Six Pack(film)

Not to be confused withSixpack (film).

Six Pack
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Daniel Petrie
Written by	Mike Marvin Alex Matter
Produced by	Michael Trikilis
Starring	Kenny Rogers Diane Lane Erin Gray
Cinematography	Mario Tosi
Edited by	Rita Roland
Music by	Charles Fox
Distributed by	20th Century Fox
Release date	July 16, 1982(1982-07-16)
Running time	108 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$11.5–13.5 million
Box office	$20,225,989

Six Packis a 1982Americancomedy-drama filmdirected byDaniel Petrieand starringKenny Rogers,Diane Lane,Erin Gray,Anthony Michael HallandBarry Corbin.

Plot

When race car driver Brewster Baker stops at a gas station in a small Texas town, parts are stolen from his race car. While at a local diner, he sees people stealing parts from another car, so he gives chase.

When the thieves' van goes into a river, Brewster rescues them and discovers that they are orphaned children. The kids were stealing for "Big John" the corrupt county sheriff, who jails Brewster for breaking and entering, larceny, resisting arrest and speeding.

After the kids help break Brewster out of jail, Brewster reluctantly takes the children with him. They prevent the sheriff from giving chase by loosening many bolts on the car, like those on the doors and hood and the lug nuts.

Arriving in Shreveport, LA, while Brewster is in a bar reacquainting himself with Lilah, the kids steal parts off other cars to reequip his car. He is able to come in fourth in the Dixie 100, but uses most of his winnings paying back the drivers whose car parts the kids took.

At the next track in Mississippi, Breezy distracts Terk while her brothers tinker with his car. A few races later, he tries to get revenge on Brewster and the kids by calling the law on them. As they have formed a friendship and bonded, Brewster breaks them out by impersonating the law.

Finally sponsored by Ford, Brewster gets a new car for the Atlanta 500. Lilah surprises him there. Terk and some men jump him, dumping him in the woods. He comes to, hitches a ride, and makes it to the track in time to race. In contention for the win against Terk, he swerves off the track, cutting off the Texas sheriff as he tries to take the kids away.

Brewster and Lilah marry, adopting the kids.

The end of the movie features real race footage from the 1982NASCARCoca-Cola 500,held atAtlanta Motor Speedwayand won that year byDarrell Waltrip.

Cast

• Kenny Rogersas Brewster Baker
• Diane Laneas Heather "Breezy" Aikens
• Erin Grayas Lilah
• Barry Corbinas Sheriff John "Big John", Corrupt County Sheriff
• Terry Kiseras Terk Logan
• Bob Hannah as Deputy Sheriff Otis Diddler, Corrupt County Deputy Sheriff
• Tom Abernathy as Louis
• Robbie Fleming as Harry "Little Harry"
• Anthony Michael Hallas "Doc"
• Robby Still as "Swifty"
• Benji Wilhoite as Steven
• Buddy Bakeras Himself
• Chuck Wooleryas Race Narrator
• Melanie McMullan as Pit Girl

Music

The theme song to the film is "Love Will Turn You Around",a song performed and co-written by Rogers that was a #1countryandadult contemporaryhit. It peaked at #13 on thepopchart.Miles Goodmanserved as an orchestrator for the film's score.

Box office

The film had a limited release on July 16, 1982, and went wide on July 23, 1982. It proved to be a moderate hit at the box office and grossed over $20 million during its theatrical run.

Reception

Janet Maslin ofThe New York Timesin her review, calledSix Pack"good-natured but none-too-interesting" as a typical fable where "orphans find a father, a lonely man finds a good woman, an unsuccessful racer makes good on the comeback trail, and everybody lives unreasonably happily ever after."

Filming locations

Dixie Speedwayin Woodstock, Georgia was the track used in the film for several dirt tracks.Parts of the movie were filmed inJefferson, Georgia,atJefco Speedwayalso known as Georgia International Speedway andPeach State Speedwaynow known asGresham Motorsports Park.Some local Jefferson teens were used as extras in the film. Notable NASCAR racing legends raced at the track such asBobby Isaac,‘(Tiger Tom)'Tom Pistone,Jody Ridley,LeeRoy Yarbrough,Wendell Scott,Mark Martin,Freddy Fryar,Darrell Waltrip,Alan Kulwicki,Larry PearsonandRusty Wallace.‘Alabama Gang’ racing legendsNeil Bonnett,Bobby Allison,Donnie AllisonandDavey Allison.

The film crew worked from the Holiday Inn Powers Ferry inAtlanta, Georgia.At least one scene was filmed in a guest room there. Another scene was filmed at a pub located in a strip mall up the hill from the Holiday Inn.

The jail and sheriff car sabotage scenes were filmed in downtownBuford, Georgia.

The scene with the van going in the river was filmed inSuwanee, Georgia,atSettles Bridgeat theChattahoochee River.

The movie also features thebas-reliefConfederatememorial sculpture atStone Mountainin one scene.

The car chase scene was shot on Poplar Springs Road inPowder Springs, Georgia.

The wedding scene was shot at McEachearn United Methodist Church in Powder Springs.

Television show

In 1983, there was a spin-off television series pilot of the same name which featuredDon Johnsonas Brewster Baker andMarkie Postas Sally Leadbetter. This show also featuredJoaquin Phoenix(billed as Leaf Phoenix) in his second role.

Home media

The film was released on VHS on May 19, 1993. It has been released twice on DVD, the first time on April 4, 2006, followed by a second release on July 3, 2012.

As of 2024,the feature has not been released in the digital format.

In popular culture

Six Packis mentioned prominently in "Breakfast in Dubbo", the ninth chapter of New Zealand-Australian comedianTony Martin's collection of autobiographical essays,Lolly Scramble: A Memoir of Little Consequence(2005). In "Breakfast in Dubbo," Martin recounts a lengthy bus trip inNew South Walesthat took place in 1986, during which the passengers were given the opportunity to vote for a movie to watch onvideo.Passengers were invited to vote for eitherExcalibur,Beverly Hills Cop,This is Spinal Tap,orSix Pack.Despite Martin's attempts to drum up support forThis is Spinal Tap,the majority of passengers voted to watchSix Pack,to Martin's dismay. Martin recorded a spoken-word version of "Breakfast in Dubbo" which appears as track 27 on the CDGet This: Illegal Download(2006).

Six Packis mentioned in the TV showSquidbilliesSeason 2 Episode 11 "Terminus Trouble". In the episode, Early Cuyler, his son Rusty, and the Sheriff make a trip to Atlanta, Georgia and visit a location used in the film.

In 2019,Jonathan Davenportran a Brewster Baker-inspired paint scheme in dirt late model's biggest race, theWorld 100atEldora Speedway,and won the race. The following year,NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck SeriesdriverTy Majeski’s truck was wrapped in the style of Brewster's car for theSouthern 500throwback weekend atDarlington Raceway.

The movie was featured on the full Kenny Rogers tribute episode of theDisasters In The Makingpodcast in April 2020.

External links

• Six PackatIMDb
• Six PackatAllMovie
• Six PackatRotten Tomatoes