IMDb RATING
5.6/10
4.5K
YOUR RATING
The small town of Paris, Australia deliberately causes car accidents, then sells/salvages all valuables from the wrecks as a means of economy.The small town of Paris, Australia deliberately causes car accidents, then sells/salvages all valuables from the wrecks as a means of economy.The small town of Paris, Australia deliberately causes car accidents, then sells/salvages all valuables from the wrecks as a means of economy.
- Awards
- 1 win & 1 nomination
Herbert Nelson
- Man in House
- (as Herbie Nelson)
Charlie Metcalfe
- Clive Smedley
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe opening scenes that feature a couple driving in a car and smoking prominently displaying cigarettes were a parody of a commercial aired on Australian television at the time of the film's original release. Website 'Peterweircave' says of this: "The opening "advertisement", which many viewers seem to take as blatant product placement for Coke and Alpine cigarettes, was actually a spoof in itself. At the time it was made, movies in Australia were often preceded by ads for cigarettes and such. By putting this before the opening credits, Weir was fooling the viewers into thinking this was yet another ad."
- GoofsThe people thrown from the car in the first accident are obvious dummies.
- Alternate versionsUS version, titled _The Cars that Ate People (1974)_ was shortened to 74 minutes by the distributor, and star Terry Camilleri's voice is dubbed. The film was finally reissued in the USA at complete length in 1984.
- ConnectionsEdited into Terror Nullius (2018)
- SoundtracksRock of Ages
(uncredited)
Lyrics by Augustus Montague Toplady
Music by Thomas Hastings
Played at the church
Featured review
Punk cinema
Peter Weir must have been an angry young man as his first film makes fun of every level of society. The corrupt, bumptious, mayor of the two-bit New South Wales town is the obvious fall guy, but no single character escapes Weir's wrath. You might expect the wild, local youths with their vitality to provide the film's conscience, but they are ultimately portrayed as dumb, reactionary yokels whose demise is mocked. Tellingly the film's key line, 'I can drive', is used to belittle the death of the gang member we get to know best. However, Weir goes too far by mocking the audience. Our hero is a pathetic emotional wreck who barely speaks, while many scenes are dragged out with ponderous monologues and plodding development, as if Weir is saying 'you've consumed this sort of rubbish before, now I am going to serve it up to you in a dark satire. Can you tell the difference?'. The Cars That Ate Paris is best watched with the fast forward in your hand, but do not skip the brilliant finale in which the sordid little town gets its just desserts.
- How long is The Cars That Ate Paris?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- The Cars That Eat People
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- A$250,000 (estimated)
- Runtime1 hour 28 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1
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By what name was The Cars That Ate Paris (1974) officially released in India in English?
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