Hot Rod (1979 film)

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Hot Rod
Hot Rod (1979 film).jpg
GenreDrama
Written by George Armitage
Directed byGeorge Armitage
Starring Gregg Henry
Pernell Roberts
Robin Mattson
Grant Goodeve
Music byMichael Simpson
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducerSam Manners
Production locations Alviso, California
Calistoga, Napa Valley, California
Baylands Raceway Park - 44333 Christy Lane, Fremont, California
Cinematography Andrew Davis
EditorsWilliam Neel
Carroll Sax
Camera setupPanavision Cameras and Lenses
Running time100 minutes
Production companies ABC Circle Films
Original release
Network ABC
ReleaseMay 25, 1979 (1979-05-25)

Hot Rod is a 1979 American made-for-television drama film directed by George Armitage and starring Gregg Henry and Pernell Roberts. [1]

Contents

Production

The film was made by ABC Circle, a division of ABC. Armitage says they just had a title, Hot Rod. In an interview with Nick Pinkerton, George Armitage stated, "And I went over there and talked to them, they said: 'Yeah, go ahead.' It was a street racer movie, that’s what I came up with, and we shot that in 15 days—TV was not generous with their time. We shot that up in Northern California, in Calistoga, wine country, and at the Fremont drag way." [2]

Armitage says the story is based on the life of a friend of his, Bob Edelson, who was a top mechanic and with whom Armitage used to race. [2]

Armitage used a number of actors who were under contract to ABC at the time. [2]

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References

  1. "Interview with George Armitage - Part One". Money Into Light.
  2. 1 2 3 Nick Pinkerton, "Interview with George Armitage", Film Comment 28 April 2015