Eat My Dust (1976) User Reviews (22)

One of many fun Roger Corman car chase movies

[SinjinSB · 6/10 · 7 October 2002]

One of many fun Roger Corman car chase movies. This one stars Ron Howard, a rebel, who steals the fastest race car in town to impress a girl. To make things even worse, his father is the town sheriff. You won't find any deep meaning or hidden themes in this movie, but if you want a fun 70s car chase movie, this movie does the job. This is the movie that is indirectly responsible for launching Ron Howard's directing career on his next movie, Grand Theft Auto. Eat My Dust was a box office success for Roger Corman, so automatically they wanted a sequel. Instead of asking for more money, Ron Howard asked for the opportunity to write and direct the movie. The rest is history. Not a lot of big names in this movie, but Ron's brother and father are in it...as well as an unrecognizable Corbin Bernsen as the slow-witted gas station attendant.

**1/2 (Out of 4)

some good car action

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 20 January 2020]

Hoover Niebold (Ron Howard) is a car-nerd, and a prankster with his friends. His daddy is the law. They're at the car race. Snooty hot girl Darlene Kurtz is willing to ride with him if only he gets the red race car. So he steals the car and they go on a joy ride.

Ron Howard wanted to direct his own movie and Roger Corman required him to star in this movie before giving him his directorial debut, Grand Theft Auto (1977). This is a thin script. I don't particularly care about any of these characters. Ron Howard is still a good lead. The rest can be left behind. There are some fun car action but that's the only good aspect. It's a B-movie with a named actor.

Fun 70s Car-Chase Flick and... Luscious Christopher Norris!

[Wuchakk · 5/10 · 11 March 2014]

This is merely another one of those many 70s car-chase films. It's fun & mindless and features some beautiful rural California locations. Plus, how can you go wrong with the likable Ron Howard?

The film was a box-office success for producer Roger Corman, which naturally led to the demand for a sequel. But Ron Howard didn't want money to perform in the sequel, he just wanted the opportunity to write and direct it (not to mention act in it). Thus came the hugely popular "Grand Theft Auto," Howard's first REAL stab at directing. The rest is history.

This flick is merely okay, nothing special; what makes it worth purchasing for any red-blooded male is the supremely gorgeous Christopher Norris (yeah, it's a woman not a man). She's got some incredible God-given curves, to say the least, and she shows them off well in her skimpy hot-pants!

Of course, if you're a "Brokeback Mountain" fan there's always Ron Howard.

Simply.....

[daviddecoteau · 19 November 2007]

.....one of the best movies ever made. Period. I saw this film as a young teen and it inspired me to make movies which I have done for the past 20+ years. Eat My Dust is a hilarious action packed comedy that has to be seen to be believed. Roger Corman and Ron Howard have captured lightning in a bottle with this one. Charles B. Griffith had NEVER been given the credit he deserved. I have seen this film a few dozen times and it gets better with each viewing. Dave Grisman's score is unforgettable. Dave Madden is screamingly funny as "big Bubba Jones". Sh*t on a twisty stick EAT MY DUST is the perfect car action comedy of the 70s

You're Kidding, Right?

[resez · 1/10 · 27 March 2022]

This is a cross between "Dukes of Hazzard" and "Happy Days" with a little "Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry" thrown in. It fails as a car chase movie. It fails as a comedy. It just flat FAILS.

Go Opie Go!

[Squonk · 7/10 · 4 January 1999]

Hoover likes Darlene. Darlene likes riding in fast cars. Hoover likes driving fast cars. That's enough to get Eat My Dust off and running. Who would've thought that a Roger Corman produced car chase staring Ron Howard would be so much fun. One thing that this car chase comedy has working for it, that many do not, is that it's actually pretty funny. One funny scene involves a young Corbin Bernsen playing a slow minded gas station attendant. The driving sequences are also very well executed and photographed. One crash in particular at the end of the film makes you think the car is going to jump right off the screen. It's no Oscar winner, but who cares. Shut off your brain for awhile and let Opie do the driving.

