Thunder in Carolina

After completing the run of his television western series The Texan and before departing to Europe looking for work Rory Calhoun did this independent picture in North Carolina concerning stock car racing. I'm wondering if when he read the script he didn't notice that this was taken from the Robert Mitchum/Susan Hayward film The Lusty Men. Just substitute stock cars for the rodeo circuit and this is a remake with a change in the ending.

If you like stock car racing than this is your movie. Otherwise I think you will be bored. The whole cast gives rather desultory performances. Calhoun plays a veteran stock car driver who is injured and while injured tutors young Race Gentry in the rudiments of the sport. Of course Gentry's wife Connie Hines is opposed to him leaving their gas station garage where he's making a good living and she hates the influence that Calhoun has developed over her husband. But Rory is certainly noticing her.

Shots of the stock car racing are the best thing this film has to offer. And Connie Hines would soon be going into a television series that was longer running than Calhoun's The Texan. That would be Mister Ed.

Not mentioned in the credits was the presence of the 2nd Marine Division Band from Camp Lejuene, NC. We (I was in the band, clanging the cymbals) appeared in two scenes. It was a great gig. Got to meet Rory and Connie.

Easygoing drama about a stock-car veteran, Mitch Cooper (Rory Calhoun) who is down on his luck. He befriends a mechanic Les (John Gentry) who wants to be a pro race driver so Mitch teaches him. Les is keen to race but his wife, Rene (Connie Hines) is not. Meanwhile Mitch, always ready to romance the ladies, is drawn to Rene who is cool and unresponsive. (Really, what woman in her right mind would resist a handsome dreamboat like Rory?) Later an argument breaks out between Les and Mitch which results in Mitch having to drive a race car himself in the upcoming big event even though he has a bothersome leg injury.

Alan Hale Jr. takes on a supporting role as Buddy, a race car mechanic who stands by his friend Mitch when the going gets rough.

Events build up to the main attraction, the annual Southern 500 Labor Day race in Darlington, D.C. One gets to see several real-life race car drivers in action and some hair raising film footage too. The constant roar of the race -- this is where the movie title of "Thunder" comes in.

Good middle of the road entertainment. It reminds me of "The Big Wheel (1949)" with Mickey Rooney as a race car driver.

"Thunder in Carolina" is an early film about NASCAR and while it's far from great, it's a must-see for NASCAR lovers...particularly those interested in the history of the sport.

The film begins with hard luck driver, Mitch Cooper (Rory Calhoun) losing another race. He was in the lead but is car gave out just as he was about to win...and he's hurt in the process. Mitch now figures he needs a change...to get a job and settle down. So, he heads to a gas station where he worked long ago. Unfortunately, the old owner has died but fortunately the new owner hires him. But this creates problems, as the new owner's wife is worried that her husband might try NASCAR...which was much more dangerous back in the old days. Will her hubby end up a hero or worm food?

There is nothing all that original and wonderful about this film. But it is interesting to watch and the ending was satisfying. For me, a non-NASCAR lover, I still enjoyed it and put it in the time-passer category.

After getting injured at an event, a race car driver named "Mitch Cooper" (Rory Calhoun) loads his '57 Chevy onto a trailer and drives to see a friend who owns a garage, hoping to stay there for a while and work on his car. When he arrives, he's greeted by a young man named "Les York" (Race Gentry), who tells him that his old friend passed away a few years ago and that he now owns the garage and the house where he used to live. Disappointed by this news, Mitch starts to leave, but Les convinces him to stay after he shows an interest in racing and volunteers to help fix his car. Additionally, Les has an attractive wife named "Rene York" (Connie Hines), which certainly doesn't hurt. Eventually, after Les assists him in repairing his car, Mitch agrees to let Les demonstrate his racing skills, despite Rene's reservations. I won't go into more detail, but overall, this was an okay race car film with solid acting and a plot that kept my interest throughout. Although I would have liked a little more suspense here and there, I still thought it was worth the time, and I've rated it accordingly.