| Stunts Unlimited | |
|---|---|
 Print ad | |
| Written by | Laurence Heath |
| Directed by | Hal Needham |
| Starring | Chip Mayer |
| Music by | Barry De Vorzon |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producer | Lionel E. Siegel |
| Cinematography | Michael Shea |
| Editor | Robert Phillips |
| Running time | 90 minutes |
| Production company | Paramount Television |
| Original release | |
| Release | January 4, 1980 |
Stunts Unlimited is a 1980 American action film about stunt performers directed by Hal Needham.
A group of professional stunt performers is hired by a former U.S. Intelligence agent to retrieve a stolen weapon from a dangerous arms dealer.
The title of the film is an homage to the real company Stunts Unlimited, a stunt group formed by Hal Needham, Glenn Wilder, and Ronnie Rondell in 1970. [1]
The TV movie was broadcast on ABC [2] at 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time on January 4, 1980, [3] as the pilot for a proposed series [2] [1] but the series was not picked up.
Upon the film's broadcast, the staff of People wrote that "the idea is ingenious" and "it ought to be a series". [4]
A stunt performer, often called a stuntman or stuntwoman and occasionally stuntperson or stunt-person, is a trained professional who performs daring acts, often as a career. Stunt performers usually appear in films or on television, as opposed to a daredevil, who performs for a live audience. When they take the place of another actor, they are known as stunt doubles.
Hal Brett Needham was an American stuntman, film director, actor, writer, and NASCAR team owner. He is best known for his frequent collaborations with actor Burt Reynolds, usually in films involving fast cars, such as Smokey and the Bandit (1977), Hooper (1978), The Cannonball Run (1981) and Stroker Ace (1983).
John Samuel Ingram was an American film and television actor. He appeared in many serials and Westerns between 1935 and 1966.
Charles Hugh Roberson was an American actor and stuntman.
Joe Gray was an American boxer, actor, and stuntman.
James Nelson "J. N." Roberts, is an American former professional off-road and enduro motorcycle racer and a film industry stuntman. In the 1960s and early 1970s, he was a dominant motorcycle competitor in American desert racing centered in the Mojave Desert of Southern California. At one point in his desert racing career, Roberts won 27 consecutive desert races, earning him the unofficial nickname of King of the Desert. Roberts was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1999 and, into the Off-road Motorsports Hall of Fame in 2009. He is also a member of the Hollywood Stuntmen's Hall Of Fame.
Stan Barrett is a Hollywood stuntman, stunt coordinator actor, and former stock car racing driver. His biggest act was however outside the movie world. On December 17, 1979, he attempted to break the land speed record, and the sound barrier in the Budweiser Rocket rocket-powered three-wheel vehicle. His calculated speed was 739.666 miles per hour,, which would have made Barrett the first man to break the sound barrier in a land vehicle. The attempt was surrounded by controversy and the speed was never officially recorded. Barrett also raced in 19 Winston Cup Series races between 1980 and 1990, posting two top ten finishes.
Fred Krone, also known as Krunch, was an American actor and stuntman who worked predominantly in Westerns.
Bob Woodward was an American actor of film and television. Best known for his role in The Range Rider (1951–1953).
Roderick Michael Gilbert was an American actor, stuntman and rodeo performer.
Gerry Crampton was a British stunt performer and stunt coordinator best known for his work in the James Bond film series.
Paul William Malvern was an American film producer, child actor and stuntman who produced more than 100 films.
Milan Smith was an American actor and stuntman. He was known for playing the role of Kyle in the American western television series Rawhide.
Ira D. Boyd Stockman was an American actor and stuntman. He was best known for his appearances in the American western television series The Adventures of Kit Carson, and for playing the role of Spud Oxton in the 1955 film The Man from Laramie.
Paul Stader was an American actor, assistant director and stuntman.
Robert Dee Henry was an American actor and stuntman. He starred in the 1946 serial film Hop Harrigan, in which he played Jackie Nolan.
George Frances Carey Sawaya was an American actor and stuntman. He was best known for playing the role of Detective Lopez on Jack Webb's Dragnet.
Clyde Woodard Houdeshell was an American actor and stuntman. He was known for playing the recurring role of assistant park ranger Hank Whitfield in CBS's television series Lassie. Howdy was also known for his appearances in the American western television series Cheyenne and as a double for actor Clint Walker.
Willard B. Koontz, also known as Bill Foster, was an American actor and stuntman.
Robert Hinkle, also known as Texas Bob, is an American actor, director, producer and stuntman.
