Stroker Ace

Infobox Film
name = Stroker Ace


caption = Theatrical poster
director = Hal Needham
producer = Hank Moonjean
writer = William Neely
Robert K. Ottum (novel)
Hugh Wilson
Hal Needham (screenplay)
starring = Burt Reynolds
Ned Beatty
Loni Anderson
music = Al Capps
cinematography = Nick McLean
editing = William D. Gordean
Carl Kress
distributor = Universal Pictures
Warner Bros.
released = July 1, 1983
runtime = 96 min.
country = USA
language = English
gross = $13,000,000 (USA)
amg_id = 1:47418
imdb_id = 0086379

Stroker Ace is a 1983 action/comedy movie, filmed in North Carolina and Georgia, about a NASCAR driver played by Burt Reynolds. The co-stars were Jim Nabors, Loni Anderson, Ned Beatty, and Bubba Smith, with appearances by many NASCAR drivers. Cameos include: 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 Speedway and the Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. The theme song for the movie was performed by Charlie Daniels. [imdb title|0086379]

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 for his performance. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086425/trivia Tears of Endearment trivia] at the Internet Movie Database.]

The movie was adapted from the 1971 book "Stand On It", the autobiography of fictional driver "Stroker Ace". Authors Bill Neely and Bob Ottum, wrote this compendium of great stories of actual events in and around the racing world as if they had all happened to the driver they created (so they wouldn't face legal action for naming the real participants).

Plot summary

Stroker Ace is a popular race car driver on the NASCAR circuit who is famous because if he doesn't crash, he wins. He is arrogant and pompous, and doesn't have any regard for the business side of his racing team, which gets him into all sorts of trouble. When he runs afoul of his current sponsor by dumping a load of wet concrete on him, he has to go out and find a new sponsor for his racing team. Clyde Torkel, along with his chauffer, Arnold, and newly appointed Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Pembrook Feeny, convince Stroker and his chief mechanic, Lugs Harvey, to sign with him.

After overlooking an obviously extensive contract (one in which he doesn't read the specifics), Stroker begins his new life as the corporate sponsor for The Chicken Pit (the slogan on Stroker's car reads: The Fastest Chicken in the South). Part of his contract states that he has to do appearances, which include dressing up in a chicken suit. After realizing that he's getting the short end of the contract, Stroker devises a plan with Lugs and Pembrook to get out of the contract. Torkel, however, is on to Stroker and allows his antics because he sees the racer as his big ticket to regional fame by promoting the Chicken Pit franchise.

Stroker, an obvious ladies' man, is also falling for the beautiful Pembrook Feeny, who is admittedly a Sunday School teacher, doesn't drink, and is a virgin. She spurns all of his advances, but later learns to respect her views, even when he has a chance to take advantage of her and doesn't.

Meanwhile, Stroker is going out and winning races under the Chicken Pit sponsorship, and is in the running for the season-ending championship. Clyde tells Stroker at the beginning of the final race that he has a deal to sell his franchise (an elaborate scheme concoted by Stroker and his friends), that would let Stroker out of the contract. The catch is if he wins the championship he has to sell chicken for the next three years; if he loses he's out of the contract. During the race Stroker is at odds with himself. He decides to drop 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. Clyde, realizing that Stroker would rather lose than be bound by the contract, announces that he has let Stroker Ace out of his contract, unbeknownst to him that Stroker is moving through the field in an effort to win. With the news that he has been released from the contract, Stroker makes his move to win the race, eventually winning the championship in spectacular fashion (by flipping his car over as he crosses the finish line).

Main cast

ources

* [http://toto.lib.unca.edu/findingaids/films/films_wnc.htm Films shot in North Carolina]
* [http://www.advantagewest.com/content.cfm/content_id/152/section/film Western North Carolina Film Commision]
* [http://www.ncfilm.com/ NC Film]
* [http://www.city-data.com/forum/north-carolina/65427-movies-filmed-north-carolina.html Movies Filmed in North Carolina]

References

External links

*amg title|id=1:47418|title=Stroker Ace
*rotten-tomatoes|id=stroker_ace|title=Stroker Ace