A number of you have asked what is my favorite schlocky movie? That would have to be the Roger Corman 1975 masterpiece, DEATH RACE 2000. It's your typical low budget exploitation science fiction apocalyptic violent cross country auto race romp. The tagline:IN THE YEAR 2000 HIT AND RUN DRIVING IS NO LONGER A FELONY. IT'S A NATIONAL SPORT!
I have to love a movie where the Real Don Steele's name is on the one-sheet but Sylvester Stallone's is not. (The above poster hangs in my office.)
The delightful confection of a story is that there is a cross country race in modified Batmobiles and the drivers get additional points for running down pedestrians. (Hey, don't laugh. It's still a better premise than GROWN UPS 2.)
Here is a sample.
Warning: Not for the squeamish -- and by that I mean anyone who can't bear to watch really bad cheesy special effects.
I remember watching this movie on TV as a little kid with my sister - we were apparently without parental guidance that afternoon. For years we've kidded about how many 'points' slow pedestrians would be worth. Imagine her surprise when she got the DVD from Santa this year!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorites. I can't get enough of Machine Gun Joe. I never saw the "remake" a few years back, but I'm sure it fails in comparison.
ReplyDeleteKen -- Mr. Stallone's name is clearly present on the poster on your page. [Stallone is prominently billed on most all original DEATH RACE 2000 posters.]
ReplyDeleteI actually prefer the remake, with Ian McShane as Coach, and Joan Allen in slut-puppy heels as the warden, but both versions are good schlocky fun!
ReplyDeleteThe remake has virtually no humor, which the original has in abundance. I knew the director, Paul Bartel, a great guy, and he followed this up with the similar CANNONBALL (co-written by Don Simpson!). Not as good but still fun.
ReplyDeleteScreenplay by Charles Griffith, who wrote BUCKET OF BLOOD and the original LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS.
ReplyDeleteA friend once told me that he and his wife actually lost their friendship with another couple because of this movie. They laughed all the way through while the other couple sat there in silent shock. They lost touch soon afterward. Wish I'd been there.
ReplyDeleteI'd have to put "Kentucky Fried Movie" as the greatest schlock movie ever made. It's the guys who went onto make Airplane. The film itself is a collection of comedy skits that includes the Kung-Fu parody, "A Fistful Of Yen" and "Catholic School Girls in Trouble"...... PG it ain't.
ReplyDeleteI'd have to put "Kentucky Fried Movie" as the greatest schlock movie ever made. It's the guys who went onto make Airplane. The film itself is a collection of comedy skits that includes the Kung-Fu parody, "A Fistful Of Yen" and "Catholic School Girls in Trouble"...... PG it ain't.
ReplyDeleteWhimziequiltz, we used to add bonus points if they were walking with sticks (even though that made them easier) and carrying hot soup.
ReplyDeleteWell America, there you have it, Frankenstein has just been attacked by the French Air Force and he's whipped their derrieres!
ReplyDeleteI worship Mary Woronov's cheekbones.
Cheers, thanks a lot,
Storm
I don't know what it was playing with that this happened, but my father took me to see this at the local Drive-in when it first came out. I loved it then, and continue to love it. I've also introduced it to my two boys, and yes, our family ALSO makes regular "go for the easy points" jokes when we're driving and there are annoying pedestrians about.
ReplyDeleteI remember a Far Side comic where a dog is chasing a car and onlooking dogs are saying, "All right, Rusty, 50 points!" I didn't know they were making a pop culture reference. Time to check IMDB.
ReplyDelete