Movie Review: The Fast and the Furious (1955)

The Fast and the Furious

Starring: John Ireland, Dorothy Malone, Bruce Carlisle, Iris Adrian, Marshall Bradford, Bruno VeSota, Byrd Holland, Larry Thor, Henry Rowland, Jean Howell, Dick Pinner, Robin Morse, Lou Place, 'Snub' Pollard, Roger Corman, Jonathan Haze, William Woodson

Directors: John Ireland, Edward Sampson

Palo Alto Productions, American Releasing Corporation, USA, 1955.

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

Not related in other way but title to the movie series with Vin Diesel and Paul Walker! Actually Rob Cohen bought the rights to use the title because it sounded great.

Connie Adair (Dorothy Malone) likes fast cars. She is attending a race that crosses the border of Mexico. Fugitive Frank Webster (John Ireland) smells an opportunity to use the race as a way to escape. He is accused of causing the death of truck driver by driving him off the road. Vigilante truck drivers are also hunting Webster. He has to fight with truck driver Bob Nielson (Bruno VeSota) who threatens him with a gun. After knocking Bob out Frank then kidnaps Connie.

Connie in her Jaguar XK 120

Frank and Connie

Bob tries to civil arrest Frank

The police interrogate talky waitress Wilma (Iris Adrian). As Bob is unconscious they can not interrogate him yet. Frank and Connie drive away and try to avoid police. Connie tries to escape or hinder Frank many times. Finally Bob and Connie participate the race. Connie is not allowed to drive because the race is too dangerous for women. As Frank proves to be a good driver, Connie begins to like him. Of course Frank is innocent and persecuted by a big bad truck company. Rival driver and Connie's old friend Faber (Bruce Carlisle) begins to get suspicious. Connie wants Frank to surrender but cynical Frank heads to Mexico.

Avoiding police

Police officers (Larry Thor & Lou Place) interrogate waitress Wilma

Rival driver Faber

The film is produced and written by Roger Corman. Technically there are many errors and badly cut scene transitions. The romance part feels a bit far-fetched as the main characters mainly bicker with each other (serious case of Stockholm syndrome?) The dialogue tries its best to be snappy but does not always hit the mark. The simple story does not offer many surprises, however it was quite radical in 1950s film to suggest that women can be serious race drivers. There are some good racing scenes with nice vintage cars. The story was remade 1994 as "The Chase" with Charlie Sheen and Kristy Swanson.

Romance part is a bit far-fetched

Jean Howell as Connie's friend Sally Phillips

Connie chasing Frank with Allard J2

Regular actor in Corman productions (for example "Attack of the Giant Leeches") Bruno VeSota appears here as truck driver Bob Nielson (he is mostly unconscious for the whole film). Also silent film veteran 'Snub' Pollard has a small role as park warden.

Bruno VeSota as unconscious truck driver

'Snub' Pollard as park caretaker

Rating: Average