Corvette Summer (1978)

Director:

Matthew Robbins

Writers:

Hal Barwood (written by) &
Matthew Robbins (written by)

Release Date:

2 June 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy

Tagline:

And he thought fast cars were a thrill...

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Car | Corvette | Love | High School | Prostitute

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Mark Hamill	...	Kenneth W. Dantley Jr.
Annie Potts	...	Vanessa
Eugene Roche	...	Ed McGrath
William Bryant	...	Plain Clothes 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 Car Wash Henchman
Morgan Upton	...	New Owner of Vanessa's Van
Jonathan Terry	...	Van Nuys Policeman (as Jon Terry)
Isaac Ruiz	...	Tico (as Isaac Ruiz Jr.)
Dick Miller	...	Mr. Lucky
William Pierson	...	Gas Station Salesman
Richard Altman	...	Teacher
Wendie Jo Sperber	...	Kuchinsky
MacIntyre Dixon	...	Counterman
Lisa Tollefson	...	High School Newspaper Photographer
Neil Thompson	...	Las Vegas Policeman
T.K. Carter	...	Car Washer Employee
Harlan Warde	...	Las Vegas Police Lieutenant
Patrick Burns	...	Hotel Doorman #1 (as Patrick J. Burns)
Michael R. Beard	...	The Flying Michaels
Alan Friedman	...	Hotel Doorman #2
Marion Scherer	...	Hooker
Nathan Jung	...	Bouncer
Richard Roat	...	Desk Clerk
Jan Burrell	...	Gil's Gas Station Customer
Paddi Edwards	...	Loop Gaffer (as Paddy Edwards)
David Byrd	...	Loop Cameraman
Bill Gentry	...	Mr. Borodino
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rio	...	(uncredited)
Ken Tipton	...	Irate Driver (uncredited)

Directed by
Matthew Robbins

Writing credits
Hal Barwood		(written by) &
Matthew Robbins		(written by)

Produced by
Hal Barwood	....	producer

Original Music by
Craig Safan

Cinematography by
Frank Stanley		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Amy Holden Jones		(as Amy Jones)

Casting by
Terry Liebling

Art Direction by
James L. Schoppe		(as James Schoppe)

Set Decoration by
Richard Spero

Makeup Department
Alan Friedman	....	makeup artist (as Alan I. Friedman)
Robert L. Stevenson	....	hairdresser (as Robert Stevenson)

Production Management
Jack Terry	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jim Bloom	....	assistant director
Buddy Joe Hooker	....	second unit director
Toby Lovallo	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Kent H. Johnson	....	property master (as Kent Johnson)

Sound Department
Willie D. Burton	....	sound
Michael J. Kohut	....	sound
William L. McCaughey	....	sound (as William McCaughey)
John Riordan	....	sound editor
Aaron Rochin	....	sound

Stunts
Bobby Bass	....	stunt coordinator
Janet Brady	....	stunts (as Janet Brady Gibbs)
Greg Brickman	....	stunts
Rip Clark	....	stunts
Tony Epper	....	stunts
James M. Halty	....	stunts (as Jim Halty)
Eddie Hice	....	stunts
Billy Hank Hooker	....	stunts (as Bill Hooker)
Hugh Hooker	....	stunts
Tommy J. Huff	....	stunts (as Tom Huff)
Ed Lang	....	stunts
Elizabeth Moorman	....	stunts
Bobby Bass	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bud Howell	....	key grip (as Buddy Howell)
Rexford L. Metz	....	photographer: second unit (as Rexford Metz)
Jack Shannon	....	still photographer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Aggie Guerard Rodgers	....	wardrobe (as Agnes Rodgers)

Editorial Department
David Ramirez	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Harry V. Lojewski	....	music supervisor
William Saracino	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Chris Haynes	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Pamela Alch	....	script supervisor
Regina Gruss	....	unit publicist
Richard G. Korkes	....	technical advisor
Dale M. Robbins	....	craft service (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
• Plotto Productions

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1978) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1980) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• MGM/UA Distribution Company
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1989) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)

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]
Keravnos stin asfalto (Greece) [el]
L'estate della Corvette (Italy) [it]
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:

Australia:M | Iceland:12 | 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:

Originally entitled "Stingray" until another movie with the same title was released first, probably to cash in on the advanced hype of Mark Hamill's first post-Star Wars (1977) movie role. Both flopped.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Ken is chasing the Vette on a bicycle, he hitches boosts in speeds by holding on to various cars along the way. At one point, a construction pickup is one of these "boosts." The driver had to honk and actually slow down for the stuntman on the bike to catch up and grab hold.

Quotes:

Principal Bacon: You, young lady, do you have an explanation to offer?
Vanessa: Sure don't, jack.
Principal Bacon: Well who does?
Vanessa: Ask Bozo.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Give Me the Night

A Lost Drive-In Classic

"Corvette Summer" might not be a perfect film, but it's a breezy, occasionally funny sleeper...the type of movie that used to pack them in at drive-ins all the time. Today, there's the added value of seeing Mark "Luke Skywalker" Hamill and Annie "Designing Women" Potts in very early roles before they became big stars. There's even an appearance by Danny (Partridge) Bonaduce. Good summertime entertainment!