The Gumball Rally (1976)
Directed by Chuck Bail / Charles Bail
Genres - Comedy, Sports & Recreation |
Sub-Genres - Chase Movie, Ensemble Film, Road Movie |
Release Date - Jul 28, 1976 (USA), Aug 20, 1976 (USA - Unknown) |
Run Time - 106 min. |
Countries - United States |
MPAA Rating - PG
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson
For better or worse, The Gumball Rally was the catalyst for a short-lived cycle of "illegal cross-country race" flicks. As thick-headed cop Roscoe (Norman Burton) does his best to stop the titular rally, a vast and varied contingent of contestants prepare to burn rubber from New York to California. The best-looking of the racers is played by top-billed Michael Sarrazin; Franco, a delightfully narcissistic Italian road jockey played by Raul Julia, also competes. Producer/director Chuck Bail was formerly a stunt coordinator, which helps to explain the incessant car crashes and near-misses in the film. Surprisingly, the doggedly low-budget Gumball Rally was produced by First Artists, a company formed by such major stars as Dustin Hoffman, Barbra Streisand, and Steve McQueen for the purpose of creating "prestige" film fare.
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Themes
Keywords
car, accident, auto-racing, chase, police, racing