Grand Theft Auto (1977)

A rich girl steals her dad's Rolls Royce and heads off to Las Vegas to get married. However, her angry parents, a jealous suitor, and a bunch of reward seekers are determined to stop her.

Director:

Ron Howard

Writers:

Rance Howard, Ron Howard

Stars:

Ron Howard, Nancy Morgan, Elizabeth Rogers

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ron Howard	...	Sam Freeman
Nancy Morgan	...	Paula Powers
Elizabeth Rogers	...	Priscilla Powers
Barry Cahill	...	Bigby Powers
Rance Howard	...	Ned Slinker
Paul Linke	...	Collins Hedgeworth
Marion Ross	...	Vivian Hedgeworth
Don Steele	...	Curly Q. Brown
Peter Isacksen	...	Sparky
Clint Howard	...	Ace
James Ritz	...	Officer Tad (as Jim Ritz)
Hoke Howell	...	Preacher
Lew Brown	...	Jack Klepper
Ken Lerner	...	Eagle I
Jack Perkins	...	Shadley

Storyline

Paula Powers, daughter of wealthy gubernatorial candidate Bigby Powers, decides to reject her parents' attempt at matchmaking and run off to Vegas to marry her sweetheart, Sam Freeman. As they drive away in a stolen Rolls-Royce, spurned suitor Collins Hedgeworth follows behind in hot pursuit, along with a cadre of goons hoping to get the $25,000 reward that's been offered for Paula's return. Can the young lovers make it to Vegas for a quickie wedding before the forces of conformity and privilege arrive to put a stop to their romance?

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Plot Keywords:

car accident | car wreck | disapproving parents | boyfriend girlfriend relationship | engagement | 

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Taglines:

See the greatest cars in the world destroyed!

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

Roger Corman: The Official DVD Website

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 June 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

A nagy autólopás

Filming Locations:

Beverly Hills, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$602,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$15,000,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

New World Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

84 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Ryder Sound Services)

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The demolition derby sequence was done in a single day.

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Goofs

When Collins Hedgeworth steals the Dodge Charger (with white seats) he mistakenly backs into the showroom. The inside shot of the shift console shows a blue vinyl console, obviously very old and dirty, with black seats. There is, additionally, some graffiti "smudged" onto the console. This is clearly a shot of a different vehicle than the nice, "like new" Charger represented.

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Quotes

[first lines]
[Paula has brought Sam to her home]
Priscilla Powers: Aagh! Paula, how could you do this?
Paula Powers: Come on, mom, PLEASE don't be so dramatic!
Priscilla Powers: I have been planning for months the weddings of you and Collins Hedgeworth.
Paula Powers: No, mother! He didn't ask me, he asked *you*!
Bigby Powers: Shut up, young lady! Just sit down and sit your lips. You are engaged to Collins Hedgeworth.
Bigby Powers: [to Sam] Did you know, that she was engaged to Collins Hedgeworth?
Sam Freeman: Sir, I realize, that there is a conflict, but...
Bigby Powers: [to Priscilla] You see, he understands...
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: Gamera vs. Guiron (1989)

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Soundtracks

Whatcha Gonna Do?
Written by David Jenkins (uncredited) and Cory Lerios (uncredited)
furnished courtesy of A&M Records
Performed by Pablo Cruise

User Reviews

Ron Howard's Directorial Debut... Don't Worry, He Gets Better!

GRAND THEFT AUTO (2+ outta 5 stars)

Pretty minor car crash movie from the peak of the car crash movie boom of the mid-to-late-70s. Notable as the directorial debut of star Ron Howard... so producer Roger Corman deserves some credit for the later *good* movies that Howard directed. Actually, this movie isn't bad at all... if you like this sort of thing... cornball plot about 2 young kids in love stealing a Rolls Royce and heading for Vegas to get hitched. Egged on by a loudmouth radio broadcaster who sees the ratings potential, the pair head west... followed by the law and an assortment of comical character actors who want to stop them. Last major film role for Ron Howard... who probably sensed that time was running out on his ability to keep playing these clean-cut teenager roles.