IMDb RATING
6.2/10
4.7K
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An eclectic group of people takes part in a secret, and illegal, cross country road race.An eclectic group of people takes part in a secret, and illegal, cross country road race.An eclectic group of people takes part in a secret, and illegal, cross country road race.
- Awards
- 1 nomination total
Norman Burton
- Lieutenant Roscoe
- (as Normann Burton)
Lázaro Pérez
- Jose - Rolls Royce
- (as Lazaro Perez)
Featured reviews
7wlb
Just seeing these cars when in 1976 they were still "cheap" enough to not simply be garage queens - a Mercedes-Benz 300SL roadster, 427 Cobra, Ferrari Daytona Spyder, E-Type Jag...
This is based loosely on a true race, Brock Yate's original Cannon Ball Run - in which, if I am not mistaken, was in 1971 and like the movie, left Manhattan but ended up in Redondo Beach. Yates and Dan Gurney won in a Ferrari Daytona Coupe at 35:54, and surprisingly a Chevy Van was second some 50 minutes later.
Like the actual race there was some contestants who had a specially rigged van with a huge gas tank that was supposed to take them across the country without need for a fill up - nothing said on bathroom breaks.
If you are looking for a movie with some deep social message this isn't the one but if you like cars (and listening to the wonderful noises of the Cobra and Ferrari) this is the movie...
This is based loosely on a true race, Brock Yate's original Cannon Ball Run - in which, if I am not mistaken, was in 1971 and like the movie, left Manhattan but ended up in Redondo Beach. Yates and Dan Gurney won in a Ferrari Daytona Coupe at 35:54, and surprisingly a Chevy Van was second some 50 minutes later.
Like the actual race there was some contestants who had a specially rigged van with a huge gas tank that was supposed to take them across the country without need for a fill up - nothing said on bathroom breaks.
If you are looking for a movie with some deep social message this isn't the one but if you like cars (and listening to the wonderful noises of the Cobra and Ferrari) this is the movie...
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.
This is the ultimate anti-Ralph Nader movie.
This movie should be must-see at driving schools, to show drivers-to-be the difference between pointing a car and actually DRIVING.
This movie truly has a sense of humor, as anyone who has owned a sports car can tell you.
From the classic "Lucas-the prince-of-darkness" electrical system of the Jaguar, to the (much cheered by us European car buffs) "corvette incident" (I do not want to give it away).
My favourite is, of course, the motorcyclist, who, if I recall correctly, does not say anything at all during the movie, but steals the show when he is on.
Great fun and several levels above the later copycat "Cannonball Run" series.
Particularly liked by good drivers with a sense of humour.
This movie should be must-see at driving schools, to show drivers-to-be the difference between pointing a car and actually DRIVING.
This movie truly has a sense of humor, as anyone who has owned a sports car can tell you.
From the classic "Lucas-the prince-of-darkness" electrical system of the Jaguar, to the (much cheered by us European car buffs) "corvette incident" (I do not want to give it away).
My favourite is, of course, the motorcyclist, who, if I recall correctly, does not say anything at all during the movie, but steals the show when he is on.
Great fun and several levels above the later copycat "Cannonball Run" series.
Particularly liked by good drivers with a sense of humour.
So, you've just spent thousands of dollars on a new home entertainment center and you want to take it for a spin around the block... what movie do you watch? 'Gumball Rally' would be a lovely choice. It's pure simple fun filled with raw visceral sights and sounds. Leave the serious films till later, this one will make you feel you've gotten your money's worth. Capturing the heart and soul of the real life "Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash" of the '70s, it's the tale of an unofficial, illegal, recurring race from New York to Los Angeles... anything goes. And what goes? Lapchick, the Mad Hungarian, trying to spend 36 hours non-stop on a motorcycle; a van filled with hundreds of gallons of fuel so they don't have to delay for fuel stops; Raul Julia as the Italian race driver Franco and his famous first rule of Italian driving. And in that over-filmed concrete gully known as the LA River there is the BEST sequence ever shot there when a Ferrari Daytona duels with a 427 Cobra... they didn't rely simply on trick shots and undercranked cameras, often the cars were really driven to their limits. Forget the later, far inferior 'Cannonball' movies; the 'Gumball' people actually knew their cars, and they'll have you craving a powerful engine, a full tank of gas, and the open road.
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
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
Did you know
- TriviaThe actors do their own driving.
- GoofsThe Cobra has visible front-end damage when it is on the interstate towards the end of the race. In the waterways, the front end is intact.
- Crazy creditsLinda Vaughn ... Emergency Plan Alpha
- ConnectionsFeatured in Hollywood's Hottest Car Chases (2010)
- How long is The Gumball Rally?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $4,500,000 (estimated)
- Runtime
- 1h 47m(107 min)
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
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