Speedtrap - Einsteigen, Starten, Abhauen

Watched this is the mid 80's then purchased it on a rare VHS , great 70's car chase from an era that will sadly never be with us again.

A TV-movie oriented actioner with Joe Don Baker as laid-back private investigator Pete Novick, who is called in by the Phoenix police to track down an mysterious car thief known as the Roadrunner terrorizing the city. His partner is policewoman Nifty Nolan (Tyne Daly), who happens to be his ex-girlfriend. A number of well-staged car chases are seen throughout, with a sub-plot involving a drug ring that may or may not be linked to the car thefts. Earl Bellamy's direction adds a lot of humor and suspense with nice supporting roles by Morgan Woodward as the exasperated police captain, Robert Loggia as rich local drug kingpin Spillano, Richard Jaeckel as Novick's mechanic pal Billy, Lana Wood as nutty psychic New Blossom, and the ever-creepy Timothy Carey as Loomis, Spillano's right-hand man.

Yes, how could I missed it? It is a pure seventies actionner, car chase flick, starring Joe Don Baker, who also worked with Earl Bellamy the director for the last film of the WALKING TALL trilogy, which two first films were made by Phil Karlson. This is not a masterpiece, only an entertaining, fast paced yarn, inspired by SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT, produced the very same year. Car chase film. Yes, it is fun, with wrecked police - or not - cars galore. No matter the plot, and also characters. Looks pretty like a tV movie but, I repeat, starring the likes of Joe Don Baker and Richard Jaeckel, Bob Loggia, how could I be deceived? If you crave for the late seventies atmosphere, this flick is for you. Sorry for the mistake above; Joe Don Baker did not play in Earl Bellamy's WALKING TALL PART 2, Bo Svenson did it, and that's the reason why I have always confounded them both: Svenson and Baker; same heavy tough set and lead characters in WALKING TALL films. But I will tell about it later, in another review.

Movies like SPEEDTRAP usually don't get an even brake, er, break anymore. It's a good alternative to GONE IN 60 SECONDS when it comes to automotive action, yet it's not all that exciting this time around. It does have a couple of big explosions and a giant police car pile-up. The scene where Road Runner's car leaps from one tall building to another is so odd to believe. Too much stray footage not relating to the movie makes the story look mumble-jumbled, though. A few scenes were very useless in accompanying the action for which SPEEDTRAP is based upon. What it lacks for a writing flaw, it makes up for some humor. The female student driver who appears twice steals the show, making big mistakes at every turn in a careless, but amusing way. Joe Don Baker, PO'ed at the Road Runner, says the goofiest line I've ever heard: "Beep beep my @$$!". Later on, it becomes a predictable surprise. This one rips off GONE IN 60 SECONDS as with other car crash movies of the 70s, but it's worth a try if like fun-filled, though greatly missed, auto action thrills.

I lived in Phoenix at the time when this was filmed and recognize some things that are now long gone, so watching this movie holds a lot of sentimental nostalgia for me. Some of the scenes were filmed right in the parking lot of the downtown Phoenix police station (built in 1974) The garage where Richard Jaeckel's character works (located at 9th Avenue & Jefferson) was a real auto repair facility called Paul's. Some of the street scenes look like they were filmed in Tucson as well. The antique auto show scenes are right near City Hall. I watch this at least 4 to 5 times a year. Not bad for something I paid $3 for at a truck stop!

The race track scenes were filmed at Manzanita Speedway in Phoenix which was an icon for local racers starting in the 1950s. Sadly it closed in 2014 another victim of overzealous redevelopment that has been going on for decades now. I long since moved away from there.