Cannonball (1976)

Cannonball Poster

Coy "Cannonball" Buckman (David Carradine) and his blazing red Pontiac enter the Trans-America Grand Prix, an underground road race spanning the continent in which there are no rules, no speed limits and no heed for the law. En route, Buckman jockeys with an international ensemble of racers for a $100,000 purse. But there are none more important than Cade Redman (Bill McKinney), his direct competition for a guaranteed spot on the elite Modern Motors racing team.

Film Summary
Cannonball is an amazing action-comedy movie directed by Paul Bartel and released in 1976. The title character 'Cannonball', played by David Carradine, is a parolee who chooses to take part in a prohibited roadway race throughout America.

Plot
Being a participant of the Trans-American Grand Prix-- a border-to-border, non-stop cars and truck race where anything goes-- Cannonball aims to win the $100,000 prize to improve his life. The competition is laced with risk and delights, each competitor using every trick in the book to win. Other racers include his harsh brother, a pop singer, a woman police, an Italian champion, a cheating better half, and a male with a corporate-sponsored van.

Drama and Peculiar Twists
Cannonball is not only racing versus these rivals but likewise versus his own checkered past. Fresh out of prison, he attempts to correct his past mistakes and discover redemption through the race. His primary rival, Modernelli (played by Bartel himself), is desperate to defeat him. In the middle of all this, the film is marked by strange twists and turns, providing it an offbeat edge. The stress rises as Cannonball's parole officer, Linda Maxwell (played by VerĂ³nica Anderson), is likewise on his path, trying to avoid him from reaching the finish line.

Action Packed Narrative
The story of Cannonball is loaded with thrilling car chases, spectacular crashes, and unforgettable stunts. In an age prior to CGI took control of, the makers of the movie use a genuine, no-holds-barred exhibition of automobile damage and chaos. As the rivals reach various parts of America, they experience various barriers and risky situations that keep the audience on the edge of their seats. Moreover, Cannonball has to face his own devils, including a psychological element to the physical obstacles.

Characters and Performances
The efficiencies are energetic, with Carradine bring the film as the haunted yet figured out Cannonball. Anderson delivers a strong efficiency as Linda Maxwell, bringing depth and stress to their cat-and-mouse dynamic. Other supporting characters add to the film's appeal with their special motivations and remarkable efficiencies.

Humor and Satire
Beyond the action and drama, the movie also accepts humor and satire. It satirizes the common vehicle motion picture tropes, using a fresh and entertaining take on the genre. The characters and scenarios are often overstated, leading to comical minutes that amuse the audiences.

Conclusion
As the race escalates, Cannonball needs to face his worst enemy - his own sibling. The film intensifies to an interesting fight that solidifies its location as a cult classic in the action-comedy genre. Regardless of the blatant lack of laws on their careless journey, the motion picture handles to communicate a message about personal development and redemption.

While it might lack the polish and skill of contemporary action movies, 'Cannonball' is unquestionably satisfying, maintaining an unique charm that has actually because ended up being hard to find. It's a look into a bygone period of filmmaking and an event of the happiness of pure, unadulterated speed, with the backdrop of a cross-country race offering a remarkable piece of 70s Americana.

Top Cast

  • David Carradine (small)
    David Carradine
    Coy "Cannonball" Buckman
  • Bill McKinney (small)
    Bill McKinney
    Cade Redman
  • Veronica Hamel (small)
    Veronica Hamel
    Linda Maxwell
  • Gerrit Graham (small)
    Gerrit Graham
    Perman Waters
  • Robert Carradine (small)
    Robert Carradine
    Jim Crandell
  • Belinda Balaski (small)
    Belinda Balaski
    Maryann
  • Judy Canova (small)
    Judy Canova
    Sharma Capri
  • Archie Hahn (small)
    Archie Hahn
    Zippo
  • Carl Gottlieb (small)
    Carl Gottlieb
    Terry McMillan
  • Mary Woronov (small)
    Mary Woronov
    Sandy Harris
  • Diane Lee Hart
    Wendy