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IMDbPro

Greased Lightning

  • 19771977
  • PGPG
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
Greased Lightning (1977)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:07
2 Videos
74 Photos
ActionBiographyComedy
The true life story of Wendell Scott, the first black stock car racing driver to win an upper tier NASCAR race.The true life story of Wendell Scott, the first black stock car racing driver to win an upper tier NASCAR race.The true life story of Wendell Scott, the first black stock car racing driver to win an upper tier NASCAR race.
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
    • Michael Schultz
  • Writers
    • Kenneth Vose
    • Lawrence DuKore
    • Melvin Van Peebles
  • Stars
    • Richard Pryor
    • Beau Bridges
    • Pam Grier
    • Michael Schultz
  • Writers
    • Kenneth Vose
    • Lawrence DuKore
    • Melvin Van Peebles
  • Stars
    • Richard Pryor
    • Beau Bridges
    • Pam Grier
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 20User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
    • 57Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos2

    Greased Lightning
    Trailer 2:07
    Watch Greased Lightning
    How the Best Racing Films Raise the Stakes
    Clip 4:37
    Watch How the Best Racing Films Raise the Stakes

    Photos74

    "Greased Lightining" Richard Pryor 1977 Warner
    "Greased Lightining" Richard Pryor 1977 Warner
    1 sheet movie poster
    Greased Lightning (1977)
    Beau Bridges and Richard Pryor in Greased Lightning (1977)
    Beau Bridges and Richard Pryor in Greased Lightning (1977)
    Richard Pryor in Greased Lightning (1977)
    Pam Grier and Richard Pryor in Greased Lightning (1977)
    Richard Pryor in Greased Lightning (1977)
    Greased Lightning (1977)
    Pam Grier and Richard Pryor in Greased Lightning (1977)
    Greased Lightning (1977)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Richard Pryor
    Richard Pryor
    • Wendell Scott
    Beau Bridges
    Beau Bridges
    • Hutch
    Pam Grier
    Pam Grier
    • Mary
    Cleavon Little
    Cleavon Little
    • Peewee
    Vincent Gardenia
    Vincent Gardenia
    • Sheriff Cotton
    Richie Havens
    Richie Havens
    • Woodrow
    Julian Bond
    Julian Bond
    • Russell
    Earl Hindman
    Earl Hindman
    • Beau Welles
    Minnie Gentry
    • Wendell's Mother
    Lucy Saroyan
    Lucy Saroyan
    • Hutch's Wife
    Noble Willingham
    Noble Willingham
    • Billy Joe Byrnes
    Bruce Atkins
    • Deputy Turner
    Steve Fifield
    • Deputy Drinkwater
    Bill Cobbs
    Bill Cobbs
    • Mr. Jones
    Georgia Allen
    • Mrs. Jones
    Maynard Jackson
    Maynard Jackson
    • Minister
    Danny Nelson
    • Wayne Carter
    Alvin Huff
    • Moonshiner
      • Michael Schultz
    • Writers
      • Kenneth Vose
      • Lawrence DuKore
      • Melvin Van Peebles
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Richard Pryor and Pam Grier met on the set of this movie. They fell in love, were involved for several years, and almost married. Richard's drug use almost ended their relationship. The day before they were to be married, Richard eloped with someone else, breaking Miss Grier's heart.
    • Goofs
      In many of the in-car shots during the races you can hear that they are manual transmissions being double clutched, but the drivers never take their hands off the wheel to shift.
    • Quotes

      [searching for car parts in a scrap yard]

      Peewee: What'chyou looking for, Wendell?

      Wendell Scott: Some of this, some of that, some of everything. A universal joint.

      Peewee: Hmph. I wouldn't know a universal joint if it bit me.

      Wendell Scott: Well, one's about to bite you.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Rich Little/Richard Pryor/David Sayh/David Horowitz (1977)
    • Soundtracks
      Maybe Tomorrow
      Written by Fred Karlin & Bradford Craig

      Performed by Roberta Flack

    User reviews20

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    6/10
    Enjoyable, engrossing film
    Richard Pryor shows his versatility, in this story of a black moonshine runner who forces his way into the white-dominated professional racing circuit. I'm not sure how historically accurate it is, but the film drew me into the story, right off the bat. When they establish Pryor's character as a WWII veteran, that automatically buys some sympathy, and it's not hard to guess how hard it would have been for a black man to make his mark in the white-dominated south, let alone the white-ultra-dominated auto racing field. This particular aspect of racing, I think, still shows today in the incredibly-low percentage of black drivers in the major leagues of auto racing. I know it's not because African-Americans can't build or drive cars - I believe it's still because of the redneck image of pro stock-car racing.

    Anyway, off my soapbox. This is a great movie. Pryor is very believable and turns in a fine performance as the protagonist. It's also great to see how the small local drivers started to build up the sport into the massive, ugly organization that is is, today. The film also kept my interest by showing the NASCAR races, year after year, showing their evolution and devolution.

    I thoroughly enjoyed this film, front to back - of course, I'm kind of tilted towards car films. But the way the actors played out their characters in this film made them very human. I recommend this to any open-minded NASCAR fan. This'll show you where it came from.
    helpful•6
    1
    • knsevy
    • Feb 16, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 1977 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Athens, Georgia, USA
    • Production companies
      • Third World Cinema
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 36 minutes
      • Color
      • Mono

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