The Gumball Rally (1976)

It's fast funny outrageously illegal - and the granddaddy of the cross-country speed spectacles that have raced across movie screens in the past two generations. Put your pedal to the metal for The Gumball Rally. New York City is the starting point and this supersonic contest ends 2900 miles later in Los Angeles. In between director Chuck Bail (coordinator of many classic movie stunt sequences) and a crew of actors and stuntpersons treat you to a truly breakneck road comedy. Gary Busey plays a daredevil in a 600-horsepower Camaro. Raul Julia portrays an Italian Grand Prix champ who's also an incurable romantic in a fast Ferrari. Michael Sarrazin as the race's crafty overconfident organizer pilots a classic Cobra. Ready set zoom!Running Time: 107 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE UPC: 012569708600 Product Description

Wonderful Fun For Any Racing Fan

I first saw "The Gumball Rally" over twenty years ago and it's "First Rule of Italian Driving" was so memoriable that I've often quoted it to my wife, whenever she was being tailgated while driving. So, when I found that this movie had been released on DVD, I treated myself and bought it.

Based on a legendary road race, the characters try to drive non-stop from New York, NY to Long Beach, CA to see who can get there first.

I was pleased to find that the DVD image was sharp and clear and that the car engine sound has been enhanced beyond that which was available in movies of 1976 vintage. Well written, with racing drama and comedy mixed together that will endear the viewer to the characters.

A "must have" for any car racing fan. February 17, 2008

Gumball!! Gumball!!

Forget the silly Cannonball Run movies! The Gumball Rally has better cars, (Cobra)!! AND Better actors, Raul Julia! A must for car lovers and race lovers everywhere! January 20, 2008

Love this movie

Saw this movie when it first came out, and still love this remake of it. October 1, 2007

THE ACE PRESTON RALLY

The concept of this film was original when it first came out only to be copied by "Cannonball Run"1981 not to be confused with "Cannonball!!"1976 which featured David Carradine and starting a Dodge Charger. In "Cannonball Run" there was no Dodge Charger but at least you had Dom DeLuise as Captain Chaos who later on became Captain USA. Also during the making of "Gumball.." no one was injured unlike "Cannonball Run" were stunt persons were critically injured by the director's ridiculous stunts.
What makes "Gumball.." a good movie is definitely not the title, it could have been better selected., nor the cars cause none featured a 1970 Dodge Charger R/T but the character "Ace Preston" himself played by John Durran. Preston comes off as the coolest dude in the world only to fall apart at the seams in the end.
Some people falsely believe that I got my full name from this character which is not accurate. I actually got my first name from Ace Frehley, lead guitarist from the rock band "KISS" whose actual name is Paul Frehley. As for my last name it came from Captain Preston, a British Officer known for an incident called the "Boston Massacre", an event which led to the Boston Tea Party, and eventually the American Revolution which was made into a movie called "Revolution" 1985 featuring Al Pacino not "The Patriot" starring Mel Gibson but I prefer Pacino in Brian DePalma's film "Scarface" screenplay by Oliver Stone.
Other movies that are better than "Gumball.." or about the same are "Dirty Mary Crazy Larry" 1974 which featured a Yellow Dodge Charger. There is another movie called "Bullit" 1968 starring Steve McQueen featuring a Black Dodge Charger." James Taylor(The Driver), Dennis Wilson(The Mechanic), 55' Chevy, & Warren Oates(GTO) "Two-Lane Blacktop" 1971. "The Vanishing Point" 1971 perhaps the best movie but didn't feature a Dodge Charger but a 1970 Dodge Challenger driven by Kowalski. There are other great movies without Dodge Chargers like the "Mad Max" series to include "The Road Warrior" and movies with Dodge Chargers like "The Fast and The Furious". There was also some Don Johnson & Nick Nolte movie called "Return To Macon County" 1975 with a 55' Chevy or something like that. Another Nick Nolte movie called "The California Kid" 1974 featured Martin Sheen with a hotrod. But whatever the movie is it should have a Dodge Charger unless it is the Quentin Tarantino film "Grindhouse Presents: Death Proof" which features Kurt Russell as a psychotic stuntman targeting victims from behind the wheel of his modified 1969 Dodge Charger just as David Carradine and Sylvester Stallone did in "Death Race 2000" 1975. This is so wrong for a car that was built during an era when America landed a man on the moon and the New York Mets won the World Series but then this movie was filmed in California and didn't feature Ace Preston. August 31, 2007

What's behind me, she's not important!

What's not to like... classic cars, Raul Julia, a road race, Raul Julia... did I mention Raul Julia? Much better than any of the competitors like Cannonball Run. June 17, 2007

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