Hot Rod Gang
1958 film
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hot Rod Gang is a 1958 American teen drama film directed by Lew Landers and starring John Ashley. The working title was Hot Rod Rock[2] with the film also released under the title Fury Unleashed. American International Pictures released the film as a double feature with High School Hellcats.[3] The production includes performances by rock and roll musician Gene Vincent,[4] and was the final theatrical feature directed by the incredibly prolific Landers, whose career dated to the mid-1930s.
executive
Charles Buddy Rogers
associate
Lou Kimzey
| Hot Rod Gang | |
|---|---|
Theatrical poster, 1958 | |
| Directed by | Lew Landers |
| Written by | Lou Rusoff |
| Based on | story by Rusoff |
| Produced by | Lou Rusoff executive Charles Buddy Rogers associate Lou Kimzey |
| Starring | John Ashley Jody Fair |
| Cinematography | Floyd Crosby |
| Music by | Ronald Stein |
Production company | Indigo Productions |
| Distributed by | American International Pictures (US) Anglo-Amalgamated (UK) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 72 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $100,000 est.[1] |
Plot
John Abernathy III needs to lead a blameless life to inherit his father's estate, but he also engages in hot rod car racing.
Cast
- John Ashley as John Abernathy III
- Jody Fair as Lois Cavendish
- Steve Drexel as Mark
- Scott Peters as Jack
- Helen Spring as Abigail Abernathy
- Lester Dorr as Dryden Philpott
- Doodles Weaver as Wesley Cavendish
- Dub Taylor as Al Berrywhiff
- Gloria Grant as Tammy
- Maureen Arthur as Marley
- Dorothy Neumann as Anastasia Abernathy (as Dorothy Newman)
- Russ Bender as Motorcycle cop
- Claire Du Brey as Agatha
Production
The film was known during production as Hot Rod Rock.[5]
Soundtrack
- "Hit and Run Lover", performed by John Ashley
- "Annie Laurie", performed by John Ashley
- "Dance in the Street", performed by Gene Vincent and The Blue Caps
- "Baby Blue", performed by Gene Vincent and The Blue Caps
- "Lovely Loretta", performed by Gene Vincent
- "Dance to the Bop", performed by Gene Vincent
- "Choo Choo Cha Poochie", performed by Maureen Arthur
Reception
The Los Angeles Times called it "a film of juvenile violence."[6]
The Monthly Film Bulletin said "the comedy misfires woefully, the performances are overstated to the point of caricature and the general level is decidedly moronic."[7]
Diabolique magazine wrote that "Ashley's limitations are exposed a little in this film – I don’t think he was a great comic actor – but it is entertaining and good-hearted."[8]
