The California Kid
Encyclopedia
The California Kid is a 1974 TV Movie starring Martin Sheen
, Vic Morrow
, Nick Nolte
, Michelle Phillips
, Gary Morgan, and Janit Baldwin.
, with a famous speed trap, in which a disturbed Sheriff Roy Childress (Vic Morrow
), whose wife and daughter were killed by a speeder, turns bad, with a habit of deliberately punishing speeders by pushing their cars off the mountain highway in his 1957 Plymouth Belvedere
.
Two Navy sailors on leave (one portrayed by Sheen's younger brother, Joe Estevez
), speeding to get back to base on time in a 1951 Ford Custom
, are pushed off to their deaths by the sheriff. Soon after, a stranger arrives, driving a hot rod
ded black 1934 Ford three-window coupe. He provokes Sheriff Childress into giving him a speeding ticket on purpose, establishes his credentials with the sheriff as a hot rodder and potential speed maniac, with an explicit reference to the 3-window's tested speed. He pays the ticket in front of Judge J.A. Hooker (Frederic Downs), and it is revealed he is Michael McCord (Martin Sheen
), older brother of one of the sailors.
Believing his brother's death was no accident, he does his own investigating, with the help of Maggie (Michelle Phillips
). He finds a stripped bumper from his brother's Ford at the impound yard, dented as if by pushbars. He checks out the lay of the land. Knowing how his brother was killed, he goes out to the Curve, testing its limits.
When Lyle Stafford (Gary Morgan), the younger brother of the town's auto mechanic Buzz Stafford (Nick Nolte
) is killed and his girlfriend Sissy (Janit Baldwin) badly injured by the sheriff after the duo go for a drive in a 1955 Mercury, McCord sees the pushbars on the sheriff's car. When Buzz wants to kill the sheriff for revenge, McCord persuades him not to. Then the sheriff tries to run McCord out of town, and the stage is set for the climactic duel.
McCord then runs the speed trap, challenging the sheriff, who tries to run him off the road. McCord is ready, knowing his car's limits for the curve, and the sheriff is a victim of his own obsession, going too fast to make the deadly turn. He drives off the cliff, while McCord manages to stop in the sand.
".
At the time Chapouris created the car, the customizing style he employed was at odds with most contemporary enthusiast thinking, and it was generally considered "old-fashioned" in a world where "resto-rodding" (a style of customizing which is sympathetic to the car's original design and specification) was the current trend. However, this old-time styling of the car made it perfect for its role in the movie, where—with a few tweaks (added dummy sidepipes and the substitution of '60's-era Halibrand wheels for more era-correct steel wheels and Ford hubcaps)--it provided the perfect example of a well-built '50s hot rod. Such was the impact of the car in its role in the movie, today the name "The California Kid" refers more to the car itself than the film among rodders.
For its role in the film, the words "The California Kid" were added just below the side windows on both sides in a script-type lettering, along with the flourish of an extra piece of small flame paintwork alongside it. The extra flames were quickly deleted after filming (they were rather unnatractive and not in keeping with the style of flames already applied to the car) though the script has remained ever since.
Martin Sheen
Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez , better known by his stage name Martin Sheen, is an American film actor best known for his performances in the films Badlands and Apocalypse Now , and in the television series The West Wing from 1999 to 2006.He is considered one of the best actors never to be...
, Vic Morrow
Vic Morrow
Victor "Vic" Morrow was an American actor whose credits include a starring role in the 1960s TV series Combat!, prominent roles in a handful of other television and cinema dramas, and numerous guest roles on television...
, Nick Nolte
Nick Nolte
Nicholas King "Nick" Nolte is an American actor whose career has spanned over five decades, peaking in the 1990s when his commercial success made him one of the most popular celebrities of that decade.-Early life:...
, Michelle Phillips
Michelle Phillips
Michelle Phillips is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She gained fame as a member of the 1960s group The Mamas & the Papas, and is the last surviving original member of the group.-Early life:...
, Gary Morgan, and Janit Baldwin.
Plot
The story takes place in 1958, and involves a town, Clarksburg, CaliforniaClarksburg, California
Clarksburg is a census-designated place in Yolo County, California. It is located on the Sacramento River, in the extreme southeastern corner of the county...
