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Greased Lightning

  • 1977
  • PG
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
2.1K
YOUR RATING
Greased Lightning (1977)
Official Trailer
Play trailer2:07
2 Videos
75 Photos
DocudramaMotorsportActionBiographyComedyDramaSport

The true life story of Wendell Scott, the first black stock car racing driver to win an upper tier NASCAR race.The true life story of Wendell Scott, the first black stock car racing driver to win an upper tier NASCAR race.The true life story of Wendell Scott, the first black stock car racing driver to win an upper tier NASCAR race.

  • Director
    • Michael Schultz
  • Writers
    • Kenneth Vose
    • Lawrence DuKore
    • Melvin Van Peebles
  • Stars
    • Richard Pryor
    • Beau Bridges
    • Pam Grier
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.4/10
    2.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Michael Schultz
    • Writers
      • Kenneth Vose
      • Lawrence DuKore
      • Melvin Van Peebles
    • Stars
      • Richard Pryor
      • Beau Bridges
      • Pam Grier
    • 21User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
    • 57Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos2

    Greased Lightning
    Trailer 2:07
    Greased Lightning
    How the Best Racing Films Raise the Stakes
    Clip 4:37
    How the Best Racing Films Raise the Stakes
    How the Best Racing Films Raise the Stakes
    Clip 4:37
    How the Best Racing Films Raise the Stakes

    Photos75

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    + 68
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    Top cast27

    Edit
    Richard Pryor
    Richard Pryor
    • Wendell Scott
    Beau Bridges
    Beau Bridges
    • Hutch
    Pam Grier
    Pam Grier
    • Mary
    Cleavon Little
    Cleavon Little
    • Peewee
    Vincent Gardenia
    Vincent Gardenia
    • Sheriff Cotton
    Richie Havens
    Richie Havens
    • Woodrow
    Julian Bond
    Julian Bond
    • Russell
    Earl Hindman
    Earl Hindman
    • Beau Welles
    Minnie Gentry
    • Wendell's Mother
    Lucy Saroyan
    Lucy Saroyan
    • Hutch's Wife
    Noble Willingham
    Noble Willingham
    • Billy Joe Byrnes
    Bruce Atkins
    • Deputy Turner
    Steve Fifield
    • Deputy Drinkwater
    Bill Cobbs
    Bill Cobbs
    • Mr. Jones
    Georgia Allen
    • Mrs. Jones
    Maynard Jackson
    Maynard Jackson
    • Minister
    Danny Nelson
    • Wayne Carter
    Clara Dunn
    • Restaurant Owner
    • Director
      • Michael Schultz
    • Writers
      • Kenneth Vose
      • Lawrence DuKore
      • Melvin Van Peebles
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews21

    6.42.1K
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    Featured reviews

    angelo-14

    The courage of the Blackman

    This movie showed that. Nothing can hold you down. Not even color. Wendell Scott showed what a person can do. When the backs and prejudiced are up against the wall. I'm so proud of him I dont know what to do. I can view this movie over and over again.
    8super marauder

    Under rated, but one of Richard's best!

    If you're a race fan, you may not have heard of Wendell Scott. He was one of the most under rated race car drivers of all time, and for all of the wrong reasons. It really makes a person wonder how great he might have been if someone looked beyond the color of his skin.

    This movie captures that struggle Wendell must of felt. This movie also shows what a great actor Richard Pryor really could have been if he was cast in more serious rolls, instead of just comedies. Sure there there was some humor in this movie, but nothing like his later movies. Richard and Clevon Little played well off of each other. Maybe this is why this movie is all but forgotten about because this movie is somewhat out of character for Richard. Sure, it is not completely an accurate account of Wendell's life, but it is one best movies Richard Pryor ever made.

    So if you see it, don't expect a scream fest. But may I suggest that you see it just to see what a great actor, not comedian Richard Pryor was.
    foster_316

    The story about the man who broke NASCAR's Color Barrier

    Whenever you think about influencial people in African-American sports history, you mostly think of Jackie Robinson, but during the Civil Rights movement of the late 1950's and early 1960's, a young racer from Danville, VA quietly broke NASCAR's color barrier and that was Wendell Scott. I think Richard Pryor did an excellent job of portraying Wendell Scott in this film and showed what is was like to race in the South at that time (1950's-1960's). This film shows that anyone can do anything, regardless of their ethnic background. The real Wendell Scott's racing career was cut short due to a serious accident during a race in Talladega, Alabama in 1973. Where would some of today's African-American racing drivers be if Wendell Scott did not open the door? A must-see for racing fans in general.
    8BILLIII

    A REALLY SOLID 8+++

    It's not often I get to see a movie that isn't 1) unbelievably complicated in psychological meaning OR 2) unbelievably complicated in futuristic technology SO

    I found it GREAT ENTERTAINMENT, REFRESHING, POSITIVE, AND most of all CLEAN, HEALTHY FUN!

    This is the best I've seen Richard Pryor star in, and the real life Horatio Alger story is a real force for success motivation, even though I am a WASP.

    Only the jaded and/or mean spirited would turn this one down.
    t555bone

    One of the best stock car driver movies ever...

    ..seeing as how there aren't that many to begin with.This is one of the best if not thee best! Partly due to the fact that it's based on a true story.The rest is due to the action/racing and the acting.I feel this is one of Richard Pryors best perfomances,by far.I don't think many people remember this movie due to this not by a Pryor type of comedy.It's more of an action/dramodey.

    Anyway,this is a must see for the NASCAR fan.You'll get a real glimpse of vintage NASCAR racing from the early 60's to the early 70's.Not to mention Earl Hindman aka "Wilson" of T.V.'s "Home Improvement",minus the fence.There's also a snappy soundtrack/theme song provided by one of the movies stars,Ritchie Havens.I swear you'll be humming or singing this song for a few days after you see this film.

    A good movie overall,I believe it was a sleeper in it's original release.Go,Wendell!!Go!!

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    Related interests

    Jesse Eisenberg in The Social Network (2010)
    Docudrama
    Christian Bale and Matt Damon in Le Mans '66 (2019)
    Motorsport
    Bruce Willis in Piège de cristal (1988)
    Action
    Ben Kingsley, Rohini Hattangadi, and Geraldine James in Gandhi (1982)
    Biography
    Will Ferrell in Présentateur vedette: La légende de Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill in Le stratège (2011)
    Sport

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Richard Pryor and Pam Grier met on the set of this movie. They fell in love, were involved for several years, and almost married. Richard's drug use almost ended their relationship. The day before they were to be married, Richard eloped with someone else, breaking Miss Grier's heart.
    • Goofs
      In many of the in-car shots during the races you can hear that they are manual transmissions being shifted, but the drivers never take their hands off the wheel to shift.
    • Quotes

      [searching for car parts in a scrap yard]

      Peewee: What'chyou looking for, Wendell?

      Wendell Scott: Some of this, some of that, some of everything. A universal joint.

      Peewee: Hmph. I wouldn't know a universal joint if it bit me.

      Wendell Scott: Well, one's about to bite you.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson: Rich Little/Richard Pryor/David Sayh/David Horowitz (1977)
    • Soundtracks
      Maybe Tomorrow
      Written by Fred Karlin & Bradford Craig

      Performed by Roberta Flack

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    FAQ15

    • How long is Greased Lightning?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 4, 1978 (Sweden)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Stock Car Race - Höllenjagd auf heißen Pisten
    • Filming locations
      • Athens, Georgia, USA(Athens Speedway - since abandoned)
    • Production companies
      • Third World Cinema
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 36m(96 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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