Hot Rod Girl (1956)

After his kid brother is killed in a street race, a champion drag-racer quits racing. However, a new kid comes to town determined to force him back into racing so he can take his title--and he's already taken his girlfriend.

Director:

Leslie H. Martinson

Writer:

John McGreevey (original story and screenplay)

Stars:

Lori Nelson, Chuck Connors, John Smith

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Lori Nelson	...	Lisa Vernon
Chuck Connors	...	Det. Ben Merrill
John Smith	...	Jeff Northrup
Mark Andrews	...	Bronc Talbott
Roxanne Arlen	...	L.P.
Frank Gorshin	...	Flat Top
Fred Essler	...	Yo-Yo
Eddie Ryder	...	Two Tanks
Carolyn Kearney	...	Judy
Del Erickson	...	Steve Northrup
Russell Thorson	...	Detective Captain (as Russ Thorson)
Dabbs Greer	...	Henry Frye

Storyline

When his younger brother, Steve, is killed racing a hot-rod, Jeff Northup blames himself for the accident since he had built the car for his brother and had encouraged him to race it, with other boys on a special course provided by police detective Ben Merrill, who is working to reduce the city's hot-rod fatalities by providing supervision for the dangerous hobby. Jeff withdraws from participating in races on Merrill's course and, without his leadership, revert to racing on the streets. "Bronc" Talbott, a newcomers, makes a play for Jeff's girlfriend, Lisa Vernon. Eventually, the taunting-Talbott forces Jeff into a race which results in the death of a bicycling child, and evidence seems to indicate Jeff was at fault.

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Plot Keywords:

racing | brother | hot rod | death | leadership | 

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Taglines:

Teenage terrorists tearing up the streets!

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

July 1956 (USA)

Also Known As:

Agria thilyka se trohous thanatou

Filming Locations:

San Fernando, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Nacirema Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

79 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The 1955 Thunderbird that Lori Nelson drives was actually her own car. The script called for her to drive a sports car but there wasn't enough money in the budget to rent one, so she offered to drive her own car, which the company gratefully accepted.

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Goofs

When Two Tanks is at the hangout, he picks his soda up twice.

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Connections

Referenced in Watching the Detectives (2007)

User Reviews

Rent it, Buy it or Steal it !! MUST SEE!

Filmed entirely in the San Fernando Valley, CA ... If you want to see what the Valley and early Hot Rodding was like, THIS is the movie for you!! The film opens at the old San Fernando Dragstrip and moves all around the Valley from Northridge to Sherman Oaks, North Hollywood, Van Nuys Blvd ... If you want a history of what the "Nifty Fifties" was like this is it! ... a forerunner to American Graffitti and Hollywood Knights ... You couldn't re-make this film today if you had 50 million dollars ... A TRUE CLASSIC !!