Hot Cars

"Nick Dunn" (John Bromfield) is an honest, hard-working man who does his best trying to support his wife, "Jane Dunn" (Carol Shannon) and their extremely ill newborn son. Then one day things take a turn for the worse when he is subsequently fired from his job as a used car salesman after telling a customer by the name of "Karen Winter" (Joi Lansing) the truth about one of the vehicles. Needless to say, this puts him in a bind as the bills are quickly piling up and he has no money left to pay them. Things begin to change, however, when he learns that Karen has recommended him for a job at another used car lot and after talking to the owner "Arthur Markel" (Ralph Clanton) he is not only hired but also discovers that he will now make even more money than before. What he doesn't know, however, is that there is more to this used car lot than he was initially told and in order to sell the cars he will have to put his integrity on the line as well. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was a rather basic crime drama which suffers from an unremarkable script and a general lack of suspense. Having said that, it wasn't necessarily a bad film by any means and for that reason I have rated it accordingly. Average.

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!...

Despite this being a B movie, I actually think it's a good film. A story about a man who works in a hot-car racket to save his son's life, only to find himself becoming the fall guy when a detective investigating said racket is murdered, it is a story full of many twists and turns. Despite its lack of star power and its short length (a little over one hour), the story is very powerful and dramatic. Plus, the actors do a good job here, despite not being big names in the movie industry. This is one classic crime film I recommend giving a try.

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!

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.