Dragstrip Girl
Dragstrip Girl | |
---|---|
Directed by | Edward L. Cahn |
Produced by |
Alex Gordon executive Samuel Z. Arkoff |
Written by | Lou Rusoff |
Starring |
John Ashley Fay Spain |
Music by | Ronald Stein |
Production company |
Golden State Productions |
Distributed by |
American International Pictures (US) Anglo-Amalgamated (UK) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 69 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $65,000[1] or $100,000[2] |
Dragstrip Girl is a 1957 film starring John Ashley in his first lead role.[3] American International Pictures released the film as a double feature with Rock All Night and it proved an early success for the studio.[4]
Fay Spain co-starred in the film, which was remade later that year as Motorcycle Gang.[5]
Plot
Louise Blake, a teenager, is crazy about hot-rod cars. When a couple of guys hide from the cops after an illegal street race, Louise meets them and brings them home to meet her parents. Fred Armstrong comes from a well-to-do family, impressing Louise's mother, whereas Jim Donaldson is poor but a resourceful mechanic, impressing Louise's dad.
Encouraged to speed by Louise, the car Jim's driving nearly hits a mother and child. Fred provokes a fight, then challenges Jim to a "chicken" drag race, with Fred's friend Rick Camden helping him and ending up with a broken leg. Fred and Rick then get into a hit-and-run accident, killing another motorist.
Things come to a head at a 100-lap race on an oval. Louise ends up behind the wheel of a car, with Fred trying to run her off the road because he's aware she intends to turn over evidence from the hit-and-run. She manages to save herself as Fred is taken away by the police.
Cast
- Fay Spain as Louise Blake
- John Ashley as Fred Armstrong
- Steve Terrell as Jim Donaldson
- Frank Gorshin as Tommy Burns
- Tommy Ivo as Rick Camden
Production
Steve Terrell had been in Runaway Daughters for Golden State (AIP's production company), who signed him to a 15 film contract, at three films a year for five years with the option for a fourth year. The script was by Lou Rusoff who was head of story for AIP.[6]
Ashley had not meant to audition for the film. He accompanied his girlfriend to her audition and they asked if he wanted to try out as well; he was successful, although she was not. Ashley subsequently signed to a long-term contract with AIP. The film was shot in six days.[1]
Filming started on 14 January 1957.[6]
Reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin called it "a depressing and irresponsible film... glorifying the defiance of law and order, lax morals and the discardance of civilised behaviour."[7]
The Los Angeles Times reported the "youngsters" in the film "are very poor representatives of today's youth."[8]
See also
References
- 1 2 Kelley, B. (1985, Mar 17). ASHLEY FINALLY MAKES THE TEAM. Sun Sentinel Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.sl.nsw.gov.au/docview/389734195?accountid=13902
- ↑ Lamont, John (1990). "The John Ashley Filmography". Trash Compactor (Volume 2 No. 5 ed.). p. 26.
- ↑ Two Films Aimed at Teen-agers G M W. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 25 Apr 1957: C9
- ↑ Scheuer, P. K. (1958, Sep 21). Shocker pioneers tell how to make monsters. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.sl.nsw.gov.au/docview/167287343?accountid=13902
- ↑ Mark McGee, Faster and Furiouser: The Revised and Fattened Fable of American International Pictures, McFarland, 1996, p134
- 1 2 Anita Ekberg Pursued for 'Screaming Mimi;' 'Galveston' Near Ready Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File); Los Angeles, Calif. [Los Angeles, Calif]21 Dec 1956: B7.
- ↑ DRAGSTRIP GIRL. (1957, Monthly Film Bulletin, 24, 101. Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.sl.nsw.gov.au/docview/1305823133?accountid=13902
- ↑ G, M. W. (1957, Apr 25). Two films aimed at teen-agers. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy.sl.nsw.gov.au/docview/167119035?accountid=13902