Grand Theft Auto (film)
Encyclopedia
Grand Theft Auto is a 1977
American
comedy
chase film directed
by Ron Howard
. It was Howard's directorial debut and features himself as Sam Freeman and Nancy Morgan
as Paula Powers in the leading roles. The film takes its title from the crime grand theft auto
, which is committed a number of times by several different characters.
. When Paula introduces Sam to her parents they dispute their daughter's decision: they see Collins Hedgeworth (Paul Linke
), the son of a wealthy family in the area, as her fiancée. Paula's parents are rich as well and her father, Bigby Powers (Barry Cahill
), is planning to run for governor
. They think Sam is marrying Paula for the money and call him a fortune hunter, which Paula fiercely disputes.
Sam is thrown off the premises and Paula is sent to her room. She escapes through the window, steals her parents' Rolls-Royce, picks up Sam and hits the road: this is the beginning of two runaway lovers in a wild explosive car chase
and race towards Las Vegas. As news of their elopement spreads, several people start off after them to try to stop the fleeing couple.
Paula's father, Bigby Powers starts the chase by arranging his helicopter. Collins Hedgeworth leaves his stable and starts chasing his love interest like mad. When he calls to the TenQ radio station - to DJ Curly Q. Brown (Don Steele
) - he offers a USD
$25,000 reward for the ones who can catch Paula and Sam.
As a result the chase becomes more and more chaotic as many people along and on the road try to stop the couple in order to claim the reward. A number of cars are wrecked and stolen, and a subsequent reward of $25,000 is offered for Collins Hedgeworth, who is wanted by the police for grand theft auto, after he stole a car.
With so many cars following them, Paula and Sam turn onto small, country roads to try to lose their pursuers. He wants to head somewhere else to get married, but she is set on a Vegas wedding. Paula's father makes an emotional appeal to her via telephone, but she refuses to listen to him. As they approach Las Vegas, Sam begins to have doubts about Paula's reasons for elopment, and questions whether she is genuinely motivated by affection for him or a desire to spite her father. She persuades him that she does want to marry him.
The chase is gaining increasing coverage in the news media
, with live cameras following the chase. The pursuing cars become involved in a demolition derby
, leading to a massive pile-up. The priceless Rolls Royce is totally destroyed, but Paula and Sam manage to escape. They eventually get married.
. Roger Corman
worked as an executive producer
, along with Rance Howard
, who also co-wrote the script with Ron.
, but critical reception was more mixed.
The film was released on Region One DVD in 1999, and re-released in 2006. A Region One edition was released in 2008.
1977 in film
The year 1977 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*In the Academy Awards, Peter Finch, Faye Dunaway and Beatrice Straight win Best Actor and Actress and Supporting Actress awards for Network....
American
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...
chase film directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
by Ron Howard
Ron Howard
Ronald William "Ron" Howard is an American actor, director, and producer. He came to prominence as a child actor, playing Opie Taylor in the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show for eight years, and later the teenaged Richie Cunningham in the sitcom Happy Days for six years...
. It was Howard's directorial debut and features himself as Sam Freeman and Nancy Morgan
Nancy Morgan
Nancy Karen Morgan is an American actress of film and television.Morgan is the daughter of Marjorie and Samuel A...
as Paula Powers in the leading roles. The film takes its title from the crime grand theft auto
Motor vehicle theft
Motor vehicle theft is the criminal act of stealing or attempting to steal a motor vehicle...
, which is committed a number of times by several different characters.
Plot
Two young lovers, Sam Freeman and Paula Powers, want to get married in Las VegasLas Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. When Paula introduces Sam to her parents they dispute their daughter's decision: they see Collins Hedgeworth (Paul Linke
Paul Linke
Paul Linke is an American actor, known for his role as Officer Artie Grossman in CHiPs, a television series about the motorcycle officers of the California Highway Patrol. Linke has worked in film and extensively in television, mostly portraying mild-mannered everyman roles.Linke was born in New...
), the son of a wealthy family in the area, as her fiancée. Paula's parents are rich as well and her father, Bigby Powers (Barry Cahill
Barry Cahill
Barry Cahill is a Gaelic football player for county Dublin. He plays his club football with St. Brigids in Castleknock and has also represented his province....
), is planning to run for governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
. They think Sam is marrying Paula for the money and call him a fortune hunter, which Paula fiercely disputes.
Sam is thrown off the premises and Paula is sent to her room. She escapes through the window, steals her parents' Rolls-Royce, picks up Sam and hits the road: this is the beginning of two runaway lovers in a wild explosive car chase
Car chase
A car chase is the vehicular pursuit of a suspect by law enforcement officers. Car chases are often captured on film and broadcast due to the availability of video footage recorded by police cars and police and media helicopters participating in the chase...
and race towards Las Vegas. As news of their elopement spreads, several people start off after them to try to stop the fleeing couple.
