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 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
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:

This is one school you won't want to graduate from!

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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 girl is running from the killer at the party, in one shot it's day, while the rest of the shots are filmed at night.

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Quotes

[two teenagers flee the boiler room]
Roberts: Come back here! Don't think I don't know who you are, because I do. Come on and show your face, you miserable scum!

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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: Moral Panic, Censorship & Videotape (2010)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

this movie graduates with a D-

This is one of the worst slasher movies that i have seen for a while. It's not all that bad, but it is so slowwwww and boringggggg. That's what makes it bad. Little gore. The last 20 min. turns in more to be an action movie than a horror movie. 3/10

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