THE CANNONBALL RUN (1981)
MORGAN'S RATING
The Cannonball Run brings Burt Reynolds, Roger Moore, Farrah Fawcett, Dom DeLuise, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., and an all-star cast to the starting line of the ultimate auto race, a madcap cross-country scramble that roars full-speed ahead. Hal Needham is at the helm of a wild action-comedy inspired by an actual event: The Cannonball Sea- To - Shining- Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, an anything-goes, all-stops-out - and thoroughly illegal - competition that has grown to legendary proportions over the years.
Burt Reynolds (J.J. McClure), Roger Moore (Seymour Goldfarb, Jr.), Farrah Fawcett (Pamela Glover), Dom DeLuise (Victor Prinzim / Captain Chaos), Dean Martin (Jamie Blake / Priest), Sammy Davis, Jr. (Morris Fenderbam / Priest), Jack Elam (Doctor Van Helsing), Adrienne Barbeau (Marcia Thatcher), Terry Bradshaw (Terry), Jackie Chan (First Subaru Driver), Bert Convy (Bradford Compton), Jamie Farr (The Sheik), Peter Fonda (Chief Biker), George Furth (Arthur J. Foyt), Michael Hui (Subaru Driver 2), Bianca Jagger (Sheik's Sister), Molly Picon (Mrs. Goldfarb), Jimmy 'The Greek' Snyder (The Greek), Mel Tillis (Mel), Rick Aviles (Mad Dog), Warren Berlinger (Shakey Finch), Tara Buckman (Jill Rivers), John Fiedler (Desk Clerk), Norman Grabowski (Petoski), Joe Klecko (Polish Racing Driver), Grayce Spence (Chair Person), Robert Tessier (Biker), Alfie Wise (Batman), Johnny Yune (Talk Show Host), Brock Yates (Organizer), Hal Needham (Ambulance EMT, uncredited), Valerie Perrine (Female Cop, uncredited).
YOU'LL ROOT FOR THEM ALL ... BUT YOU'LL NEVER GUESS WHO WINS.
FACTS PRODUCTION INFORMATION
RELEASE DATE: June 19th, 1981 (USA)
BOX OFFICE OPENING: $11.7 million (USA)
BOX OFFICE RESULT: $72.1 million (USA)
- Don Rickles was originally cast as Fenderbaum before the part went to Sammy Davis, Jr.
- The ambulance used in the movie is the actual ambulance that Hal Needham and Brock Yates built and raced in the real Cannonball Run.
- The Ferrari 308 used in the movie belonged to director Hal Needham.
- Roger Moore has a different girlfriend every time we see him in this movie and they are all voiced by June Foray (uncredited).
- The first highway patrolman that pulls over Adrienne Barbeau and Tara Buckman was Burt Reynold's stand-in (not the resemblance).
- Jackie Chan, who played a small role in this movie, was very upset when he learned that his character was Japanese since he himself is Chinese.
- There are several references throughout to the movie to another Hal Needham - Burt Reynolds movie: Smokey and the Bandit II (1980). See if you can spot them.
- Jackie Chan makes one of his first US film appearances. Inspired by Hal Needham's notion of including bloopers during the closing credits, Chan began a tradition of doing the same in most of his movies from this point onward.
- Stuntwoman Heidi von Beltz was crippled in a stunt when the stunt car she was riding in (doubling an Aston-Martin driven by Roger Moore in the race) lost control and crashed on the second take of the stunt. The driver and another stunt person in the car received minor injuries, but Heidi was left a paraplegic.
- There are numerous James Bond references throughout the film, resulting a rumor that Albert R. Broccoli had Roger Moore sign a contract which forbad him to spoof or make references to the James Bond character in any non-Bond film.
- The movie was originally planned as an action film starring Steve McQueen. After McQueen's death, the lead went to Burt Reynolds and the film became a comedy.
- To get material for this movie, Brock Yates ran the final Cannonball in 1979. The movie cost him his editorial position at Car and Drive magazine which has since been reinstated. 
- Nominated for one 1982 Razzie Award for Worst Supporting Actress (Farrah Fawcett).
- Followed by a sequel: Cannonball Run II (1984)		 DIRECTOR: Hal Needham (Cannonball Run II).
WRITER: Brock Yates.
PRODUCER: Albert S. Ruddy.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS: David Shamroy Hamburger and Andre E. Morgan.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Raymond Chow.
ORIGINAL MUSIC: Al Capps.
DISTRIBUTOR: 20th Century Fox
QUOTES
Fenderbaum: We've got a secret weapon. God is our co-pilot!
The Greek: You'll need him.
Fenderbaum: Why'd he call me Shorty?
Jamie Blake: 'Cause you're small. Small. S-M-all.
Organizer: You are certainly the most distinguished group of highway scofflaws and degenerates ever gathered together in one place.
Mel: How long before we stop?
Terry: Eight hours!
Mel: Da-D-Damn! I gotta go to the john!
Batman: Mad Dog, you are going to take the shortcut to the Interstate, aren't you?
Mad Dog: We're here to win, ain't we? If you're gonna be a bear, be a grizzly!
Both: Arrr!
Shaky Finch: Come on! 1000 miles on one wheel? We're trying to win a race, not set a record!
The Greek: Jamie Blake! Yeah, you used to drive that Formula One. When high-buttoned shoes were in style!
Mr. Foyt: Well, how do you feel now you have raped the American Highways?!
J.J. McClure: Beautiful!
J.J.: I'm sure that doctor's a very sweet man, basically.
Victor: Oh, thank you.
J.J.: But don't you ever tell me where you found him. Ever.
Mr. Foyt: Terrorists my dimpled ass! These people make terrorists look like the Sisters of Charity. These guys are Cannonballers!
Pamela Glover: What is that? A bowling team?
Organiser: I'd like to welcome you all to an event that's sometimes been called the Autmotive counterpart to the Bay of Pigs.
Fenderbaum: Isn't that J.J. McClure?
Jamie Blake: He's nothing. Don't worry about him. It's the blimp next to him! The blimp! When he puts on that mask, he'll blow your goddamn doors off!
CRITICAL COMMENTS
"I know this movie doesn't even deserve a grade this high, but as far as I know, this is the film that began that all-important trend of showing bloopers during the end credits." -- Jeff Vorndam, Aboutfilm.com
"Some funny adlibbing and good stunt work make The Cannonball Run a real treat." -- Mark Zimmer, Digitally Obsessed