Skateboard (1978)

Director:

George Gage

Writers:

Dick Wolf (screenplay) and
George Gage (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

February 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Tagline:

Love, laughter, good guys, bad guys and America's greatest skateboarders.

Plot Keywords:

Travel | Manager | Skateboarding | Money | Van

Cast

Allen Garfield	...	Manny Bloom
Kathleen Lloyd	...	Millicent Broderick
Leif Garrett	...	Brad Harris
Richard Van der Wyk	...	Jason Maddox
Tony Alva	...	Tony Bluetile
Steve Monahan	...	Peter Steffens
David Hyde	...	Dennis
Ellen O'Neal	...	Jenny Bradshaw
Pam Kenneally	...	Randi
Antony Carbone	...	Sol
Sylvester Words	...	Sol's Henchman
Gordon Jump	...	Mr. Harris
Patricia Hitchcock	...	Mrs. Harris (as Pat Hitchcock)
Orson Bean	...	Himself
Joe Bratcher	...	Vito
Harvey Levine	...	U.E.O. Clerk
Thelma Pelish	...	Woman in Motel
John Fox	...	Charlie Martin
Damon Douglas	...	Scott
Marilyn Roberts	...	Waitress
David Carlile	...	Palmdale Announcer
Chuck Niles	...	Race Announcer
Raymond Kark	...	Gas Station Attendant
Owen Bush	...	Sign Painter
Eugene Elman	...	Maitre d'
Randy Clark	...	Official
Denise DuBarry	...	Official
Jean Markell	...	Official
Tom Padaca	...	Official
Phil Settle	...	Official
Sondra Theodore	...	Official
Marylou York	...	Official
Sabina Weber	...	Official
Carol McGinnis	...	Script Girl
Valerie Rae Clark	...	Miss Downhill Invitational (as Valerie Clark)
Jay Adams	...	Competition Skateboarder
Jimmy Allard	...	Competition Skateboarder
Ellen Berryman	...	Competition Skateboarder
Bob Biniak	...	Competition Skateboarder
Rene Carrasco	...	Competition Skateboarder
Steve Cathy	...	Competition Skateboarder (as Steve Cathey)
Craig Chaquico	...	Competition Skateboarder
Paul Constantineau	...	Competition Skateboarder
Russ Gosnell	...	Competition Skateboarder
Clyde Grimes	...	Competition Skateboarder
Dave Hackett	...	Competition Skateboarder
Curtis Hasselgrave	...	Competition Skateboarder
John Hughes	...	Competition Skateboarder
Tom Inouye	...	Competition Skateboarder
Bob Jarvis	...	Competition Skateboarder
Shogo Kubo	...	Competition Skateboarder (as Shogu Kubo)
Brad Logan	...	Competition Skateboarder
Bruce Logan	...	Competition Skateboarder
Robin Logan	...	Competition Skateboarder
Bob Madrigal	...	Competition Skateboarder
Chad McQueen	...	Competition Skateboarder
Jim Muir	...	Competition Skateboarder
Ed Nadalin	...	Competition Skateboarder
Layne Oaks	...	Competition Skateboarder
Bob Piercy	...	Competition Skateboarder
Andy Pryciak	...	Competition Skateboarder
Edie Robertson	...	Competition Skateboarder
Tom Sims	...	Competition Skateboarder
Lance Smith	...	Competition Skateboarder
Laura Thornhill	...	Competition Skateboarder
Danny Trailer	...	Competition Skateboarder (as Dan Trailer)
Mike Williams	...	Competition Skateboarder
Rebecca Williams	...	Competition Skateboarder
Chris Yandell	...	Competition Skateboarder

Directed by
George Gage

Writing credits
Dick Wolf		(screenplay) (as Richard A. Wolf) and
George Gage		(screenplay)
Dick Wolf		(story) (as Richard A. Wolf)

Produced by
Harry N. Blum	....	producer
Susan Cohen	....	associate producer
Roger Richman	....	assistant producer
Tiger Warren	....	associate producer (as W.S. Tiger Warren)
Dick Wolf	....	producer (as Richard A. Wolf)

Original Music by
Mark Snow

Cinematography by
Ross Kelsay		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Robert Angus

