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Cannonball! (1976)

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21 comments in total

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3 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
HIGH OCTANE FUN WITH CHEAP GAS PRICE, 10 septiembre 2003
Author: SGECKO67 de RICHMOND,VA

This film is proof positive that you do not need a large budget, an A-list cast, or a complex script to entertain. Some times ya just need Fast cars, beautiful girls, and quirky characters(some played way over the top). Cannonball delivers just that,and becomes a joyride of a film. One of the first two car films based on the real"CANNONBALL SEA-TO-SHINING SEA RACE",(the other being"THE GUMBALL RALLY")it is far better than Hal Needhams "CANNONBALL RUN" films. Where they are goofy,and unintresting, "CANNONBALL" and "GUMBALL RALLY" are funny, and entertaining.

The acting,and directing while not awe inspiring is consistent.(comon we have seen much worse). And I love the seventies(porno film) stock that this was shot on. Maybe im just too sentimental, but at two in the mornin,fix some hot pockets, open a cold beer, and start your engines. Unfortunately this film is not available on dvd, and even Amazon doesnt show a copy on vhs.

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4 out of 5 people found the following comment useful :-
Another cross-country car race film, 14 noviembre 1999
Author: Polar-3 de Nevada

Inviting comparisons to "Death Race 2000" and "The Gumball Rally" as well as to the later "Cannonball Run" films, this offering from New World Pictures is fairly run-of-the-mill for the genre. It lacks the comic elements which made "Death Race 2000" an instant cult classic, and it also lacks the anti-establishment overtones that made earlier road films like "Vanishing Point" so appealing. It is, however, still entertaining to watch. David Carradine turns in a pretty good performance, the score is great, and the multiple-car pile-up near the end is not to be missed. On the negative side, the quality of acting from the other actors is very uneven, and the film becomes surprisingly violent as it progresses.

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2 out of 2 people found the following comment useful :-
A Nice Ride, 15 julio 2005

Author: bensonmum2 de Tennessee

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

- The basic premise of Cannonball has been done several times - a diverse group of drivers compete in a cross-country race where anything goes. Sound familiar? Hal Nedham ripped the guts out of Cannonball for his Cannonball Run made five years later. The difference, though, is that while Cannonball is often funny with some great action, Cannonball Run is often too over-the-top and unwatchable. It's too bad that Bartel's movie isn't as well known as Nedham's. While it will never be confused with Citizen Kane, Cannonball is a thrill-a-minute, cheese-filled good time.

- Bartel's direction is one of the highlights of the movie. You would think that a 90+ minute movie of watching cars race might get boring. It's not. Bartel keeps things moving and there's never a dull moment. Bartel does a great job of mixing race action, comedy, fight scenes, and a little drama to create a well-balanced, enjoyable movie.

- As far as acting goes, David Carradine naturally stands out. He's a car driving, butt kicking machine. Carradine is able to add a little authenticity to the movie by doing a lot of his own driving. There are a couple of spinouts where you can actually see that it's Carradine sitting behind the wheel.

- My biggest complaint with Cannonball involves the spectacular pile-up at the end of the movie. It gets off to a good start with cars plowing into each other followed by explosion after explosion. The problem is that it goes on for so long that it started to have a morbid feel to it. It bothered me that, as a viewer, I could only assume that there were people supposedly driving those cars that were bursting into flames and I didn't see any survivors. I can only assume that everyone was burned to a crisp. Sure it's a little picky, but it bothered me.

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3 out of 4 people found the following comment useful :-
Great laugh!, 14 abril 2002
Author: DJ Inferno

The story of "Cannonball" is about an illegal coast-to-coast car race in the USA. Of course, also some saboteurs are on the road to guarantee a not smoothly course of events...

