Graduation Day (1981)

After a high school track runner, named Laura, suddenly dies from a heart attack after finishing a 30-second 200-meter race, a killer wearing a sweat suit and a fencing mask begins killing ... See full summary »

Director:

Herb Freed

Writers:

Anne Marisse, Herb Freed,

Stars:

Christopher George, Patch Mackenzie, E. Danny Murphy

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christopher George	...	Coach George Michaels
Patch Mackenzie	...	Anne Ramstead
E. Danny Murphy	...	Kevin Badger
E.J. Peaker	...	Blondie
Michael Pataki	...	Principal Guglione
Richard Balin	...	Mr. Roberts
Carmen Argenziano	...	Insp. Halliday
Beverly Dixon	...	Elaine Ramstead
Virgil Frye	...	Officer MacGregor
Hal Bokar	...	Ronald Corliss
Denise Cheshire	...	Sally
Bill Hufsey	...	Tony Fisk (as Billy Hufsey)
Linnea Quigley	...	Dolores
Karen Abbott	...	Joanne
Vanna White	...	Doris

Storyline

After a high school track runner, named Laura, suddenly dies from a heart attack after finishing a 30-second 200-meter race, a killer wearing a sweat suit and a fencing mask begins killing off her friends on the school track team one by one. The suspects include the track coach Michaels, Laura's sister Anne who arrives in town for the funeral, the creepy school principal Mr. Guglione, and Laura's strange boyfriend Kevin.

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Plot Keywords:

track | school principal | coach | team | mask | 

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Taglines:

There are 200 seniors at Midvale High. And seven days till graduation. The class of '81 is running out of time.

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

Troma

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 May 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dia de Formatura

Filming Locations:

Descanso Gardens - 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada-Flintridge, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$250,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The blonde girl in the number 46 track jersey was cut out of the film as much as possible since she was fired due to refusal to fulfill the nudity requirements. Linnea Quigley was hired to replace her.

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Goofs

Laura's jersey number repeatedly changes between 45 and 40 during the opening sequence.

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Quotes

Ronald Corliss: Why didn't you call us at the airport? I'd have picked you up.
Anne Ramstead: I got here all right.
Ronald Corliss: Yeah. I can see that.

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Crazy Credits

After the final credits, the killer is shown holding the stopwatch he uses to time his murders.

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Connections

References Halloween (1978)

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Soundtracks

"Lucky Strike"
by Jeff Spry, Joe Spry & Doug Burlison
Performed by Felony (uncredited)

User Reviews

Its damn good for a B movie

Allright, who ever said that final exam had any direction, is a damn idiot. No... retarded. Final exam had no plot whatsoever. Some fat guy starts killing college kids for no reason. No Motive!!! I know its cool to just start killing kids off for no reason and could seem scarier, but graduation day had unique ways of killing people. Like right before the killer offed someone he would set his stopwatch for 30 seconds. Just how long it was when the track girl died at the begining. I know the acting isnt great, BUT WHAT DID YOU EXPECT. YOU RENTED AN 80's SLASHER FLICK!!! ARE YOU THAT STUPID?!?! Ofcourse the acting is going to suck. Thats why I love slasher movies. They can have the worse acting or effects, etc. But they still keep me interested. Oh yeah, And that Felony band in the movie. They dress like idiots, the singer is annoying, but they still rocked. Why is that? Oh well I would give this movie and 8 out of 10 for a B movie.