“Cannonball!” (1976) starring David Carradine / Z-View!
Cannonball! (1976)
Director: Paul Bartel
Screenplay: Paul Bartel, Donald C. Simpson
Stars: David Carradine, Bill McKinney, Veronica Hamel, Gerrit Graham, Robert Carradine, Belinda Balaski, Judy Canova, Archie Hahn, Carl Gottlieb, Mary Woronov, James Keach, Dick Miller, Stanley Bennett Clay, David Arkin, John Herzfeld, Louisa Moritz, John Alderman, Paul Bartel, Roger Corman, Joe Dante, Martin Scorsese, Don Simpson, and Sylvester Stallone..
Tagline: The annual Trans-American outlaw road race – A cross country demolition derby without rules!
The Plot…
The annual Trans-America Grand Prix is an illegal cross-country road race.
Ex-con Coy “Cannonball” Buckman (Carradine) hopes to win the race. If he does, Coy is guaranteed a spot on the Modern Motors racing team. Coy’s biggest competition in the race is Cade Redman (McKinney) who is also racing for the spot on the Modern Motors racing squad. Other racers include a couple of young lovers, a country western singer, three waitresses, a German racer, a wealthy couple’s driver, and others.
Once the race starts anything goes and it becomes a high speed demolition derby. Not everyone will survive and only one can win.
Start your engines!
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
After the success of Death Race 2000, producer Sam Gelfman wanted another, but more realistic car chase movie. Gelfman brought back Death Race 2000 director, Paul Bartel and the movie’s star David Carradine. Bartel was not interested, but needed the money. It was Bartel’s idea to include cameos of his friends who were writers and directors.
Cannonball is Veronica Hamel’s first credited feature film role.
Sly Stallone appears in one scene and is uncredited.
Cannonball! (1976) rates 2 of 5 stars.
