Hot Rod Gang

Last updated
Hot Rod Gang
Hotrodganpos.jpg
Theatrical poster, 1958
Directed byLew Landers
Written by Lou Rusoff
Based onstory by Rusoff
Produced byLou 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
  • August 1958 (1958-08)
Running time
72 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$100,000 est. [1]

Hot Rod Gang is a 1958 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.

Contents

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

Production

The film was known during production as Hot Rod Rock. [5]

Soundtrack

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]

See also

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References

  1. Lamont, John (1990). "The John Ashley Filmography". Trash Compactor (Volume 2 No. 5 ed.). p. 26.
  2. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/78447/Hot-Rod-Gang/notes.html [ bare URL ]
  3. Sanders, Don and Susan (1997). The American Drive-In Movie Theatre. Motorbooks International. p. 127. ISBN   0-7603-0425-4.
  4. "Gene Vincent's rock' Hot Rod Gang", The Astounding B Monster Archive accessed 14 December 2012
  5. "Pat suzuki paged for broadway". Los Angeles Times. Mar 27, 1958. ProQuest   167265849.
  6. Warren, G. (Aug 22, 1958). "Teen-age problem 'solved'". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest   167353103.
  7. "FURY UNLEASHED". Monthly Film Bulletin. Vol. 26. 1959. p. 18. ProQuest   1305824181.
  8. Vagg, Stephen (December 2019). "A Hell of a Life: The Nine Lives of John Ashley". Diabolique Magazine.[ permanent dead link ]