Death Race 2000 | 
 enlarge | Actors: Wendy Bartel, Carle Bensen, David Carradine, Roberta Collins, Fred Grandy
Studio: New Concorde
Category: DVD
Buy Used: $23.99
New (6) Used (10) from $23.99
Rating:  97 reviews
Sales Rank: 42850
Format: Color, Dvd-video, Full Screen, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 78
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.7 x 0.7
ISBN: 6305261318
UPC: 765432114120
EAN: 9786305261315
ASIN: 6305261318
Theatrical Release Date: April 27, 1975
Release Date: February 23, 1999
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: Cover art has been taped to plastic DVD case, Will ship first class.
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
No doubt about it, Death Race 2000 is one of the greatest B-movies ever made. A crown jewel in the career of B-movie king Roger Corman, it's a sublime example of exploitative filmmaking from a time when Corman's low-budget quickies were about to be swept aside by the blockbuster success of Jaws and Star Wars, and all of its outrageous ingredients combined to create a schlock-movie masterpiece. Liberally infused with director Paul Bartel's macabre sense of humor, Corman's mandatory formula for success (R-rated violence and nudity, served up at least once every 15 minutes) is zanily applied to a near-future scenario (similar to Rollerball, also released in 1975) in which a fascist empire appeases its oppressed citizens with "Death Race 2000," an automotive spectacle in which five costumed racers drive wacky race cars cross-country from New York to "New Los Angeles," scoring points with hit-and-run killings awarded on a sliding scale, with highest points for hitting children and the elderly! In addition to "Calamity Jane" (played by former Andy Warhol acolyte Mary Woronov), "Matilda the Hun" (Roberta Collins), and "Nero the Hero" (Martin Kove), the hottest contestants are "Machine Gun" Joe Viturbo (Sylvester Stallone, on the verge of Rocky stardom) and the reigning champion "Frankenstein" (David Carradine), whose "Death Race" prowess has reached near-mythic proportions. Filmed for $300,000 on desert-road and freeway locations throughout California's San Fernando Valley, Death Race 2000 packs more entertainment into 78 minutes than most movies can muster in two hours or more. Although it originated as a serious short story by Ib Melchior (best known as the writer-director of The Angry Red Planet), Corman took a cue from Dr. Strangelove and gave the material a satirical spin, resulting in non-graphic road-kills that are more hilarious than horrific, especially with the play-by-play race commentary by legendary disc jockey "The Real Don Steele," whose priceless performance (along with Carradine's deadpan drollery) turns Death Race 2000 into a low-comedy classic. The deadly car bodies were designed by Dean Jeffries (who also customized the "Monkeemobile") and fitted onto Volkswagen chassis, and Bartel's ingenious use of a meager budget epitomized the Corman aesthetic, reaping impressive box-office profits on its way to becoming one of the most beloved cult classics of all time. --Jeff Shannon
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| Customer Reviews: Read 92 more reviews...
 Great Fun January 3, 2009
I can't comment on more than what has been written. I simply want to write that I enjoyed this film. Although the film is quite campy, it's great fun. Probably not a family film with really small kids, I enjoyed the film and want to pass it along to my friends.
Still a hoot!! December 6, 2008
I remember the buzz this movie made in the 70's. In the 80's you could catch it on late night TV on occasion. But now I can see it unedited. I never knew it had nudity in it before, but when the title is "DEATH RACE 2000", you're not looking for "Citizen Kane".
movie dvd October 20, 2008
great condition, communication, all that we expected and more. highly recommend. thank you!!!
Wonderful bloodthirsty road movie October 5, 2008
This is a cheesy, exciting and entertaining B movie. It's fast paced and funny, with some fantastic jokes and very entertaining violence.
Clearly a big influence on Mad Max, this one has a remake out but check out the original!
Great movie, definitely better than the 08 remake September 28, 2008
A great movie. Definitely nothing more than a simple plot with lots of violence and car stunts. It goes outside the boundaries of what today would be considered politically correct, even for a movie, and that is what makes Deathrace 2000 great. Where else would you get to see "euthenasia day" at the hospital? I just wish the newer version was as ballsy.
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