Grand Theft Auto ** (1977, Ron Howard, Nancy Morgan, Elizabeth Rogers, Barry Cahill, Rance Howard, Paul Linke, Marion Ross) – Classic Movie Review 7108

Two eloping teenagers pinch a Rolls-Royce to get them to their wedding in Las Vegas in style in Ron Howard’s director debut.

Ron Howard and Nancy Morgan star in the 1977 action crime comedy Grand Theft Auto as two eloping teenagers – Sam Freeman and Paula Powers – who pinch Paula’s dad’s Rolls-Royce to get themselves to their wedding in Las Vegas in style.

But of course Grand Theft Auto does not come without consequences, as Paula’s angry parents (Barry Cahill, Elizabeth Rogers) and her jealous spurned suitor Collins Hedgeworth (Paul Linke) chase after the couple, along with a posse of reward seekers hoping for the $25,000 offered for Paula’s return.

In his director debut, Ron Howard (from TV’s Happy Days) directs himself as Sam Freeman in this high-revving and rumbustious 1977 Roger Corman-produced car-snatching teen movie, also written by Ron Howard and his dad, Rance Howard, who also appears as Ned Slinker.

Ron’s brother Clint Howard is also in the movie, as Ace, and so are two other well-known film directors, Paul Bartel and Garry Marshall. Marion Ross (also from TV’s Happy Days, as Marion Cunningham) also appears as Vivian Hedgeworth.

Also in the cast are Don Steele, Peter Isacksen, James Ritz, Hoke Howell, Lew Brown, Ken Lerner, Jack Perkins, Bill Conklin, Robby Weaver, Leo Rossi, Bobs Watson and Jim Begg.

Grand Theft Auto is directed by Ron Howard, runs 84 minutes, is made by New World Pictures, is written by Rance Howard and Ron Howard, is shot in Metrocolor by Gary Graver, is produced by Roger Corman, Jon Davison and Rance Howard, is scored by Peter Ivers and designed by Harry Wowchuk.

It cost only $602,000, and grossed $15,000,000 worldwide.

RIP Rance Howard, who died on 25 November 2017, aged 89.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7108

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