, with a famous speed trap, in which a disturbed Sheriff Roy Childress (Vic Morrow
Vic Morrow
Victor "Vic" Morrow was an American actor whose credits include a starring role in the 1960s TV series Combat!, prominent roles in a handful of other television and cinema dramas, and numerous guest roles on television...
), whose wife and daughter were killed by a speeder, turns bad, with a habit of deliberately punishing speeders by pushing their cars off the mountain highway in his 1957 Plymouth Belvedere
Plymouth Belvedere
The Plymouth Belvedere was an American automobile produced by Plymouth from 1951-1970.-1951–1953:Introduced on March 31, the 1951 Plymouth Belvedere arrived as a two-door pillarless hardtop. It was Plymouth's first vehicle of such design and was built in response to Chevrolet's Bel Air...
.
Two Navy sailors on leave (one portrayed by Sheen's younger brother, Joe Estevez
Joe Estevez
Joseph "Joe" Estevez is an American actor, director, and producer.He is the younger brother of actor Martin Sheen and the uncle of Emilio Estevez, Charlie Sheen, Renée Estevez, and Ramon Estevez.-Early life:...
), speeding to get back to base on time in a 1951 Ford Custom
Ford Custom
The Ford Custom is a car model name that has been used by the Ford Motor Company both in the United States and Canada from the 1930s to 1972....
, are pushed off to their deaths by the sheriff. Soon after, a stranger arrives, driving a hot rod
Hot rod
Hot rods are typically American cars with large engines modified for linear speed. The origin of the term "hot rod" is unclear. One explanation is that the term is a contraction of "hot roadster," meaning a roadster that was modified for speed. Another possible origin includes modifications to or...
ded black 1934 Ford three-window coupe. He provokes Sheriff Childress into giving him a speeding ticket on purpose, establishes his credentials with the sheriff as a hot rodder and potential speed maniac, with an explicit reference to the 3-window's tested speed. He pays the ticket in front of Judge J.A. Hooker (Frederic Downs), and it is revealed he is Michael McCord (Martin Sheen
Martin Sheen
Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez , better known by his stage name Martin Sheen, is an American film actor best known for his performances in the films Badlands and Apocalypse Now , and in the television series The West Wing from 1999 to 2006.He is considered one of the best actors never to be...
), older brother of one of the sailors.
Believing his brother's death was no accident, he does his own investigating, with the help of Maggie (Michelle Phillips
Michelle Phillips
Michelle Phillips is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She gained fame as a member of the 1960s group The Mamas & the Papas, and is the last surviving original member of the group.-Early life:...
). He finds a stripped bumper from his brother's Ford at the impound yard, dented as if by pushbars. He checks out the lay of the land. Knowing how his brother was killed, he goes out to the Curve, testing its limits.
When Lyle Stafford (Gary Morgan), the younger brother of the town's auto mechanic Buzz Stafford (Nick Nolte
Nick Nolte
Nicholas King "Nick" Nolte is an American actor whose career has spanned over five decades, peaking in the 1990s when his commercial success made him one of the most popular celebrities of that decade.-Early life:...
) is killed and his girlfriend Sissy (Janit Baldwin) badly injured by the sheriff after the duo go for a drive in a 1955 Mercury, McCord sees the pushbars on the sheriff's car. When Buzz wants to kill the sheriff for revenge, McCord persuades him not to. Then the sheriff tries to run McCord out of town, and the stage is set for the climactic duel.
McCord then runs the speed trap, challenging the sheriff, who tries to run him off the road. McCord is ready, knowing his car's limits for the curve, and the sheriff is a victim of his own obsession, going too fast to make the deadly turn. He drives off the cliff, while McCord manages to stop in the sand.
