Champagne and Bullets (1993) was chosen by JAC, who has a real talent for uncovering the most outrageous, bewildering, and unintentionally hilarious films ever committed to VHS. Written, directed, produced, and starring John De Hart, the movie is one of the most unique vanity projects of the early ’90s - a full-throttle explosion of action, romance, country music, and courtroom drama held together by sheer force of ego. De Hart, a California trial lawyer with big Hollywood ambitions, financed the film himself and assembled a cast that included Wings Hauser and William Smith, two cult icons of low-budget action cinema. Shooting took place around Los Angeles on a shoestring budget, with much of the film’s tone shaped by De Hart’s insistence on performing his own music, writing his own poetry, and choreographing his own dance numbers.

The production quickly became infamous behind the scenes for its chaotic mix of genres, improvised sequences, and the cast’s varying levels of investment. Wings Hauser, in particular, was reportedly encouraged to “just go for it,” resulting in some of the film’s most legendary moments — including his drunken, half-ad-libbed musical performance that has since become a cult highlight. The movie went through several edits and re-releases, most notably the 2013 version titled Road to Revenge, before the original cut was restored and championed by boutique labels and cult film festivals. Today, Champagne and Bullets stands as a gleefully bizarre testament to what happens when one man attempts to make the ultimate action movie entirely on his own terms - a glorious disaster that’s now celebrated as a cult gem for all the wrong (and therefore absolutely right) reasons.

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Trailer Guy Plot Summary

Get ready for justice… John De Hart style.

When corruption runs wild and the system breaks down, one man steps forward - armed with a badge, a guitar, and absolutely no self-awareness. In a world of betrayal, bullets, and baffling dance numbers, he’ll fight for truth, love, and the right to perform his own country ballads… no matter how long it takes.

Champagne and Bullets - where the action is loud, the romance is awkward, and the hero is whoever John De Hart says he is.

Fun Facts

1. Champagne and Bullets was originally released in 1993, but due to rights issues and re-editing by John De Hart, it was later reissued under two different titles: Road to Revenge and GetEven.

2. The film gained cult status largely thanks to Internet rediscovery in the 2000s.

3. Actor Wings Hauser improvised much of his performance, including the infamous barroom musical number, which has since become a viral cult-movie highlight.

4. John De Hart wrote and performed all the original songs in the movie, including “Shimmy Slide,” which has achieved meme-level notoriety online.

5. The “Shimmy Slide” dance sequence was filmed in a real Sherman Oaks bar, using actual patrons as background extras.

6. Cult actor William Smith shot his scenes in just a few days due to scheduling constraints.

7. John De Hart’s background as a trial lawyer inspired several scenes meant to showcase his courtroom skills, which fans now consider unintentionally comedic.

8. Boutique label Vinegar Syndrome restored and re-released the film in 2020, using a new 2K scan that finally preserved De Hart’s original wild vision.

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