Smash-Up on Interstate 5

Last updated
Smash-Up on Interstate 5
GenreDrama
Based onExpressway novel by Trevor Dudley-Smith
Written byEugene Price
Robert Presnell Jr.
Directed by John Llewellyn Moxey
Starring Robert Conrad
Sian Barbara Allen
Buddy Ebsen
Vera Miles
Music by Bill Conti
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producer Edward S. Feldman
ProducerRoger Lewis
Production locations Interstate 210, La Crescenta, California
Cinematography John M. Nickolaus Jr.
EditorJohn A. Martinelli
Running time100 minutes
Production company Filmways Television
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseDecember 3, 1976 (1976-12-03)

Smash-Up on Interstate 5 is a 1976 American made-for-television disaster film directed by John Llewellyn Moxey. Loosely based on the novel Expressway written by Trevor Dudley-Smith under the pseudonym Howard North, the film chronicles the aftermath of a 39-car smash-up in California. [1] The Highway Patrol Office used in the film is California Highway Patrol Office 575 located at 2130 Windsor Avenue, Altadena, California 91001.

Contents

Plot

The film is set on Interstate 5 in California on the date of July 4, 24 hours before the summer vacation will officially commence. From the beginning, California Highway Patrol sergeant Sam Marcum (Robert Conrad) announces in a voice-over that a 39-car smash-up will be the cause of 62 injured people and fourteen deaths. A selection of the people involved are followed up to 48 hours preceding the accident. Other than Sam, who is chasing the murderer of his colleague on the highway, the film focuses on the elderly couple Al and June Pearson (Buddy Ebsen and Harriet Nelson), who are setting out to a beach resort to forget the fact that June is suffering from a terminal disease. Meanwhile, a woman named Erica (Vera Miles) is troubled by a gang of bikers including rebellious Burnsey (Sue Lyon), when she is rescued by young Dale (David Groh). In other sub-plots, Lee Bassett (Scott Jacoby) becomes a murder suspect when he is forced to pick up a young couple on the run, Penny and Pete (Bonnie Ebsen and George O'Hanlon, Jr.). Laureen (Donna Mills), a nurse with feelings for Sam, struggles with doubts of marrying him. Barbara Hutton (Sian Barbara Allen), a young mother, is panicked when she finds her husband Jimmy (Tommy Lee Jones), an officer, shot. All these stories come together when a massive car crash changes their lives for good.

43 hours before the accident, Erica meets with her colleague Trudy (Terry Moore) at a sleazy bar, where she is introduced to a free-spirited life style. She is picked up by a doctor, Danny (Herb Edelman), but leaves the bar without him, despite his attempts to flirt with her. Meanwhile, Penny and Pete rob a gas station, and a gunfight leaves Pete injured, and the gas station owner shot. Seventeen hours later, they steal a car and force the owner, Lee Bassett, to drive under gunpoint. Nearby, Sergeant Marcum holds a truck for speeding, driven by Randy (Barry Hamilton), and issues a warning to the owner, who is in the back having intercourse with a woman (Cindy Daly).

Two hours later, Erica is phoned by Danny, who is warning her that he will come over. To flee the home, Erica calls her daughter Susie, asking her if she can come over in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Pete shoots Officer Hutton when he attempts to hold him and Penny and Lee over. Unbeknownst to Pete, Hutton's wife Barbara has just got into labor and requests Jimmy's presence. Laureen, who assists the birth, is bothered by Sam yet again. She tries to explain that she does not want to marry a man with a dangerous job, considering her wish to start a happy family. The discussion is interrupted by the news of Jimmy's death, leaving Barbara heartbroken. Back at the car with the fugitive couple, Lee is able to steal Pete's gun due to Pete's severe injuries, and leaves only to steal another car, afraid that the police will account him as an accessory to murder because of his past as a criminal. Penny, who does not know Pete very well, convinces Lee to take her with him.

Sometime later, a group of bikers start to harass Erica on the road. Medical school drop-out and truck driver Dale witnesses the situation and starts a fight, which lasts until the bikers hear police sirens. The police, though, are more occupied with Lee's car, which they find with Pete's now lifeless body in it. At the beach house, June enjoys and appreciates her husband's presence, though secretly suffers from her disease and refuses to take her medicine. Instead, she walks into the ocean and attempts to drown herself, only to be rescued by her husband.

