Movie review - "Grand Theft Auto" (1977) ** 1/2

Ron Howard made his feature directorial debut for Roger Corman in this follow up to Eat My Dust (he plays a different character). He's a guy who wants to marry Nancy Morgan but her rich daddy opposes it so they take off to Vegas to elope. A $25,000 reward sees them chased by various odds and sodds, including detectives, her rich supposed fiancee, his mother, and others.

Good natured, unpretentious, with plenty of car crashes. Once the cars start running it doesn't really stop, except for a decent scene where Ron and Morgan have a domestic. They are an engaging couple - interestingly, she does most of the driving while Ron sits there looking concerned. Not quite as off the wall as Eat My Dust (the music doesn't have as much energy) but the car chase here at least has a decent motivation.

There are plenty of bright touches, such as the couple driving a Rolls Royce and the pursuing radio commentator, and strong acting. Full of familiar faces, including Marion Potts (Ron's mom from Happy Days who says a few swear words and gives the finger to cops - it's that sort of humour), Paul Bartel, Dan Steele (the DJ from Death Race 2000 who plays a DJ here), Clint and Rance Howard. Alan Arkush directed some second unit. Joe Dante edited it.