Greased Lightning

It's not often I get to see a movie that isn't 1) unbelievably complicated in psychological meaning OR 2) unbelievably complicated in futuristic technology SO

I found it GREAT ENTERTAINMENT, REFRESHING, POSITIVE, AND most of all CLEAN, HEALTHY FUN!

This is the best I've seen Richard Pryor star in, and the real life Horatio Alger story is a real force for success motivation, even though I am a WASP.

Only the jaded and/or mean spirited would turn this one down.

This movie showed that. Nothing can hold you down. Not even color. Wendell Scott showed what a person can do. When the backs and prejudiced are up against the wall. I'm so proud of him I dont know what to do. I can view this movie over and over again.

Richard Pryor shows his versatility, in this story of a black moonshine runner who forces his way into the white-dominated professional racing circuit. I'm not sure how historically accurate it is, but the film drew me into the story, right off the bat. When they establish Pryor's character as a WWII veteran, that automatically buys some sympathy, and it's not hard to guess how hard it would have been for a black man to make his mark in the white-dominated south, let alone the white-ultra-dominated auto racing field. This particular aspect of racing, I think, still shows today in the incredibly-low percentage of black drivers in the major leagues of auto racing. I know it's not because African-Americans can't build or drive cars - I believe it's still because of the redneck image of pro stock-car racing.

Anyway, off my soapbox. This is a great movie. Pryor is very believable and turns in a fine performance as the protagonist. It's also great to see how the small local drivers started to build up the sport into the massive, ugly organization that is is, today. The film also kept my interest by showing the NASCAR races, year after year, showing their evolution and devolution.

I thoroughly enjoyed this film, front to back - of course, I'm kind of tilted towards car films. But the way the actors played out their characters in this film made them very human. I recommend this to any open-minded NASCAR fan. This'll show you where it came from.

Wendell Scott (Richard Pryor) returns home from WWII. He marries Mary Jones (Pam Grier) and starts a taxi service. Eager for action, he joins Peewee (Cleavon Little) on moonshine runs with the excuse of needing money to buy a garage. They outwit and outpace the bumbling police under Sheriff Cotton (Vincent Gardenia). When he finally gets caught, the local race track owner forces him to race to get out of jail. He becomes popular with the black crowds as the first black racer. Hutch (Beau Bridges) is first a rival driver, then a friendly competitor, and finally his mechanic in NASCAR.

This is a biopic loosely based on his life. I remember something about the race he won but was denied at first. Otherwise, I have nothing to say about the accuracy. There are characters that feel a little stereotypical. Bridges is trying too hard. I like Pryor's performance for the most part but he can never be not Pryor. The racing action is fine but it's not the most thrilling. This is compelling history and it has a great actor stretching his skills.

This one has been a favorite of mine ever since I first watched it on cable in the late 70's. Richard Pryor is just perfect as Wendell Scott, the first black stock-car racing champion. The rest of the cast is great as well, all perfect in their roles. This is definitely a perfectly cast film!

The film itself is very decent but does have a few problems, most notably that once Wendell starts racing there seems to be too many large gaps in time, as if a lot of footage that has been left on the cutting room floor. But the script does move along well even with that problem.

I would think Pryor fans especially would pick this up on DVD if it ever got a proper release, in widescreen, some commentary, and with those obviously deleted scenes left behind. Hopefully this will be on DVD before some Hollywood clown remakes this with tons of computer effects crap and ruins the whole thing.