Hot Rod Gang

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	August 1958 (1958-08)
Running time	72 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$100,000 est. [1]

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.

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]

See also

• List of American films of 1958

References

1. Lamont, John (1990). "The John Ashley Filmography". Trash Compactor (Volume 2 No. 5 ed.). p. 26.
2. Turner Classic Movies ^{[ 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. 27 March 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 ]}

External links

• Hot Rod Gang at IMDb
• Review of film at Variety
• Hot Rod Gang at the TCM Movie Database
• Review of film at Harrison Reports