Just over 15 hours before the accident, Erica grows accustomed to Dale and spends the night with him in a motel, even though she has some doubts about his young age. Nearby, romance also blossoms between Lee and Penny when she tells him about her troubled childhood. The following morning, only an hour before the smash-up, June tries to explain her suicide attempt, while Erica breaks up with Dale, afraid of commitment. Dale initially accepts the situation and drives off, but soon makes a U-turn to follow Erica, declaring his love to her from his car. Meanwhile, Sergeant Marcum is informed which van fugitive Lee and Penny are driving and starts a massive chase. The smash-up soon ensues, killing Lee, Penny, Al, and Burnsey's biker boyfriend Andy (Joel Parks), and badly injuring Dale. When Laureen arrives at the scene, she realizes how much she cares for Sam and they reconcile while taking care of the injured people.

Cast

Reception

It was sixth-most popular prime time television program in the United States in the week of its debut. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buddy Ebsen</span> American actor and dancer (1908–2003)

Buddy Ebsen, also known as Frank "Buddy" Ebsen, was an American actor and dancer, whose career spanned seven decades. One of his most famous roles was as Jed Clampett in the CBS television sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies (1962–1971); afterwards he starred as the title character in the television detective drama Barnaby Jones (1973–1980).

<i>Grand Theft Auto</i> (film) 1977 American film by Ron Howard

Grand Theft Auto is a 1977 American road action comedy film starring and directed by, in his feature film directorial debut, Ron Howard, who also wrote the screenplay with his real-life father Rance Howard, who also co-starred in the film. As of 2023, this is the only film that Howard has both directed and starred in. The film takes its title from the crime grand theft auto, which is committed a number of times by several different characters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbara Hutton</span> American philanthropist and socialite (1912–1979)

Barbara Woolworth Hutton was an American debutante, socialite, heiress, and philanthropist. She was dubbed the "Poor Little Rich Girl"—first when she was given a lavish and expensive debutante ball in 1930 amid the Great Depression, and later due to a notoriously troubled private life.

<i>The Golden Spiders</i>

The Golden Spiders is a Nero Wolfe detective novel by Rex Stout. It was first published in 1953 by The Viking Press.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daz Eden</span> Fictional character from Emmerdale

Darren "Daz" Eden is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Emmerdale, played by Luke Tittensor. He made his first appearance in the show on 9 October 2003. Six years into his tenure on the soap, it was announced that Tittensor had been released from Emmerdale due to a conviction of grievous bodily harm. Following a meeting with the show's bosses, the decision was taken to terminate Tittensor's contract due to the serious nature of the charge and to allow him to focus on the court case.

Private Practice is an American medical drama television series that aired on ABC from September 26, 2007, to January 22, 2013. A spin-off of Grey's Anatomy, the series takes place at Seaside Health & Wellness Center and chronicles the life of Dr. Addison Montgomery, played by Kate Walsh, as she leaves Seattle Grace Hospital in order to join a private practice, located in Los Angeles. Private Practice also revolves around Addison's co-workers at Oceanside Wellness Center, and how they deal with patients and the practice while still finding time to live their everyday lives.

<i>The Brave One</i> (2007 film) 2007 American film

The Brave One is a 2007 vigilante action-thriller film directed by Neil Jordan and written by Roderick Taylor, Bruce A. Taylor and Cynthia Mort. The film stars Jodie Foster as Erica Bain, a New York City radio host whose fiance is beaten to death by criminals. Terrified for her safety, she buys a pistol and undergoes a personality transformation, becoming a vigilante. Detective Sean Mercer investigates the vigilante shootings, which lead him closer and closer to Bain. The film features Naveen Andrews, Nicky Katt, Zoë Kravitz, Mary Steenburgen and Luis Da Silva in supporting roles.

Feast II: Sloppy Seconds is a 2008 American horror comedy film and a sequel to the 2005 film Feast. The film was directed by John Gulager and written by Marcus Dunstan and Patrick Melton.

<i>Being Erica</i> 2009 Canadian comedy-drama television series

Being Erica is a Canadian comedy-drama television series that aired on CBC from January 5, 2009, to December 12, 2011. Created by Jana Sinyor, the series was originally announced by the CBC as The Session, but was later retitled Being Erica before debuting in 2009. It is produced by Temple Street Productions and distributed internationally by BBC Worldwide. The show stars Erin Karpluk as Erica Strange, a woman who begins seeing a therapist to deal with regrets in her life, only to discover a therapist who has the ability to send her back in time to actually relive these events and even change them.

