Corvette Summer (1978)

Director:

Matthew Robbins

Writers:

Hal Barwood (writer)
Matthew Robbins (writer)

Release Date:

2 June 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy

Tagline:

And he thought fast cars were a thrill...

Plot:

Ken (Mark Hamill) is a high school student who dreams of driving Corvettes. His passion leads him to a perfect job as a Corvette mechanic...

Plot Keywords:

Shop Teacher | Tire Iron | Con Man | Summer | Love

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Mark Hamill	...	Kenneth W. Dantley, Jr.
Annie Potts	...	Vanessa
Eugene Roche	...	Ed McGrath
William Bryant	...	Plainclothes Police Lecturer
Richard McKenzie	...	Principal Bacon
Kim Milford	...	Wayne Lowry
Philip Bruns	...	Gil
Danny Bonaduce	...	Kootz
Albert Insinnia	...	Ricci
Jane A. Johnston	...	Mrs. Dantley
Stanley Kamel	...	Las Vegas Con Man
Clifford A. Pellow	...	Older John, Rosalind's Admirer (as Cliff Pellow)
Jason Ronard	...	Wayne's Chain Wielding Henchman
Brion James	...	Wayne's Carwash Henchman
Morgan Upton	...	New Owner of Vanessa's Van

Also Known As:

Stingray (USA) (working title)
The Hot One
California Highway (West Germany) (video title) [de]
Correrías de verano (Spain) [es]
Corvette - kuuma rauta (Finland) [fi]
Estate della Corvette, L' (Italy) [it]
Keravnos stin asfalto (Greece) [el]
Lato 'corvetty' (Poland) [pl]
Um Carro, um Rapaz, uma Garota (Brazil) [pt]
Zwei heiße Typen auf dem Highway (West Germany) [de]

Runtime:

105 min | Argentina:108 min (video)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Auto Shop, Burbank High School - 902 N. Third Street, Burbank, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Mark Hamill was badly injured in an automobile wreck in Malibu, California immediately prior to production. He bares the scars through Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)

Goofs:

Continuity: Ken's first night in Vegas, he goes to a little burger stand, in one shot the cup on the tray is upright, then, in the next shot, it is knocked over and finally, it becomes upright once again.

Quotes:

Vanessa: Hey, know what I got on under here?
Kenneth W. Dantley, Jr.: Paper towels?
Vanessa: Nothin'. My streaker suit.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Brain That Wouldn't Die (#6.13)" (1993)

Summer Lovin

I read several reviews about this movie before writing mine. I always do for some reason. The one common thread throughout a lot of the reviews is a point I definitely agree with. This movie oozes 70's cheese. Keep in mind, I happen to love the tackiness that only the 70's could offer.

Aside from that, this is a fairly simple, yet entertaining movie. Does it break any new ground? Certainly not. But how many movies do? Our main character, Kenny Dantley, builds and falls in love with a custom Corvette in his high school shop class. Not long after it is built the car is stolen. The cops tell Dantley and the rest of his shop class that the car most likely will never be recovered. Dantley refuses to accept this and heads to where he heard the car was last seen. Vegas. Along the way he falls in love with Vanessa, a wannabe hooker headed to Vegas to "go pro".

There is no doubt that this is a "B" grade drive in movie. That being said, if you are a "car guy" (as I am) this movie should prove to be worth watching. Anyone who has ever fallen in love with a car will understand Dantley's obsession. It's NOT "just" a car. Car guys know their obsessions are irrational, but that doesn't stop us. Call me crazy, but the attraction a car guy has to his favorite model isn't THAT much different than the one he feels to his dream girl.

Corvette Summer offers a few laughs and a return to a part of the 70's a lot would like to forget. The disco van scene. There are some familiar faces from the era and a great chase scene at the end of the movie. Not every movie is Oscar bound. Let's not forget a movies most important purpose is to entertain.