Ein tollkühner Draufgänger

Terrific remake of JOHNNY DARK (Universal, 1954), like the title says, this is a lively, fun picture. A young auto enthusiast and race-car driver, Casey Owens (James Darren reprising the Tony Curtis role from the earlier picture) enters a cross-country endurance road race from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, Nevada. The car(s) he enters in the race were the unique Chrysler Turbine Cars, of which 50 examples were built; a few of them were used on loan from Chrysler Corporation to make this movie, a few were sent to Auto Museums around the country after their testing was completed, and the rest were unfortunately destroyed to please the IRS. A cool, very enjoyable teenage-market movie, although with the usual teen romance, this was made by Universal to compete with Elvis Presley's MGM picture VIVA LAS VEGAS (1964) then in production, and this movie turned out to be more satisfying with an audience than the contrived romance of ELVIS and Ann-Margret, despite their obvious on-screen chemistry. And, to be even more cool, there were some surf music-hot rod songs by The Surfaris, like "Boss Barracuda", a song by hit pop singer Joanie Sommers (in her only movie role), "Casey Wake Up!", and the first film score written by pop singer Bobby Darin, who wisely did not sing in this movie. But what put this picture over the top was the elaborate, realistic, grueling road race from L.A. to Las Vegas, covered by real KMPC Radio announcers Dick Whittinghill and Captain Max Schumaker. Great stuff! Great cast! Highly recommended. From the same team that made the classic Universal sci-fi movies of the 1950s like IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE, and CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON. So what's not to like? So Universal, why isn't this out on video?

This is one of the best car movies ever made. I saw it when I was very young and have looked for it on some type of video or copy ever since I reached an adult. It's the only place I have ever seen the Chrysler Turbine car and the cross country race had several real drivers including the late Mickey Thompson. I have checked the paper for several years hoping it would air so I might make a copy but it never has and that is sad with all the great car movies out there that this one has never been released on video of some kind that I know of. I primarily signed on to this website hoping that someone might could help me locate a copy. If it ever airs on tv don't miss this one!

I just wanted to tell anyone interested in this movie that it's available on DVD from a small specialty supplier of hot rod movies and rock and roll videos, www.thevideobeat.com. The quality is very good (it appears that it was recorded from an AMC broadcast) and is well worth it if you, like me are a fan of the Chrysler Turbine Car program.

As for the movie itself, what can I say that hasn't been said in earlier posts? The most interesting elements for me are any of the scenes where the Turbine Car is featured, the scenes in and around Los Angeles (where you can see how the area has changed in the 40 years since the movie was filmed) and the racing scenes filmed in Death Valley (before it was a National Park) with the cooperation of the Department of the Interior, something that would never happen today.

Just to say that the '32 Ford Channeled roadster driven by Casey is powered by a genuine Chevy 409 With original tri-power which makes it very quick. Seems to have very low gears. Maybe 5.13s Oh well. You can still buy this VHS movie on the Internet. This little hot rod completely overshadows the Chrysler Turbine car. Look for Mickey Thompson and Wink Martindale Of course Pamela Tiffin too. The scene by the swimming pool is kinda funny Too much kissing Too bad about Doug McClure and Marilyn Maxwell

That Buick powered T Bucket looks like a Tommy Ivo car, but sure does blow a rod. Some of the drag strip scenes are very nostalgic Peter Beamer.

The main reason I love this movie is because it shows off the Chrysler Turbine Car to great effect. The scene where the camera zooms in on the exposed turbine engine during the road race still gives me goosebumps when I see it. Back in the sixties that was like saying, "Here's the Future, folks; get a close-up look at it in action!"

The rest of the movie is admittedly a bit stilted and obvious, but Darren and McClure are earnest and believable, and the race scenes are well staged and filmed. Seeing the actual race drivers in their younger days is kind of fun, too.

I was shocked upon a recent viewing because when I saw this film as a kid I remember believing that the evening desert scenes were actually filmed outdoors! Now the studio lighting and backdrops are painfully obvious to adult eyes.

I always wondered why such a Chrysler-oriented movie would have so many Mercurys hanging around (Pam's convertible Comet, most notably.) Were there some hard feelings between the studio and Chrysler, for some reason, which may have caused the director to populate the sets with competitor's cars? I would much rather have seen Furys and 300 Letter cars in this instance. However, those two great Engel Imperials are worth the price of admission for me.