Fast Charlie... the Moonbeam Rider
| Fast Charlie... the Moonbeam Rider | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Steve Carver |
| Written by | Ed Spielman Howard Friedlander |
| Screenplay by | Michael Gleason |
| Produced by | Roger Corman Saul Krugman |
| Starring | David Carradine Brenda Vaccaro L. Q. Jones R. G. Armstrong Terry Kiser Jesse Vint Noble Willingham Ralph James Bill Bartman David Hayward II |
| Cinematography | William Birch |
| Edited by | Eric Orner Tony Redman |
| Music by | Stu Phillips |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 98 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $444,334[1] |
Fast Charlie... the Moonbeam Rider is a 1979 comedy film starring David Carradine and Brenda Vaccaro and directed by Steve Carver.[2]
Plot
Charlie Swattle, a laid-back World War I veteran (and possibly a deserter), swindles his way into the First Intercontinental Motorcycle Race and its hefty $5,000 prize, set to start on July the 4th, 1919.
On his way to the big event, by reason, trick, and force, he reunites his crew of fellow veterans who like him well, but don't trust a word he says. He also meets Grace, who outsmarts him and gets the ownership of his Moonbeam Special motorcycle, so Charlie is forced to take her and her young son with him. Romance ensues, complicated because she doesn't tell the whole truth and he lies all the time.
At the race, Charlie must face the dangers of the road, cutthroat competitors, and the owner of a motorcycle company who will do absolutely anything for his team to win, including offering him a substantial bribe.
So, Charlie is faced with a choice. What will he be, a small-time crook, a big-time crook, or a real winner?
Cast
- David Carradine ... Charlie Swattle
- Brenda Vaccaro ... Grace Wolf
- L. Q. Jones ... Floyd
- R. G. Armstrong ... Al Barber
- Terry Kiser ... Lester Neal
- Jesse Vint ... Calvin Hawk
- Noble Willingham ... Pop Bauer
- Ralph James ... Bill Bartman
- Bill Bartman ... Young Man
- David Hayward II ... Cannonball McCall
- Whit Clay ... Wesley Wolf
- Jack Hunsucker ... Mechanic
Production
The film was originally written for Steve McQueen.[3]
Vaccaro was forced to make the movie under her contract with Universal. "I never would have done it otherwise," she said although she later said doing the movie was "great fun".[4]
Filming took place in July and August 1977 in Oklahoma.
Release
The film had a short drive-in run in the United States, starting on May 4, 1979, and afterward it was broadcast on public and cable television.[5][6] The film also had releases in Sweden, Finland and Portugal between August 1979 to October 1980, and later in video form in Germany.
Reception
Writer and filmmaker Peter Hanson wrote: "The character arc is predictable, and so is the outcome of the cross-country road race that gives the story its structure. Nonetheless, the film’s creative team (...) keeps things lively with an eventful narrative and flashes of colorful dialogue."[7] Award-winning playwright, screenwriter and film journalist Frank J. Avella wrote: "But the heart of this darkish comedy is Charlie's journey towards redemption and it's a mostly engaging one with a trio of terrific character actors (L.Q. Jones, R.G. Armstrong, Terry Kiser) providing support and Vaccaro excelling in the early part of the film (...) Carradine's performance is a delight and rather subversive. It's reminiscent of his own troubled film, "Americana" (...) Charlie is a deserter and a grifter, yet we sympathize with him. And a great deal of that is due to Carradine's onscreen charm."[8]
Home Media
The film was first released in VHS in the late 1980s; in 2022 was remastered and released in Blu-ray format by Kino Lorber, including audio commentary by film historian Eddy Von Mueller, theatrical trailer (newly mastered in 2K), and optional English subtitles.[9]
References
- ^ Fast Charlie... the Moonbeam Rider (1979) Box Office Mojo
- ^ Fast Charlie... the Moonbeam Rider at IMDb
- ^ Taylor, Tadhg (Oct 14, 2015). Masters of the Shoot-'Em-Up: Conversations with Directors, Actors and Writers of Vintage Action Movies and Television Shows. McFarland. p. 65. ISBN 9780786494064.
- ^ Mills, N. (Jun 4, 1978). "Honest, gutsy, and 38--that's Vaccaro". Chicago Tribune. ProQuest 171651275.
- ^ "Fast Charlie... the Moonbeam Rider (1979)". B&S About Movies. December 11, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
- ^ "Movie Timetable [Auto-Cine Marisa]". The Daily News. U.S. Virgin Islands. February 9, 1980. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
- ^ "Fast Charlie... The Moonbeam Rider (1979)". Every '70s Movie. November 24, 2015. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
- ^ "Carradine's Subversive Performance Propels 'Fast Charlie... The Moonbeam Rider'". Edge Media Network. March 21, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
- ^ "DIRECTED BY STEVE CARVER. FAST CHARLIE… THE MOONBEAM RIDER (1979)". Blu-ray.com. 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
External links
- New York Times Movies
- Fast Charlie... the Moonbeam Rider at the TCM Movie Database
- Fast Charlie... the Moonbeam Rider at the Internet Movie Database
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