Stroker Ace

For other uses, see Stroker Ace (disambiguation).
Stroker Ace

Theatrical poster by Drew Struzan
Directed by Hal Needham
Produced by Hank Moonjean
Screenplay by
Based on

Stand On It (novel)
by

Starring
Music by Al Capps
Cinematography Nick McLean
Edited by
  • William D. Gordean
  • Carl Kress
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Universal Pictures
Release dates
 July 1, 1983 (1983-07-01)
Running time
 96 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $16.5 million
Box office $13 million (United States)

Stroker Ace is a 1983 American action comedy film, directed by Hal Needham and filmed in North Carolina[1][2] and Georgia. Burt Reynolds stars as the eponymous Stroker Ace, a NASCAR driver.

The co-stars were Jim Nabors, Loni Anderson, Ned Beatty, Parker Stevenson, and Bubba Smith, with appearances by many NASCAR drivers, such as: Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty, Neil Bonnett, Harry Gant, Terry Labonte, Kyle Petty, Benny Parsons, Tim Richmond, Ricky Rudd, Cale Yarborough, and announcers Ken Squier, David Hobbs, and Chris Economaki. The movie was filmed on location at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and the Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. The theme song was performed by Charlie Daniels.[3]

Burt Reynolds turned down the role of astronaut Garrett Breedlove in Terms of Endearment to do this film. The role went to Jack Nicholson, who went on to win an Academy Award. Reynolds said he made this decision because "I felt I owed Hal more than I owed Jim" but that it was a turning point in his career from which he never recovered. "That's where I lost them," he says of his fans.[4]

The movie was adapted from the 1971 novel Stand On It, an autobiography of fictional driver "Stroker Ace." The novel's joint authors, William Neely and Robert K. Ottum, based the book on actual events from the racing world but with their protagonist as the subject.

Plot summary

Stroker Ace is a popular race car driver from Waycross, Georgia, and (according to dialogue), a three-time champion, on the NASCAR circuit. An all-or-nothing man, he wins if he does not crash. He is arrogant and pompous, with no regard for the business side of his racing team. He also has an on-track, season-long rivalry with ambitious young driver Aubrey James (Parker Stevenson).

When he runs afoul of his current sponsor, Jim Catty (Warren Stevens) of Zenon Oil, by dumping a load of wet concrete on him, he has to find a new one. Fried-chicken mogul Clyde Torkel, along with his chauffeur, Arnold (Bubba Smith), and newly appointed director of marketing and public relations, Pembrook Feeny (Loni Anderson, a discovery and protege of producer Hugh Wilson), convince Stroker and his chief mechanic, Lugs Harvey, to sign up with him.

Overlooking his contract by not reading its specifics, Stroker begins a new life as the commercial face for the Chicken Pit fast-food restaurants. (The slogan on Stroker's car reads: "The Fastest Chicken in the South.") His contract proves to stipulate that he must do personal appearances, which include dressing up in a chicken suit—feet included.

Realizing that he is locked into a bad deal, Stroker devises a plan with Lugs to get out of it. Torkel is on to Stroker, though, and allows his antics because he sees the racer as his big ticket to regional fame by promoting the Chicken Pit franchise.

A ladies' man, Stroker tries to seduce the beautiful Pembrook, who is a Sunday School teacher, does not drink, and is a virgin. She spurns all of his advances until he learns to respect her views. One night, after getting her drunk on champagne, he removes her clothing and has a chance to take advantage of her, but decides against it.

Stroker is winning races under the Chicken Pit sponsorship and is in the running for the season-ending championship. At the beginning of the final race, Torkel is offered a deal to sell his franchise for a huge profit, as part of an elaborate scheme that Stroker and his friends have concocted. The catch is that if he wins the championship Stroker has to sell chicken for the next two years; if he loses is he out of the contract.

During the race Stroker is at odds with himself. He drops back in the race in an effort to lose, but his ego won't let him so he quickly begins moving back through the pack. Torkel, realizing that Stroker would rather lose than be bound by the contract, makes a public announcement that he is releasing Stroker immediately. He is unaware that Stroker is moving up through the field in an effort to win.

With the news that he is free from the contract, Stroker wins the championship in spectacular fashion by flipping his car over as he crosses the finish line. Torkel then finds that the lucrative offer for his chicken franchise is a fake, cooked up by Stroker and his friends.

Reception

The film was both a commercial and critical bomb. It received five Golden Raspberry Award nominations including Worst Picture, Worst Director, Worst Actress (Anderson) and Worst New Star (also for Anderson), winning one for Jim Nabors as Worst Supporting Actor.

Stroker Ace also got a 14% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 14 reviews.[5]

Comedian Robert Wuhl specifically mentioned Stroker Ace as an example when he said that "Burt Reynolds makes so many bad movies, when someone else makes a bad movie Burt gets a royalty."

Main cast

References

  1. ↑ "NC Film & TV Productions 1980–1989". North Carolina Film Office. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Race Country USA Popular Location For Hollywood". North Carolina Film Office. December 22, 2008. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  3. ↑ Stroker Ace at the Internet Movie Database
  4. ↑ Modderno, Craig (4 January 1987). "Burt Reynolds is the Comeback Kid". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, Calif. p. L6. Retrieved 2 July 2014.]
  5. ↑ Stroker Ace on Rotten Tomatoes

External links

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