Gas Pump Girls
Encyclopedia
Gas Pump Girls is a 1979 American
comedy
. Directed by Joel Bender, it stars Kirsten Baker as June. Following their high school
graduation
, she and her friends take over the operation of June's uncle's gasoline station, which faces stiff competition from the new, bigger, more modern station that has recently opened across the street
.
However, right across the street is another station, one led by a devious businessman. His goal is to put his rival out of business.
It seems like fate might be working in the villain's favor. Uncle Joe has been struck by a heart attack, and can no longer run the business. After Uncle Joe's doctor tells him he must sell the gasoline station that he's operated for more than twenty years, June decides to take over its management, and persuades her friends to work for her. The girls, serving as the station's gas pump attendants, wear abbreviated uniforms--halter tops and short shorts--one labeled "Regular" and the other "Super Duper" (for high-octane fuel). Michael and his male friends work as mechanics in the station's body shop. June also installs a public address system, over which she announces the station's services, using sexually suggestive phrases and double entendres. Business is soon booming, much to Mr. Friendly's chagrin.
The Vultures, a local motorcycle
gang
, vandalize June's station, but are soon recruited by her as she puts her feminine charms to work, and the toughs work as her tow truck driving team. (Ken Lerner
plays Peewee, one of the bikers.)
Mr. Friendly hires two mobsters to put June out of business--by killing her. The Mobsters are played by seasoned screen vets Mike Mazurski, and Joe E. Ross, best known for playing the loveable but bumbling police officer Toody on car 54, where are you. However, as they threaten her, she flips the switch on the PA system, alerting the others of her dilemma. Having returned from towing a vehicle, the Vultures hatch a plan: while the girls pace back and forth, topless, to distract the mobsters, the Vultures, waiting just outside the doorway to the station's office, will club the men over their heads with a board. First one, and then the other, mobster falls victim to the scheme, and is knocked unconscious.
Next, Mr. Friendly convinces the gasoline supplier not to deliver supplies to June's station. Without a product to sell, the station is out of business, until June finds a way to get more fuel to sell: they visit their competitor, asking to have the gas tank of Michael's car filled. As the vehicle is refueled, one of the boys, hidden beneath the car, syphons the gasoline into a storage tank, so that the car seems to hold much more fuel than it needs. By making two visits, using the same vehicle, the friends are able to obtain more regular and high-octane gasoline to sell at their own station. This scheme is successful, but only for the near term, and they are soon out of product again. They are all about to admit defeat until Mr. Friendly pays them an unfriendly visit to mock their attempt to compete against him, and June rallies them.
She intercepts the fuel deliveryman, who tells her to follow him if she wants to see where the president of the fuel company works, but warns her that he refuses to see anyone but oil sheiks.
June and her friends follow the deliveryman, but the security guard at the gate refuses to allow them to enter the company's property. June hits on a plan. The Vultures will don helmets, posing as a security force, and she and the other teens will dress as oil
sheiks. This time, the guard permits them to enter, and they are ushered into the president's office. June removes her disguise, and, attracted to her in her brief uniform, the president listens to her story concerning how she and her friends have attempted to save her ailing uncle's family business, despite the unfair competition that Mr. Friendly has posed, which includes his having hired hit men to murder her.
Outraged at Mr. Friendly's conduct, the president discontinues his franchise, and June takes over the Pyramid gas station and garage. Her uncle recovers and returns to manage the business, and June and her friends enjoy their post-graduation freedom.
Gas Pump Girls was filmed during the summer of 1979, and released in December of the same year.
Betty, played by Linda Lawrence, is the only one among June's female friends whose name either doesn't begin with the later J, or is named after a month.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
. Directed by Joel Bender, it stars Kirsten Baker as June. Following their high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
graduation
Graduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
, she and her friends take over the operation of June's uncle's gasoline station, which faces stiff competition from the new, bigger, more modern station that has recently opened across the street
Street
A street is a paved public thoroughfare in a built environment. It is a public parcel of land adjoining buildings in an urban context, on which people may freely assemble, interact, and move about. A street can be as simple as a level patch of dirt, but is more often paved with a hard, durable...
.