Obviously not as great as Paul Bartel´s predecessor "Death Race 2000" "Cannonball" is a trash classic and cheese de luxe: cheesy acting, cheesy stunts, cheesy humour, cheesy dialogues... take a lot of car chases, explosions and add some campy humour and you´ve got "Cannonball"! But it´s always great fun to watch! A highly entertaining C-grade movie which is also very interesting for the prominent supporting cast, because Roger Corman, Martin Scorcese, Jonathan Kaplan, Joe Dante or Sly Stallone have small roles in this funny gem!

Fasten your seat belts and enjoy!!!

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2 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
those wacky races, 30 mayo 2005

Author: movieman_kev de United States

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

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2 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
Not bad - has its flaws, but a decent cult film., 18 febrero 2005

Author: Scott LeBrun de Winnipeg, Canada

One of a few movies to draw inspiration from the same real-life event, "Cannonball" tells the story of the Trans-American Grand Prix, where participants race all manner of four-wheeled land-based vehicles from Los Angeles to New York City. Coy "Cannonball" Buckman (David Carradine) is the anti-hero, Cade Redman (Bill McKinney) his formidable rival.

Co-writer / director Paul Bartel (1938 - 2000) considered himself first and foremost a comedy director, but this movie doesn't seem to contain much humor of any variety. It's kind of a straightforward action / car crash / high speed action movie.

Characters here aren't as colorful or gaudy as in "Death Race 2000" (Bartel's similarly themed 1975 cult classic), and therefore not as entertaining. "Cannonball" is not like "Frankenstein", the dark hero of "DR2K" - he actually has a sense of decency. As a matter of fact, there actually ARE likable characters in this film - David's younger brother Robert and Belinda Balaski make for a pretty appealing young couple competing in the race. McKinney is enjoyably nasty and Gerrit Graham gets the most laughs as the flamboyant C & W singer Perman Waters, who for some reason is riding in Redman's car. I also enjoyed seeing Mary Woronov and Dick Miller. Most noteworthy about the cast is the variety of directors in cameos, including Bartel himself, Martin Scorsese, Joe Dante, and Jonathan Kaplan. Even Roger Corman makes an appearance.

The movie features some of the most hilariously inept fight scenes ever committed to film, a jazzy, upbeat music score, and tons of explosions, especially close to the end.

I didn't like the sole black racer being treated as such an embarrassing comic relief character. Seems racist to me.

Overall, it's fairly good B-movie entertainment.

6/10

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2 out of 3 people found the following comment useful :-
New meaning to the term "Put your brain in Neutral", 8 septiembre 1999

Author: Craig Julich-Serventy de Auckland, New Zealand

Cannonball.

The movie broken the dam and started a flood of films revolving around illegal coast to coast car races isn't all bad. That is so long as you don't forget its a B grade film. There are even moments during the one and half hours of engine revving running time that you are could be fooled that the film makers had hoped for a for something a little deeper when they fleshed out the script to this masterpiece. The opening sequence, a dream sequence no less, just oozes style and stinks of finesse. It even comes complete with some cryptic voice over and I could have sworn I heard heart beat soundtrack, wow enthralling.

David Carradine plays the titular Cannonball. He's the strong silent type with a dodgy past, he's out to win the Trans American to get his life back on track after spending some time in the slammer for a crime he didn't commit. In what 70's film didn't he play this guy? There's your token bad guy complete with a black Dodge Charger that is looking to do him (being titular Cannonball) in at any cost. Why? Because you can't have a movie like this with out a bad guy.

Made in that 70's dirty 'we couldn't afford to buy better film' style that is normally reserved for Porn films and early sword and sorcery flicks the film makers have covered off all the stereotypes that we have come to know and love from these kinds of movies. We have a European with an exotic car, a couple of girls in a car going fast and wearing little, a ethnic minority character with little luck when it comes to cars or women. The afore mentioned brooding anti-hero good guy type, the maniacal bad guy and a host of token others that matter little to the grand scheme of things, oh and of course more than its fair share of stupid cops.

