Fast Company (1979)

Director:

David Cronenberg

Writers:

Nicholas Campbell (screenplay)
David Cronenberg (writer)
(more)

Release Date:

August 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The danger. The rush. The victory.

Plot:

Standard good guys vs. bad guys drag racing movie. Nice scene of the driver's view during a funny car run.. |

Plot Keywords:

Drag Racing | Racing | Funny Car | Business Ethics | Automobile Racing

Cast

William Smith	...	Lonnie 'Lucky Man' Johnson
Claudia Jennings	...	Sammy
John Saxon	...	Phil Adamson
Nicholas Campbell	...	Billy 'The Kid' Brocker
Don Francks	...	Elder
Cedric Smith	...	Gary 'The Blacksmith' Black
Judy Foster	...	Candy
Robert Haley	...	P.J.
George Buza	...	Meatball
David Graham	...	Stoner
David Petersen	...	Slezak
Chuck Chandler	...	Edmonton Track Announcer
Cheri Hilsabeck	...	Hitchhiker
Sonya Ratke	...	Hitchhiker
Michael Bell	...	Chuck Randall
Douglas Main	...	TV Newscaster
Patricia Goodwin	...	New Miss Fastco
L. Peter Feldman	...	Security Guard
Graham Light	...	Track Official
Fred Hodgson	...	TV Camera Crew
Michael Ouellette	...	TV Camera Crew
Trevor Yacyshyn	...	Hot Rodder
Jerry Knowles	...	Track Starter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Neil Dainard
Robert Hill

Directed by
David Cronenberg

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Nicholas Campbell		screenplay
David Cronenberg		writer
Phil Savath		writer
Courtney Smith		writer
Alan Treen		story

Produced by
Michael Lebowitz	....	producer
Peter O'Brian	....	producer
David Perlmutter	....	executive producer
Phil Savath	....	producer
Courtney Smith	....	producer

Original Music by
Fred Mollin

Cinematography by
Mark Irwin

Film Editing by
Ronald Sanders

Casting by
Gail Carr

Art Direction by
Carol Spier

Costume Design by
Delphine White

Makeup Department
Jan Newman	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Caryl Brandt	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jim Kaufman	....	first assistant director (as James Kaufman)
Jim Long	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Richard D. Wright	....	property master

Sound Department
Gary C. Bourgeois	....	sound re-recording mixer
Terry Burke	....	sound effects editor
Bryan Day	....	sound recordist
Andy Malcolm	....	foley artist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Tom Fisher	....	special effects

Stunts
Phil Adams	....	stunts
Mark Damien	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Gary Armstrong	....	clapper loader
Roger Bate	....	gaffer
Robert Holmes	....	camera operator: second unit
Maris H. Jansons	....	key grip
Robin Miller	....	first assistant camera
Rick Porter	....	still photographer
Lee Wright	....	grip

Casting Department
Bette Chadwick	....	additional casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Wendy Partridge	....	assistant wardrobe
Madeleine Stewart	....	assistant wardrobe

Editorial Department
Vaughan Killin	....	color timer
Gillian Macintosh	....	post-production assistant
Arnie Stewart	....	assistant editor
Carolyn Zeifman	....	synching editor

Transportation Department
Gordie Bonin	....	race driver
Roy Johnson	....	transportation captain
Bob Papirnick	....	race driver

Other crew
Linda Brestich	....	secretary
Sherry Cohen	....	location manager
Linda Farmer	....	production secretary
Isabelle Foord	....	production assistant
Geoff Goodwin	....	racing coordinator
Shirley Granger	....	production accountant
Margaret Hanly	....	continuity
Graham Light	....	technical advisor
Gail McGregor	....	unit publicist
Richard Mead	....	production assistant
Bob Murphy	....	production assistant
Walley Protz	....	technical advisor
Jerry Verheul	....	racing coordinator

Production Companies

• Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC)
• Michael Leibowitz Inc.
• Quadrant Films

Distributors

• Admit One Presentations
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2004) (Canada) (DVD)
• Blue Underground (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Danton Films
• Stomp Visual (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
• Topar Films (USA)

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Company:

Canadian Film Development Corporation (CFDC)

Trivia:

Finnish video release's cover sheet mentions Jodie Foster having a role in this movie. Actually Judy Foster is in the cast.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Lonnie Johnson blows up the Top Fueler at the end of the quarter mile you see the truck towing it and the cable that is hooked to the race car.

Quotes:

Elder: What are you gonna do now?
Lonnie 'Lucky Man' Johnson: We will enjoy our life.
Sammy: Yes, at least for one week.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "The Directors: The Films of David Cronenberg (#1.10)" (1999)

if you want a movie about Canadian drag racing this is it...

Okay it's not the world's greatest movie, or even the greatest movie ever made about drag racing (that would probably be 'Heart Like A Wheel') but it does have its moments and there was a lot of effort put in to ensure the technical side of things was correct. Filmed entirely in Canada around Canadian dragstrips there is a sense of what life on the road is really like. Yes the characters are rather one dimensional - good guys wear white, bad guys wear black and snarl a lot, and the stunts do look like the camera was over-cranked but any true car fan will find it holds their interest, the first time anyway. Especially if you think of it more as a documentary than a movie. Plus the cars and female leads look great. I agree the ending is lousy though.