Hot Rods to Hell (1967)

While on a business trip just before Christmas, Tom Phillips gets into a car accident, which was caused by the reckless driving of the other car involved. Although Tom suffered no paralysis... See full summary »

Director:

John Brahm

Writers:

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

Stars:

Dana Andrews, Jeanne Crain, Mimsy Farmer

Cast

Complete credited 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	...	Policeman
Peter Oliphant	...	Little Boy
Harry Hickox	...	Bill Phillips
Charles P. Thompson	...	Charley
Mickey Rooney Jr.	...	Combo Leader

Storyline

While on a business trip just before Christmas, Tom Phillips gets into a car accident, which was caused by the reckless driving of the other car involved. Although Tom suffered no paralysis from his back injury, he did come out of the accident with a chronic back problem which results in him not being able to continue with his current work, and a mental block having anything to do with the accident, including Christmas music, driving in general and the sounds of screeching tires and breaking glass. The Phillips - Tom, his wife Peg, and their two children, teenager Tina and pre-teen Jamie - end up moving from their Boston home and buying a motel in Mayville in the California desert. Tom would be physically able to do the work required running a motel, and the dry heat is good for his back. But as they approach Mayville, they encounter a bunch of reckless hot rodders named Duke, Ernie and Gloria. Since Tom scolds them about their reckless behavior, they decide to make the Phillips' ...

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Plot Keywords:

motel | christmas | desert | trip | hot rod | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 January 1967 (USA)

Also Known As:

52 Miles to Terror

Filming Locations:

Lake Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Four-Leaf Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min 100 min (Turner library print)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Final film of veteran director John Brahm.

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Goofs

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

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Quotes

Jamie Phillips: All girls are nuts!

User Reviews

Great B Movie

If you like the low class, B films (and I do) then this is a must see film. It's not a "bad" film like Plan 9 from Outer Space, but it is a corny late 50's style film that is great. I like to watch this film and "Panic in the Year Zero" which is another one of my favorite of this era. If you see it on the TV schedule, do yourself a favor and watch it, it isn't out on video.