The Big Wheel (1949)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Edward Ludwig

Writer:

Robert Smith (original screenplay)

Release Date:

4 November 1949 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Plot:

Billy Coy comes to Carrell (a real speedway in Gardena, California when the movie was made). Red, Billy's late father's mechanic...

Plot Keywords:

Mechanic | Garage | Indianapolis Indiana | Car Racing | Racecar Driver

Cast

Mickey Rooney	...	Billy Coy
Thomas Mitchell	...	Arthur 'Red' Stanley
Mary Hatcher	...	Louise Riley
Michael O'Shea	...	Vic Sullivan
Spring Byington	...	Mary Coy
Hattie McDaniel	...	Minnie (as Hattie McDaniels)
Steve Brodie	...	Happy Lee
Lina Romay	...	Dolores Raymond
Allen Jenkins	...	George
Richard Lane	...	Reno Riley (as Dick Lane)

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #13906) | Finland:K-12 | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Indianapolis Motor Speedway - 4790 W. 16th Street, Speedway, Indiana, USA

Company:

Samuel H. Stiefel Productions

Trivia:

Hattie McDaniel's last movie.

Goofs:

Continuity: During qualifying in Billy Coy's first race in the hot rod, there is a substance (sand or oil dry) on the track surface, in turn one, during his warm-up lap, and during his first green flag lap. During the next 2 laps, turn one no long has the substance on it, but after Billy receives the checkered flag, the substance is back on the track, and tire tracks can be seen going through the substance.

Quotes:

Billy Coy: If he gets in my way, I'll drive right over him.

dated but highly watchable little-known film

I picked this movie up in a dollar bin in a supermarket. I'm a race fan, and have never heard of it, the cover looked interesting, and hey, it was only a buck. I didn't expect much but was pleasantly surprised. Not only was it a totally watchable film in general, but but for race fans it offers a rare glimpse into the past. From the garage setting, to the tracks, to the vintage racing footage. I'ts the story of Billy Coy's rise from small time local race tracks to the Indy 500. I've been to the Indy 500 in 2005, its hard to believe how far its come. From some guy with "a few bucks" owning a car or team, to the millions of dollars and huge corporations it takes today. Like everything else in the world things seemed so much simpler back then. Something else is also amazing, Mickey Rooney looks exactly the same as a twenty year old kid as he does an eighty year old man.