Graduation Day (1981)

A masked killer begins murdering students on the school track team after a track runner dies upon completion of a 30 second 200-meter race.

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
E.J. Peaker	...	Blondie
Michael Pataki	...	Guglione
Richard Balin	...	Roberts
Carmen Argenziano	...	Halliday
Beverly Dixon	...	Elaine Ramstead
Virgil Frye	...	MacGregor
Hal Bokar	...	Ronald Corliss
Denise Cheshire	...	Sally Prescott
Bill Hufsey	...	Tony (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:

slasher flick | track and field | female nudity | pole vault | murder | 

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Taglines:

Some kids are dying to graduate...

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Genres:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Felony didn't charge any money for the use of their songs that are featured on the soundtrack.

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Goofs

When the band is playing during the skate party there is one instance where the drummer is sitting at his kit and not playing during the song.

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Quotes

Kevin: You know, Laura was crazy about you. It was always Anne this and Anne that. She idolized you.
Anne Ramstead: She was all I had. Everything's different now.
Kevin: Laura's still with me. She'll always be with me. That'll never change.

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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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Alternate Versions

Australian version runs eight minutes longer than the U.S. release. This version was briefly released in the U.S. as a director's cut.

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Connections

Referenced in Video Nasties: Draconian Days (2014)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

They don't make movies like this anymore...

If you love late seventies and early eighties horror/terror/thriller/slasher flicks, this one is a must see. It is in the same league as "Prom Night" and "Hell Night". "Graduation Day" captures a feeling, a mood, a place in time that only exists in the imagination. The music, the acting, the camera work, the characters are a way we can remember 1981. Movies simply don't have the qualities of "Graduation Day" anymore. There are rough edges here. There are simple characters and characters that are not fully developed. Is Ann, the victim's sister, a lesbian? This is only touched on a little during the story. Why doesn't the police office who investigates the disappearance of the victims dislike schools? How did the principal and his secretary begin their affair and what keeps it going? A scene in which a beheading takes place is intercut with a girl rollerskating who likes a lot like the Alice character from "Friday the 13th". As the initiated know, Alice beheaded Mrs. Voorhees. Was this scene a nod to "Friday the 13th"? Has anyone noticed this scene? What happened to Kevin's parents? Does he live alone with his crazy grandmother? They really don't make them like this anymore. I'm not sure if anyone even tries. "Scream" was said to have paid homage to "Graduation Day" and several other movies of that era. I am going to watch it again while keeping that statement in mind. "Graduation Day" is the real deal. Of all the "Halloween" and "Friday the 13th" clones it is one of the highest caliber. Christopher George, Patch McKenzie and the guy from "Fame" (I think) lend star quality. Today's independent films try to capture the spirit of movies like this.

Details

Official Sites:

Troma

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 May 1981 (USA)

Also Known As:

Graduation Day

Filming Locations:

Pasadena, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$250,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Baughn/Freed Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1