In 1975, a Time magazine cover story introduced the world to the “Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash,” better known as the Cannonball Run, an illegal road race in which competitors sped across America to determine who could travel from New York to Los Angeles the fastest.
Created by a pair of car enthusiasts rebelling against speed limits, the Cannonball Run inspired two low-budget movies released in 1976. First up was Cannonball, a black comedy with an accent on violence, and then came this lighthearted take on the subject.
Michael Sarrazin stars as Michael Bannon, the idle-rich originator of a Cannonball-style road race. The drivers pull high-speed shenanigans like transferring passengers from one moving car to another, and they make sport of outsmarting cops across the country.
Gary Busey plays another in his long line of crazy-redneck characters, hootin’ and hollerin’ to enjoyable effect, and Raul Julia steals the movie with his flamboyant turn as an Italian speedster with a weakness for the ladies.
105 minutes of pleasant silliness.
Michael Bannon – Cobra Team
Michael Sarrazin Lieutenant Roscoe
Norman Burton Gibson – Camaro Team
Gary Busey Ace Preston / Mr Guts – Camaro Team
John Durren Alice – Porsche Team
Susan Flannery Lapchik the Mad Hungarian
Harvey Jason Kandinsky – Dodge Team
Steven Keats Steve ‘Smitty’ Smith – Ferrari Team
Tim McIntire Jane – Porsche Team
Joanne Nail Barney Donahue – Mercedes Team
J. Pat O’Malley Angie – Rolls Royce
Tricia O’Neil Jose – Rolls Royce
Lázaro Pérez Prof. Samuel Graves – Cobra Team
Nicholas Pryor Andy McAllister – Mercedes Team
Vaughn Taylor Avila – Dodge Team
Wally Taylor Chief Biker
David Hinton Clancy
Joe Tornatore Officer Williams
Med Flory Franco
Raul Julia R Rabbit
Stephen Blood Daisy
Lauren Simon (as Lola Daydream) Mel – Van Team
Eddy Donno Mrs Ontley
Ann Doran Ms Reynolds
Elizabeth Fleming Joe – Van Team
Richard Karie Jake
John Lawlor Oscar
Jack Oliver
Director
Charles “Chuck” Bail
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