1976 - THE GUMBALL RALLY, first in the trilogy

The first film based on the "Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash" which was an unofficial car race from New York to California, the chief legacy of this cross country race appears to be the inspiration for 3 films, 1 of them fairly decent the other 2 fairly terrible.

The Gumball Rally, has a couple of things going for it.  A screenplay by Leon Capetaneos who worked frequently with Paul Mazursky of all people and the director Charles Bail a stuntman and stunt coordinator.  Bail was never any kind of film stylist, but at least he knew how to stage and photograph action which Hal Needham couldn't do in The Cannonball Run. 

The Gumball Rally, has realist car stunts, something that probably would not even be attempted today.  Capetanos set up enough funny situations and characters that if they weren't gut busting  hilarious at least were funny unlike the Burt Reynolds film.  This film also has a decent cast who actually play characters unlike The Cannonball Run which was just a bunch of "B" grade actors mugging for the camera.

A well done car chase comedy.

105 minutes.