Stingray (film)

Stingray Productions

Company type	Film production company
Industry	Film production
Founder	Richard Taylor
Headquarters	St. Louis , United States
Parent	International Cinema Ltd.

Stingray is a 1978 action comedy film written and directed by Richard Taylor, featuring performances by Christopher Mitchum, Les Lannom, William Watson, and Sherry Jackson. The narrative centers on two friends who purchase a Corvette Stingray that conceals illicit criminal assets. Released in June 1978 alongside Corvette Summer, the film encountered a title conflict with MGM. In certain regions, it was released under the alternative title Abigail: Wanted.

Plot

After discovering a tracking device hidden within their $1 million payment, drug traffickers Murray Lonigan and Tony Agrosio murder two buyers. They conceal the cash and narcotics inside a Corvette Stingray displayed at a used car dealership. Although Police Lieutenant Herschel suspects their involvement, he lacks sufficient proof and assigns Sergeant Murphy to monitor their activities. Accompanied by their leader Abigail Bratowski—disguised as a nun—and their associate Rosco, they attempt to recover the vehicle.

The Corvette is eventually sold to friends Al and Elmo, triggering a chase. Following police intervention and Abigail’s killing of two officers, the criminals employ a purchased tracker to locate the car. A pursuit involving Herschel and Murphy unfolds but concludes with Abigail removing her disguise. Upon discovering heroin in the Corvette, Al and Elmo decide to sell it themselves.

The chase continues through construction zones and forested areas; during the pursuit, Abigail accidentally kills Rosco. At a bar, Abigail’s violent behavior incites a fight, enabling Al and Elmo to seize her machine gun and flee. Amid the turmoil, Abigail’s gang turns against her.

The following day, Al and Elmo pick up a hitchhiker and attempt to alter the Corvette’s color to evade detection; however, a car wash removes the new paint. Abigail kills Murray but spares Tony on the condition that they share the money. Another chase ends in a shootout where Tony betrays Abigail and is killed; Abigail then dies accidentally from her own gunfire during an escape attempt.

Lieutenant Herschel and Sergeant Murphy arrive while Al and Elmo hide the briefcase containing drugs; it is subsequently stolen by a homeless man. During another chase, Al feigns drowning but survives. Ultimately, the duo plans to use the money for a vacation in Bolivia.

Cast

John Carl Buechler appears briefly as a bar patron, while future Playboy Playmate Ruth Guerri makes an uncredited appearance.

Development

Stingray represents Richard Taylor’s first feature as director; at that time, he led the motion picture production department at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Having previously directed short films and contributed as second unit director on features, Taylor resigned from his academic position due to the demands of this project. The screenplay, penned three years prior, was his initial script to be produced after roughly twenty attempts. The Corvette Stingray was manufactured at a St. Louis facility on Union Boulevard during that period. Initially envisioned as a serious road thriller, extensive rewrites were undertaken when Hollywood actors joined the cast. Local stage performer Burt Hinchman took on the lead role and later pursued minor parts in films.

Peter Maris, a St. Louis native, discovered the script in early 1977 and served as an uncredited producer. The production was handled by Stingray Productions, a branch of International Cinema Ltd., financed by real estate developers Bill Bruce and Donald Ham from Bruce’s Clayton offices. Co-star Sherry Jackson reportedly acted as a production consultant for the inexperienced team. They secured veteran stunt driver Carey Loftin, renowned for his work on Bullitt and The French Connection, despite competing offers from MGM projects. Special effects artist John Carl Buechler made his feature film debut with Stingray, having previously worked on make-up effects for Taylor’s short film That Thing in the Basement.

Filming

Production commenced on August 1, 1977, concluding on October 7. Although the initial budget was slightly below $1 million, the final expenses surpassed the seven-figure mark. While the majority of the crew hailed locally, a significant portion of the technical team was sourced from Los Angeles. Daily footage was exchanged between locations in Los Angeles and the filming sites, causing delays in identifying necessary reshoots. Taylor also took on the role of sound engineer. The bulk of shooting occurred in Edwardsville, Illinois, notably including the rock concert sequence filmed at City Park. Additional locations involved Wood River and Alton; Alton was originally preferred for its rugged hills conducive to car stunts but was ultimately rejected by the city’s mayor. Other scenes featured a car jump in St. Charles, Missouri, bulldozer shots at West Lake Quarry, and the climactic segment in East St. Louis. Although filming was scheduled for six weeks, various setbacks extended this timeline.