fast cars beautiful girl lots of fun

[ltd1971 · 5/10 · 12 April 2008]

a fun boy wants girl car chase he wants to win her she loves the thrill of speed and he loves to drive very fast his dad (from memory ) was the local sheriff fun fast paced look back in time at the innocence of our youth lots of smash em up bash em up car chase scenes a modernised version of the key stone cops thrill to the speed of Ron Howard driving the fastest stock car in the county laugh as the deputies destroy their cars one after the other slowly come down to earth as boy (Ron Howard) realises it was not him but the car caution when looking for this film (in Australia) their was a film released on video with the same name and similar plot and contains some of the driving scenes from the original film Eat My Dust enjoy hope my memories of this film i last watched in the late seventies is accurate

Not One of the Best Chase Movies, But Enjoyable

[abbazabakyleman-98834 · 7/10 · 4 September 2018]

Ron Howard (fresh off of Happy Days) was offered a two-picture deal with producer Roger Corman for New World Pictures, Howard agreed only if his next film would be a film he would direct himself and the deal was made.

The movie itself is a standard low-brow car chase comedy and often too silly, but the script and direction by Charles Griffith is pretty good. The cinematography catches the car sequences impressively and the acting is good throughout, particularly by Warren Kemmerling as the cranky local sheriff.

Opie in high gear.

[cr-1761 · 3/10 · 19 December 2021]

Egad . . . What a terrible movie. Production and videography was good but the rest of it is strictly third-run at the drive in. It's one of those bad movies that isn't bad enough to be good (i.e. Laugh provoking) . . . Just bad.

Will Opie get the girl?

[bensonmum2 · 7/10 · 2 January 2009]

Hoover Niebold (Ron Howard) steals a race car to impress the girl of his dreams, Darlene (Christopher Norris). It seems that Darlene has a thing for fast cars and the guys who drive them. Hoover sets off with Darlene, but the law is in hot pursuit. And in Hoover's case, the law comes in the form of his father, Sheriff Niebold (Warren Kemmerling). Can Hoover evade his father and all of his friends, find enough gas, and not wreck his car all in the name of love?

I hadn't seen Eat My Dust since its initial release way back in 1976. Back then, my brother and I somehow convinced my dad to take us to see the movie. He slept through the whole thing while we had a great time with all the car crashes and comedy bits thrown in. So did it hold up 32 years later? You betcha! I had a great time re-watching it tonight. Eat My Dust combines just the right amount of over-the-top car chase scenes, surprisingly effective comedy elements (Dave Madden, aka Reuben Kincaid, is hysterical as Big Bubba Jones), an enjoyable mandolin-infused soundtrack, an appealing cast, snappy direction and cinematography, and some of the best looking hot pants and go-go boots I believe I've seen into one enjoyable package. I realize that Eat My Dust probably couldn't stand the light of a real critical appraisal, but I'm not a real critic. I watch movies for enjoyment and I enjoyed Eat My Dust.

One thing that really surprised me was how much I got out of the plot. The relationship between Hoover and Darlene was actually very well done. I admit it, there were moments that tugged at my heart. Sounds silly for a Roger Corman produced car chase movie, doesn't it? But you just really want to see a guy like Hoover get the girl. I don't use words like "sweet" very often to describe a movie, but that's what I thought about Hoover's feelings for Darlene. It made the ending that much more effective.

stupid and dull

[sandcrab277 · 5/10 · 9 February 2019]

Ron howard and his brother never made anything but stinkers...a piece of garbage obly morons would laugh at ...the peach fuzz was christopher norris showing her booty and raising hell

Entertaining 70's redneck car chase romp

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 1 June 2011]

