The Van (1977)

Director:

Sam Grossman

Writers:

Celia Susan Cotelo (writer)
Robert J. Rosenthal (writer)

Release Date:

7 April 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Music

Tagline:

Bobby couldn't make it... till he went Fun-Truckin'!

Plot:

Bobby blows all his college savings on a van and tries to get the girl of his dreams. It's a wild time with Bobby and his friends.

Plot Keywords:

Van | Radio | Female Frontal Nudity | Large Buttocks | Car Wash

Cast

Stuart Goetz	...	Bobby
Deborah White	...	Tina
Harry Moses	...	Jack
Marcie Barkin	...	Sue
Bill Adler	...	Steve
Steve Oliver	...	Dugan Hicks (as Stephen Oliver)
Connie Hoffman	...	Sally (as Connie Lisa Marie)
Danny DeVito	...	Andy
Jim Kester	...	Tom
Michael Gitomer	...	Jim
Chuck Hastings	...	Fat Policeman
Steven Stinebaugh	...	Thin Policeman
Howard Dayton	...	Friendly
David Ellenstein	...	Basketball Player
Donald Elson	...	Mr. Hump

Also Known As:

Chevy Van
My Love Van (Philippines: English title)

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Canada:R (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Moorpark High School - 4500 Tierra Rejada Road, Moorpark, California, USA

Trivia:

Danny DeVito is in this movie for seven minutes.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Although the hit song "Chevy Van" is played often throughout the picture, and the movie itself was retitled "Chevy Van" on re-release, the van in this film is actually a Dodge.

Quotes:

Dugan Hicks: Well, what are you, chickening out, or we gotta match?
Bobby: Yeah, I gotta match... your face and my ass.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Dusk to Dawn Drive-In Trash-o-Rama Show Vol. 3 (1996) (V)

Soundtrack:

Chevy Van

Den of Sin on Wheels -- Toaster Included

The cult of personality has elevated the status of Roger Corman, Sam Arkoff, Lloyd Kaufman etc. as kings of the B's. Because the folks at Crown International were so key, they haven't been elevated to the status they richly deserve. A film like THE VAN may now seem like a disposable piece of Drive-in esoteria, but it was a sizable hit when it was released (not to mention subsequent re-releases as a double feature with other Crown hits).

THE VAN was a perfect example of Crown's hit strategy of seizing upon the mood of movie-goers at the time of a film's release. Here, it was sex, drugs, rock 'n roll and the brief "Custom Van" fad. As others have noted, it is ironic that the "hit" song in the film refers to a Chevy when the title vehicle is a Dodge in the film itself. I had a town Selectman where I was at the time even declare these vans to be "dens of sin on wheels!" A perfect ad line for the film!

There are the usual assortment of "good" and "bad" girls, muscle-heads and low-brow hijinks (including a supporting bit by Danny DeVito). In many ways this isn't much different from the old Beach Party movies of the 60's, but now spiced up with Nudity and Drug use. Obviously done on a limited budget and a limited schedule, the film coasts along pleasantly enough with a breezy charm that compensates for some, by today's standards certainly, un-PC views of women.

The classic touch is a Toaster for Bobby's den of sin on wheels. Yes, a Toaster! Hey, you gotta have something hot for those munchies!

Grindhouse Fest.