The real stars of this movie however are the cars, lets be honest it's the only reason this movie was made. A showcase of some of the most popular American and a token European muscle cars ever to make their way on to the road. We have a Dodge Charger, A Ferrari, Trans Am's (must be popular because there are two of them), a Corvette, Mustangs and all the hotted up roadsters you could ever want. They are thrown though their paces but the budget prevented any real fancy camera work to really show them off like some of the movies that follow did. There is some real nice action sequences here that exceed the movie's standing as an the aforementioned 'we couldn't afford to buy better film' and make it memorable even by today's blockbuster standards. Highlights to look for, the massive car pile up on the interstate towards the end and the trashing of the Detomaso Pantera. So as you can imagine there's enough car carnage to make even the most Blues Brother hardened fan giddy with excitement.

To sum up, Cannonball is a bit of Tuesday night fun and to be enjoyed at its best, watched with a few friends and some strong liquor. Don't for get to look for Martin Scorsese and Sylvester Stallone in early cameo roles.

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Big Disappointment, 4 julio 2008

Author: Gary Dibert (garyldibert@msn.com) de Pittsburgh Pa.

This picture was released on July 6 1976 starring David Carradine as Coy Cannonball Buckman, Bill McKinney as Cade Redman and Veronica Hamel as Linda Maxwell. A former employee rips off his own Death Race 2000 in this mindless car-crash saga, containing more twisted metal than a bombed-out steel mill. The nominal storyline concerns an illegal auto race from Los Angeles to New York that promises the winner 100,000 dollars. Coy "Cannonball" Buckman, is the race leader who drags his girlfriend, Linda along for the ride. Linda is not very happy to be the passenger in this race because she has has a job and a boss to answer too. Cade Redman tools around in a loud red Trans Am, while Cannonball's nemesis barrels along in a big, black Plymouth, trying to outsmart Cannonball at every turn and exit ramp. Things start to go wrong as cars start breaking down and you need money to fix them. The only way to fix them is with your sponsor's money but there's no which means no money. I bought this movie because of Veronica Hamel and she was a big disappointment. Even though this movie had a leading actress her performance was not good so I give this movie 4 weasel stars.

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Good grief!, 26 febrero 2008
Author: ShariRN3-1 de United States

Good Lord, one of many horrible 70's movies. The acting is atrocious, the characters have no depth, they are really only caricatures. David Carradine acts about as well as a tree stump and most likely got many of his jobs because of his wholly more talented father. Now, if you are the sort of person who enjoys car races, chases, etc., you may really enjoy this movie. Frankly, I couldn't tell if this movie was intended as a drama because some of the scenes are laughable. There are quite a few well known stars in this movie, but it is debatable if they were as well known then. As far as I am concerned, there have been enough movies made about this underground coast-to-coast race. I enjoyed the comedy "Cannonball Run" much more than this movie.

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It's just not logical...., 24 febrero 2008
Author: ralanmace de The Twilight Zone

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

First I find it illogical that the movie's genre is listed as action/comedy/drama rather than action/drama because the only humorous moments I recall are when the young surfer couple give a cop the slip when he catches them in the process of stealing a fan-belt, and when the Blazer driver reaches the finish line, calls for champagne and his ditzy blonde playmate comments, "I think I left it on the plane..." Of course, the whole movie defies logic almost as much as it lacks realism, but the thing that made the least sense to me (even the 1st time I saw it at the age of 12 when Home Box Office was an infant) is this: Concerned that his girlfriend is in grave danger by being in his presence, what in the world would make Cannonball Buckman think she'd be one bit safer in an identical car with a guy dressed in identical clothing??? All in all though, it's a pretty good couple hours of entertainment for anyone who likes the idea of a cross-country, no-holds-barred auto race where the only rule is "Whatsa behind me izza naht eemportint!" Quote Raul Julia from the only better movie of this type, "Gumball Rally." "Gumball" was more of a light-hearted bit of comedy, and because a race of this type should be nothing other than fun that, in my opinion, is what makes "Gumball Rally" the better of the 2 in spite of the superior talent involved with "Cannonball"

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