| Stunt Rock | |
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Stunt Rock DVD Cover |
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| Directed by | Brian Trenchard-Smith |
| Produced by | Martin Fink |
| Screenplay by | Paul-Michel Mielche Jr. Brian Trenchard-Smith |
| Starring | Grant Page Monique van de Ven Margaret Gerard |
| Music by | Smokey Huff |
| Cinematography | Helmen Ilmer Bob Carras |
| Editing by | Curtis Burch Wendy Friend Susan Emanule |
| Distributed by | Corona Film Ambassador Film Distributors Film Ventures International Code Red DVD |
| Release date(s) | August 2, 1980 (Portugal) |
| Running time | 86mins |
| Country | Australia Netherlands |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $450,000[1] |
Stunt Rock is a 1980 movie by director Brian Trenchard-Smith.
Contents |
Australian stuntman Grant Page accepts a job on an American television series and travels to Los Angeles, where he reunites with his cousin, Sorcery band member Curtis Hyde. Hyde performs with a heavy metal band called Sorcery, playing the part of The Prince of Darkness who is locked in cosmic combat with Merlin the Magician (Paul Haynes). While the band plays out the story with its signature brand of theatrical but muscular hard rock, Page's first stunt for the cameras goes awry and he is hospitalized, but defies his doctors by escaping out a fifth story window to get back to the set. Such reckless behavior attracts the attention of newspaper reporter (Margaret Gerard) who is writing an article about the career obsessed, as well as a TV star (Dutch star Monique van de Ven) who both gravitate towards the stuntman's professional fearlessness. Together they attend Sorcery concerts, enjoy Hollywood parties with the band and explore the nature of extreme living.
Trenchard-Smith says he was in the shower when the concept of the film came to him. "Something clicked in my commercial mind which said, 'Famous Australian stuntman meets famous rock group. They interrelate; much stunt and much rock takes place. Kids will tear up the seats.' Great idea in principle, but turning it into practicality proved impossible with too little money and too much interference."[2]
In 1980 Trenchard-Smith said in an interview that the film had sold very well "though it is probably the worst film I have made. Such is life. All I can say to other filmmaker is never let yourself be pressured into making a deal rather than a film, which is what happened to me.[3]
After it disappeared from theaters shortly after its release, Stunt Rock remained a VHS-only phenomenon until Trenchard Smith attended a downtown Los Angeles engagement party (in honor of Dave and J-Bird Rosen) thrown by a group of hardcore fans. The party, filmed by Trenchard Smith who spontaneously commandeered the host's camera, featured a Sorcery tribute band complete with a Merlin vs the Dark Prince pryotechnic stage show.
In 2006 Trenchard Smith tracked down a reel that was buried in someone's garage. The film has been restored and has been shown in several revival theaters; Stunt Rock is also available on DVD.
Director Brian Trenchard Smith and actor Margaret Gerard met on the set of Stunt Rock and are currently married.
Stunt Rock debuted on Turner Classic Movies, October 13, 2011.
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