Movie Review: The Big Wheel

The Big Wheel a.k.a. Thundering Wheels 

Starring: Mickey Rooney, Thomas Mitchell, Mary Hatcher, Michael O'Shea, Spring Byington, Hattie McDaniel, Steve Brodie, Lina Romay, Allen Jenkins, Richard Lane, Monte Blue, Jack Colin, Mike Donovan, Franklyn Farnum, George Fisher, Joe Gray, Charles Irwin, Eddie Kane, Kenner G. Kemp, Donald Kerr, George Lynch, Harold Miller, Jack Perry, Denver Pyle, Jeffrey Sayre, Brick Sullivan, Kippee Valez 

Director: Edward Ludwig 

United Artists, Samuel H. Stiefel Productions, Popkin-Stiefel-Dempsey Productions, USA, 1949. 

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

Billy Coy (Mickey Rooney) drives with his mom Mary (Spring Byington) to a race contest. Garage owner Arthur 'Red' Stanley (Thomas Mitchell) struggles to get money for his team's race car. Billy wants to work with Red who was his daddy's friend. Billy meets also a mechanic-girl Louise 'Buddy' Riley (Mary Hatcher). Louise happens to be daughter of racing team owner Reno Riley (Richard Lane). 

Mary Coy and Billy Coy

Billy and Red

Louise 'Buddy' Riley

Billy wants to be a famous race driver like his father Cannonball Coy. Being over-confident and cocky he crashes lightly in his first midget car race. Louise supports him so he agrees to go to date with Louise. Louise turns temporarily from tomboy to elegant lady. 

Richard Lane

Happy Lee

Minnie (Hattie McDaniel) and Louise

One of the racers is overly joyful Happy Lee (Steve Brodie) who friends with Billy. The only car Billy is offered is "Hoodoo Wagon", the feared green car that his father was killed in. Despite the ill omens, Billy wins the race. Success goes to his head and he flirts with other girls including singer Dolores Raymond (Lina Romay). He acts like a jerk and neglects Louise. 

Midget car race

Dolores and Billy

Billy must learn humility the hard way. Billy gets drunk and the police arrest him for speeding. In next day's race he has hangover. Happy loses his tire and Billy crashes into his car, killing Happy. The other drivers blame him for the accident. It is revealed that Billy's dad was also drunk driving when he crashed. Billy gets depressed.

Really classic car

Billy heads for big car races in another town and starts slowly climbing toward Indianapolis 500. Mary is concerned that Billy may also die while racing. As Reno's star driver Vic (Michael O'Shea) walks out, Billy gets a chance to drive in Indianapolis 500. However Reno's comment about Happy's death makes Billy walk out. Louise suggests that he could drive in Red's car. 

Fun racing movie with romance, comedy and drama. The final race is exciting with some surprising turns. Acting is good, Rooney is energetic and cheerful and Thomas Mitchell, Spring Byington and Mary Hatcher fit their roles. "Gone With the Wind" actor Hattie McDaniel appears in her last movie role. There is nice stock footage of old car races and crashes that look brutal. Basically the movie is quite similar to another Indy 500 movie "Blonde Comet" with part of the story happening in garages and the rest on the race tracks. Motto: "Take it easy around the curves!" 

Rating: Good