Paula's father, Bigby Powers starts the chase by arranging his helicopter. Collins Hedgeworth leaves his stable and starts chasing his love interest like mad. When he calls to the TenQ radio station - to DJ Curly Q. Brown (Don Steele
Don Steele
Don Steele, born Donald Steele Revert , was one of the most popular disc jockeys in the United States, from the middle of the 1960s until his retirement in May 1997...
) - he offers a USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
$25,000 reward for the ones who can catch Paula and Sam.
As a result the chase becomes more and more chaotic as many people along and on the road try to stop the couple in order to claim the reward. A number of cars are wrecked and stolen, and a subsequent reward of $25,000 is offered for Collins Hedgeworth, who is wanted by the police for grand theft auto, after he stole a car.
With so many cars following them, Paula and Sam turn onto small, country roads to try to lose their pursuers. He wants to head somewhere else to get married, but she is set on a Vegas wedding. Paula's father makes an emotional appeal to her via telephone, but she refuses to listen to him. As they approach Las Vegas, Sam begins to have doubts about Paula's reasons for elopment, and questions whether she is genuinely motivated by affection for him or a desire to spite her father. She persuades him that she does want to marry him.
The chase is gaining increasing coverage in the news media
News media
The news media are those elements of the mass media that focus on delivering news to the general public or a target public.These include print media , broadcast news , and more recently the Internet .-Etymology:A medium is a carrier of something...
, with live cameras following the chase. The pursuing cars become involved in a demolition derby
Demolition derby
Demolition derby is a motorsport usually presented at county fairs and festivals. While rules vary from event to event, the typical demolition derby event consists of five or more drivers competing by deliberately ramming their vehicles into one another...
, leading to a massive pile-up. The priceless Rolls Royce is totally destroyed, but Paula and Sam manage to escape. They eventually get married.
Production
The film was made on a budget of $602,000. It was filmed in and around Victorville, CaliforniaVictorville, California
Victorville is a city located in the Victor Valley of southwestern San Bernardino County, California. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2010 census, the city had a population of 115,903, up from 64,030 at the 2000 census.-Geography and climate:...
. Roger Corman
Roger Corman
Roger William Corman is an American film producer, director and actor. He has mostly worked on low-budget B movies. Some of Corman's work has an established critical reputation, such as his cycle of films adapted from the tales of Edgar Allan Poe, and in 2009 he won an Honorary Academy Award for...
worked as an executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
, along with Rance Howard
Rance Howard
Rance Howard is an American actor who has starred in film and on television.-Life and career:Howard was born Harold Rance Beckenholdt in Oklahoma, the son of Ethel Cleo and Engel Beckenholdt, a farmer. He changed his name to "Rance Howard" when he became an actor. He married Jean Speegle Howard...
, who also co-wrote the script with Ron.
Critical reception
The film was a commercial success, earning over $15 million at the box officeBox office
A box office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through an unblocked hole through a wall or window, or at a wicket....
, but critical reception was more mixed.
The film was released on Region One DVD in 1999, and re-released in 2006. A Region One edition was released in 2008.
Cast
- Ron HowardRon HowardRonald William "Ron" Howard is an American actor, director, and producer. He came to prominence as a child actor, playing Opie Taylor in the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show for eight years, and later the teenaged Richie Cunningham in the sitcom Happy Days for six years...
- Sam Freeman - Nancy MorganNancy MorganNancy Karen Morgan is an American actress of film and television.Morgan is the daughter of Marjorie and Samuel A...
- Paula Powers - Elizabeth RogersElizabeth RogersElizabeth Rogers was an American actress.Born Betty Jayne Rogers in Austin, Texas, she was famous for her roles in the 1960s television series Star Trek. She portrayed Lt. Palmer, the relief communications officer for Lt. Uhura in the episodes "The Doomsday Machine" and "The Way To Eden"...
- Priscilla Powers - Barry CahillBarry CahillBarry Cahill is a Gaelic football player for county Dublin. He plays his club football with St. Brigids in Castleknock and has also represented his province....
- Bigby Powers - Rance HowardRance HowardRance Howard is an American actor who has starred in film and on television.-Life and career:Howard was born Harold Rance Beckenholdt in Oklahoma, the son of Ethel Cleo and Engel Beckenholdt, a farmer. He changed his name to "Rance Howard" when he became an actor. He married Jean Speegle Howard...
- Ned Slinker - Paul LinkePaul LinkePaul Linke is an American actor, known for his role as Officer Artie Grossman in CHiPs, a television series about the motorcycle officers of the California Highway Patrol. Linke has worked in film and extensively in television, mostly portraying mild-mannered everyman roles.Linke was born in New...
- Collins Hedgeworth - Marion RossMarion RossMarion Ross is an American actress best known for her role as Marion Cunningham on the television series Happy Days from 1974 to 1984.-Early life:...
- Vivian Hedgeworth - Don SteeleDon SteeleDon Steele, born Donald Steele Revert , was one of the most popular disc jockeys in the United States, from the middle of the 1960s until his retirement in May 1997...
- Curly Brown