Cast and crew
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Martin Sheen Martin Sheen Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez , better known by his stage name Martin Sheen, is an American film actor best known for his performances in the films Badlands and Apocalypse Now , and in the television series The West Wing from 1999 to 2006.He is considered one of the best actors never to be... |
Michael McCord |
| Vic Morrow Vic Morrow Victor "Vic" Morrow was an American actor whose credits include a starring role in the 1960s TV series Combat!, prominent roles in a handful of other television and cinema dramas, and numerous guest roles on television... |
Sheriff Roy Childress |
| Stuart Margolin Stuart Margolin Stuart Margolin is an American film and television actor and director.-Television:Margolin is best known for his role on the television show The Rockford Files, playing Evelyn "Angel" Martin, the shifty friend and former cellmate of Jim Rockford... |
Deputy |
| Frederic Downs | Judge J.A. Hooker |
| Joe Estevez Joe Estevez Joseph "Joe" Estevez is an American actor, director, and producer.He is the younger brother of actor Martin Sheen and the uncle of Emilio Estevez, Charlie Sheen, Renée Estevez, and Ramon Estevez.-Early life:... |
Don McCord |
| Michelle Phillips Michelle Phillips Michelle Phillips is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She gained fame as a member of the 1960s group The Mamas & the Papas, and is the last surviving original member of the group.-Early life:... |
Maggie |
| Janit Baldwin | Sissy |
| Monika Henreid | Gerry |
| Sandy Brown Wyeth | Leona |
| Barbara Collentine | Edith |
| Nick Nolte Nick Nolte Nicholas King "Nick" Nolte is an American actor whose career has spanned over five decades, peaking in the 1990s when his commercial success made him one of the most popular celebrities of that decade.-Early life:... |
Buzz Stafford |
| Gary Morgan | Lyle Stafford |
| Don Mantooth | Jack (as Donald Mantooth) |
| Britt Leach Britt Leach Britt Leach is an American character actor. He is best known for his role in the films Goin' South, Fuzz, The Last Starfighter, Weird Science, The Great Outdoors, Baby Boom, and Silent Night, Deadly Night... |
Johnny |
| Norman Bartold | Howard |
| Michael Richardson Michael Richardson Michael John Richardson , a former Australian politician, was a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing the electorates of The Hills between 1993 and 2007 and Castle Hill between 2007 and 2011 for the Liberal Party of Australia.Richardson was educated at North Sydney Boys... |
Charley |
| Gavan O'Herlihy Gavan O'Herlihy Gavan O'Herlihy is an Irish actor.O'Herlihy was born in Dublin, the son of Elsa Bennett and Irish actor Dan O'Herlihy. In his youth, he was an avid tennis player, and even became Irish National Tennis Champion... |
Tom |
| Jack McCulloch Jack McCulloch Jack McCulloch was a Canadian speed skater and ice hockey player. He won several Canadian amateur speed skating championships and one world championship.ex-Sports career:... |
Pete |
| Ken Johnson Ken Johnson -Sports personalities:*Ken Johnson , defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals, played 1970–1977*Ken Johnson , defensive end for the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs... |
Harlie |
| Trent Dolan | Stranger |
Production
Pete Chapouris customized a 1934 Ford three window coupe, selected on sight by the producers. The '34 would become legendary among customizers and hot rodders. Incidentally, the close-up shot of the car's engine in the movie is not in fact that of the '34 coupe featured, but is a masked shot of the engine in another legendary film car, the '32 Ford from "American GraffitiAmerican Graffiti
American Graffiti is a 1973 coming of age film co-written/directed by George Lucas starring Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Paul Le Mat, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips and Harrison Ford...
".
At the time Chapouris created the car, the customizing style he employed was at odds with most contemporary enthusiast thinking, and it was generally considered "old-fashioned" in a world where "resto-rodding" (a style of customizing which is sympathetic to the car's original design and specification) was the current trend. However, this old-time styling of the car made it perfect for its role in the movie, where—with a few tweaks (added dummy sidepipes and the substitution of '60's-era Halibrand wheels for more era-correct steel wheels and Ford hubcaps)--it provided the perfect example of a well-built '50s hot rod. Such was the impact of the car in its role in the movie, today the name "The California Kid" refers more to the car itself than the film among rodders.
For its role in the film, the words "The California Kid" were added just below the side windows on both sides in a script-type lettering, along with the flourish of an extra piece of small flame paintwork alongside it. The extra flames were quickly deleted after filming (they were rather unnatractive and not in keeping with the style of flames already applied to the car) though the script has remained ever since.