HOT ROD RUMBLE

Richard Hartunian as Arnie Crawford 

HOT ROD RUMBLE (1957). Director: Leslie H. Martinson. 

Arnie Crawford (Richard Hartunian) belongs to a racing gang called the Road Devils but is treated like an outsider, possibly because of his sullen nature or out of jealousy over his effect on women. His best buddy, Ray (Wright King), is an Arnie-wannabee who makes a play for Terry (Leigh Snowden), Arnie's girl, although the two are having a rough patch. Terry goes off for a drive with Hank (Larry Dolgin), and someone runs them off the road, killing Hank. Fellow Road Devil Jim (Brett Halsey of High School Hellcats) is convinced that Arnie is responsible, and the whole town turns against him, except, seemingly, for Ray, who may have his own agenda. Meanwhile Arnie hopes to raise the entry fee so he can race and win some cash ... 

Wright King and Hartunian

Hot Rod Rumble is an exploitative title for a melodrama that with a little more care and a more thoughtful screenplay might have emerged as an effective dramatic piece. With presence and sex appeal as well as genuine acting ability, Hartunian makes a solid impression as Arnie, and he gets good support from King and Snowden, among others. Hartunian certainly had all the ingredients for a major career, but he had only four credits, with his last being in 1961. He lived another ten years and died too young at 39. Wright King lived to 95 and amassed 114 credits. Also in the cast is John Brinkley [T-Bird Gang] as a gas station attendant and friend of Ray's. A strange aspect to Hot Rod Rumble is that in the climactic car race not a single car remotely resembles what one would call a "hot rod." Leslie H. Martinson also directed Hot Rod Girl.

Verdict: Some good acting makes this more compelling -- albeit in a minor way -- than you might imagine. **1/2. 

HOT ROD GIRL

Chuck Connors and John Smith

HOT ROD GIRL (1956). Director: Leslie H. Martinson. 

Mechanic Jeff Northrup (John Smith of Legacy of Blood) goes into a funk after his younger brother, Steve (Del Erickson), is killed after being goaded into racing in his hot rod. Although Jeff, who was in the car with his brother, tried to stop him, he loses his license and loses an interest in racing. His girlfriend, Lisa (Lori Nelson), tries to help him get over his depression, along with sympathetic cop Ben Merrill (Chuck Connors). Later, Jeff resists getting into a race with an out of town hotshot, Bronc (Mark Andrews), but tragedy results anyway. Now it's a question of who is responsible for a boy's death -- Jeff or Bronc?

Lori Nelson and Mark Andrews

Hot Rod Girls is an acceptable time-passer that might have amounted to something with a better script. The acting is generally competent, with John Smith giving a very good portrayal of a decent guy caught up in circumstances beyond his control.  Frank Gorshin of Batman fame scores as Flat Top, a flippant friend of Jeff's. Although he had very few credits, Mark Andrews makes his mark as the sinister and unpleasant Bronc. Roxanne Arlen is cast as the dippy blonde, L. B., and Dabbs Greer owns the auto shop where Jeff is employed. There's a fairly exciting sequence when Bronc and Flat Top play "chicken" in their cars, as well as a chase at the climax. Like most of these movies, the teens in this are played by actors in their thirties or thereabouts. Although Lisa is shown to be a racer herself in the movie's opening scene, this aspect of the film -- women racers -- is completely ignored despite the title. 

Verdict: Won't make your pulse race, but entertaining enough on its own terms. **1/2. 

TEENAGE THUNDER

Chuck Courtney

TEENAGE THUNDER (1957). Director: Paul Helmick. 

18-year-old Johnny Simpson (Chuck Courtney) is a sullen, difficult teenager who keeps making stupid choices, allegedly because his father (Tyler McVey) is neglectful and distant. Johnny takes up with plain-but-appealing waitress Betty Palmer, (Melinda Byron), who asks her sister "why aren't boys as smart as girls are?" True, Betty is a lot smarter than Johnny, whose life is made miserable by bad boy Maurie Weston (Robert Fuller), who not only gets him to play "chicken" but nearly gets both of them killed until Betty intervenes. Johnny's father tries to teach him self-defense, but it backfires, and Johnny steals a hot rod from his former boss, Burt Morrison (Paul Bryar), and takes off. But when he learns that Burt wants to race the hot rod for his son, Jimmy (Gregory Marshall), who has polio, Johnny may have a change of heart. 

Robert Fuller on the left with uncredited player

Teenage Thunder is not really a wild exploitation film with juvenile delinquents and wild, painted women -- more's the pity -- but more along the lines of a lower-budgeted Disney picture, with obvious moral statements and a wind-up meant to tug at the heart strings. The best scene is between Tyler McVey and Paul Bryar when Johnny's boss comes to give his father some advice. Although not especially charismatic, Chuck Courtney, who was actually 27,  gives a more than adequate performance, and eventually amassed 91 credits, most of them on television. His most famous film was Billy the Kid Vs. Dracula, in which he played William Bonney. Robert Fuller, on the other hand, who also had a long career, exudes plenty of charisma as Maurie; he and Courtney were good friends in real life. Melinda Byron had only 15 credits. The other actors all turn in solid performances. The climactic race takes all of ten seconds!

Verdict: Not enough of those hot rods! **.