The Sweet Rideis a 1968 Americandrama filmwith a fewsurfer/bikerexploitation filmelements. It starsTony Franciosa,Michael SarrazinandJacqueline Bissetin an early starring role. The film also featuresBob Denverin the role of Choo-Choo, aBeatnikpiano-playingdraft dodger.Sarrazin and Bisset were nominated for theGolden Globe Awardfor Most Promising Newcomer, Male and Female respectively.
| The Sweet Ride | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Harvey Hart |
| Screenplay by | Tom Mankiewicz |
| Based on | The Sweet RidebyWilliam Murray |
| Produced by | Joe Pasternak |
| Starring | Tony Franciosa Michael Sarrazin Jacqueline Bisset Bob Denver Michael Wilding Michele Carey Lara Lindsay Norma Crane Percy Rodriguez Warren Stevens Pat Buttram |
| Cinematography | Robert B. Hauser |
| Edited by | Philip W. Anderson |
| Music by | Pete Rugolo |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
Release date |
|
Running time | 110 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1,935,000[1] |
| Box office | $1.5 million (US/ Canada)[2][3] |
The Sweet Ridewas directed byHarvey Hartand written byTom Mankiewicz,based on a 1967 novel of the same name byWilliam Murray,author, fiction editor and a native ofNew York City,who had moved to southernCaliforniain 1966.
Plot
editThe story, told in flashbacks, concerns a middle-aged tennis bum (Franciosa) who shares a beach house with Sarrazin and Denver. Their carefree life becomes complicated, and later turns tragic, after they become involved with a mysterious young woman (Bisset) and a biker gang.
TheSan Franciscorock and rollbandMoby Grapecontributed to the soundtrack, and appeared, credited, in the film, performing the song "Never Again" in aSunset Stripnightclub called the Tarantula. Other famous Sunset Strip locations includeGazzarri'sandScandia,as well as location filming inMalibu,according to reviews of the film.
Dusty Springfieldsings "Sweet Ride" over the film's opening credits.
Cast
edit- Tony Franciosaas Collie Ransom
- Michael Sarrazinas Denny McGuire
- Jacqueline Bissetas Vickie Cartwright
- Bob Denveras Choo-Choo Burns
- Michael Wildingas Mr. Cartwright
- Michele Careyas Thumper Stevens
- Lara Lindsay as Martha
- Norma Craneas Mrs. Cartwright
- Percy Rodriguezas Lieutenant Harvey Atkins
- Warren Stevensas Brady Caswell
- Pat Buttramas Texan
- Michael Forestas Barry Green
- Lloyd Goughas Parker
- Stacy Kingas Big Jane
- Corinna Tsopeias Tennis Girl
- Charles Dierkopas Mr. Clean
- Arthur Franzas Psychiatrist
- Paul Condylis as Sergeant Soloman (uncredited)
- Lou Procopio as Diablo (uncredited)
- Ralph Lee as Scratch (uncredited)
Production
editJacqueline Bisset was cast on the basis of her short appearance inTwo for the RoadstarringAudrey HepburnandAlbert Finney.By the timeThe Sweet Ridewas released she had been cast inThe DetectivestarringFrank SinatraandBullittstarringSteve McQueen.
Tom Mankiewicz, who wrote the screenplay, later said the problem with the film was "it tried to touch all the bases at once: drama, comedy, porn, dropouts, surfing, true love, a touch of perversion, and the general malaise of 1960s young people.FrankieandAnnetteit definitely wasn't. "[4]
Mankiewicz also says producer Joe Pasternak had suffered a stroke shortly before filming which impacted his effectiveness.[5]
Jacqueline Bisset said her nude scene in the ocean was 'miserable'.[6]
Box Office
editAccording to Fox records, the film required $3,950,000 in rentals to break even and by 11 December 1970 had made $2,600,000 so made a loss.[7]
Musical score and soundtrack
edit| The Sweet Ride | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack albumby | ||||
| Released | 1968 | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Label | 20th Century Fox 3198/S 4198 | |||
| Pete Rugolochronology | ||||
| ||||
The score was composed, arranged and conducted byPete Rugoloexcept the main title written byLee Hazlewoodand performed byDusty Springfieldwith the soundtrack album released on the20th Century Foxlabel.[8]
Reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [9] |
TheAllmusicreview by Tony Wilds noted: "Rugolo hits many of the same areas that made severalLalo Schifrinsoundtracks great, but unlike Schifrin, Rugolo lacks the killer pop instinct. It all sounds like soundtrack music (the average cut is only about two minutes long), and there's nothing here that hadn't been done better elsewhere, earlier. ".[9]
Track listing
editAll compositions by Pete Rugolo except where noted.
- "Sweet Ride (Main Title)" (Lee Hazlewood) - - 2:02
- "Vicky Meets Danny" - 2:30
- "Collier's Riff" - 1:35
- "Come Bossa With Me" - 1:53
- "Thumper" - 1:20
- "My Name Is Mr. Clean" - 2:09
- "Lost Wages Brash" - 1:50
- "Turn Me On" - 3:08
- "Sock Me Choo Choo (Sweet Ride Theme)" (Lee Hazlewood) - 1:50
- "Bedroom Time" - 3:08
- "Where's The Melody" - 1:00
- "Swing Me Lightly" - 2:31
Personnel
edit- Pete Rugolo-arranger,conductor
- Dusty Springfield-vocals(track 1)
- Unidentified Orchestra
References
edit- ^Solomon, Aubrey.Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History (The Scarecrow Filmmakers Series).Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press, 1989.ISBN978-0-8108-4244-1.p255
- ^"Big Rental Films of 1968",Variety,8 January 1969 p 15. Please note this figure is a rental accruing to distributors.
- ^Tom Lisanti,Hollywood Surf and Beach Movies: The First Wave, 1959-1969,McFarland 2005, p343
- ^Tom Mankiewicz and Robert Crane,My Life as a Mankiewicz,University Press of Kentucky 2012 p 94
- ^Mankiewicz p 95
- ^"No Nudes Good News to Some Actresses".newspapers.Retrieved30 March2024.
- ^Silverman, Stephen M (1988).The Fox that got away: the last days of the Zanuck dynasty at Twentieth Century-Fox.L. Stuart. p.327.ISBN9780818404856.
- ^Edwards, D., Eyries, P. and Callahan, M.20th Century Fox Album Discography, Part 2: TCM 3100/SFX 4100 SeriesArchived2006-03-24 at theWayback Machineaccessed October 6, 2016
- ^abWilds, Tony.The Sweet Ride (Original Soundtrack)– ReviewatAllMusic.Retrieved October 6, 2016.