Stroker Ace (1983)

The title character, a popular NASCAR driver, clashes with the fried-chicken mogul that sponsors his racing team.

Director:

Hal Needham

Writers:

William Neely (novel), Robert K. Ottum (novel)

Stars:

Burt Reynolds, Ned Beatty, Jim Nabors

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Burt Reynolds	...	Stroker Ace
Ned Beatty	...	Clyde Torkle
Jim Nabors	...	Lugs
Parker Stevenson	...	Aubrey James
Loni Anderson	...	Pembrook Feeney
John Byner	...	Doc Seegle
Frank O. Hill	...	Dad Seegle
Cassandra Peterson	...	Girl with Lugs
Bubba Smith	...	Arnold
Warren Stevens	...	Jim Catty
Alfie Wise	...	Charlie
James C. Lewis	...	Crew Chief
Neil Bonnett	...	NASCAR Driver
Dale Earnhardt	...	NASCAR Driver
Harry P. Gant	...	NASCAR Driver (as Harry Gant)

Storyline

Stroker Ace, a champion NASCAR driver, is standing at the top of his career, but is getting fed up with having to do as he's told. In between rebelling against his sponsor (a fried chicken chain)'s promotion gimmicks (like making him dress up in giant chicken suit) he spends the rest of the movie trying to bed the buxom Pembrook.

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Plot Keywords:

blonde | virgin | blown up skirt | bloopers during credits | breaking the fourth wall | 

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Taglines:

He's hot on the track... and off!

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Romance | Sport

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Certificate:

PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

Prior to being cast, director Hal Needham visited star Burt Reynolds on the set of Best Friends (1982). Needham, who had signed on as director for this movie, said: "Even though I didn't ask Burt to star in 'Stroker' - I knew his schedule was pretty full - he called me a short while later to tell me he wanted to be in it. I guess Burt realized he'd have a good time working on the movie and that it would be a fun one for people to see. Since I love working with Burt, I naturally accepted his offer. After all, 'Stroker Ace' is the kind of movie Burt and I do best."

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Goofs

While extras fill the lower grandstand, the infield is almost entirely vacant during the upside-down finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Empty stands are also obvious during the subsequent winners circle scenes.

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Quotes

Stroker Ace: [Punches Aubrey James] Take that, 12.
Lugs Harvey, Pembrook Feeney: 10.
Stroker Ace: Whatever.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: The Stinkers of 1983 (1983)

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Soundtracks

Stroker Ace (Stroker's Theme)
Written and Performed by The Charlie Daniels Band

User Reviews

the most Burt Reynolds

Stroker Ace (Burt Reynolds) grew up with moonshining Seegles being chased by the cops in the backwoods. He is a reckless arrogant womanizing three-time NASCAR champ. Aubrey James (Parker Stevenson) is his ambitious young rival. Lugs (Jim Nabors) is his crew chief. He is taken with virginal Pembrook Feeney (Loni Anderson). She's Clyde Torkle (Ned Beatty)'s new employee. When Stroker loses his sponsor, he signs up with untrustworthy Fried Chicken king Torkle as The Fastest Chicken in the South. He grows to hate his contract and tries to get out of it.

This is Burt Reynolds at his most Burt Reynolds. As a kid, I didn't really mind the bad writing and didn't get some of the jokes. It wasn't my favorite racing movie but I didn't know the critical panning this received. I love Cannonball Run and I knew this is inferior. Watching it again recently gave me a few more problems. Loni is a big robotic problem. Her innocent act does not work. The writing is not that funny either. It's just a lot of camp from the cast. I don't actually hate this but it's not good.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 July 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

Stand on It

Filming Locations:

875 Smith Street - Jonesboro, Georgia, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,668,135, 4 July 1983

Gross USA:

$13,000,000

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$13,000,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1