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Even though Ron Howard did not direct this Roger Corman’s production, it was the motion picture that allowed him to shift from acting in films to directing them. Television audiences already knew him from the Andy Griffith Show where he featured for 8 seasons and was now starting on another long running show, Happy Days, the time the frame George Lucas shot American Graffiti to let the count of vocals. That fact gave Corman the producer just what he needed to have a little bit of clout at the box office in order to attract younger audiences and convert a low budget special into a profitable film.
The storyline is quite non-existent in this drive-in film catering, but we do have Howard who plays the son of a sheriff in a small town. (Cue the Mayberry remarks). Imagine it like Opie wanting a little action in the driver seat of a stock car, and quite a bit of action in the back seat with a blonde teasy skin tight short shorts, played by Christopher Norris. Howard together with some of his teenage buddies, which includes his actual brother Clint, are spending their holidays at the stock car races where another TV ‘face’ is the king of the track. It is Dave Madden who is a bit of notable because He used to be on the Partridge Family, and, to be honest, I had to look him up on line to got his name because to me he’s Reuben Kincaid, and always will be. A few hours from where I live. Besides the point, I was unaware until some researching that Madden is a Canadian, born in Sarnia, Ontario. Other than dreaming about racing a stock car, Howard wants to impress Miss Norris.
While deceiving Howard to think he is the one in control, our blond beauty tells a naïve Ronny that he can take her for a spin but only if he dares to steal Madden’s fiercely guarded vehicle, which has more horsepower than anyone’s vehicle in the region. And this is how the comedy comes into play where we have a noticeable absence of our favorite rendition of the cartoon police force, minus the Mayberry icon – Barney Fife. Instead, we have a specially selected group of guys and as part of ensemble cast, Ron and Clint are represented by their father Rance Howard that makes this a family business under the New World Pictures Incorporation. This allows us to have high speed chases that are accompanied by a bluegrass soundtrack and will be deemed hilarious for the most part of the film.
Had I not chanced upon the title card, ‘Directed by Charles B. Griffith’, I would have assumed this was an early attempt by John Landis in the craft of car demolishing which he was about to feature in The Blues Brothers with extreme vigor not long after this feature. Perhaps this one served as a motivating title on the young Landis. Griffith primarily was a screenwriter for the producer Corman but he also earned fame for several works like The cult classic Death Race 2000 and The Little Shop of Horrors.
Howards chase of Miss Norris and the cops keeps him on edge, which causes the movie to transform into a chase themed movie. This could be compared to Bonnie and Clyde, without all the violence that comes along with it. I saw this movie when it first debuted on TV and I remember me and my friends laughing at how Richie is being chased by a hot blonde all over the country in a cool car. When Howard signed up for this movie with Corman, he was required to be given a chance to direct a feature film. This resulted in Howard starring and directing, which he rarely does as an award winning director. He does everything aside from narrating. He has achieved a lot like Splash, Apollo 13, and A Beautiful Mind.
This film over here is on DVD along with Grand Theft Auto and features an interview with Ron as a bonus where he tells the story of working with Corman on the both productions. ‘Ron, if this film happens to succeed, you won’t ever have to work for me again.’
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