Brash young hotshot Hoover Niebold (an extremely affable performance by Ron Howard) does his best to impress Darlene (an endearingly bubbly portrayal by fetching blonde Christopher Norris), a lovely lass he's smitten with. So Hoover decides to take Darlene on a wild joyride in a stolen souped-up hot rod while the inept local police led by Hoover's crusty father Sheriff Niebold (nicely played to the huffy hilt by Warren Kemmerling) pursue them all over the county. Writer/director Charles B. Griffith relates the slight, but lively and eventful story at a breathless breakneck pace, maintains an engaging lightweight tongue-in-cheek tone throughout, and stages the expected rubber-burning vehicular carnage with tremendous rip-roaring gusto. Moreover, Griffith presents the whole wacky affair with a likable screwball sensibility which makes this picture a perfectly harmless and mindless diversion (lots of automobiles get trashed, but nobody ever gets seriously hurt or killed), with the amusing kooky characters and the nonstop plethora of broad jokes -- a throwaway gag referencing "The Little Shop of Horror" is especially clever and funny -- ensure that this baby is a constant hoot to watch from start to finish. The cast have a ball with the broad material, with praiseworthy work by Dave Madden as good ol' boy stock car drive Big Bubba Jones, Clint Howard as the dippy George Poole Jr. Rance Howard as sturdy deputy Clark, Peter Isacksen as shotgun-toting yahoo Junior Hale, and Charles Howerton as the bumbling Deputy Jay Beah. Eric Saarinen's sunny cinematography gives this movie a pleasing bright look. David Grisman's jaunty bluegrass score further enhances the infectiously merry mayhem. Immensely enjoyable fluff.

Get ready to take the wheel!

[lost-in-limbo · 7/10 · 4 September 2006]

Hoover is a real speed freak and he steals the fastest race-car at a racetrack to impress Darlene. Who by the way has a thing for fast cars and whoever's behind the wheel. So Hoover takes her (and some unwanted passengers) on a cross-country trip with his father, Sheriff Harry and the rest of the police force hot on their heels.

Lets burn rubber in this tooting and yahoo of an outgoing car chase romp! This Roger Corman produced drive-in feature was a big hit for him and really did launch actor Ron Howard's filming career afterwards. The accelerating story is as simple as the outline suggests with a roller coaster-like ride that transcends into a domino effect of chaotic accidents and humorous outcomes. The elastically joyous script is streamlined with extremely witty one-liners and always snappy and colourful characters. Charles B. Griffith (Death Race 2000) wrote and directed this top-gear feature with a sprightly combination of amazingly smoking action and reckless fun, which does come together to equal quite a speed rush with a nice dose of irony. It never seems to take a back-step, even when it does run out of gas. Giving the flick a real lift was a pleasantly, rousing country music score and energetically crisp camera-work with inventive framing and show-stopping images. As with most Corman flicks, an all-studded cult support cast was on hand in small parts. With the likes Clint Howard, Paul Bartel and Corbin Bernson. Ron Howard fitted perfectly as the gawky, but charismatic Hoover and Christopher Norris is great as the speed buxom Darlene. Though the best of the lot would have to be Warren J. Kemmerling as Hoover's cranky and always uptight father, Sheriff Harry Niebold.

Just sit back and take it all in, while you listen to the engines purr in this boot-kicking and spun-out trip!

Eat My Dust

[BandSAboutMovies · 5/10 · 24 March 2023]

Eat My Dust perfectly fits the cultural zeitgeist at the end of the 70s, which matches the end of the 60s, as culture looked toward southern influences and maybe never stopped. During the 1970-71 season, CBS famously canceled all of its rural programming - Mayberry R. F. D., The Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction and Green Acres - despite it being highly rated but not as appealing to those that bought commercials. Ironically, by 1979, the network would return to the same shows it turned its back on when The Dukes of Hazzard became a ratings success.

Star Ron Howard had written a comedy with his dad Rance called Tis the Season. He already half the budget and if Corman put up the rest, he'd be in this movie and direct and star in another, which ended up being Grand Theft Auto.

Charles B. Griffith, who directed and wrote the movie, suggested the title as a joke. He'd know about car films, as he wrote Death Race 2000.

Hoover Niebold (Howard) is the son of the sheriff who is in love with Darlene (Christopher Norris, yes that's her name) but she's really in love with the car owned by Bubba Jones (Dave Madden). Hoover steals it and that's pretty much the movie. All the Howards - including Clint - are in this and it's more episodic humor than an actual narrative, but that's perfect for what the kind of movie it is. This is meant to play drive-ins and be just enough entertainment but not enough distraction for what the drive-in is really all about to younger audiences.