Initial production faced interruptions due to inclement weather. The first two to three weeks were dedicated primarily to stunt work without the main cast present—a process referred to as "second unit lensing" by Variety—largely overseen by Taylor. Noteworthy sequences included a stunt dive from Eads Bridge into the Mississippi River performed by Bobby Sargent, filmed from four distinct perspectives but given minimal screen time in the final edit. The rock concert scene utilized production personnel as miming performers, while unpaid extras such as retirees and parents contributed to prolonged shooting sessions. To create an authentic stampede reaction, Taylor fired a blank round unexpectedly.

Principal photography involving lead actors spanned five weeks after their arrival by air. To mitigate weather-related disruptions, interior scenes were shot first despite their limited presence in the script. A three-week pause occurred when Mitchum departed for his daughter’s birth. Producers instructed cast members to portray their roles with a deadpan tone, parodying typical genre conventions. Lannom required hospitalization after an explosion caused gravel to impair his vision. The featured car was a customized 1964 Corvette model. While General Motors did not participate in the project, St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch supported the bar fight scene and provided Budweiser labels for candy glass bottles used on set.

Post production

Taylor’s original cut ran close to three hours before being condensed to a more standard runtime, with some final editing decisions driven by filming mistakes rather than creative choice. Following review by the MPAA, additional edits were made to achieve a PG rating, primarily involving reductions in graphic death depictions and trimming certain late-stage dialogues.

Conflict with MGM

The film encountered disputes with MGM, which was simultaneously producing its own road movie titled Stingray, officially backed by General Motors. MGM had registered the Stingray title with the MPAA, adhering to a non-binding gentlemen’s agreement among the five major studios that prevented distribution through these companies but did not restrict independent releases. Taylor maintained that his project had adopted Stingray years prior to MGM’s involvement, prompting producers to engage a Los Angeles law firm for legal protection of their rights. Offers from MGM to purchase the title were refused. MGM utilized its promotional influence to assert ownership of the name, while the independent Stingray sought to premiere before MGM’s release. In the end, MGM launched its film first under the revised title Corvette Summer.

Theatrical

Stingray secured its domestic distribution through AVCO Embassy Pictures. The film debuted globally on June 30, 1978, screening simultaneously in fourteen theaters throughout the St. Louis region. To celebrate the premiere, a procession of fifteen vintage Stingray models was showcased alongside appearances by co-stars Les Lannom and Sondra Theodore. On the night before the opening, a complimentary Corvette race and a Miss Stingray pageant were organized in collaboration with radio station KSLQ at St. Louis International Raceway. At various drive-in venues, Stingray was presented as part of double or triple features alongside other AVCO productions aimed at younger audiences, such as Sidewinder 1 and The Chicken Chronicles.

Director's cut

Thanks to the dedication of colorist Skipper Martin, an avid admirer of the film, a director’s cut version was restored and released. Taylor provided his own personal print for this restoration, which included previously excised violent scenes omitted from the original theatrical release. This version premiered on April 20, 2019, at the Wildey Theatre in Edwardsville.

Television

The film made its television debut in the United States on premium cable channel HBO on May 8, 1979.

Home video

The initial U.S. home video release of Stingray was handled by Magnetic Video Corporation. An advertisement dated June 17, 1979, listed it among newly available videotape titles. Some VHS editions released in the U.S., U.K., and Australia carried the alternate title Abigail: Wanted. Although Severin Films was initially considered for distributing the director’s cut, it ultimately saw a Blu-ray release through Dark Forces Entertainment on November 23, 2021.

Reception

Stingray garnered a variety of critical responses. Michael Blowen from The Boston Globe labeled it "a lemon," criticizing Taylor’s direction as uninspired and overly dependent on slow-motion effects and weak visual jokes. John M. McGuire of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch described it as a regional travelogue with dialogue reminiscent of "eighth grade recess," expressing hope that no sequel would follow.

Joe Baltake of the Philadelphia Daily News dismissed it as a standard car flick but noted Sherry Jackson’s role as a villain added an unusual twist to an otherwise dull youth-targeted movie. Kenneth Shorey of the Birmingham News complimented the chemistry between Mitchum and Lannom along with the soundtrack but criticized the film’s harsh tone and offensive content. Perry Stewart from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram found it "an entertaining little movie" at times but was unsettled by its casual depiction of violence.

Chris Gladden of The Roanoke Times & World-News saw it as an oddball chase film parody with raw energy despite amateurish direction and acting flaws, highlighting its darkly humorous scenes and refreshing lack of moralizing. Geoff Dale from The Hamilton Spectator praised its sharp pacing and strong performances, noting that despite some slow car chase sequences and unnecessary violence, it stood out among many B-movie offerings.

Related works

The 1982 film Mad Foxes, promoted by Swiss producer/distributor Erwin C. Dietrich as Stingray 2, sought to leverage this movie’s popularity but shares no direct connection beyond featuring the protagonist’s vehicle.