Cannonball • Member Bonus

In our latest member bonus episode, we dive into Paul Bartel’s 1976 action comedy Cannonball, produced by Roger Corman’s New World Pictures. Made with a modest budget of $780,000, this unauthorized take on the real-life Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash features David Carradine as a recently released convict entering an illegal cross-country race from Santa Monica Pier to New York. Join us—Pete Wright and Andy Nelson—as we continue our Roger Corman celebration with this early entry in the cross-country racing genre.

Pete and Andy discuss how Cannonball struggles to create a genuine sense of cross-country scope, with the film seemingly transitioning directly from Los Angeles to New York with little in between. Despite this limitation, they find entertainment value in Paul Bartel’s character-focused approach, particularly his own memorable performance as a lounge-singing mobster.

The hosts explore how the film compensates for its modest racing sequences by focusing on its eccentric cast of characters. From David Carradine’s brooding anti-hero to the three women in their van and Beutell Morris’s car thief with questionable pickup lines, the film succeeds more as a character study than as a racing film.

Key Discussion Points:
• The surprising involvement of the Shaw Brothers Studio as co-producers
• Notable cameos including Martin Scorsese, Sylvester Stallone, Roger Corman, Don Simpson, Joe Dante, Allan Arkush, and Jonathan Kaplan
• The film’s influence on later cross-country racing films like The Cannonball Run
• Paul Bartel’s apparent disinterest in car racing affecting the final product
• The real history of the Cannonball Baker race and its enduring legacy
• The impressive array of vehicles featured, including the 1968 Dodge Charger, Pontiac Trans Am, De Tomaso Pantera, Chevrolet Corvette, and 1969 Ford Mustang
• How the film balances action with character development
• The odd subplot involving identical cars and mysterious motivations

The Legacy of Cannonball

While both hosts found entertainment value in the film, they agree it falls short of both serious racing films and pure chaos movies like Death Race 2000. However, they appreciate its place in racing film history and its influence on later, bigger-budget cross-country racing films.

We have a great time talking about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel—when the movie ends, our conversation begins!