The California Kid (TV 1974)

A deranged, desert town sheriff has a murderous habit or forcing speeders to their deaths, until a young man with a souped-up hotrod arrives to possibly end it.

Director:

Richard T. Heffron

Writer:

Richard Compton

Stars:

Martin Sheen, Vic Morrow, Michelle Phillips

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Martin Sheen	...	Michael McCord
Vic Morrow	...	Sheriff Roy Childress
Michelle Phillips	...	Maggie
Stuart Margolin	...	Deputy
Nick Nolte	...	Buzz Stafford
Janit Baldwin	...	Sissy
Gary Morgan	...	Lyle Stafford
Frederic Downs	...	Judge J.A. Hooker
Don Mantooth	...	Jack (as Donald Mantooth)
Joe Estevez	...	Don McCord (as Joseph Estevez)
Britt Leach	...	Johnny
Norman Bartold	...	Howard
Barbara Collentine	...	Edith
Michael Richardson	...	Charley
Gavan O'Herlihy	...	Tom

Storyline

A sadistic small-town sheriff has a habit of deliberately forcing speeders to their deaths on the mountain roads leading into town. The brother of one of the victims rolls into town in his hot rod to investigate his brother's death.

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Plot Keywords:

sheriff | hot rod | small town | automobile | law | 

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Taglines:

In this town a speeding ticket is a death sentence

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Genres:

Action | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 September 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

A kaliforniai kölyök

Filming Locations:

Piru, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

74 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was ABC-TV's 200th "Movie of the Week".

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Goofs

The engine in the real '34 Ford was just a plain 302 Ford with a single four barrel carb. To make it appear more of a hot rod engine, the engine actually shown to Sheriff Roy Childress is the 327 Chevy from the yellow '32 coupe from American Graffiti with 4 two barrel carbs.

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Quotes

Howard: Your Honor, I plead nolo contendere.
Judge J.A. Hooker: That's the same as guilty. That will be a one hundred dollar fine or 10 days in the county jail.

User Reviews

Second Only To "Bullitt"

I was about thirteen when this movie came out on television. It is far superior in action than most movies since. Martin Sheen is excellent, and though Nick Nolte has a small part, he too provides excellent support. Vic Morrow as the villain is superb.

When Sheen "tests the water" in his '34 Ford (COOL) along the mountainous highway it is spectacular!

The ending is grand.

I'm disappointed in the low vote this received. I figure the younger generations have more interest in much of the junk that is coming out these days.

Good taste eludes the masses!