| Genre: | Drama |
| Director: | Ron Howard |
| Starring: |
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| Music: | Joe Renzetti |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
| Producer: | John Thomas Lenox |
| Location: | Dallas |
| Cinematography: | Robert Jessup |
| Editor: | Robert J. Kern Jr. |
| Runtime: | 97 minutes |
| Company: | Major H Productions Ron Howard Productions |
| Network: | NBC |
Cotton Candy is a 1978 American made-for-television drama film directed by Ron Howard and broadcast on NBC.[1] It is also known as Ron Howard's Cotton Candy.[2]
George Smalley is a high school senior trying to find direction in life. His attempt to land a spot on the varsity football team fails when he is cut from the team. A songwriter in his spare time, he and his pal, Corky Macpherson, recruit other local teens to form a rock band to ultimately perform in the town's Battle of the Bands competition. Together, they recruit a set of brothers who play keyboards and guitar, a former gang member on bass guitar, and a talented female drummer. Meanwhile, big man on campus Torbin Bequette leads a rival band, Rapid Fire (whose entire repertoire seems to consist of a hard rock version of "I Shot the Sheriff"), and attempts to undermine George and Corky's band. The movie climaxes with the two bands going toe to toe in the Battle of the Bands final.
The film was the first production for Major H Productions, which Howard had created in 1977 with his father Rance and brother Clint.[3]
Filming took place in Dallas, Texas, at Lake Highlands High School and at the Town East Mall for the Battle of the Bands event.