Hot Rod

Car culture was a big deal for post-war teens. As I recall, cool cars conferred about as much status on ambitious boys as competitive sports. The war had put a big crimp in the supply of new cars, so boys fashioned their own automotive skills by assembling 'hot rods' from spare parts wherever they could get them. As the movie shows, true hot rods were faster than normal, and when a kid won a competition, either on the street or on a track, he was not only showing off driving skills, but mechanical ability as well. In short, he built an enviable reputation among teens if not among adults.

The movie dramatizes much of this. Of course, the story's done Hollywood style. Thus, many of the rough dramatic edges are smoothed out in the end, even if it's not too plausible. For example, kids would continue to do risky street racing, despite drag strips alternatives. Nonetheless, for viewers curious about teens and the time period, Jimmy Lydon is a good example of the teen image prior to James Dean's celebrated rebelliousness. Lydon's a little overage here for the school boy part, but his basic likability and respectfulness are never in doubt.

Anyway, whatever else, the movie remains a showcase for hot-rodding, circa 1950.

Before watching "Hot Rod", I also watched "The Devil on Wheels". Both films are low budgeted exploitation films from so-called 'Poverty Row Studios'....small outfits who filmed by renting out space at major studios...often at night. In general, these films were very quickly made, cheap and less than stellar. "The Devil on Wheels" is worse, as it was made by tiny PRC....whereas "Hot Rod" was really not terrible and that's a bit of a surprise because it's from Monogram.



Judge Langham has two sons, David and Joe. Joe is a respectable policeman and David is a teenager who is fascinated with hot rods. The judge hates hot rods and they show him in court lecturing teens about the dangers of hot rodding. Because of his hatred of these fast cars, he only lets David have a car if it's not souped up and isn't a speedster. However, the young man is soon accused of driving recklessly and causing an accident. What's next? See the film.

While few would consider "Hot Rod" a great film, it's not nearly the bad film I'd expected. Much of it is that while it isn't subtle, it isn't nearly as preachy as other cheap hot rodding films of the era and teenage driving isn't a black & white issue in the picture. The judge's son isn't a terrible kid and the problem isn't as simplistic as it was in "The Devil on Wheels" and other roadster films of the day. The acting isn't bad considering everything and the film is a decent time-passer--not some cheap exploitation pic.

By the way, look for the character 'Jack'. He was played by Tommy Bond...a guy who in his childhood years appeared in dozens of Little Rascals films. He usually played Butch the bully.

This is a really poor film. It features two alleged teenagers, reference is made to going to school, and they're way way past their sell-by date to be teens. Jimmy Lydon, who was really good in the Henry Aldrich movies, was playing a teenager NINE YEARS earlier than this movie was made, and even then he was almost past his teens. Gil Stratton as his sidekick 'Swifty' is even older. Neither of them really could pass for a teenager or high school student. In fact it's kinda laughable. Lydon plays it low key; he's pretty skinny and still does have a bit of baby-face to him but Stratton is absolutely not believable in his role.

There are so many old hot rod movies out there and this is one which disappointed me. How about getting character roles played by people who are believable in them?

A narrator describes the world of the hot rod as a new and developing sport. He then describes the problematic world of illegal hot rod racing. A motorcycle cop confronts a group of racers. He catches a couple of racers after their car breaks down. Judge Langham sentences the first time offenders and revokes their licenses for a year. His son David Langham gets a car and gets caught up in an incident.

This starts basically as one of those government films that get shown in high schools. It turns into something else. It does have characters and a story. I don't care about the characters. The story is not that compelling and it ends in the least compelling way. This is a movie trying to placate the hot rod crowd, but they would never fall for a lame movie like this. The government film warning against hot rods would be more fun.

This was required watching in the early 50's when we were building rods & customs. Poor acting, second rate plot, but Oh Those Cars!!! Anyone building a retro-rod today should be able to see this. Too bad we can't get it on tape or DVD