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5.1/10
636
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A small-town kid hears about the wild nights of cruising the boulevard in Van Nuys, California. He drives out there to check it out, and gets involved with drag racers, topless dancers and b... Read allA small-town kid hears about the wild nights of cruising the boulevard in Van Nuys, California. He drives out there to check it out, and gets involved with drag racers, topless dancers and bikers.A small-town kid hears about the wild nights of cruising the boulevard in Van Nuys, California. He drives out there to check it out, and gets involved with drag racers, topless dancers and bikers.
Minnie Summers Lindsey
- Nurse Bradley
- (as Minnie E. Lindsey)
Aesop Aquarian
- Biker
- (as Stephen Morrell)
Renee Harmon
- Mildred
- (as Rena Harmon)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
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I appreciate that having been born in 1946, I don't really have the right to review this film. My period is 1968/69, some ten years before this and boy does it show! Here, the car has already become God once more, the dancing looks more like aerobics and the music! Well, I got through prog rock and even punk but this disco sound was beyond me. Amazing though just how early the 'eighties' began because this really looks absolutely on the button for the eighties and yet was presumably made no later than 1978 if it came out in '79. As others have mentioned no plot to speak of, lots of very cute naked bodies, but, for me, too much motoring, too much fairground riding and too much of that music. For anyone ten years younger, however, probably absolutely essential viewing.
Not content with living in a small town a young man named "Bobby" (Bill Adler) decides to get in his van and drive to Van Nuys Boulevard where he hopes to find plenty of action. Along the way he meets people of a similar mindset which includes regulars on the drag racing circuit by the names of "Chooch" (David Hayward) and "Greg" (Dennis Bowen). He also meets a young woman named "Moon" (Cynthia Wood) who enjoys racing almost as much as he does. Unfortunately, neither of them like to lose and that is where the difficulty begins. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this low-budget comedy-action film started off pretty good but seemed to run out of gas after the first 20 minutes or so. There just wasn't enough comedy or high-quality action to keep things interesting. Likewise, the romantic scenes lacked passion and the drama needed significant improvement as well. That being the case, I have rated this movie accordingly. Slightly below average.
I grew up in Citrus Heights, California. started driving in 81, and if you're from anywhere near there and you would know about the cruise at the Sunrise mall and then Birdcage walk. The cruise started around 74-75 at the Sunrise mall, they (police and barriers) shut that down and it moved to the birdcage walk, from Sunrise Boulevard to Greenback lane, down Birdcage walk road in front of tower records and down by Toys "R" Us, I remember hearing on the news that an estimated 5000 cars were involved in the slow cruise. But lot of neighbors and stores complainEd and then there was a shooting at Burger King, so the cops shut it down in 1988-89. Most of the attendees just enjoyed the slow cruise, the chatting with friends. making new friends, but there are always those a-holes that ruin it for everybody.
Watching this movie sort of brought back memories of that, for the most part, it shows the antics of three couples who met during the cruise on Van Nuys Blvd. it's kind of a time capsule for the people that lived during this time, sadly our kids and their kids will never know what a slow cruise is like. Unless you make it to Reno, Nevada for hot August nights. But even that does not have the same feel. Been there, done that.
This movie has nothing but scenes stitched together BUT it's oddly fun and charming if only because its so aimless. Lots of nudity and clips of amusement parks and disco dancing make this a real treat for late 70's fans.
I came across this movie when it was playing on BRAVO, and since they don't show commercials I had no time to get distracted by something else. It's not a particularly good movie, but fun, and something about it kept me watching until 3 in the morning. Probably because I missed the beginning, so I never figured out which guy was the hick, as mentioned on the satelleite summary. That and Cynthia Wood. Wow she looks sweet in this movie. Writer/Director Sachs somehow manages to attach a subplot to no plot. It's an interesting 'slice of life' film that rates high on kitch, low on substance.
Did you know
- TriviaWilliam Sachs agreed to expeditiously write and direct the film based on a list of requirements from Crown International Pictures, including the Van Nuys cruising topic - which the studio wanted to cash in on before the craze ended - and a certain (and apparently generous!) amount of nudity. He wrote the script in only 7 days and the film was produced on an accelerated schedule. The gambit reportedly paid off, with the film being released before the cruising was halted by local law enforcement.
- GoofsFootage from the opening montage repeats before the end credits. Director William Sachs claims that the tight budget and shooting schedule precluded filming enough usable establishing footage to avoid repetition.
- Quotes
Officer Albert Zass: Why won't you help me?
Biker: Because you're The Man, man.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Le corbillard (1980)
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Van Nuys Blvd.
- Filming locations
- Center St & Via Fustero, Piru, California, USA(Opening scenes. Van takes right onto Via Fustero.)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
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