Another film watched for the "House of Hammer" podcast, "Mask of Dust" or "A Race for Life" if you're American, is a 1954 melodrama, set in the exciting and glamourous world of motor racing.
Though once feted as the best, Peter Wells (Richard Conte) has struggled since his return from his time in the RAF and his wife Patricia (Mari Aldon) wants him to retire. Hastening the issue, his teammate Guido Rosetti (Alec Mango) is winning, and putting increasing demands on the team to promote him to lead driver. His feelings are focused when his friend and fellow driver, Tony Bellario (Peter Illing) is involved in an accident.
Melodrama really is the word for this one. I thought the footage from the races was integrated well and there was a sense of danger to them. They're, obviously, not putting the real actors at risk and their scenes are rear projection. It's the scenes around the racing that were the real problem for me. It's basically the same plot as "Days of Thunder" but the performances are pretty over the top. Alec Mango might as well twiddle a Waluigi style mustache as he schemes behind Well's back (only to - minor spoilers - reverse his position based on very little later in the film). It was Mari Aldon that was the most strikingly bad though, she pretty much stares directly down the lens a couple of times, pulling a face like she's spoofing what an actress might do.
This might be reflective of racing at the time, I don't know, but how old are some of the drivers supposed to be. Today the average Formula One driver is in their late twenties, here the three drivers seem nearer their fifties.
I didn't hate every minute of it and there's something to be said for something (anything) that's not another bad film noir - but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it as anything other than a reason to see some footage from the time of Sterling Moss.