<i>Gone</i> (novel series) Young adult book series by Michael Grant

Gone is a bestselling book series written by Michael Grant.

Episode 29 (<i>Twin Peaks</i>) 22nd episode of the 2nd season of Twin Peaks

"Episode 29", also known as "Beyond Life and Death", is the twenty-second and final episode of the second season of the American mystery television series Twin Peaks. Episode 29 served as the final episode of Twin Peaks for over 25 years, until Twin Peaks: The Return was aired in 2017. Upon its original airing in 1991, the episode was paired with episode 28 to form the second hour of what was then billed as a two-part series finale. The episode was written by the series co-creator Mark Frost, producer Harley Peyton and regular writer Robert Engels and was directed by series co-creator David Lynch, who rewrote parts of the script. It features series regulars Kyle MacLachlan, Michael Ontkean, Richard Beymer and Kenneth Welsh; and guest stars Frank Silva as Killer Bob, Michael J. Anderson as The Man from Another Place, Carel Struycken as The Giant, and Heather Graham as Annie Blackburn.

<i>Chattanooga Choo Choo</i> (film) 1984 American film

Chattanooga Choo Choo is a 1984 American comedy film starring Barbara Eden, George Kennedy, Melissa Sue Anderson and Joe Namath, directed by Bruce Bilson which was released on May 25, 1984. The film is inspired by the popular 1941 song "Chattanooga Choo Choo" originally recorded by the Glenn Miller Orchestra and featured in the 20th Century Fox film Sun Valley Serenade.

<i>Spiders 3D</i> 2013 American film

Spiders is a 2013 American 3D science fiction monster horror film directed by Tibor Takács. The film was released on February 8, 2013.

"The Song" is the nineteenth episode of the American television series Smash. It was written by Bathsheba Doran and directed by Michael Morris. The episode premiered on NBC on February 26, 2013, the fourth episode of Season 2. Derek and Tom help Veronica with her one-night-only concert, while Jimmy and Kyle, with Karen's encouragement, try to get a song submitted for the concert, and Julia and Peter struggle to work together to fix Bombshell's script.

"The Producers" is the twenty eighth episode of the American television series Smash. It was written by Becky Mode and directed by Tricia Brock. The episode premiered on NBC on April 27, 2013, the thirteenth episode of Season 2. An off-the-rail Jimmy threatens Hit Lists future, as Karen, Derek, Ana and Kyle join forces to try help him before things take a turn for the worse. Tom and Julia's partnership is at breaking point just as Ivy, Eileen, and the entire Bombshell team are running themselves ragged to outshine their competitors.

Three of a Kind is a 1936 American comedy film directed by Phil Rosen. It was made by Invincible Pictures Corporation which was later absorbed into Republic Pictures.

<i>Together</i> (Jerry Lee Lewis album) 1969 studio album by Jerry Lee Lewis and Linda Gail Lewis

Together is a duet album by Jerry Lee Lewis and his sister Linda Gail Lewis. The album was released in 1969 on the Smash record label.

<i>Happy Go Lucky</i> (1943 film) 1943 film by Curtis Bernhardt

Happy Go Lucky is a 1943 American comedy film directed by Curtis Bernhardt and written by Walter DeLeon, Melvin Frank, John Jacoby and Norman Panama. The film stars Mary Martin, Dick Powell, Betty Hutton, Eddie Bracken, Rudy Vallée, Mabel Paige and Eric Blore. The film was released on January 4, 1943, by Paramount Pictures. It might be best remembered now for Betty Hutton's energetic performance of the song "Murder, He Says," written by Frank Loesser and Jimmy McHugh.

<i>Backtrack</i> (film) 2015 film

Backtrack is a 2015 mystery thriller horror film written, co-produced, and directed by Michael Petroni. The film stars Adrien Brody, Bruce Spence, Sam Neill, Robin McLeavy, Malcolm Kennard, and Jenni Baird.

<i>Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces</i> 2014 feature-length compilation of deleted and extended scenes from Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me

Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces is a 2014 feature-length compilation of deleted and extended scenes from Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, a 1992 film directed by David Lynch and written by Lynch and Robert Engels. It was released over twenty-two years after the movie and the original series ended and three years before the revival, Twin Peaks: The Return, aired.

References

  1. Review Summary of Smash-Up on Interstate 5 (1976) The New York Times . Retrieved on 2011-07-28
  2. (9 December 1976). Top 10 TV Shows, Rio Grande Herald, p. 10.