Hot Rods to Hell (1967)

Director:

John Brahm

Writers:

Robert E. Kent (screenplay)
Alex Gaby (short story)

Release Date:

27 January 1967 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The motorcycle gangs take a back seat when these young animals clear the road for excitement !

Plot:

Tom Phillips, his wife Peg their teenage daughter Tina and little boy Jamie drive through the California desert heading for a new life running a motel...

Plot Keywords:

Motel | Desert | Teen | Abandoned Motel | Harassment

Cast

Dana Andrews	...	Tom Phillips
Jeanne Crain	...	Peg Phillips
Mimsy Farmer	...	Gloria
Laurie Mock	...	Tina Phillips
Paul Bertoya	...	Duke
Gene Kirkwood	...	Ernie
Jeffrey Byron	...	Jamie Phillips (as Tim Stafford)
George Ives	...	Lank Dailey
Hortense Petra	...	Wife at picnic
William Mims	...	Man at picnic
Paul Genge	...	Bill, Highway Patrol Officer
Peter Oliphant	...	Little boy at picnic
Harry Hickox	...	Bill Phillips
Charles P. Thompson	...	Charley (service station proprietor)
Mickey Rooney Jr.	...	Combo leader

Also Known As:

52 Miles to Terror (USA) (alternative title)

Runtime:

92 min | USA:100 min (Turner library print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-12 (1991) | Norway:15 (video premiere) | USA:Approved (PCA #31549)

Filming Locations:

Antelope Valley, California, USA

Company:

Four-Leaf Productions

Trivia:

Originally made for television in 1966, but released first in theaters and drive-ins instead.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Crew and camera cranes visible in overhead shot of four "hot rods" chasing the family.

Quotes:

Tom Phillips: Let's see you laugh with these nails in your face!

Ed Woodian delight

Despite the fact that "Hot Rods" is undoubtedly one of the most God-awful movies ever made, I couldn't help but give it a 10. Somehow, you have to admire a movie that's just so irretrievably bad, and this one is so bad it has to be seen to be believed.

From the cheesy opening car crash (seemingly lifted from SNL's Toonces the Driving Cat skit) to outrageously deadpan dialogue that manages to be even funnier than an episode of Dragnet '67, this film will leave you absolutely breathless with laughter in much the same way that "Plan Nine From Outer Space" does. ** Pay close attention to the scene in which Jeanne Crain loses control of the car. This scene is so hysterically funny that it should win some kind of award in the Bad Acting Hall of Shame.**