source: Checkered Flag or Crash

"Checkered Flag or Crash" revolves around the Manila 1000, a grueling, multi-vehicle off road race that lasts three days. The man organizing the event is Bo Cochran (Larry Hagman of 'Dallas' fame), while the chief competitor is "Walkaway" Madden (Joe Don Baker, "Walking Tall"), who got that nickname because he's always been able to walk away from crashes in the past. Susan Sarandon ("The Rocky Horror Picture Show") is the photojournalist who's been promised a ride in the passenger seat of Maddens' car. A strong bunch of stars - Sarandon is especially appealing - provide enough motivation to check out this car chase & car crash action flick. While it's ultimately nothing truly special, the Filipino setting does give it *some* distinction; the scenery is enjoyable, and looks good photographed in the 2.35:1 aspect ratio. First rate second unit work, a decent number of laughs, and a catchy theme song all help to keep this watchable. Real-life racing legend Parnelli Jones plays himself; other supporting cast members include Playboy Playmate Daina House (who acted with Sarandon in "The Great Smokey Roadblock"), Logan Clarke ("Sweet Sixteen"), Dick Adair ("Blind Rage"), and Bill Cross ("Blue Chips"). Tough guy Baker is amusing as the kind of fiercely competitive guy with a "win at all costs" attitude, while Alan Vint ("Macon County Line") does well as superstitious racer Doc Pyle. All in all, this should be acceptable entertainment for fans of this particular genre. The coin toss is indeed a comic highlight. Six out of 10.

Even though his character isn't as rich or powerful as J. R. Ewing, Larry Hagman plays him as manipulative and controlling as his "Dallas" chars. He's organized a race through the jungles of the Philippines, with Joe Don Baker as one of the main contestants and Susan Sarandon (post-"Rocky Horror"/pre-super stardom) as a photo journalist along for the ride. It's the type of film that would be perfect for local drive-ins and a dust collecting VHS tape on video store shelves, pretty dull and humor free for a racing film. I found nothing outside of the cast interesting, totally disappointed by the lack of lavish jungle greenery. This is definitely the perfect film for fans of "The Dukes of Hazard" and those who attend tractor pulls, stock car races and donkey basketball games, but unless you're a huge fan of Sarandon, easy to pass on with no regret.

Reckless ace race car driver 'Walkaway' Madden (a typically robust and engaging performance by Joe Don Baker) decides to participate in a dangerous three-day off road race called the Manilla 1000 in the Philippines. Plucky photojournalist C. C. Wainwright (a spirited portrayal by Susan Sarandon) tags along for the wild ride. Director Alan Gibson keeps the familiar, but still enjoyable story zipping along at a brisk pace, makes nice use of the rugged terrain, maintains an affable easy'n'breezy tone throughout, and stages the rousing vehicular action with rip-roaring aplomb. The sturdy cast rates as another major asset: Larry Hagman as irascible harried promoter Bo Cochran, Alan Vint as laidback rival Doc Pyle, Parnelli Jones as the amiable race commentator, foxy Playboy Playmate Daina House as a feisty motorcyclist, and Logan Clarke as the mean Ringer. Super catchy and witty theme song, too. A really fun 70's drive-in romp.

I collect old Joe Don Baker movies, and this one was hard to find. But it is definitely worth what I paid for it! "Walkaway" (Joe Don) cares about nothing but winning. Susan Sarandon is delightful--I didn't even know she had been an actress back then. And Larry Hagman is always good--even when he's evil! It was great to see Parnelli Jones in a movie. In all the Joe Don Baker movies I've seen, the thing I really appreciate is that he never uses any profanity, and usually the other actors don't either. That is very refreshing these days! The best things about this movie are: 1) All the old Bugs 2) the race cars are also Bugs, just cut down 3) other old cars 4) Larry says "motorcicles" which is how I say it many times and 5) Joe Don's attitude. The whole movie is hilarious, yet serious in that all these people are so determined to win. I really loved it when Bo (Larry H) was talking about his NASCAR career, and mentioned Junior Johnson. There was one person in the race who was driving something that looked like a bus of some kind, with bells hanging from it, and every time this bus appeared, certain music would play. This added sort of a sub-plot to the movie. There is NOTHING bad about this movie!! You won't be disappointed! I think I paid about $20 for this movie, and it is WELL WORTH IT! Be sure and see it if you get the chance!

I searched long and hard for this movie, as I do for all of Joe Don's early work. This movie is magnificent! I watch it over and over. It's got Joe Don, Susan Sarandon, Larry Hagman and Parnelli Jones, and it casts Joe Don much better than a lot of his other movies. A GREAT thing about this movie is how creatively the actors talk--they NEVER use profanity, but come up with other ways to express what they are feeling. Any other "action" movie is full of foul language. Another great thing about it is all the Bugs and rail-jobs. Even Walkaway's car started out as a Bug. I've been a Bug person most of my life. And I LOVE the way Bo says "motor-cicle" instead of motorcycle. I say it that way myself very often. I guess the best thing about this movie for me is that it is set in the 1970's. That was a kinder, gentler time when Joe Don was young and SO gorgeous.

If you love cars and stunts is your movie.if you want Bergam or Fassbinder go away.😜

Good off road racing movie with shallow plot. Always a great rainy Sunday afternoon movie to have on when doing something else. Wish I could find a copy to watch again. Lots of big names when they were young. Still don't expect to find the meaning of life in this flick.

For a movie that is of no interest whatsoever, this has quite a lot going for it, especially in the acting department: Larry Hagman, Susan Sarandon, Joe Don Baker et al are relaxed and agreeable. But no one manages to channel the glib repartee into anything resembling a character, in part because their contributions are mere slivers of celluloid crammed between pictures of cars driving around. Which does make a depressing kind of sense, since it's a racing movie; what makes no sense at all, especially given some promising set-ups, is the total absence of kinetics or pyrotechnics. It's a total arbitrary mess, looks like it wasn't even storyboarded. The filmmakers revert to slow motion every single time anyone does anything other than drive in a straight line, but that doesn't fool anyone. The one punctuation mark of the whole movie comes at the climactic Baker-Alan Vint coin toss, and I laughed as hard as anyone, but a REAL movie has one moment like that per scene. Allow me to lodge a special protest on behalf of poor Daina House, who is required to regress from classic tough-chick to wilting sex object the moment some creep gives her a flower.

Don't listen to these others posters - this is a great film. How can you go wrong with the great Joe Don Baker, Susan Sarandon (although this is one of the few films in her early career where you don't get to see her breasts. and what breasts those are - the lemon scene in Atlantic City is probably the defining moment of this great actresses career!) larry Hagman doing an early riff on JR Ewing as an unscrupulous Off Road Racing promoter, and Parnelli Jones - as himself. I always thought Ms. Sarandon had bought up all the prints of this movie - but if you get a chance to see it - definitely give it a look.