Viva Knievel! (1977)

Motorcycle stuntman Evel Knievel is offered a fortune to perform in Mexico. What Evel doesn't know is that they're planning to kill him and use his body to ship cocaine into the U.S. His ... See full summary »

Director:

Gordon Douglas

Writers:

Antonio Santillán (screenplay), Norman Katkov (screenplay),

Stars:

Evel Knievel, Gene Kelly, Lauren Hutton

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Evel Knievel	...	Himself
Gene Kelly	...	Will Atkins
Lauren Hutton	...	Kate Morgan
Red Buttons	...	Ben Andrews
Leslie Nielsen	...	Stanley Millard
Cameron Mitchell	...	Barton
Frank Gifford	...	Himself
Eric Olson	...	Tommy Atkins
Sheila Allen	...	Sister Charity
Albert Salmi	...	Cortland
Dabney Coleman	...	Ralph Thompson
Ernie F. Orsatti	...	Norman Clark (as Ernie Orsatti)
Sidney Clute	...	Andy
Robert Tafur	...	Governor Garcia
Marjoe Gortner	...	Jessie

Storyline

Motorcycle stuntman Evel Knievel is offered a fortune to perform in Mexico. What Evel doesn't know is that they're planning to kill him and use his body to ship cocaine into the U.S. His chief mechanic, who is an alcoholic, is weary of the whole thing and discovers something, but before he can tell Evel he is sent to a rehab clinic for drug addicts, which Evel doesn't believe he is. He goes to see him who tells Evel what he found out but is still in the dark as what is happening.

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Plot Keywords:

stunt | fan | mechanic | mexico | spectator | 

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Taglines:

The one and only real live Evel Knievel in his first dramatic movie role.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Biography | Crime

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

June 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

Seconds to Live

Filming Locations:

Veterans Memorial Stadium - 508 E. Lew Davis Street, Long Beach, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros, Sherrill C. Corwin Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

There is a scene where Evel spots his friend and competitor Jessie (Marjoe Gortner), and races his bike up to him head-on, and Jessie (on foot) leaps over Evel's bike. This is actually a stunt that Evel used to do in his very early daredevil days (as the jumper), and even got seriously hurt once doing it.

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Quotes

Ralph Thompson: This is an American facility and we only deal with Americans.
Evel Knieval: Boy, you're too good to be true.

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Connections

Edited into E! True Hollywood Story: Evel Knievel (2004)

User Reviews

The Greatest and Bravest Showman in the World!

I LOVE this movie!! Ok, it is a terrible, terrible film, but that's what makes it so great! Back in high school, I can't begin to tell you how many beers my buddies & I downed whilst laughing our tails off at this movie. We would rewind scenes so many times that even years later, when we reunite, we can still recite some of these scenes verbatim. It's a classic. First of all, just consider this plot: a mob boss, played straight by Leslie Nielson of all people, wants to assassinate good ol' Evel in Mexico so he can use his stunt trucks to smuggle drugs back to the U.S., because no one is going to stop a "funeral procession for a hero." Try to follow THAT logic!! Another priceless moment comes when Evel delivers an anti-drug speech warning kids that if they use dope - just like race car drivers who use nitro in their cars - they too, will "blow all to hell!" (well, at least after "5 or 10 years" by his estimation anyway). I've never seen Gene Kelly looking so disgruntled and tired, and what would be complete without a way-over-the-top Red Buttons (classic line delivered to a groggy Evel: "What is this, Judgement Day!?). Where's Charro when you need her? And let's not forget that kid at the orphanage who literally throws his crutches to the floor and says, I kid you not, "you're the reason Evel! You're the reason I'm walkin'!" Evel Knievel: miracle man...ordained healer. And then of course there's that catchy theme song. I can't figure out why it was never a hit.