The Chicken Chronicles
| The Chicken Chronicles | |
|---|---|
 film poster | |
| Directed by | Frank Simon |
| Written by | Paul Diamond |
| Produced by | Walter Shenson Melvin Simon (presenter) |
| Starring | Phil Silvers Ed Lauter Steve Guttenberg |
| Cinematography | Matthew F. Leonetti |
| Edited by | George Folsey Jr. |
| Music by | LeRoy Holmes Ken Lauber |
| Distributed by | AVCO Embassy Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 95 minutes |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1,350,000[1] |
The Chicken Chronicles is a 1977 American teen stoner comedy film set in 1969 and starring Steve Guttenberg.[2]
Plot
David Kessler is a high school student who will go to any lengths to impress a pretty cheerleader and lose his virginity, while juggling his job at a chicken restaurant and trying not to get thrown out of Beverly Hills High School — a fate that could get him sent to the Vietnam War.
Cast
- Phil Silvers as Max Ober
- Ed Lauter as Vice Principal Nastase
- Steve Guttenberg as David Kessler
- Lisa Reeves as Margaret Shaffer
- Gino Baffa as Charlie Kessler
- Meridith Baer as Tracy Vogel
- Branscombe Richmond as Mark
- Jon Gries as Tom
- Raven De La Croix as Mrs. Worth
Production
The film was based on a novel by Paul Diamond, the 23-year-old son of screenwriter I.A.L. Diamond. "It's a very funny very dirty book", said Diamond senior.[3]
Film rights were sold to Paramount before publication. A screenplay was done by Ned Wynn in 1975 with Paul Monash the producer.[4] The film was not made. However two years later Paul Diamond was working on a script for Avco Embassy.[5]
It was the first lead role for Steve Guttenberg. "Some actors get embarrassed about their early work", Guttenberg said, "but we all don't start out as 'artistes.' Nobody is going to confuse "Chicken" with 'Citizen Kane' but I learned a lot. They took a chance with me. I didn't get rich on it but it was a start."[6]
References
- ^ Donahue, Suzanne Mary (1987). American film distribution : the changing marketplace. UMI Research Press. p. 297. ISBN 9780835717762. Please note figures are for rentals in US and Canada
- ^ "Chicken Chronicles, The". Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 48, Iss. 564, (January 1, 1981): 5.
- ^ "Diamond in the Rough Screenwriters' World: Diamond in the Rough in Screenwriters' World". Warga, Wayne. Los Angeles Times. December 15, 1974: L50.
- ^ "Movie Call Sheet: War to Write, Star in 'Niger'". Murphy, Mary. Los Angeles Times. August 16, 1975: B7.
- ^ "Case of an intrepid spy-ographer". Lochte, Dick. Los Angeles Times. April 24, 1977: V2.
- ^ "Steve Guttenberg - Actors on Ego Trips Irk 'Police Academy' Star". Blowen, Michael; Boston Globe. April 7, 1984: 13.
External links
- The Chicken Chronicles at IMDb
- The Chicken Chronicles at Rotten Tomatoes
- The Chicken Chronicles at the TCM Movie Database