Die verrückteste Rallye der Welt

Upon first view.. one will chuckle at the 70's production value in the opening sequence.

Get past that.

Gumball is the best of the cross-country race genre. Much better than any film in the Cannonball series. Why? For one...It's just as funny. Filled with some great lines and chock full of fantastic car sequences. Turning the speakers up may make it sound like you are at a Busch race. Raul Julia steals the show as far as the characters. Every moment that he's on the screen you'll have a smile from ear to ear.

"55 is unsafe....it's slow enough to make you think you're safe....but it's fast enough to kill you" Many scenes were shot at breathtaking speeds WITH THE ACTUAL ACTORS....this really adds to the realism... and overall, every car sequence is eye-popping. Where the 70's production value detracts from the film in the opening sequence....it actually helps in others...like when it adds a lightheartedness to the absolutely awesome downstretch in the waterways with the music....and of course the cars making music to automobile fans...Ferrari Daytona zipping....427 cobra roaring... steam from the water flying off the engine block.

The actors had fun making this one...and I had fun watching...all 20 some odd times.

shhhhhhhh..... ..........GUMBALL! 71/100

The driving sequences through the early mourning streets of New York City are some of the best I have ever seen. There are no camera tricks. The drivers really are launching those incredible cars around the corners at full throttle. The movie is worth watching just for the incredible driving. So few films do it correctly, fortunately this is not one of those films.

The original film version of the coast-to-coast illegal Cannonball Run race is better than 1981's "Cannonball Run" but lacks the star power of that film. It does have a solid cast with Michael Sarrazin, Tim McIntire (who did the voice of Blood in "A Boy and His Dog"), Raul Julia, Gary Busey, J. Pat O'Malley, Nicholas Pryor, Vaughn Taylor, and Colleen Camp. Still, that's nowhere as cool or fun as Burt & Dom and Sammy & Dean (not to mention Jack Elam). This version of the illegal race unfolds pretty much the same as Cannonball, with a quirky group of diverse characters racing from the east to west coast in a series of comedic episodic events. Directed by Chuck Bail, this film features more exciting of chase sequences, with lots of effective low-angle car POV shots and some exciting editing, but the film's overall tone is just about as light as breezy as Cannonball. There's fun sequences involving the racers getting past police roadblocks and other obstacles, and Gary Busey doing a rebel yell is pretty irresistible. Overall, "The Gumball Rally" isn't a classic, but it's a fun breezy car chase film that you'll enjoy while watching, but will probably forget about 10 minutes after it's over.

Whenever this film is on TV, I always go out of my way to watch it. The script isn't over written, nor is the acting overdone as it had been well cast. Raul julia is excellent as as italian lothario who risks losing the race to make time with a groupie. Michael Sarazzin, here playing a bored tycoon, is always excellent in all the '70s movies he made. Whatever happened to him? Anyone out there know. The many stories and characters intertwine neatly, and don't outstay their welcome. Gary Busey also stars as a lame-brain racer, and later went on to portray many a villian in future films.

This film actually inspired a really rich kid to organise an annual gumball around Europe and America. So how's that for an endorsement?

Forget The Cannonball Run and it's straining to get laughs. Check this out if you've never seen it before.

If you're looking for non-stop racing, wild chases and more of the old good movies, check out "the Gumball Rally". It's fast and hilarious, it's old but it didn't lose its charm. My personal favorites were Michael Bannon and Samuel Graves and the car they drove - a beautiful, blue Shelby Cobra. To find out who wins is up to you - so watch it!

There's one negative point I have to add: during the movie, you will only see freaky, no-limit racing and a speed above 100 mph. Oh yes, enjoy the Ferrari 275 GTB. Beside the 250 GT California in FBDO, this is a unique car you won't see a lot in movies!