Grand Theft Auto (film)  

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-'''Paul Bartel''' (August 6, 1938 – May 13, 2000) was an [[United States|American]] [[actor]], [[writer]] and [[Film director|director]]. Bartel was perhaps most known for his 1982 hit [[black comedy]] ''[[Eating Raoul]]'', which he wrote, starred in and directed.+'''''Grand Theft Auto''''' is a 1977 American comedy [[road film]] directed by [[Ron Howard]]. It was Howard's feature film [[List of directorial debuts|directorial debut]], and it features Howard as Sam Freeman and [[Nancy Morgan]] as Paula Powers in the leading roles. The film takes its title from the crime [[motor vehicle theft|grand theft auto]], which is committed a number of times by several different characters.
-However, it was his groundbreaking short film, ''[[The Secret Cinema]]'', about a young woman named Jane who begins to suspect that her boyfriend and her office associates are conspiring to make a [[reality television|film of her daily life]] that is being shown in a downtown theater on Saturday nights, for the cruel amusement of the in-crowd. The film has often been imitated, notably by the [[Peter Weir]] picture, ''[[The Truman Show]]''+== Plot ==
 +Two young lovers, Sam Freeman ([[Ron Howard]]) and Paula Powers ([[Nancy Morgan]]), want to get married in [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]]. When Paula introduces Sam to her parents they dispute their daughter's decision: they see Collins Hedgeworth ([[Paul Linke]]), the son of a wealthy family in the area, as her fiancée. Paula's parents are rich as well and her father, Bigby Powers (Barry Cahill), is planning to run for [[governor]]. They think Sam is marrying Paula for the money and call him a [[wikt:gold digger|fortune hunter]], which Paula fiercely disputes.
-Paul Bartel also appeared as an actor in several films. Some of his other well known cameos were in the [[1975]] cult film ''[[Death Race 2000]]'', which he also directed, and the [[1979]] [[cult classic]] ''[[Rock 'n' Roll High School]]'' alongside ''Eating Raoul'' co-star [[Mary Woronov]]. Bartel made a short appearance in Tim Burton's short film Frankenweenie as Victor's science teacher.+Sam is thrown off the premises and Paula is sent to her room. She escapes through the window, steals her parents' [[Rolls-Royce car|Rolls-Royce]], picks up Sam and hits the road: this is the beginning of two runaway lovers in a wild explosive [[car chase]] and race towards Las Vegas. As news of their [[Elopement (marriage)|elopement]] spreads, several people start off after them to try to stop the fleeing couple.
-Bartel directed ten movies, mostly low-budget comedies that he was hired to direct after the success of ''Eating Raoul''. He sometimes contributed to the writing of these movies as well. A typical Bartel film of this period stars one or more "B-list" celebrities, includes modest sexual content (often presented ironically), a song and dance routine, and a cameo by Bartel himself.+Paula's father, Bigby Powers starts the chase by arranging his helicopter. Collins Hedgeworth leaves his stable and starts chasing his love interest like mad. When he calls to the [[KTNQ|TenQ radio station]] – to DJ Curly Q. Brown ([[Don Steele]]) – he offers a [[United States dollar|USD]]$25,000 reward for the ones who can catch Paula and Sam.
 +As a result the chase becomes more and more chaotic as many people along and on the road try to stop the couple in order to claim the reward. A number of cars are wrecked and stolen, and a subsequent reward of $25,000 is offered for Collins Hedgeworth, who is wanted by the police for grand theft auto, after he stole a car.
-He also made many guest appearances on TV shows. Bartel died [[May 13]], [[2000]] of a [[myocardial infarction|heart attack]], following [[liver cancer]] surgery two weeks prior.+With so many cars following them, Paula and Sam turn onto small, country roads to try to lose their pursuers. He wants to head somewhere else to get married, but she is set on a Vegas wedding. Paula's father makes an emotional appeal to her via telephone, but she refuses to listen to him. As they approach Las Vegas, Sam begins to have doubts about Paula's reasons for eloping, and questions whether she is genuinely motivated by affection for him or a desire to spite her father. She persuades him that she does want to marry him.
