Thunder Alley
From The Deuce
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Also Known As
- Crash Drivers - Entscheidung in der Todeskurve (Germany)
- Donner-Teufel (Germany)
- Donner-Twens (Germany)
- Hell Drivers
- Kuolema ohjauspyörässä (Finland)
- Råskinn på racerbanan (Sweden)
Taglines
- Days of screaming wheels, nights of reckless pleasure!
- Their god is speed...their pleasure is an "anytime" girl!
Main Details
- Released in 1967
- Color
- Running Time: 90 min | West Germany:88 min
- Production Co: American International Pictures (AIP)
- Distribution Co: American International Pictures (AIP) (1967) (USA) (theatrical)
Cast and Crew
- Directed by Richard Rush
- Written by Sy Salkowitz
- Starring: Fabian, Annette Funicello
- Produced by Samuel Z. Arkoff, James H. Nicholson, Burt Topper
- Original Music by Mike Curb, Davie Allan (uncredited)
- Cinematography by Monroe P. Askins
- Film Editing by Kenneth G. Crane, Ronald Sinclair
Film Review
Tommy Callahan (Fabian) is one of the most skilled stock-car racers in the land. Unfortunately, he often suffers blackouts when he gets "boxed-in" during a race. As a result, a driver lost his life thanks to Tommy's mishap and Tommy soon finds himself with a lesser number of friends and no more paychecks for races. So he decides to pack his belongings, as well as his sassy girlfriend, Ann (Diane McBain), to find work elsewhere. Tommy soon gets things back going when a track owner, Pete Madsen (Jan Murray) offers him a gig to teach racing-instructions to a fellow stunt driver, Eddie Sands (Warren Berlinger, who bears a big resemblance to Ray Liotta) yet Tommy feels the pressure to get back in the driver's seat for the big leagues. But will he conquer his blackout demons? Will he replace his current girlfriend with Annette Funicello? Will the races be filled with stock-footage and rear projection? Yes to all!
Despite the predictable nature of this one, I still admit I had a fairly good time with it. I guess what I love most about it is that it's one of those time-capsule treasures that's secured in movie history. When all those movies made in the mid-late 60's had that larger than life look with the bright, crisp film-stock and lavish colors (Just check out Jan Murray's wardrobe, for god's sake!) plus the presence of the surf-rock, sock-hop soundtrack along with a character like Annette Funicello breaking out into a song (I'm not kidding. She does!) These methods are surely dated now, but as the generations go by, they have strangely evolved into one-of-a-kind experience. Who woulda thunk?
Reviewed by Laydback - 1/9/08