But yeah - back to my point. Hollywood will always return to being inspired by and courting southern audiences and those that want to be part of what that audience is all about.

Ron Howard feels the need, the need for speed.

[Hey_Sweden · 7/10 · 31 July 2016]

"Eat My Dust" is a broad, cartoony action comedy from the Roger Corman hit factory. Just one of a number of car chase / car crash movies he made during this period, it stars ever likable Ron Howard, at the height of his 'Happy Days' fame. Ron plays Hoover Niebold, a young man who's determined to impress a sexy rich girl, Darlene Kurtz (luscious blonde Christopher Norris). So he steals "Mabel", the prized vehicle of race car driver Big Bubba Jones (Dave Madden of 'The Partridge Family'). He, Darlene, and his entourage (including Rons' younger brother Clint) then partake in an epic pursuit that takes up most of the hour and a half long run time.

People who love high speeds, lots of energy, impressive camera work, and grand scale vehicular mayhem are certain to have a fine time with this one. It's not for you if you're looking for depth, meaning, character development, and a really meaty story. Fortunately, writer / director Charles B. Griffith, a longtime Corman collaborator, knows how to satisfy the target audience, and gives "Eat My Dust" quite a bit of humor as well. It definitely has a chaotic feel to it at times, and characters often don't so much speak their dialogue as yell it. David Grisman composed the infectious, flavorful music score, serving as the perfect accompaniment. The stunt work is first rate, with Barbara Peeters ("Humanoids from the Deep") and the second unit giving it 100% percent.

Many of the performances are appropriately broad. With so many of the adult characters coming off as boobs, it's not too hard to root for Hoover and company. Warren J. Kemmerling plays Hoovers' lawman father, and there's a fair amount of familiar faces among the supporting cast: Brad David, Peter Isacksen, Rons' actor father Rance (as one of the deputies), Paul Bartel, Corbin Bernsen (as a slow witted gas station attendant), and Beach Dickerson. Ron is as engaging as he's ever been, and Norris is tantalizing as the object of his lust.

Overall, "Eat My Dust" is good of its type.

Seven out of 10.

Fun Little Race Film

[gavin6942 · 6/10 · 28 December 2012]

From the winning team of Roger Corman and Charles Griffith, with Bill Paxton as set designer... we have a fun little film about a sheriff's son who has a race car and outruns every cop who tries to stop him. Throw in a girl named Christopher and you have a movie!

Ron Howard stars, with family Clint and Rance along for the ride. Allegedly, Howard only agreed to do this film after being given the chance to direct "Grand Theft Auto", catapulting his Oscar-winning career. Well played, Opie and Corman!

The film as a whole is fun if you like seeing kids outrun cops, but the Chow Fongs car chase scene is the best. How could the building be so fragile and poorly constructed? How can a car flip so easily? It is pure genius!

This is a good character piece with some worthwhile coming of age elements

[kevin_robbins · 7/10 · 18 May 2022]

Eat My Dust (1976) is a movie in my DVD collection that I recently watched on Tubi. The storyline follows a high school kid in the 70s who wants girls, fast cars and to have fun. He has the car, which helps him get the girl and leads to fun...but how much of the fun and girl is do to him versus the car?

This movie is directed by Charles B. Griffith (Smokey Bites the Dust) and stars Ron Howard (Andy Griffith Show), Christopher Norris (Wonder Woman), Clint Howard (The Waterboy), Rance Howard (Small Soldiers), Dave Madden (The Partridge Family) and Warren J. Kemmerling (Godzilla, 1985).

The cars in this are awesome. Even the cop cars are great. The cinematography is excellent and they use some fun fast-forward/rewind to capture stunts and cool car scenes. The comedic content is good and there are some fun circumstances throughout the picture. The acting by the Howard brothers and the supporting cast is perfect for the content.

Overall this is a good character piece with some worthwhile coming of age elements. I would score this a 7/10 and strongly recommend it.

