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.

Hot Rod Gang
Theatrical poster, 1958
Directed byLew Landers
Written byLou Rusoff
Based onstory by Rusoff
Produced byLou Rusoff
executive
Charles Buddy Rogers
associate
Lou Kimzey
StarringJohn Ashley
Jody Fair
CinematographyFloyd Crosby
Music byRonald Stein
Production
company
Indigo Productions
Distributed byAmerican International Pictures (US)
Anglo-Amalgamated (UK)
Release date
  • August 1958 (1958-08)
Running time
72 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$100,000 est.[1]

Plot

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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

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Production

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

Soundtrack

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  • "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

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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

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  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]
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