IMDb > The Cannonball Run (1981)
The Cannonball Run
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The Cannonball Run (1981) More at IMDbPro »

Videos
The Cannonball Run (1981) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
5.6/10   11,329 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 11% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Hal Needham
Writer:
Brock Yates (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for The Cannonball Run on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
19 June 1981 (USA) more
Genre:
Action | Comedy more
Tagline:
You'll root for them all...but you'll never guess who wins.
Plot:
A wide variety of eccentric competitors participate in a wild and illegal cross-country car race. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
1 win & 1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
(29 articles)
Dirty Mary Crazy Larry
 (From LateFilmFull. 1 July 2009, 2:05 AM, PDT)

Farrah Fawcett Dies Aged 62
 (From EmpireOnline. 25 June 2009, 2:24 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
The Fun and the Funniest. more (84 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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Additional Details

Runtime:
95 min
Country:
USA | Hong Kong
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Director Cameo: [Hal Needham]Man in back of ambulance. more
Goofs:
Continuity: When the Cannonballers are standing around listening to the Instructions, the camera pans through the crowd. J.J. and Victor are standing nowhere near Marcie and Jill. The camera cuts to the speaker, then pans the crowd again. In a close up, J.J. and Victor are right next to Marcie and Jill. more
Quotes:
[Brad drives through the bar on his motorcycle]
Fenderbaum: What in the hell was that?
Jamie Blake: Oh, that must've been the entry of the National Safety Council.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Undergrads: Rivalries (#1.8)" (2001) more
Soundtrack:
Beauty's Theme more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
14 out of 15 people found the following comment useful.
The Fun and the Funniest., 2 January 2004
Author: Spider-Lou from Bristol, CT

Long before movies like The Fast and the Furious, 2 Fast 2 Furious, Biker Boyz and Torque tried to make street racing so damn serious, there was this awesome, fun street racing comedy.

Burt Reynolds (way too angry as J.J. Mclure) and Dom DeLuise headline this ensemble cast, the best to note are Jamie Farr--who nearly steals the movie as an Arab Sheik, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. as an unscrupulous duo disguised as priests, and Roger Moore parodying his 007 stint. DeLuise is once again the best performer of the bunch, shining through with his usual charm and wit, especially as Capt. Chaos. Unfortunately, we also have to endure endless supporting characters like Bert Convy and Terry Bradshaw. But at least Rick Aviles and Jackie Chan are the best of those. Jackie even gets the spotlight, barely breaking a sweat fighting against Peter Fonda's biker gang.

I'd be damned to neglect the phenomenal Adrienne Barbeau as one of two Lamborghini babes showing their cleavage. Seeing her scenes reminds us that there is a God, and she made Farrah Fawcett look like a scarecrow.

Oh, yeah, that fight scene between the Cannonballers and the gang was actually pretty neat. Other standout action scenes include a plane landing in the street in order for Victor (DeLuise) to buy beer. Capt. Chaos in the home stretch of the race. Plenty of cars speeding on the pavement, not as stylized as the first Smokey and the Bandit or even the other aforementioned movies, but they're still loud, obnoxious and wacky.

The film could be better on the technical side, especially with certain voice-over dubbing and editing. Hal Needham flatly directed it, with zero style or substance. His emphasis was more on the comedy, and that's what matters here. But as usual, the outtakes are a riot.

I consider this movie to be fun and funny, I liked it as a child, and it's worth repeated watching. DA-DAN-DUNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!

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Hottest chick in the movie? CoffeeRules
Is the DVD version unedited? barretta20
Ahhh - the good old Lamborghini Countach... club-shred
did anyone else notice this?? **Spolier** will-237
The Ambulance Slade-4
Surprised this is so low jiminwatford
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