Carquake (1976)
"Cannonball!" (original title)

This is another story of the secret Coast to Coast auto race across America The only rule is, the first to finish is the winner. Naturally, anyone driving 55 isn't going to win. They'll ... See full summary »

Director:

Paul Bartel

Writers:

Paul Bartel, Don Simpson

Stars:

David Carradine, Bill McKinney, Veronica Hamel

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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)

Storyline

This is another story of the secret Coast to Coast auto race across America The only rule is, the first to finish is the winner. Naturally, anyone driving 55 isn't going to win. They'll need to drive a little faster than that. Well actually, they will need to drive a LOT faster that 55.

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Plot Keywords:

hitman | martial artist | hitchhiker | kung fu | roundhouse kick | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA Hong Kong

Language:

English German

Release Date:

6 July 1976 (USA)

Also Known As:

Cannonball

Filming Locations:

Glendale, California, USA

Box Office

Gross:

SEK 982,483 (Sweden)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cross Country, Harbor Productions, New World Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min 90 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

David Carradine plays a car racer named Cannonball Coy Buckman, who nearly dies in various crashes. In the race car film The Big Wheel there is a character we never see but mentioned often - a racer who died in a crash named Cannonball Coy.

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Goofs

After Coy switches from the Firebird to the Mustang, in the sequence where he runs Cade Redman off the road, the shots of Coy steering and downshifting show him in the Firebird. This is obvious from the shape of the car's rear window behind him.

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Quotes

[the LAPD is on its way down to Santa Monica Pier]
Brad Phillips: Attention! Attention right now, drivers! The police are on their way to bust the race. The post time has been moved up to exactly 60 seconds from now.
Beutell: Oh, shit!
Brad Phillips: Every highway patrolman from here to Philadephia will be out to nail ya. I'd advise you all to stick to the back roads as much as possible. Gentlemen, start your engines!

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Connections

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

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Soundtracks

"When You Go"
Music by Paul Bartel
Lyrics by Paul Bartel

User Reviews

Classic 1970s Drive-In fun with an eye-popping supporting cast of cult favourites.

'Cannonball' is one of the least remembered of the short-lived but successful 1970s car race/car crash genre begun by 'The Gumball Rally'. What really makes this one stand out is that it was directed by the late Paul Bartel (in between his immortal black comedy classics 'Death Race 2000' and 'Eating Raoul'), and features an impressive supporting cast of cult actors and Bartel buddies. 'Death Race 2000's David Carradine once again stars, this time as "Cannonball" Buckman, an ex-con who desperately wants to win the illegal Trans American road race. His older brother Benny (the legendary Dick Miller) gets him set up with a car, and bets enormous sums of money on him, mainly with the eccentric but ruthless bookie and amateur songwriter Lester Marks (played by Bartel himself). If Cannonball loses Benny will enter into a world of pain, so Benny tries any and every trick he can think of to ensure Cannonball's competitors lose. Cannonball's main competition is the borderline psychotic Redman ('Deliverance's Bill McKinney), but the race also includes Cannonball's sidekick Zippo (Archie Hahn), his parole officer girlfriend (Veronica Hammel), a bus full of babes led by frequent Bartel co-star Mary Woronov, an aspiring country singer (Gerrit Graham), and surfer types Robert Carradine and Belinda Balaski. 1970s exploitation fans will recognize these actors, and several others that make appearances throughout this stupid but fun movie, and buffs will also spot various film makers in cameos including Roger Corman, Martin Scorsese and Joe Dante. The whole thing is very incestuous and self-indulgent, but the cast looks like they're having a lot of fun. Maybe not as much as the viewer will, but it's still an entertaining ride if you kick back and have a beer or two when watching it.