Grand Theft Auto (1977)

User Rating:

5.0/10   

Director:

Ron Howard

Writers:

Rance Howard (written by) and
Ron Howard (written by)

Release Date:

16 June 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Romance

Tagline:

See the greatest cars in the world destroyed!

Plot:

A rich girl steals her dad's Rolls Royce and heads off to Las Vegas to get married. However, her angry parents, a jealous suitor, and a bunch of reward seekers are determined to stop her.

Plot Keywords:

Grand Theft Auto | Exploding Car | Telephone Booth | Helicopter | Low Budget Film

Cast

Ron Howard	...	Sam Freeman
Nancy Morgan	...	Paula Powers
Elizabeth Rogers	...	Priscilla Powers
Barry Cahill	...	Bigby Powers
Rance Howard	...	Ned Slinker (private detective)
Paul Linke	...	Collins Hedgeworth
Marion Ross	...	Vivian Hedgeworth
Don Steele	...	Curly Q. Brown (DJ, TenQ radio)
Peter Isacksen	...	Sparky
Clint Howard	...	Ace
James Ritz	...	Officer Tad (as Jim Ritz)
Hoke Howell	...	Preacher
Lew Brown	...	Jack Klapper
Ken Lerner	...	Eagle I
Jack Perkins	...	Shadley

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Ryder Sound Services)

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:M | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Sweden:15 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) | USA:PG | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Victorville, California, USA

Company:

New World Pictures

Trivia:

The first film to be shown three times in one day on HBO (shortly after HBO began broadcasting 24 hours).

Goofs:

Continuity: The white foam or water that is sprayed on the window of the Rolls Royce completely disappears minutes after.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[Paula has brought Sam to her home]
Priscilla Powers: Aagh! Paula, how could you do this?
Paula Powers: Come on, mom, PLEASE don't be so dramatic!
Priscilla Powers: I have been planning for months the weddings of you and Collins Hedgeworth.
Paula Powers: No, mother! He didn't ask me, he asked *you*!
Bigby Powers: Shut up, young lady! Just sit down and sit your lips. You are engaged to Collins Hedgeworth.
Bigby Powers: [to Sam] Did you know, that she was engaged to Collins Hedgeworth?
Sam Freeman: Sir, I realize, that there is a conflict, but...
Bigby Powers: [to Priscilla] You see, he understands...
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "At the Movies: Summer Special 2008/09" (2008)

Check your brain at the door and you may have a blast with this one.

Paula Powers (Nancy Morgan) defies snooty, filthy-rich jerk father Bigby (Barry Cahill) by taking off in his prized Rolls Royce, intending to marry lover Sam Freeman (Ron Howard, also making his directorial debut here). As more and more people take off in pursuit of the two, it turns into a circus, especially when obnoxious super-DJ Curly Q. Brown (Don Steele, in fine form as always) makes the whole affair a media event.

Ron is joined by actor-father Rance, with whom he wrote the script and whom also acts and takes an associate producer credit, and younger brother Clint, playing one of the many pursuers. Ron had taken the lead in the Roger Corman-produced "Eat My Dust" with the proviso that he get to direct a picture, and this was the result, a frenetic, energetic, and blatantly humorous B flick filled to the brim with plenty of action, stunts, and crashes. It's particularly fun to see Howards' 'Happy Days' mom Marion Ross as a foul-mouthed, high-society type with terrible driving skills and a surprising contempt for the law! Paul Linke, as the annoying would-be fiancée, and Hoke Howell, as a preacher lured by the promise of a substantial monetary award, also get a mention here for their blustery portrayals. Other familiar faces in small roles include Ken Lerner, Paul Bartel, Garry Marshall, Leo Rossi, and the long-ago co-star of "Boys Town" turned reverend, Bobs Watson.

It's very simple, unpretentious, mindless nonsense that, for what it is, is quite enjoyable. Howard particularly piles on the wreckage and chaos for a true slam-bang finish.

It sure as heck ain't fine art, and that's the whole point. Deftly edited by Joe Dante, photographed by Gary Graver, and accompanied by a fun and funky music score by Peter Ivers, "Grand Theft Auto" is purely silly lowbrow action movie hijinks, and recommended to action and comedy fans everywhere.

8/10