Hot Rod Girl

Now here is a little 1950's JD film that I had a lot of fun watching! Kind of an off the wall affair that sends a mixed message but is certainly a hoot to check out. A young Chuck Connors plays a local cop who is trying to end illegal drag racing by getting the kids to participate in a sort of legalized form of racing at a drag strip he put together and supervises with some of the local youth. Things seem to be working fine, though Connors is constantly getting heat from his Captain who wants hot rodding banned altogether, until the local "hero" Jeff loses his brother in an illegal street race. Jeff goes brooding and decides he wants no part of Connors program anymore just as a typical 1950's hood comes driving into town for the first time trying to shake things up. I found the film to be oddly entertaining but I wasn't sure if the message was that kids shouldn't be drag racing or that it's ok, as long as it's done in a certain place. Anyway, a fun movie featuring pretty good performances by Connors, John Smith and a very young Frank Gorshin as "Flat Top". Also in the cast is the extremely attractive Lori Nelson who has the title role. It seems a little odd that the film carries the title HOT ROD GIRL as Nelson is clearly a supporting player and the only time she "hot rods" is very briefly in the beginning during the opening credits. Still, her 1955 T-Bird is a blast to look at as are some of the other cars featured in the film. Catchy 1950's music score also helps capture a nice feel. If you like these kinds of films, as I do, I think you'll find this one rather enjoyable.

I just watched this with a buddy of mine and can't believe how thoroughly enjoyable it was. I paid a buck for it !!!!! And the DVD even had another hot rod flick which I haven't even seen yet (T-Bird Gang).

I think you'll enjoy this and find yourself longing for the good-old days of the 1950s All the old cars, nostalgia, hamburg joints, great scenery which includes the mountains of the San Fernando Valley and a great- looking Lori Nelson.

This is truly a good little movie, a gem ... if you can find this, buy it (it shouldn't cost hardly anything if you are a lucky enough to find it). Truly a gem. Enjoy !!

A humane cop works at converting troublesome teens from street racing onto supervised dragstrips. But then a new guy, a street outlaw, comes to town and stirs the pot.

The movie's title is something of a misnomer. Actually, our hot rod girl operates a clipboard rather than a road racer. But that's okay, since Lori Nelson is—surprise, surprise—very pretty, and even a good actress, to boot. Focus shifts about half-way through from the teens to cop Chuck Connors as he tries to shift street racing to the less dangerous drag strip. At 6'6", he's clearly an imposing presence that commands audience attention. There's also a good look at young Frank Gorshin (Flat-top), who comes through with some badly needed snap. He's also a very distinctive presence and clearly on his way up the show-biz ladder; he even does a couple brief Cagney bits. Too bad he wasn't cast as the outlaw where he could have shown his talents as a sneering villain (e.g. The Riddler).

No doubt much of the theme is familiar to teens of the time when a guy's status could depend on how close he was to a fast car, preferably a 'hot rod'. The movie itself is fairly routine, longer than needed, and without much drag strip footage. Overall, the results lack needed drama, as when the two collisions are only implied and not shown. Maybe the staging was just too expensive for a budget outfit like Nacirema. Then too, actor Smith comes off as too bland to inject his nice boy Jeff with much personality. All in all, the movie's a drive-in programmer with a provocative title minus anything more.

Believing that a drag strip will keep kids from racing their hot rods on the street "Detective Ben Merrill" (Chuck Connors) takes an active interest and encourages them to drive responsibly. Unfortunately, when a certain group's leader by the name of "Jeff Northrup" (John Smith) has his younger brother killed in a racing accident he decides to avoid the drag strip altogether. This results in the rest of the group also losing interest in the drag strip and instead doing the exact thing that Detective Bill Merrill feared the most. Soon the residents of the city become extremely upset with the way the kids are driving recklessly through town and the police are forced to begin taking action against those who own hot rods. Matters become even worse when a troublemaker by the name of "Bronc Talbott" (Mark Andrews) arrives in town and decides to make a play for Jeff's girlfriend, "Lisa Vernon" (Lori Nelson). Now, rather than reveal any more of the film I will just say that this was an okay grade-B picture which managed to pass the time more or less. Although it's not a great film by any means I didn't think it was that bad either and so I have given it a rating of about average. If nothing else it manages to capture the 1950's time-period pretty well and that might be of interest to some viewers.

This Attempted Cash-In on the Headlines Like "Juvenile Delinquency" and "Hot Rods",

Commits 2 of the No-No Sins...

Deliver On What You are Selling...Never be Boring.

This Lackluster, Lame, Message-Movie is Wrought with Wrong-Head Writing, Presentation and Remains an Embarrassing Entry in Mid-50's "Teen" Exploitation.

The "Rebels Without a Cause" had Good Causes Indeed.

Explore Life, Have Fun, and Express Yourself.

Following on Their Jitterbugging Foot-Steps were the "Establishment"...It saw and Opportunity...To Make Money Selling Books, Records, Movies, and More.

Juveniles, as a Generation, also had for the First-Time Ever... Disposable Money to Burn.

Their were Plenty of Cons in the Products that were Designed to Attract Audiences in the Newly Exploitable Generation.

This was One of Them.

Making a Movie that, through Advertising, would put Denim in the Seats in Droves. Then Gave Them a Sermon on the Evils of "Hot-Rods", "Drag Racing" and"Leather Jackets".

Yea, that's why They went to the Drive-Ins and Theatres...Not.

The Film Shows a Couple of Street Races in the most Luke-Warm Fashion.

The Drag Races at the Showcased Track are Mysteriously Absent.

That's Enough Examples. But there are Many More.

Hopefully more Fans of this Type will Speak-Out about its Ineptitude.

Skip this one to Avoid Suffering and Find Some other JD Movies that are...

Worth a Watch.... This One is NOT.