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Storyline
Shirley Muldowney is determined to be a top-fuel drag racer, although no woman has ever raced them before. Despite the high risks of this kind of racing and the burden it places on her family life, she perseveres in her dream. Written by
Reid Gagle
Plot Summary
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Taglines:
She did something, women were forbidden to do and, become a World Champion.
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Sound clips from the movie was used on the song "Shirley" by L7 on their CD "HUNGRY FOR STINK" from 1994.
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Goofs
In the pits, standing by her dragster, Shirley's cigarette changes sizes during shots.
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Quotes
Tex Roque:
I want you to come home, with a high school diploma with the name "Shirley Ann Muldowney".
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Soundtracks
"Happy Together"
Written by
Alan Gordon and
Gary Bonner
Performed by
The Turtles See more »
A gem. Pretty much ignored when it came out, because the industry tried to push it as a "hot rod movie" which it is not. Bonnie Bedelia gives a brilliant performance (apparently race folks who knew Muldowney believed she appeared as herself in a couple of scenes!). Film and TV seldom succeed in portraying auto racing; but that doesn't matter here because it doesn't pretend to. The movie has the same spirit as BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM; a young woman facing down family and society in order to fight and win in her chosen field. At the end, you will want to pump your fist and cheer, the way I saw a cinema audience do for the recent Beckham piece. Also, some quite heart-piercing moments when Muldowney's ambition and drive and hard shell fall apart from love and betrayal. Beau Bridges loves his role as a boozy cynical scoundrel, and what fun singer Hoyt Axton must have had doing his thing. 1960 out on the Depot Road near Schenectady --- that's what it was like!