The Gumball Rally (1976)
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22% of critics liked it
(9 reviews) -
64% of users liked it
(4,330 ratings)
For better or worse, The Gumball Rally was the catalyst for a short-lived cycle of "illegal cross-country race" flicks. As thick-headed cop Roscoe (Norman Burton) does his best to stop the titular rally, a vast and varied contingent of contestants prepare to burn rubber from New York to… More For better or worse, The Gumball Rally was the catalyst for a short-lived cycle of "illegal cross-country race" flicks. As thick-headed cop Roscoe (Norman Burton) does his best to stop the titular rally, a vast and varied contingent of contestants prepare to burn rubber from New York to California. The best-looking of the racers is played by top-billed Michael Sarrazin; Franco, a delightfully narcissistic Italian road jockey played by Raul Julia, also competes. Producer/director Chuck Bail was formerly a stunt coordinator, which helps to explain the incessant car crashes and near-misses in the film. Surprisingly, the doggedly low-budget Gumball Rally was produced by First Artists, a company formed by such major stars as Dustin Hoffman, Barbra Streisand, and Steve McQueen for the purpose of creating "prestige" film fare. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Charles Bail
- Genres
- Action & Adventure, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Jul 28, 1976 Wide
- Studio
- WARNER BROTHERS PICTURES
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
Former stunt coordinator Chuck Bail produced and directed but he didn't have much of a plot.
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, Time Out
It relies almost exclusively on the exceptional stunt work, the plot only occasionally dropping into first gear for some boring and irrelevant dramatic stuff.
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Richard Eder, New York Times
People who pay money to see this effort to find knee-slappers in the 55 mile-an-hour speed limit will also make amiable fools of themselves.
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
Although we are all going to have the greatest difficulty even remembering the name of The Gumball Rally in three months' time, it is a pleasant, slick, inoffensive entertainment.
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
One of many coast-to-coast car-race films indistinguishable from the others.
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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Michael Sarrazin
as Bannon
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Norman Burton
as Roscoe
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Gary Busey
as Gibson
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John Durren
as Preston
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Susan Flannery
as Alice
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Harvey Jason
as Lapchick
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Steven Keats
as Kandinsky
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Tim McIntire
as Smith
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Joanne Nail
as Jane
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J. Pat O'Malley
as Barney
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Tricia O'Neil
as Angie
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Lázaro Pérez
as Jose
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Nicholas Pryor
as Graves
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Vaughan Taylor
as Andy
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Wally Taylor
as Avila
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Raul Julia
as Franco
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Edward Ansara
as Head Waiter
- Colleen Camp
- Rod Colbin
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Chuck Courtney
as Motorcycle Rider
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Ann Doran
as Mrs. Ontley
- Med Flory
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John Furlong
as Man on Freeway
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Whitey Hughes
as Corvette Team
- Casey Kasem
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John Lawlor
as Jake
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Gary Littlejohn
as Motorcycle Rider
- Ken Scott
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Larry Silvestri
as Corvette Team
- Joe Tornatore
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Wes Dawn
as Jaguar Team
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Eddy Donno
as Mel (Van Team)
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Gray Johnson
as Truck Driver
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Lou David
as Mugger
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Jack Oliver
as Oscar
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John Morton
as Jaguar Team
- David Hinton