The Hollywood Knights (1980)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Floyd Mutrux

Writers:

Floyd Mutrux (story) and
Richard Lederer (story) ...

Release Date:

30 May 1980 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

At last, a motion picture that moons a man on the land.

Plot:

Led by their comedic and pranking leader, Newbomb Turk, the Hollywood Knights car gang raise hell throughout Beverly Hills on Halloween Night...

Plot Keywords:

Halloween | High School | Hollywood Sign | Drive In Restaurant | Beverly Hills California

Cast

Robert Wuhl	...	Newbomb Turk
Tony Danza	...	Duke
Fran Drescher	...	Sally
Leigh French	...	Jacqueline Freedman
Randy Gornel	...	Wheatly
Gary Graham	...	Jimmy Shine
Sandy Helberg	...	Officer Clark
James Jeter	...	Smitty
Stuart Pankin	...	Dudley Laywicker
P.R. Paul	...	Simpson
Michelle Pfeiffer	...	Suzie Q
Gailard Sartain	...	Bimbeau
Julius Averitt	...	Earle
Richard Schaal	...	Nevans
Steve Ballard	...	Mechanic

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:12 | Australia:M | USA:R

Filming Locations:

A&W Root Beer - Van Nuys Boulevard, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Casablanca Filmworks

Trivia:

The dance scenes were filmed at the Rivera CC Pacific Palisades. As with the house used in the opening sequences, considerable damage was done by the extras and movie watchers during the filming.

Goofs:

Factual errors: At one point in the film, Jimmy says he's going over to Vietnam just for training, but before that, he says they're only sending advisers. In reality, the U.S. had already committed to large scale involvement in Vietnam, due in large part to the Tonkin Bay Incident in August of 1964.

Quotes:

Sally: I mean, I don't know what it's gonna be. Soon I'll be going away to college and I'll probably never see you again.
Newbomb Turk: You're going to UCLA.

Movie Connections:

References Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Soundtrack:

Hey Baby

Halloween hilarity in LA in 1965

If you're looking for a fun way to spend an hour and a half, plug this movie in, kick back and be prepared to laugh yourself silly. This film basically has no plot save for the fact that Tubby's Drive-in is shutting down and the Hollywood Knights converge there for one last hurrah. Most of their hijinks take place elsewhere however, but Tubby's is their hangout. The movie is a series of comedy sketches rather than a straightforward progression. The cast plays their roles to the hilt led by the frenetic stylings of Robert Wuhl (Newbomb). Also outstanding are Stuart Pankin as Dudley (the much-maligned honor student), and Gailard Sartain and Sandy Helberg as Officers Bimbeau and Clark. One point I notice in other reviews and which I have to agree wholeheartedly with is that the subplots featuring Tony Danza/Michelle Pfeiffer and Jimmy Shine/Vietnam both contrive to slow the film down. This can be excused though, thanks to such gems as Newbomb's rendition of Volare, the one-armed violinist and the catered reception. Bottom line: it's a lewd and crude laugh-riot!!!