IMDb RATING
5.6/10
4.4K
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
Superb film, very dark
Of course the cars don't literally 'eat' Paris... This film was a good indication of what Peter Weir was capable of over twenty years before he made 'The Truman Show.' This is a strange movie, set in a weird town in a barren outback landscape where the normal rules of western society are being quietly ignored by the citizens for their own ends. There are peculiar parallels with 'Mad Max,' and I wonder if Australians are somehow daunted by the vastness of their own country, what it might conceal and their reliance on the automobile. 'The Cars That Ate Paris' is a gothic horror which takes a glancing swipe at consumerism and how it disassociates small communities. This is flagged right at the beginning with the opening parody of a cigarette commercial (also killers!) ending in the first wreck. There are lashings of black humour like this and a few things to say about religion and the cult of the car. A fine low-budget film.
helpful•282
- glennwalsh44
- Mar 30, 2003
- 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)
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By what name was The Cars That Ate Paris (1974) officially released in India in English?
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