Hot Rod Girl

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 !!

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.

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.

Filmed entirely in the San Fernando Valley, CA ... If you want to see what the Valley and early Hot Rodding was like, THIS is the movie for you!! The film opens at the old San Fernando Dragstrip and moves all around the Valley from Northridge to Sherman Oaks, North Hollywood, Van Nuys Blvd ... If you want a history of what the "Nifty Fifties" was like this is it! ... a forerunner to American Graffitti and Hollywood Knights ... You couldn't re-make this film today if you had 50 million dollars ... A TRUE CLASSIC !!

I have to admit it. Why? Well it features a young Chuck Connors for one thing but even more importantly for me it stars Lori Nelson of REVENGE OF THE CREATURE fame. I have to admit there's just something about Nelson I adore, not sure what it is exactly but she has a certain quality that defies description. The film itself is an interesting piece of 1950s nostalgia, especially for anyone who remembers or actually lived through the hot rodding craze from that era. Now I'll admit this was before my time, yet it holds a certain fascination and appeal for me. The film, while being basically pro-teens (they are just mixed up kids in need of a place to go and have fun but who need the help and guidance of a responsible adult-Connors' Detective Ben Merrill), does send a mixed message with regards to hot-rodding...both positive and negative to the point that in the end we are left scratching our heads.