Hot Cars

I seem to have a soft spot in my heart or head for B movies of the 30's thru the 50's. I like their fast pacing, attention to the story line, the actors who for the most part are virtually unknown. Hot Cars, if it is known at all today lives on because of the lobby cards featuring the beautiful, and, talented Joi Lansing. This is a really good movie though with great performances by John Bromfield and Joi Lansing. Of course wherever Joi is there is delightful eye candy but make no mistake about it, Joi was a very good actress. This movie gives her a bigger role than just walking across the back drop. It's a real shame she didn't get better roles. John Bromfield is an ideal actor for the role of Nick Dunn who is caught in the middle of the hot car scam. The supporting cast works along with these two stars to form a cohesive ensemble. Something you don't always get in the "Bigger" movies. OK, it's not a lavish movie with a big budget and razzle dazzle special effects. Just a gripping story told in a late film-noirish manner. The actors make you care about what is happening on screen in a most convincing manner. This is a real gem! See it if you can. It needs to be released on DVD.

John Bromfield is an honest young man with a pretty wife and a new baby. He's also a used car salesman, who gets fired for not pushing junk to a customer. That customer turns out to be the owner of a chain of used car lots, looking for someone like Bromfield to sell stolen cars.

HOT CARS, like many a Schenck-Koch production in this period, has an interesting story, people who look good on the screen and fine visuals. Not only is it shot in the "Southwest Noir" style, but there's a fine noir ending on a roller coaster. What it lacks is good performances. The line readings all seem a bit droning, like a bad episode of DRAGNET. It even results in calling attention to the actors. Joi Lansing, in particular, seems to hit her mark and pose before reciting her lines.

Still, the careful visuals and bravura ending add to the story to keep things interesting all the way through.

This is the same story as GONE IN 60 SECONDS, 1980 and later version. Stolen cars made to look like other vehicles and buried in red tape. Hot car market was alive and well before the 60 Second writers made their movies.

In HOT CARS, used car salesman, Nick Dunn (John Bromfield), gets mixed up with the "wrong crowd" after being fired from his job. Nick winds up working for a rival car lot run by a criminal mastermind.

When Nick's son becomes ill, he finds himself deeply involved in the car theft underworld.

Violence and murder soon follow.

This is an entertaining crime drama / morality tale, packed with 1950's ambiance and culminating in a wonderful finale, featuring the "fight-to-the-death on a rollercoaster" sequence!

Co-stars the beautiful Joi Lansing as the seductive Karen Winter!...

Fans of fast cars, forgotten noirs, obscure L. A. locations, jowly John Bromfield and the many-splendored joys of buxotic Joi Lansing will have a field day with this no-budget delight. Produced by cheapskate auteurs Howard Koch and Aubrey Schenck, who gave the world CRIME AGAINST JOE, PHAOROH'S CURSE and THE GIRL IN BLACK STOCKINGS, this two-bit jalopy has it all: hot wheels, hot dames, hot spots (including shameless plugs for actual used car lots and beachfront watering holes), and hot action (climaxed by a wild fight to the death on a roller coaster ride).

All in an hour's running time.

Hot damn!