La Course vers l'abîme

The mid to late 1950s saw a LOT of angry delinquent films to the big screen. Often they also were into fast cars as well...such as in "Speed Crazy".

The story begins with Nick (Brett Halsey) committing a holdup and killing the guy even though he got the money and the victim was cooperative. Soon, he's racing away in his hotrod and he spends the rest of the film pushing people around, chasing women and driving fast. In pretty much every way, Nick is a total jerk...and nearly everyone hates him. Will Nick ever get his comeuppance?

For the most part, the film consists of Nick acting like a complete sociopath and uttering variations on the really annoying phrase "nobody crowds me" again and again and again...and again. Oddly, the police never seem to take notice despite his many fights and reckless driving. In addition to this nonsense, there are some hot rock and roll tunes...pretty much required for such movies.

So is it any good? Not especially but it is entertaining. Halsey is pretty wooden and his character is underwritten...and the ending just seems like a foregone conclusion. Decent if you like the genre, but otherwise a silly low-budget picture.

Pretty boy Brett Halsey plays Nick Barrow, who constantly complains that everyone "crowds" him. He blows away a gas station attendant, while saying "don't crowd me, Joe." He then blows into a small town, flirts with a waitress (Jackie Joseph), gets in a fistfight, and wins a car race. Then he moves on to another town, where he gets a job as a mechanic, claiming he is a "domp" - a "doctor of motor parts." I don't think that degree was offered when I went to college. When the boss asks him his name, he says "Barrow. I got a brother named Wheel." He flirts with three chicks (Yvonne Lime, Jaclyn Hellman, and Lucita), and as far as I can tell (for a 1950s movie), manages to reach the checkered flag with Hellman (who is gorgeous, by the way). He enters the big race opposite Lime's boyfriend. Meanwhile, the police close in.

The dialogue is inane: "You're a human corkscrew. You couldn't do anything straight."

The dialogue is stupid: "How about some alphabet soup on me?" "Thanks, but if it's all the same to you I'll have it in a bowl."

Slick Slavin plays a character named Smiley and sings the title song. Apparently he was a singer and comedian in the late 40s into the early 60s, but he's not funny and can't sing worth a crap.

This film has eight things going for it - Joseph, Lime, Hellman, and Lucita. After that, you're better off watching Demolition Derby.

Someone entered Brad Harris' name as an EXTRA in this movie. Does anyone know at what point in the movie that Brad appears? I can't spot him.

Aside from this the movie is a blast for that era of hot-rods and gorgeous gals. Great fun movie to watch.