The Cars That Ate Paris

1974
PG
1h 28m

IMDb RATING

5.6/10

4.5K

YOUR RATING

Play trailer3:28

1 Video

51 Photos

Comedy Horror Sci-Fi

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.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.6/10

4.5K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 1 nomination

Trivia
The 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."

Goofs
The people thrown from the car in the first accident are obvious dummies.

Quotes
The Mayor: Have you country boys forgotten the old school war cry? Have you forgotten the meaning of those words? Woomera, Woomera, Babalu, Boomerang, Crocodile, Kookaburra, Wombat, Orangutan, Weehoo, Wayhoo, Terramungamine, Quandong, Billabong, Gundabluey Pine, Platypus, Emu, Wallaby, Roo...

Alternate versions
US 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.

Connections
Edited into Terror Nullius (2018)

Soundtracks
Rock of Ages
(uncredited)
Lyrics by Augustus Montague Toplady
Music by Thomas Hastings
Played at the church

User reviews66

Review

Featured review

Weir at his weirdest.

How many Paris are there in the world?Thanks to the movie,we know that there's Paris,Texas and Paris,Australia.Ah and there's also Paris

,France for those who care.

Weir is full of savoir faire when it comes to create an atmosphere:"picnic at hanging rock" "Mosquito coast" the highly superior " fearless" would exist even if there was no plot at all.but plots they all have and first-class at that.

"The cars" begins quite well and the first half is a little treat:this town ,where everybody tries to help you ,this bunch of weirdos ,everything is much fun to watch.Their idee fixe to help the unfortunate hero is not unlike the neighbor's behavior in "Rosemary's baby" .The "test" is sheer shrink paraphernalia spoof and it superbly works.Even the past and the guilty feeling which come back to haunt poor Waldo verge on parody.

But the movie loses steam halfway through:it features scenes à la Leone (complete with morriconesque music)which come at the most awkward moment and destroy the inimitable atmosphere that Weir had built.

Despite these reservations,Weir's fans could do worse than watching this little film .Other good lines when the lad explains to moron Waldo: "well,this is the waiting room and these are people waiting!"