Thunder in Carolina

Not mentioned in the credits was the presence of the 2nd Marine Division Band from Camp Lejuene, NC. We (I was in the band, clanging the cymbals) appeared in two scenes. It was a great gig. Got to meet Rory and Connie.

"Thunder in Carolina" is an early film about NASCAR and while it's far from great, it's a must-see for NASCAR lovers...particularly those interested in the history of the sport.

The film begins with hard luck driver, Mitch Cooper (Rory Calhoun) losing another race. He was in the lead but is car gave out just as he was about to win...and he's hurt in the process. Mitch now figures he needs a change...to get a job and settle down. So, he heads to a gas station where he worked long ago. Unfortunately, the old owner has died but fortunately the new owner hires him. But this creates problems, as the new owner's wife is worried that her husband might try NASCAR...which was much more dangerous back in the old days. Will her hubby end up a hero or worm food?

There is nothing all that original and wonderful about this film. But it is interesting to watch and the ending was satisfying. For me, a non-NASCAR lover, I still enjoyed it and put it in the time-passer category.

The scenes on the winding two-lane road involving a chase by the revenuers was filmed in North Carolina (on highway 16 in northern Alexander County and southern Wilkes County). The race car was driven by Junior Johnson, a well-known NASCAR driver of the day, who died in 2019. I was in high school at the time, and several of us were able to watch the filming. Met Rory Calhoun, got his autograph. A fun memory. (Side note: I overheard an NC State Trooper joke with a local known bootlegger that perhaps he should have searched his car to make everything look real.)

I watched this movie today on a DVD from Amazon. Thunder in Carolina was shot on location in North Carolina and the color looks very good. The script keeps the viewer interested and the story moves right along. It's an entertaining look at the early days of NASCAR.

Big time stock car driver Mitch Cooper (Rory Calhoun) breaks his ankle in a crash and returns to his hometown to recuperate and fix his car at the garage where he used to work. He finds the owner has died and the place is now owned by Les York (Race Gentry) and his pretty blonde wife Rene (Connie Hines in her only movie credit). Les welcomes Mitch and soon Mitch is training him to be a stock car driver, much to Rene's disapproval. Mitch has the hots for Rene but she isn't having any. With Mitch's help, Les soon wins a few races and gets the big head. He leaves Mitch to work for the win-at-all-cost millionaire. Then the big race day arrives. Mitch's ankle has healed and his car is repaired. Now it's Mitch and Les head to head in the final race. What will happen?

Alan Hale Jr (The Skipper on Gilligan's Island) plays a pit crew boss and Mitch's old buddy. There are many amateurs in the cast for whom this is their only movie or TV credit. There is some good stock footage of races. However, some of the filming was done at an actual NASCAR event where Rory Calhoun actually drove a couple of laps during the race with a camera attached to the hood of his car.

Tobacco is a big product in North Carolina and Rory does many of his scenes with a cigarette hanging out out his mouth. Connie Hines also smokes a lot.

Thunder in Carolina is an enjoyable movie and well worth watching.

Easygoing drama about a stock-car veteran, Mitch Cooper (Rory Calhoun) who is down on his luck. He befriends a mechanic Les (John Gentry) who wants to be a pro race driver so Mitch teaches him. Les is keen to race but his wife, Rene (Connie Hines) is not. Meanwhile Mitch, always ready to romance the ladies, is drawn to Rene who is cool and unresponsive. (Really, what woman in her right mind would resist a handsome dreamboat like Rory?) Later an argument breaks out between Les and Mitch which results in Mitch having to drive a race car himself in the upcoming big event even though he has a bothersome leg injury.

Alan Hale Jr. takes on a supporting role as Buddy, a race car mechanic who stands by his friend Mitch when the going gets rough.

Events build up to the main attraction, the annual Southern 500 Labor Day race in Darlington, D.C. One gets to see several real-life race car drivers in action and some hair raising film footage too. The constant roar of the race -- this is where the movie title of "Thunder" comes in.

Good middle of the road entertainment. It reminds me of "The Big Wheel (1949)" with Mickey Rooney as a race car driver.