Plot summary
The film's plot follows the adventures of June (Kristen Baker who also starred in Friday the 13th part II) and her friends who after their senior year of high school, agree to help June's uncle's failing gas and service station.However, right across the street is another station, one led by a devious businessman. His goal is to put his rival out of business.
It seems like fate might be working in the villain's favor. Uncle Joe has been struck by a heart attack, and can no longer run the business. After Uncle Joe's doctor tells him he must sell the gasoline station that he's operated for more than twenty years, June decides to take over its management, and persuades her friends to work for her. The girls, serving as the station's gas pump attendants, wear abbreviated uniforms--halter tops and short shorts--one labeled "Regular" and the other "Super Duper" (for high-octane fuel). Michael and his male friends work as mechanics in the station's body shop. June also installs a public address system, over which she announces the station's services, using sexually suggestive phrases and double entendres. Business is soon booming, much to Mr. Friendly's chagrin.
The Vultures, a local motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
gang
Gang
A gang is a group of people who, through the organization, formation, and establishment of an assemblage, share a common identity. In current usage it typically denotes a criminal organization or else a criminal affiliation. In early usage, the word gang referred to a group of workmen...
, vandalize June's station, but are soon recruited by her as she puts her feminine charms to work, and the toughs work as her tow truck driving team. (Ken Lerner
Ken Lerner
Ken Lerner is an American television, stage and film actor who is perhaps most famous for playing "Principal Flutie" in the first episodes of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.-Early life:...
plays Peewee, one of the bikers.)
Mr. Friendly hires two mobsters to put June out of business--by killing her. The Mobsters are played by seasoned screen vets Mike Mazurski, and Joe E. Ross, best known for playing the loveable but bumbling police officer Toody on car 54, where are you. However, as they threaten her, she flips the switch on the PA system, alerting the others of her dilemma. Having returned from towing a vehicle, the Vultures hatch a plan: while the girls pace back and forth, topless, to distract the mobsters, the Vultures, waiting just outside the doorway to the station's office, will club the men over their heads with a board. First one, and then the other, mobster falls victim to the scheme, and is knocked unconscious.
Next, Mr. Friendly convinces the gasoline supplier not to deliver supplies to June's station. Without a product to sell, the station is out of business, until June finds a way to get more fuel to sell: they visit their competitor, asking to have the gas tank of Michael's car filled. As the vehicle is refueled, one of the boys, hidden beneath the car, syphons the gasoline into a storage tank, so that the car seems to hold much more fuel than it needs. By making two visits, using the same vehicle, the friends are able to obtain more regular and high-octane gasoline to sell at their own station. This scheme is successful, but only for the near term, and they are soon out of product again. They are all about to admit defeat until Mr. Friendly pays them an unfriendly visit to mock their attempt to compete against him, and June rallies them.
She intercepts the fuel deliveryman, who tells her to follow him if she wants to see where the president of the fuel company works, but warns her that he refuses to see anyone but oil sheiks.
June and her friends follow the deliveryman, but the security guard at the gate refuses to allow them to enter the company's property. June hits on a plan. The Vultures will don helmets, posing as a security force, and she and the other teens will dress as oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
sheiks. This time, the guard permits them to enter, and they are ushered into the president's office. June removes her disguise, and, attracted to her in her brief uniform, the president listens to her story concerning how she and her friends have attempted to save her ailing uncle's family business, despite the unfair competition that Mr. Friendly has posed, which includes his having hired hit men to murder her.
Outraged at Mr. Friendly's conduct, the president discontinues his franchise, and June takes over the Pyramid gas station and garage. Her uncle recovers and returns to manage the business, and June and her friends enjoy their post-graduation freedom.
Trivia
The film markes one of the final on screen appearances for Joe e. Ross, who died three years after the films release.Gas Pump Girls was filmed during the summer of 1979, and released in December of the same year.
Betty, played by Linda Lawrence, is the only one among June's female friends whose name either doesn't begin with the later J, or is named after a month.
Selected Cast
- June (Kristen Baker)
- Betty (Linda Lawrence)
- April (Sandy Johnson)
- January (Riki Marion)
- Jane (Leslie King)
- Butch (Steve Bond)
- PeeWee (Ken Lerner)
- Bruno (Joe E. Ross)
- Moiv (Mike Mazurki)