The Devil's Hairpin | |
---|---|
Directed by | Cornel Wilde |
Screenplay by | James Edmiston Cornel Wilde |
Produced by | Cornel Wilde |
Starring | Cornel Wilde Jean Wallace Mary Astor |
Cinematography | Daniel L. Fapp |
Edited by | Floyd Knudtson |
Music by | Van Cleave |
Production company | Theodora Productions |
Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 83 inutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Box office | $1 million (US) [1] |
The Devil's Hairpin is a 1957 American sports drama film written and directed by Cornel Wilde who also stars alongside Jean Wallace and Mary Astor. It was filmed Technicolor and VistaVision, and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The plot revolves around about car racing.
Nick Jargin retired from auto racing undefeated. He is continually goaded by Mike Houston, a sportswriter, to come out of retirement and challenge the top racer of the day, Tony Botari, particularly after egotistically saying in an interview that Botari has no real competition now that he's out of the sport.
Nick's girlfriend is Kelly James, a health club instructor. Kelly wants to be married and have sex, and when a reluctant Nick introduces her to his mother, Mrs. Jargin wants nothing to do with him, blaming Nick for a racing accident that seriously injured her other son, Johnny.
Kelly is even urged by Nick's mother to leave him. She gives him an ultimatum, marry her or else. He declines, so she goes back to former boyfriend Danny Rhinegold, who now runs Botari's racing team.
In the 100-lap race that takes them along rural roads, Nick takes the lead, with his brother Johnny's help on the crew. Botari is nearly in an accident in the dangerous "Devil's Hairpin" turn, so Nick slows down to help Botari steer clear of it. A self-sacrificing gesture is rare for him, so after the race, Kelly accepts when Nick finally proposes to her.
Filming took place in March 1957. [2]
The racing scenes were shot at Paramount Ranch Raceway.
Cornel Wilde was a Hungarian-American actor and filmmaker.
Leave Her to Heaven is a 1945 American psychological thriller film noir melodrama directed by John M. Stahl and starring Gene Tierney, Cornel Wilde, Jeanne Crain, and Vincent Price. It follows a socialite who marries a prominent novelist, which spurs a violent, obsessive, and dangerous jealousy in her. It is based on the 1944 novel of the same name by Ben Ames Williams, adapted by screenwriter Jo Swerling.
The Big Combo is a 1955 American crime film noir directed by Joseph H. Lewis, written by Philip Yordan and photographed by cinematographer John Alton, with music by David Raksin. The film stars Cornel Wilde, Richard Conte and Brian Donlevy, as well as Jean Wallace, who was Wilde's wife at the time. The supporting cast features Lee Van Cleef, Earl Holliman and the final screen appearance of actress Helen Walker.
Jean Wallace was an American television and film actress.
It Had to Be You is a 1947 American comedy romance film directed by Don Hartman and Rudolph Maté and starring Ginger Rogers and Cornel Wilde. It was produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures. A marriage-shy sculptor meets the boy of her childhood dreams, now a firefighter.
Lancelot and Guinevere is a British 1963 film starring Cornel Wilde, Jean Wallace, and Brian Aherne. This lesser-known version of the Camelot legend is a work shaped predominantly by Cornel Wilde, who co-produced, directed, co-wrote, and played Lancelot.
Boogie Woogie is a 2009 British black comedy film directed by Duncan Ward and produced by Eric Eisner and Leonid Rozhetskin. It is based on the 2000 novel of the same name by Danny Moynihan, who adapted his own book on the New York art world of the 1990s and titled it based on the unfinished 1944 Piet Mondrian painting Victory Boogie-Woogie.
Astor Pictures was a motion picture distribution company in the United States from 1930 to 1963. It was founded by Robert M. Savini. Astor specialized in film re-releases. It later released independently made productions, including some of its own films made during the 1950s.
Three Strangers is a 1946 American film noir crime drama directed by Jean Negulesco and starring Sydney Greenstreet, Geraldine Fitzgerald, and Peter Lorre, and featuring Joan Lorring and Alan Napier. The screenplay was written by John Huston and Howard Koch. It was produced and distributed by Warner Brothers.
Hot Blood is a 1956 American CinemaScope Technicolor musical film directed by Nicholas Ray and starring Jane Russell, Cornel Wilde and Joseph Calleia. It was produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures.
A Question of Adultery is a 1958 British drama film directed by Don Chaffey and starring Julie London and Anthony Steel.
Star of India is a 1954 British-Italian swashbuckling adventure film directed by Arthur Lubin and starring Cornel Wilde, Jean Wallace, Herbert Lom, and Walter Rilla. It was shot at the Riverside Studios in London and on location in Aosta. The film's sets were designed by the art director Cedric Dawe. It was released in the United States in April 1956 by United Artists.
Mr. Muggs Rides Again is a 1945 American comedy film, directed by Wallace Fox and starring The East Side Kids.
Men of Chance is a 1931 American pre-Code drama film directed by George Archainbaud, starring Ricardo Cortez, Mary Astor, and John Halliday.
Storm Fear is a 1955 American crime drama film noir directed by Cornel Wilde, starring himself, Jean Wallace and Dan Duryea. It was Wilde's feature directorial debut.
Racing Lady is a 1937 American drama film produced by RKO Radio Pictures, which premiered in New York City on January 12, 1937, and was released nationally on January 29. Directed by Wallace Fox, the screenplay was written by Dorothy Yost, Thomas Lennon, and Cortland Fitzsimmons, based on a story by Damon Runyon, which had been further expanded by J. Robert Bren and Norman Houston.
Behind the Front is a 1926 American silent war comedy film directed by A. Edward Sutherland and starring Wallace Beery and Raymond Hatton. It was produced by Famous Players–Lasky and distributed by Paramount Pictures. The film was based on the novel The Spoils of War by Hugh Wiley.
The Homestretch is a 1947 American drama film directed by H. Bruce Humberstone and written by Wanda Tuchock. The film stars Cornel Wilde, Maureen O'Hara, Glenn Langan, Helen Walker, James Gleason, Henry Stephenson and Margaret Bannerman. The film was released on May 4, 1947, by 20th Century Fox.
Maracaibo is a 1958 American drama film directed by Cornel Wilde and written by Ted Sherdeman. The film stars Cornel Wilde, Jean Wallace, Abbe Lane, Francis Lederer, Michael Landon and Joe E. Ross. The film was released on May 21, 1958, by Paramount Pictures.
Paramount Ranch Racetrack was a motorsports racetrack located at Paramount Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains in Agoura Hills, California. A total of seven events were held at Paramount Ranch from 1956-1957. After a series of fatalities in short proximity to each other, the track gained a reputation for being a dangerous circuit. After two seasons, Paramount Ranch Racetrack was closed.