanton
Roger Corman	...	District Attorney
Peter Cornberg	...	Man in Blue Car
Joe Dante	...	Kid
Miller Drake	...	Reporter at Finish Line
Michael Finnell	...	Helicopter Pilot (as Mike Finnell)
Samuel W. Gelfman	...	Dr. Magritte
Paul Glickler	...	Arresting Officer
David N. Gottlieb	...	Brad Phillips' Aide (as David Gottlieb)
Lea Gould	...	Mrs. McMillan
Glenn Johnson	...	Cameraman in Helicopter
Jonathan Kaplan	...	All-Night Gas Station Attendant
Aron Kincaid	...	David
Saul Krugman	...	Mr. Schulenberg
James Lashly	...	Desert Gas Station Attendant
Joseph McBride	...	Reporter at Finish Line (as Joe McBride)
Todd McCarthy	...	Reporter at Finish Line
Keith Michl	...	Airplane Pilot
Read Morgan	...	Cop
Mary-Robin Redd	...	Mrs. Schulenberg
Martin Scorsese	...	Mafioso
Don Simpson	...	Assistant District Attorney (as Donald C. Simpson)
George Wagner	...	Cameraman
Joe Wong	...	Oriental Cop
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sylvester Stallone	...	Mafioso (uncredited)

Directed by
Paul Bartel

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Paul Bartel		writer
Don Simpson		writer (as Donald C. Simpson)

Produced by
Gustave M. Berne	....	executive producer (as Gustav Berne)
Peter Cornberg	....	associate producer
Samuel W. Gelfman	....	producer
Run Run Shaw	....	executive producer

Original Music by
David A. Axelrod

Cinematography by
Tak Fujimoto

Film Editing by
Morton Tubor

Art Direction by
Michel Levesque

Makeup Department
Cheri Ruff	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Peter Cornberg	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alan Gibbs	....	second unit director
Jan R. Lloyd	....	second assistant director (as Jan Lloyd)
Catherine McCabe	....	assistant director (as Cathy McCabe)

Art Department
Keith Michl	....	property master
Michael Shadler	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Michael Hilkene	....	sound editor
James M. McCann	....	sound (as Jim McCann)
D.G. Saarinen	....	boom operator: second unit (as DG Saarinen)
Nancy Schafer	....	sound: second unit
Alex Vanderkar	....	sound mixer (as Alex Van Der Kar)
Peggy Ann Waggoner	....	boom operator (as Peggy Waggonner)

Special Effects by
Harry Woolman	....	special effects

Stunts
Janet Brady	....	stunts
Alan Gibbs	....	stunt coordinator
Greg Walker	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Ed Barger	....	camera operator: second unit
Robert E. Collins	....	photographer: second unit (as Bob Collins)
Paul Dillingham	....	camera operator: second unit
Paul Hipp	....	gaffer: second unit
Ron Johnson	....	first assistant camera
Michael Katz	....	gaffer
Domenic Mastrippolito	....	camera operator: second unit (as Domenic Nicholas Mastrippolito)
William R. Maxham	....	grip (as Bill Maxham)
Robert McVay	....	key grip (as Bob McVay)
Douglas Olivares	....	second assistant camera (as Doug Olivares)
Bruce Pearn	....	best boy
Chuck Record	....	key grip: second unit
Henning Schellerup	....	action photographer
Gary Strange	....	grip
Gerald B. Wolfe	....	still photographer (as Gerald Wolfe)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Thomas Baxter	....	assistant costumer
Cheryl Beasley Blackwell	....	costumer (as Cheryl Beasley)
Hollis Trainer	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Margot Duxler	....	assistant editor
Bruce Green	....	assistant editor
Ron Horwitz	....	first assistant editor

Transportation Department
Lance Billitzer	....	transportation
Gary Strange	....	driver

Other crew
Kathy Agron	....	script supervisor
Dick Bernstein	....	production assistant
Linda Civitello	....	production secretary
Ray Dilger	....	garage
Michael Finnell	....	production assistant (as Mike Finnell)
Betty Goldberg	....	script supervisor
David N. Gottlieb	....	location manager (as David Gottlieb)
John Hale	....	on-set mechanic
Carson Parlan	....	production assistant
Edwin D. Rich	....	production accountant
Rebecca Ross	....	production assistant
Chuck Russell	....	production assistant: second unit
Richard Peter Schroer	....	production assistant (as Richard Schroer)
Katherine Wooten	....	script supervisor: second unit

Production Companies

• Cross Country
• Harbor Productions
• New World Pictures
• Shaw Brothers

Distributors

• New World Pictures (1976) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1979) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Astro Distribution (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
• Blue Underground (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Hemdale Film Distribution (UK)
• Interglobal Home Video (1986) (Canada) (VHS)
• International Film Distributors (Canada)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• Monarex Hollywood Corporation (1995) (Germany) (video)
• Roadshow Home Video
• Roadshow Home Video (1984) (Australia) (VHS)
• Video Film Express (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video
• Zircon Vídeo (Brazil) (video)

Other Companies

• California Department of Transportation  our thanks to
• M R R  casting
• Metrocolor  color by
• Modern Film Effects  titles and opticals
• PSI  location equipment

Also Known As:

Carquake (UK)

Runtime:

Hong Kong:93 min | USA:93 min | Portugal:90 min (TV version)

Country:

USA | Hong Kong

Language:

English | German

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Iceland:16 | West Germany:12 (TV version) | West Germany:18 (cinema release) | USA:R (original rating) | Australia:R | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG | UK:12 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

George Washington Bridge, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Cross Country

Trivia:

Both this film and "The Cannonball Run" (1981) were novelized by the same author, Michael Avallone.

Goofs:

Continuity: The damage on the various cars isn't consistent in the film chronology. Most obvious is the scene in which the green Mustang and black Charger are playing demolition derby in the construction site - compare the condition of the Dodge at the end of the battle to when it flies off the overpass.

Quotes:

[Bennie enters Lester's house and finds him playing his piano]
Bennie Buckman: Hello, Bennie.
Bennie Buckman: Listen, Lester...
Lester Marks: You're late, Bennie! I don't like tardiness and it seems to run in your family. Your brother's not winning.
Bennie Buckman: Look, I'm taking care of it, Lester.
Bennie Buckman: I don't want to hear it, Bennie.
Bennie Buckman: Lester, just listen...
Lester Marks: I don't want to hear it, Bennie.
[Lester's thugs begin beating Bennie to a pulp]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Unleashing the Beast: Making 'The Howling' (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

When You Go

those wacky races

David Carradine takes part in an illegal anything goes cross-country race from California to New York. Paul Bartel's second attempt at the race movie, while good isn't as fun as his previous "Death Race 2000". It's still fun in parts, but lacks the pacing and memorable characters (except for Carradine and the always watchable Dick Miller)

My Grade: C+

DVD Extras: Interviews with David Carradine, Mary Woronov, and Roger Corman; Poster and Stills gallery; 3 TV spots; and Theatrical Trailer

1 Easter Egg: Highlight a hidden car in the Extras menu for a Carquake/ the giant spider invasion combo trailer