Hot Cars

Not a Teen-Ager or Rock n' Roller in Sight in this Mid 1950's B-Movie that is Pretty Pedestrian.

Although Joi Lansing is Pretty and quite a Sight Lighting Up the Screen with a Sculpted Goddess Appeal.

But the Movie is Rather Dull when Joi is Off-Screen although the B-Actors do a Good Job with the Go-Nowhere, Predictable Script.

Cars Relentlessly Role in and out of the Screen and some L. A. Locations get a Nod.

The Story Includes an Episode of Adultery, but is Quickly Forgiven,

The Climax aboard a Roller Coaster was Fast becoming a Cliche at the Time.

But it Looks Well Staged and Adds a bit of a Thrill-Ride (ironic it's not a car) to the Conclusion.

The only Other Thrill in the Film is Ogling Joi Lansing, whose Career went Absolutely Nowhere.

Her most Famous/Infamous Film is "Hillbillies in a Haunted House" (1967), but the Stunning Ms. Lansing did do a Lot of TV.

She Made most of Her Money Modeling.

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.

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!

John Bromfield is an honest young man with a pretty wife and a new baby. He's also a used car salesman, who gets fired for not pushing junk to a customer. That customer turns out to be the owner of a chain of used car lots, looking for someone like Bromfield to sell stolen cars.

HOT CARS, like many a Schenck-Koch production in this period, has an interesting story, people who look good on the screen and fine visuals. Not only is it shot in the "Southwest Noir" style, but there's a fine noir ending on a roller coaster. What it lacks is good performances. The line readings all seem a bit droning, like a bad episode of DRAGNET. It even results in calling attention to the actors. Joi Lansing, in particular, seems to hit her mark and pose before reciting her lines.

Still, the careful visuals and bravura ending add to the story to keep things interesting all the way through.

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.