-==Selected filmography==+
-*''[[Shelf Life (film)|Shelf Life]] (1993) +
-*''[[Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills]]'' (1989) +
-*''[[The Longshot]]'' (1986) +
-*''[[Lust in the Dust]]'' (1985) +
-*''[[Not for Publication]]'' (1984) +
-*''[[Eating Raoul]]'' (1982) +
-*''[[Cannonball (film)|Cannonball!]]'' (1976) +
-*''[[Death Race 2000]]'' (1975)+
-*''[[Private Parts]]'' (1972)+
-*''[[The Secret Cinema]]'' (1968)+
-==Filmography==+
-{|+
-|valign="top"|+
-*[[Hi, Mom!]] (1969)+
-*[[Utterly Without Redeeming Social Value]] (1969), ''see [[redeeming social value]]''+
-*[[Naughty Nurse]] (1969) +
-*[[Private Parts (1972 film)|Private Parts]] (1972)+
-*[[Big Bad Mama]] (1974)+
-*[[Death Race 2000]] (1975) +
-*[[Hollywood Boulevard (film)|Hollywood Boulevard]] (1976) +
-*Eat My Dust (1976)+
-*Cannonball! (1976)+
-*[[Grand Theft Auto (film)|Grand Theft Auto]] (1977)+
-*[[Piranha (1978 film)|Piranha]] (1978)+
-*[[Rock 'n' Roll High School]] (1979)+
-*[[Heartbeeps]] (1981)+
-*[[Eating Raoul]] (1982) +
-*[[White Dog]] (1982)+
-*Trick or Treats (1982) +
-*[[Heart Like a Wheel (film)|Heart Like a Wheel]] (1983)+
-*[[Get Crazy]] (1983)+
-*Not for Publication (1984)+
-*[[Frankenweenie]] (1984) +
-*[[Into the Night (film)|Into the Night]] (1985)+
-*[[Lust in the Dust]] (1985)+
-|valign="top"|+
-*[[European Vacation]] (1985)+
-*[[Chopping Mall]] (1986)+
-*The Longshot (1986) +
-*Killer Party (1986)+
-*[[Munchies (film)|Munchies]] (1987)+
-*[[Amazon Women on the Moon]] (1987) +
-*[[Shakedown (1988 film)|Shakedown]] (1988)+
-*Mortuary Academy (1988)+
-*[[Caddyshack II]] (1988) +
-*[[Out of the Dark (1989 film)|Out of the Dark]] (1989)+
-*[[Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills]] (1989) +
-*Pucker Up and Bark Like a Dog (1990) +
-*[[Far Out Man]] (1990) +
-*[[Gremlins 2: The New Batch]] (1990) +
-*Liquid Dreams (1991)+
-*[[The Pope Must Die]] (1991)+
-*Soulmates (1992) +
-*[[The Living End (film)|The Living End]] (1992) +
-*[[Desire and Hell at Sunset Motel]] (1992)+
-*Shelf Life (1993)+
-*Posse (1993) +
-*Grief (1993)+
-|valign="top"|+
-*Twin Sitters (1994)+
-*Not Like Us (1995)+
-*[[The Usual Suspects]] (1995)+
-*The Wacky Adventures of Dr. Boris and Nurse Shirley (1995)+
-*Number One Fan (1995)+
-*[[The Jerky Boys]] (1995)+
-*Love and Happiness (1995)+
-*The Elevator (1996)+
-*Skeletons (1996) +
-*[[Red Ribbon Blues]] (1996)+
-*[[Joe's Apartment]] (1996)+
-*[[Escape from L.A.]] (1996)+
-*[[Basquiat (film)|Basquiat]] (1996) +
-*Prey of the Jaguar (1996)+
-*[[Lewis and Clark and George]] (1997)+
-*[[Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss]] (1998)+
-*Melting Pot (1998)+
-*Dreamers (1999)+
-*Zoo (1999)+
-*Perfect Fit (1999) +
-*[[Hamlet (2000 film)|Hamlet]] (2000) +
-*Dinner and a Movie (2001)+
-|}+
 +The chase is gaining increasing coverage in the [[news media]], with live cameras following the chase. The pursuing cars become involved in a [[demolition derby]] (at the [[Victorville, Ca. Fairgrounds]]) leading to a massive pile-up. (A later chase scene was filmed at the intersection of Hwy 18 and Apple Valley Rd) in [[Apple Valley, Ca.]] The priceless Rolls Royce is totally destroyed, but Paula and Sam manage to escape. They eventually get married.
 +
 +== Cast ==
 +* [[Ron Howard]] – Sam Freeman
 +* [[Nancy Morgan]] – Paula Powers
 +* [[Elizabeth Rogers]] – Priscilla Powers
 +* [[Barry Cahill (actor)|Barry Cahill]] – Bigby Powers
 +* [[Rance Howard]] – Ned Slinker
 +* [[Paul Linke]] – Collins Hedgeworth
 +* [[Marion Ross]] – Vivian Hedgeworth
 +* [[Don Steele]] – Curly Q. Brown
 +* [[Jack Perkins (actor)|Jack Perkins]]- Shadley
 +* [[Paul Bartel]] – Groom
 +* Bill Conklin – Engle Hingleman
 +* Robby Weaver – Harold Hingleman
 +* [[Garry Marshall]] – Underworld Boss (as Gary K. Marshall)
 +* [[Leo Rossi]] – Vegas Muscle Chief
 +* James Ritz - Officer Norman Tad
 +* [[Clint Howard]] - Ace
 +* [[Pete Isacksen]] - Sparky
 +* [[Allan Arkush]] - Happy Clown
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Grand Theft Auto is a 1977 American comedy road film directed by Ron Howard. It was Howard's feature film directorial debut, and it features Howard as Sam Freeman and Nancy Morgan as Paula Powers in the leading roles. The film takes its title from the crime grand theft auto, which is committed a number of times by several different characters.