Casting by
Trudy Booth

Costume Design by
Elizabeth Gage

Production Management
Lori Imbler	....	production supervisor
John Zane	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard Siegel	....	second assistant director

Sound Department
Galen Handy	....	sound
Roger Heman Jr.	....	sound (as Roger Heman)
John Leveque	....	sound effects editor

Stunts
Hubie Kerns Jr.	....	stunts
Reid Rondell	....	stunts
Tanya Russell	....	stunts
Thomas Robinson Harper	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Barry Shapiro	....	still photographer
Joseph D. Steuben	....	photographer: second unit (as Joe Steuben)
Bill Pecchi	....	key grip (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Joe Fineman	....	post-production

Music Department
Bettie Biery	....	music editor
Suzanne Blum	....	music consultant
Marshall Leib	....	music consultant
Rocky Moriana	....	music editor

Other crew
Rich Maydock	....	production assistant
Susan Scranton	....	production assistant (as Susan Scranton Wolf)
Sharon Thurgood	....	studio teacher (uncredited)

Thanks
Cynthia Bowman	....	the producers wish to thank
Mickey Crofford	....	the producers wish to thank
Sheridan Eldridge	....	the producers wish to thank
Howard Fabrick	....	the producers wish to thank
Leon Gaer	....	thanks
The Gregg Allman Band	....	acknowledgment (as The Greg Allman Band)
Nani Yee Grenell	....	the producers wish to thank: team logos
Ricky Hirsch	....	thanks
John Leslie Hug	....	thanks
Stephen Kadish	....	the producers wish to thank
Henry H. Kyle	....	the producers wish to thank
Neil Larsen	....	thanks
Chet McCracken	....	thanks
Larry Muhoberac	....	thanks
Lynn Parrot	....	the producers wish to thank
Bill Pecchi	....	the producers wish to thank
Richard Richardson	....	the producers wish to thank
Clark Spangler	....	thanks
Jefferson Starship	....	thanks (as The Jefferson Starship)
Doug Wood	....	the producers wish to thank

Production Companies

• Blum Group

Distributors

• Scorpion Releasing (2010) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures
• Vista Home Video (I)

Other Companies

• Arizona Motion Picture Department  the producers wish to thank (as Arizona Motion Picture Office)
• City of Burbank, The  the producers wish to thank (as The City of Burbank, California)
• Clairmont Engle  the producers wish to thank (as Clairmont-Engle, Inc. Camera Equipment)
• Itasca Division of Winnebago Industries  the producers wish to thank
• Krueger Aviation  the producers wish to thank
• Nissan Motor Company  the producers wish to thank (as Nissan Motor Corporation)
• Pro Am Skateboard Racing Association  technical skateboarding assistance and services
• Production Systems Inc.  location equipment by (as P.S.I.)
• Stark Entertainment  the producers wish to thank: services

Also Known As:

"Skateboard: The Movie" - USA (alternative title)

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:PG

Company:

Blum Group

Trivia:

Leif Garrett did all of his own stunts.

Soundtrack:

Sweet Rider

Pleasant enough but not great; skateboarders had talent

Manny is in debt to Sol, among others, and he has to come up with an idea to make money quickly. Earlier, he nearly ran into some kids who were skateboarding in the road. When he sees one of them outside his window, he pitches the idea of a skateboarding team to Sol, who reluctantly accepts this chance to get his money back and then some.

Manny knows nothing about skateboarding. He doesn't even realize there are already teams, and as talented as the kids are, it's hard to believe at first anyone will pay money to see them.

A number of problems get in the way of the team's success. One is the need for someone to supervise them, like a parent. So Millicent is hired. Of course, as often happens in sports movies, one of the kids thinks he is too good to follow the rules. Later, the events really look like something worth seeing.

I didn't see anything here approaching good acting, but Manny, Millicent and the kids were all easy enough to like. Manny was certainly funny because he was such a loser. And the kids certainly had talent on skateboards if nothing else. The situation was hard to believe but was executed well enough.

I seriously question any reference to this being a 'family' movie. The sound went out a number of times, and other times it sounded like words had been substituted, and while tame by today's standards, the sex talk seemed pretty frank.

If you're not looking to use your brain and if your expectations are not high, I suppose this was a pleasant enough film.