Movie Review: The Devil on Wheels

The Devil on Wheels 

Starring: Noreen Nash, Darryl Hickman, Terry Moore, James Cardwell, Damian O'Flynn, Lenita Lane, William Forrest, Sue England, Robert Arthur, Ann Burr, John Hamilton 

Director: Crane Wilbur 

Producers Releasing Corporation (PRC), USA, 1947. 

This movie can be found in Fuel Injected Films 20 Movie Collection by Mill Creek Entertainment. 

Micky Clark (Darryl Hickman) is building  a fast car with his friend Todd Powell (Robert Arthur). Micky's pilot brother Jeff (James Cardwell) knows a lot about cars. The boys have girlfriends Rusty Davis (Terry Moore a.k.a Jan Ford) and Peggy Andrews (Sue England). Micky's dad John Clark (Damian O'Flynn) buys a new car. Mr. Clark witnesses a terrible car accident. He warns the boys against hot rod racing.

Todd and Micky

Rusty and Peggy

John Clark

However Mr. Clark himself is a reckless driver. He scratches another car. Of course there is no fault in Mr. Clark. The police and judge see it another way. Judge gives him a warning but soon he almost bumps into another car. Judge Tanner (William Forrest) has a daughter Sue Tanner (Noreen Nash), Jeff becomes interested in her.

Daddy shows bad example

Judge Tanner

Sue Tanner and Jeff Clark

Micky finishes his car. His friends urge him to attend the hot rod race. Although his father forbade him from racing, Micky attends the race. The police stop the race and Judge reprimands them and their parents. This does not stop Micky from speeding. Driving with Todd in his dad's car Micky escapes police. The boys end up in front of morgue. 

Illegal hot rod race

The police catch the offenders

Speeders end up here

The boys and their girlfriends smooch on the beach. They hear a radio bulletin about a unidentified dead hot rod driver. At night The nervous teens sneak in to morgue to see if they can identify him. Night guard almost catches them so they flee. Rusty is trapped in the morgue. Todd's car crashes with another vehicle. Micky does not know that his mother was in the other car. Finally Micky has to face the consequences of his actions. But also Mr. Clark is to blame because he showed a bad example. 

The morgue is a scary place

The movie is like a Public Service Announcement against speeding. It sure is preachy, but at that time the traffic death rates were terrible. The acting is good and driving scenes also. The movie is quite good juvenile delinquent melodrama. Also slight horror elements were included to scare off speeders. Possibly to attract teens some sex appeal was included as this was one of the first movies with female leads in bikinis. Drive safely, folks!

Sue Tanner in bikini

Rating: Good