A good one

[internationaldave · 10/10 · 12 February 2010]

Filmed in and around Piru, California. Every time I watch it, I tell my wife, "Look! There's the Fillmore bridge!" (the long bridge) Or, "I've been down that road" etc. Nice to see all my old stomping grounds. I'm from Thousand Oaks, so Piru is pretty close. At any rate, anyone catch the blooper where Ron Howard is in the barn with the car? He drives out the back wall, but before he reaches it, the made-to-breakaway wall falls before he touches it. It is a nice, clean movie and enjoyable to watch time and time again. Worth watching, folks. An early car chase and wreck 'em up movie. A ground breaker. Some of it even appears to have been filmed in or around Thousand Oaks.

Hasn't aged well

[Wizard-8 · 23 April 2010]

"Eat My Dust" was one of producer Roger Corman's biggest hits. Seeing the movie today, most likely you will wonder why. To be sure, top-billed star Ron Howard is a likable actor, but he doesn't get that much of a chance to shine in a movie that's basically centered around one big chase. Speaking of characters, the lead female character is so stuck up and snotty you will wonder why Howard's character is attracted to her. And I'm sure even younger viewers will question how the youths in the movie think that all the destruction they cause is hilarious. I am sure some viewers will dismiss these charges, thinking that they will still get plenty of entertainment from the many, many car chase sequences. Think again. Most of the time, the cars involved in the chase don't seem to be travelling at top speed, and the movie keeps cutting to the idiot sheriff and his dim-witted helpers in sequences that contain no laughs. This movie isn't aggressively bad, but it's flat and unmemorable.

Not a bad movie!

[mm-39 · 6/10 · 20 December 2019]

Not a bad movie! Seen this movie as a child, then as a teenager then as an adult on late night. One of those cheesy 70's car chase movies. Ron Howard is a young buck who grabs the old girlfriend and their is a bounty to grab the Rolls Royce and gal back to the rich family. The Drive Inn movie Burt Reynolds style car chases creates a movie version of the Duke of Hazards before its time. The characters phoning in the Radio stations adds humor by pushing silly 2 d flat characters into bad scenario for some stupid fun. .The ending with the Rolls Royce is great. Eat my Dust is in the same making as the Gumball Rally, Smokey and the Bandit etc. 6 stars.

Fun Chase Picture From Corman and Company

[Michael_Elliott · 4 August 2012]

Eat My Dust (1976)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Hoover (Ron Howard) loves hot rods and when he finds out that the girl of his dreams (Christopher Norris) likes them as well, he steals a professional racing car and the two head off with just about every cop in town chasing them. EAT MY DUST, as the title would suggest, is a chase picture from the drive-in days and as long as you don't take it too serious you should find yourself having a pretty good time. I think a lot of credit has to go to director Charles B. Griffith who keeps the action moving from start to finish and there's really not any dry spots. We get all sorts of wild chases and the director manages to make several of them quite memorable. This includes one scene where a cop car crashes and takes out the front of a store but the memorable thing is that the entire front falls down and we can see what the people inside are doing. Another good sequence deals with a bunch of shopping carts getting hit and this leads to all sorts of trouble for people in the same area as them. Even better are the car's point-of-view shots. These here certainly aren't ground-breaking but they're so interesting and they put you right in the middle of the action. Another major plus is that Howard and Norris are just so charming together that they keep you into the story even when there aren't any crashes going on. The supporting cast is charming as well and that includes Clint Howard playing yet another weirdo. EAT MY DUST isn't a classic by any stretch of the imagination but fans of chase pictures should be entertained.

Cheesy Fun

[kjstesney · 3 January 2023]

This movie is kind of a take-off of Smokey and the Bandit. It's quite a bit silly, but still good, cheesy fun. There are several outrageous funny chase scenes. This is obviously a movie not to be taken seriously, and viewed with that perspective, you'll get a lot of laughs. You should enjoy the many scenes of rural American backwoods country and "redneck" living. You might not expect to see a character of the stature of Ron Howard in this kind of movie, but he does an excellent job and good for the part. If you are in the mood for a low-brow comedy with a few pretty good laughs, have a bowl of popcorn, sit back and enjoy.