[edit]

Plot

Two young lovers, Sam Freeman (Ron Howard) and Paula Powers (Nancy Morgan), want to get married in Las Vegas. When Paula introduces Sam to her parents they dispute their daughter's decision: they see Collins Hedgeworth (Paul Linke), the son of a wealthy family in the area, as her fiancée. Paula's parents are rich as well and her father, Bigby Powers (Barry Cahill), is planning to run for governor. They think Sam is marrying Paula for the money and call him a fortune hunter, which Paula fiercely disputes.

Sam is thrown off the premises and Paula is sent to her room. She escapes through the window, steals her parents' Rolls-Royce, picks up Sam and hits the road: this is the beginning of two runaway lovers in a wild explosive car chase and race towards Las Vegas. As news of their elopement spreads, several people start off after them to try to stop the fleeing couple.

Paula's father, Bigby Powers starts the chase by arranging his helicopter. Collins Hedgeworth leaves his stable and starts chasing his love interest like mad. When he calls to the TenQ radio station – to DJ Curly Q. Brown (Don Steele) – he offers a USD$25,000 reward for the ones who can catch Paula and Sam. As a result the chase becomes more and more chaotic as many people along and on the road try to stop the couple in order to claim the reward. A number of cars are wrecked and stolen, and a subsequent reward of $25,000 is offered for Collins Hedgeworth, who is wanted by the police for grand theft auto, after he stole a car.

With so many cars following them, Paula and Sam turn onto small, country roads to try to lose their pursuers. He wants to head somewhere else to get married, but she is set on a Vegas wedding. Paula's father makes an emotional appeal to her via telephone, but she refuses to listen to him. As they approach Las Vegas, Sam begins to have doubts about Paula's reasons for eloping, and questions whether she is genuinely motivated by affection for him or a desire to spite her father. She persuades him that she does want to marry him.

The chase is gaining increasing coverage in the news media, with live cameras following the chase. The pursuing cars become involved in a demolition derby (at the Victorville, Ca. Fairgrounds) leading to a massive pile-up. (A later chase scene was filmed at the intersection of Hwy 18 and Apple Valley Rd) in Apple Valley, Ca. The priceless Rolls Royce is totally destroyed, but Paula and Sam manage to escape. They eventually get married.

[edit]

Cast


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