Not sure if everyone got the word- but the movie that has unavailable for years (maybe ever on a legal non-bootleg copy) is finally available on DVD. I have been waiting to see this movie again for 34 years! It was NEVER rerun! I remember when it came out in late 1974 and there seemed to be a great wave of nostalgia at that time with American Graffiti not long before, then Happy Days came that season and then The California Kid as an NBC "Movie of the Week"! Think it was one of the only times I was allowed to stay up past 9pm since my parents were well aware my 8-year old life revolved around hot rods and the '50s. Maybe "Duel" came out that year too as another "MOTW"?- it was a good time for cars on TV it seemed. When we were tipped off a little while back that SO-CAL was going to be selling new DVDs of the movie I was understandably giddy- but when Pete told me that the DVD would include a printed "back history" on the coupe I was out of my head that I would have to wait! Added surprise that all copies come signed by Pete Chapouris- along with a signed thank you card from him inside with a SO-CAL decal- all for 20 bucks! (Just was at the magazine store today and shocked that all the mags have gone up to 6-7 bucks!!!) So really I would just like to share that excitement with you all and get all interested parties hooked up with a copy. Moderators let me know if a link needs to be added here for the classifieds- but I would like it if you could leave the original post here so people can discuss their memories of this movie. It was actually really good for the times- and had good talent like Martin Sheen, Nick Nolte, Michele Phillips and Vic Morrow. Grab a copy for $25- shipped (I'm covering a portion of the shipping- most charge $10-$12 for the postage) by paypaling jim@socalspeedshopla.com Thanks!!! Jim
that movie SUCKS!!!,j/k,,its realy COOL,....,, i am like you though in a way......i was born in 73(aw shit,shouldnt have said that,dude from SLC might get mad that i am stating my age!),,,but my whole life my mom & dad (mostly my mom) have always taked about that movie to me like i remebered it...my early 50's murray champion pedal car when i was a lil kid was painted up like it.........FINALLY ,a few months ago richard D sent me a DVD of it!!!!,really a TREAT to see it!
It was a rare treat. Probably a lot missed it- that's why I posted it. In case anyone doesn't know the story. Martin Sheen drives the hot rod and battles against a crooked small town deranged sheriff who pushed his brother off a cliff (like he has many other drivers). Was known for some good stunt driving where they actually burned the tires off The Kid- and the stunts were done by Hal Needham- the guy that did all the stunts a couple years later in all the Burt Reynolds movies- Smokey & the Bandit- Hooper...
It has Vic Morrow in it, cant be bad! Before I moved to the sticks away from cable I watched him on COMBAT!
man how cool !!!! i too remember staying up late when i was a kid to watch it as the movie of the week. i loved that movie, and have not seen it since then. one thing i heard about a year or 2 ago was that when they show the engine, they used the graffiti coupe's engine. does anyone know if that's true ? it's been so long since i've seen it, that i can't remember the engine shot in the movie.
i quess im the lucky one and got to see the movie when it came out , cool vid i will have to get a copy , the evil sheriff has a trick he pulls on hot rodders but im not gonna let the cat out of the bag.. thanks for the heads up jim..
It's true- they use the engine & dash for close ups as the Graffiti Coupe was available on the Universal lot. The Kids' engine (small block Ford) and interior were "too modern" for the vibe.
what ? being an MF'in ASSHOLE? or the part of running people of the road? wouldnt call either a TRICK....
i was wondering what he meant about secret, the sherrif was an asshole( no secret) running people off the road(not really a secret as thats the whole plot of the movie) or.... ,,,MAYBE the douche bag was talking about the SUPERSECRET engine under the hood,,,"OOOHHH"..hhahaa {douche bag= reply to every thread on the HAMB}
i see you been suckin germs dick again , why should i say anything about a movie some people have not seen .. go ahead and be an asshole ya fuckin germ jr wanna be..
whats a germ? whadda ya talkin about? i'm confused... hhaha,,FUCK YOU you fuckin harley davidson wanna be weekend warrior fag,... hahahha
Hey Jim back on topic....the California Kid I bought from the guy at the GNRSwith all the videos, two years ago was a bootleg one then? if so that would explain the shitty quality, I am in for a good copy from you then. John
sorry for "ruining" your thread JIm....the cpy i got from Richard D was a bootleg from "lost drive in " on SPEED,,(thanks again Richard D!) is the copy you have clean and uncut?
Sorry man, just don't need a "bar fight" in the middle of my post. It's a clean factory copy- that was never available before.
do we have to seperate you 2??, my wife got me a copy for my birth day watched 4 times allready oh yea for christmass she got me the California kid die cast coupe
That's pretty good! Didn't the Kid's car have 70's van side pipes on it....I haven't seen the movie in over 20 years, but remember as a kid thinking, "I don't think cars had those pipes in the 50's". Other than than, good flick...really liked "momma" Phillips in it, too!
When I was a kid I missed seeing it on TV, but I do remember the week it was broadcast TV Guide published an article about the movie showing how they did one of the stunts. If I remember correctly, it was how they put a small rocket inside a shoebox Ford and ran it up a ramp, and into a canyon. Anyone remember this? Better yet, anyone collect old TV Guides and have a scanner?
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