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The California Kid

  • TV Movie
  • 1974
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 14m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
The California Kid (1974)
ActionHorrorThriller

A deranged desert town sheriff has a murderous habit of forcing speeders to their deaths, until a young man with a souped-up hotrod arrives to possibly end it.A deranged desert town sheriff has a murderous habit of forcing speeders to their deaths, until a young man with a souped-up hotrod arrives to possibly end it.A deranged desert town sheriff has a murderous habit of forcing speeders to their deaths, until a young man with a souped-up hotrod arrives to possibly end it.

  • Director
    • Richard T. Heffron
  • Writer
    • Richard Compton
  • Stars
    • Martin Sheen
    • Vic Morrow
    • Michelle Phillips
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    1.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Richard T. Heffron
    • Writer
      • Richard Compton
    • Stars
      • Martin Sheen
      • Vic Morrow
      • Michelle Phillips
    • 21User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos25

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    Top cast20

    Edit
    Martin Sheen
    Martin Sheen
    • Michael McCord
    Vic Morrow
    Vic Morrow
    • Sheriff Roy Childress
    Michelle Phillips
    Michelle Phillips
    • Maggie
    Stuart Margolin
    Stuart Margolin
    • Deputy
    Nick Nolte
    Nick Nolte
    • Buzz Stafford
    Janit Baldwin
    Janit Baldwin
    • Sissy
    Gary Morgan
    Gary Morgan
    • Lyle Stafford
    Frederic Downs
    Frederic Downs
    • Judge J.A. Hooker
    Don Mantooth
    • Jack
    • (as Donald Mantooth)
    Joe Estevez
    Joe Estevez
    • Don McCord
    • (as Joseph Estevez)
    Britt Leach
    Britt Leach
    • Johnny
    Norman Bartold
    Norman Bartold
    • Howard
    Barbara Collentine
    Barbara Collentine
    • Edith
    Michael Richardson
    Michael Richardson
    • Charley
    Gavan O'Herlihy
    Gavan O'Herlihy
    • Tom
    Jack McCulloch
    • Pete
    Ken Johnson
    • Harlie
    Sandy Brown Wyeth
    Sandy Brown Wyeth
    • Leona
    • Director
      • Richard T. Heffron
    • Writer
      • Richard Compton
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews21

    6.31.3K
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    Featured reviews

    9geerhed

    Too Cool for Cool

    For those of us Baby Boomers who arrived too late on the scene to appreciate James Dean et. al., Martin Sheen showed us The Way in this great feature.

    The premise is easy enough: cool hood meets small town sheriff and All-Hell ensues, but the nuts and bolts of this movie enthrall the car nut in all of us.

    No, this isn't Casablanca, nor is it great Literature, but it IS a serious movie about cars, rebellion, and the genius that is Martin Sheen.

    Enjoy this and appreciate it for what it is, and for what Martin will become. I loved this movie growing up as a teen in the 70's, and you will too.
    10jesselim

    Second Only To "Bullitt"

    I was about thirteen when this movie came out on television. It is far superior in action than most movies since. Martin Sheen is excellent, and though Nick Nolte has a small part, he too provides excellent support. Vic Morrow as the villain is superb.

    When Sheen "tests the water" in his '34 Ford (COOL) along the mountainous highway it is spectacular!

    The ending is grand.

    I'm disappointed in the low vote this received. I figure the younger generations have more interest in much of the junk that is coming out these days.

    Good taste eludes the masses!
    5planktonrules

    You would have thought #200 would have been more interesting.

    "The California Kid" is the 200th installment of "The ABC Movie of the Week" and as such you would have thought that they would have shown one of their very best movies. Instead, it was a film with a few exciting moments...and a lot of padding. In essence, the film could have been condensed to half an hour!

    The story begins with Michael McCord (Martin Sheen) going through a crappy little town near the state line. The cops here lie in wait and the town is just a gigantic speed trap. But with one cop (Vic Morrow) it's more. He LIKES it when a speeder tries to outrun him and cross the state line...as he gives chase and runs them off the road to their death. He gets off on doing this. But despite ticketing McCord, McCord doesn't even try going full bore towards the state line...until the sadistic cop kills once again.

    This DOES sound exciting, doesn't it. Well, it isn't. The pace is the problem...it's just too slow, too padded and never really delivers.
    6GOWBTW

    Cool!

    Speed traps, they can be a pain. But for a sheriff in a California town, it can be lethal. Getting a ticket is bad enough, but what this lawman does, it's even worse. 1958, Clarksburg, California, there's a curve known for high speed traps. And if you're not careful, you will get popped. That's what happened to some Navy men one day. But rather than getting pulled over, they get run off the cliff by the sheriff. In comes a stranger in a 1934 Ford coupe hot rod who would later challenge the sheriff. It turned out that the stranger is the brother of the Navy sailor killed in the accident. And speaking of accidents, the sheriff lost his family in one which made him totally unhinged. The sheriff really crossed the line when he chased the brother of the town mechanic and ran him off the road. Now with two angry brothers, it's time for the ultimate showdown. After spending time adjusting his car to that curve, he really puts it to the test. As for that sheriff, just say justice has been served. Martin Sheen plays it cool, Michelle Phillips shined on as the café worker. And Vic Morrow did well as the "bully with the badge". A very cool TV movie there!
    9hammondn-3

    Whow! This is one cool car movie

    I caught this movie about 8 years ago, and have never had it of my mind. surely someone out there will release it on Video, or hey why not DVD! The ford coupe is the star.......if you have any head for cars WATCH THIS and be blown away.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Joe Estevez, who played the sailor driving the car (Don McCord), is the real-life younger brother of Martin Sheen, who played Don's brother in the movie.
    • Goofs
      The car Michael's brother was driving is a coupe with the small rear side glass, but the one in the junkyard was a sedan with the larger side glass.
    • Quotes

      Howard: Your Honor, I plead nolo contendere.

      Judge J.A. Hooker: That's the same as guilty. That will be a one hundred dollar fine or 10 days in the county jail.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Third Annual 'On Cinema' Oscar Special (2015)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 25, 1974 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • California Kid
    • Filming locations
      • Piru, California, USA(as Clarksberg 1958)
    • Production company
      • Universal Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 14 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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