The Cars That Ate Paris (1974)

The small town of Paris, Australia deliberately causes car accidents, then sells/salvages all valuables from the wrecks as a means of economy.

Director:

Peter Weir

Writers:

Peter Weir (screenplay), Peter Weir (story)

Stars:

Terry Camilleri, John Meillon, Kevin Miles

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Meillon	...	The Mayor
Terry Camilleri	...	Arthur Waldo
Kevin Miles	...	Dr. Midland
Rick Scully	...	George Waldo
Max Gillies	...	Metcalfe
Danny Adcock	...	Policeman
Bruce Spence	...	Charlie
Kevin Golsby	...	Insurance man
Chris Haywood	...	Darryl
Peter Armstrong	...	Gorman
Joe Burrow	...	Ganger
Deryck Barnes	...	Al Smedley
Edward Howell	...	Tringham
Max Phipps	...	Mulray
Melissa Jaffer	...	Beth

Storyline

A small town in rural Australia (Paris) makes its living by causing car accidents and salvaging any valuables from the wrecks. Into this town come brothers Arthur and George. George is killed when the Parisians cause their car to crash, but Arthur survives and is brought into the community as an orderly at the hospital. But Paris is not problem free. Not only do the Parisians have to be careful of outsiders (such as insurance investigators), but they also have to cope with the young people of the town who are dissatisfied with the status quo.

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Plot Keywords:

crash | setting a car on fire | driving | night driving | human experimentation | 

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Taglines:

In Paris, the traffic is murder.

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Genres:

Comedy | Horror | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 June 1976 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Cars That Eat People

Filming Locations:

Sofala, New South Wales, Australia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Royce Smeal Film Productions, Salt-Pan, The Australian Film Development Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min 74 min (cut)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Second theatrical feature film of Australian actor Max Phipps. You Can't See 'round Corners (1969) was the first.

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Goofs

At the end of the movie (when the people leave the village) you can see a green Austin A30 Van. The same car is crashed earlier by a car trying to jump over the Austin using a ramp. The whole front is crushed so there is no way it can be repaired.

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Quotes

Mulray: As you know, I have two hobbies, the past, which is manifest in these lovely old country towns like Paris, and the future, which lies with our youth.

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Alternate Versions

US version, titled _The Cars that Ate People (1974)_ was shortened to 74 minutes by the distributor; in this version star Terry Camilleri's voice is dubbed. The film was finally reissued in the USA at complete length in 1984.

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Connections

Spoofs The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)

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Soundtracks

Immortal Invisible God Only Wise
(uncredited)
written by Walter Chalmers Smith
Sung at the church

User Reviews

Punk cinema

Peter Weir must have been an angry young man as his first film makes fun of every level of society. The corrupt, bumptious, mayor of the two-bit New South Wales town is the obvious fall guy, but no single character escapes Weir's wrath. You might expect the wild, local youths with their vitality to provide the film's conscience, but they are ultimately portrayed as dumb, reactionary yokels whose demise is mocked. Tellingly the film's key line, 'I can drive', is used to belittle the death of the gang member we get to know best. However, Weir goes too far by mocking the audience. Our hero is a pathetic emotional wreck who barely speaks, while many scenes are dragged out with ponderous monologues and plodding development, as if Weir is saying 'you've consumed this sort of rubbish before, now I am going to serve it up to you in a dark satire. Can you tell the difference?'. The Cars That Ate Paris is best watched with the fast forward in your hand, but do not skip the brilliant finale in which the sordid little town gets its just desserts.