Movie Review: Double Nickels

Double Nickels a.k.a. Split-Second Smokey 

Starring: Jack Vacek, Patrice Schubert, Edward Abrahms, Heidi Schubert, George Cole, Mick Brennan, Tex Taylor, Michael Cole, Norman Schubert, Butch Stockton, Daryl Blankenship, Sue Graham, Karen Brennan, Jenny Brennan, Larry Dunn, Cathy Mattox, Mimi McCracken, Birdie Mitchell, Tony Syslo, John Vacek Sr.,  Lillian Vacek, Ed Booker, Mark Cole, Mike Cole, Lynn Howard, Lonnie Roberson, Donald Simmons, Ronald Simmons, Tom Syslo 

Director: Jack Vacek 

Smokey Productions, USA, 1977. 

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

Two jovial California Highway Patrolmen Ed (Edward Abrahms) and Smokey (Jack Vacek) are more interested in racing and eating donuts than doing police work. Smokey has a motorcycle and while not on duty he likes to speed away from the traffic cops. Smokey's waitress girlfriend Tami (Heidi Schubert) urges him to buy a car like some normal people. 

Smokey

Ed

Tami

Smokey and Ed spend time giving tickets to speeders. One day Smokey stops Mr. George Daniels (George Cole) who is a repo man. George offers Smokey and Ed part-time job. To earn some extra bucks they decide to help George and Mick (Mick Brennan) to pick up a car with neglected car loan. As Smokey's relationship with Tami fails, he finds nicer girlfriend Jordan (Patrice Schubert, maybe she is Heidi's sister?) 

Dune buggy driver (Daryl Blankenship)

George Daniels

Jordan

Smokey and Ed start repossessing cars. They must try to stay incognito and avoid getting caught by the police or they may get fired. Car chases ensue with lots of smashed police cars. In one chase Ed drives Ford Pinto down a long set of stairs (it does not explode though). There is also a fun chase in Los Angeles River drainage canals. Smokey and Ed find out that they have been tricked to steal cars. George and the cops decide to catch the car thief boss Lewis Sloan (Tex Taylor). 

Sunglasses & moustaches à la 'Sabotage'

Careful with that Pinto

Lewis Sloan

Basically there is not much plot and the pacing is slow but the car chases are fun. The movie is quite low-budget, and the acting is amateurish but the characters are generally likable. There is also some situational comedy so the movie steers a bit toward the Burt Reynolds- territory. Included are 1970s Afros, moustaches, sunglasses, big cars and pretty girls. Although this is not one of the best car chase movies, it is light hearted, easy-going and funnier than expected. Watching these films makes me wish that they would make 1970s themed "Grand Theft Auto"- game. 

Somehow this looks a bit like Terminator 2...

...as well as this scene also

Obligatory smashed street stall

Sadly this is one of the badly documented and forgotten car films of the 1970s, with only some public domain prints floating around. In Youtube this can be found falsely titled as "Speedtrap", which is completely different movie. The movie would deserve more attention. In IMDB this movie's cast list is frustratingly incomplete. Watching the end credits reveal that most of the actors seem to be either friends or related to each other (Vacek, Schubert, Brennan, Cole and Syslo- families are well represented). Director/actor Jack Vacek and cinematographer Tony Syslo worked also in H.B. Halicki's car movies such as "Gone in 60 Seconds",  "Deadline Auto Theft" and "The Junkman." Also George Cole and Edward Abrahms appear in Halicki's films.

'Mercedes owners' Possibly the director's parents John Vacek Sr. and Lillian Vacek

Rating: Good