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IMDbPro

Vauhdin hurjapäät

Original title: The Big Wheel
  • 19491949
  • K-12K-12
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
543
YOUR RATING
Mickey Rooney and Lina Romay in Vauhdin hurjapäät (1949)
ActionDramaRomance
A brash young midget car race driver lives in the shadow of his famous father, a drunken womanizer, who was killed in an accident years earlier.A brash young midget car race driver lives in the shadow of his famous father, a drunken womanizer, who was killed in an accident years earlier.A brash young midget car race driver lives in the shadow of his famous father, a drunken womanizer, who was killed in an accident years earlier.
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
543
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Edward Ludwig
  • Writer
    • Robert Smith(original screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Mickey Rooney
    • Thomas Mitchell
    • Michael O'Shea
  • Director
    • Edward Ludwig
  • Writer
    • Robert Smith(original screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Mickey Rooney
    • Thomas Mitchell
    • Michael O'Shea
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 21User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos14

    Mickey Rooney in Vauhdin hurjapäät (1949)
    Mickey Rooney in Vauhdin hurjapäät (1949)
    Mickey Rooney and Allen Jenkins in Vauhdin hurjapäät (1949)
    Mickey Rooney in Vauhdin hurjapäät (1949)
    Mickey Rooney and Lina Romay in Vauhdin hurjapäät (1949)
    Mickey Rooney and Mary Hatcher in Vauhdin hurjapäät (1949)
    Mickey Rooney in Vauhdin hurjapäät (1949)
    Mickey Rooney in Vauhdin hurjapäät (1949)
    Jack Nicholson, Mickey Rooney, and John Ireland in Vauhdin hurjapäät (1949)
    Mickey Rooney and Mary Hatcher in Vauhdin hurjapäät (1949)
    Mickey Rooney, Spring Byington, and Thomas Mitchell in Vauhdin hurjapäät (1949)
    Mickey Rooney and Mary Hatcher in Vauhdin hurjapäät (1949)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Mickey Rooney
    Mickey Rooney
    • Billy Coy
    Thomas Mitchell
    Thomas Mitchell
    • Red Stanley
    Michael O'Shea
    Michael O'Shea
    • Vic Sullivan
    Mary Hatcher
    Mary Hatcher
    • Lou Riley
    Spring Byington
    Spring Byington
    • Mary Coy
    Steve Brodie
    Steve Brodie
    • Happy Lee
    Lina Romay
    Lina Romay
    • Dolores Raymond
    Hattie McDaniel
    Hattie McDaniel
    • Minnie
    • (as Hattie McDaniels)
    Allen Jenkins
    Allen Jenkins
    • George
    Monte Blue
    Monte Blue
    • Deacon Jones
    Richard Lane
    Richard Lane
    • Reno Riley
    • (as Dick Lane)
    Eddie Kane
    Eddie Kane
    • Head Waiter
    Charles Irwin
    Charles Irwin
    • Drunk
    Kippee Valez
    • Carla
    Denver Pyle
    Denver Pyle
    • Doctor
    George Fisher
    • Announcer
    Jackson King
    • Announcer
    • (as Jack Colin)
    Mike Donovan
    • Indy 500 Spectator
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Edward Ludwig
    • Writer
      • Robert Smith(original screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In the 33rd running of the Indianapolis 500 in 1949, Wilbur Shaw, the President of the Speedway, actually did drive the pace car, as the movie announcer had noted.
    • Goofs
      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 longer 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

      Red Stanley: The way I figure it, another thousand dollars and she'll be ready for Indianapolis.

      Reno Riley: I wouldn't give you another buck and a half.

      Red Stanley: But Reno, this is the fastest iron in the business!

      Reno Riley: How many years have you been takin' this pile of junk to the race, Red? Six? Seven?

      Red Stanley: Eight.

      Reno Riley: And you never even qualified.

    • Crazy credits
      The film opens with the following written acknowledgements: "Grateful acknowledgement for their invaluable assistance is made to the AAA, the URA, the Racing Drivers of America, the Indianapolis Speedway and Mr. Wilbur Shaw."
    • Connections
      Referenced in Amerikan kovimmat keräilijät: What Happens in Sturgis... (2012)
    • Soundtracks
      Que Bueno
      Written by Kermit Goell and Fred Spielman

      Sung by Lina Romay (uncredited) at nightclub

    User reviews21

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    Great old movie!
    This movie screened today on BRIZ31 (Brisbane Community Television)

    1949, Indianapolis 500 was in it's 33rd year. Mickey Rooney played the hard ass carby engine driver to a T! Sure, the backdrop of the great race track was exactly that, with Rooney walking around as if he was actually there, but let's face it, SFX was still 5-6 years away. :-) The story was fast paced and believable. Tough nut owners and their equally tough nut drivers. Punch ups were the way to settle an argument. Never mind a quiet talk.

    An enjoyable yarn, with typical Rooney happy ending. 8 stars of of 10 from me.
    helpful•10
    0
    • Tony_J61
    • Jan 8, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 18, 1950 (Finland)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Big Wheel
    • Filming locations
      • Culver City Stadium, Culver City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Samuel H. Stiefel Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 32 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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