Used Cars. 1980. Kurt Russell. If you grew up with Kurt Russell playing squeaky-clean role sin Disney Films, then this will be the anti-Disney. He is not a good guy... he even gets a girl in the end.
Undoubtedly taken from true used-car buying experiences, this movie about a used car salesman who will do anything to make the sale was labeled bad taste in it's day. That means it isn't anything much these days.
A funny subplot has Jack Warden playing twin brothers, each with their own used car lot, but at very different levels of success.
Al Lewis makes an appearance... so reluctantly it's in my collection.
Van, The - 1976. Terrible flick about a teenager who somehow affords a fully customized van, then uses it to pick up chicks. No redeeming value whatsoever.
That said, it is interesting as a sociological study of the of the 70s.
Starring: Danny DeVito (well before he received any fame), misc others.
Label: Rhino Home Video
Year: 1976
Color:
Format: DVD
Available: yes
Vanishing Point: 1971. Barry Newman, Cleavon Little, Dean Jagger (how sad that Academy Award Winner Jagger had to do this - he apparently needed the money). Ordered to take a 1970 426 Hemi Dodge Challenger R/T from Denver to San Francisco, Newman decides to do it flat out (what's his motivation? we never find out) . Known for it's rock music background. Worth investigating, will be good for fans of "Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry". and of course for fans of the Dodge Challenger, this is the definitive film.
2nd Tier!
Violent Years, The: 1956. So really really bad that it's a must-see! The plot is about a teen (ignored by her parents) who ends up in a gang. And then it gets worse, much worse. It's preachy, and the ending is fitting. Written by Edward D Wood, Jr. Introduced by Mamie Van Doran. Also released as "Female".
We've got it in our collection as the perfect example of 50s-style juvenile delinquency films. It's one of our favorite camp films and we pull it out once a year.
Now available on DVD!! It is also available to rent in the schlock-video section of your local video store.
Wages of Fear, The (Le Salaire de la Peur). 1952. Great film about men on the outs having to drive trucks over the mountains filled with nitroglycerine. Despite an anti-American tone of this French/Italian film, it's worth seeing for the photography and suspense. Great cast includes Yves Montand (who would later star in Grand Prix). Later remade as a cheap b-grade titled "Sorcerer".
Very very good.
Wanted. 2008. Angelina Jolie mumbo-jumbo, and entirely forgettable. Some folks thought this might be a great summer movie for car enthusiasts… unfortunately, it’s not a great movie for anybody.
On the car front, a handful of nice cars (and one that appear to have been pulled from the staff parking lot) are used throughout the film. From the trailers you might think the red Viper is the automotive star of the film… and you’d be wrong.
After an impossibly silly stunt early in the film the Viper isn’t seen again. Indeed – and very oddly – in the very next scene an old C4 Corvette is substituted – totally out of style with the Jolie character. Perhaps the budget ran out and only allowed for one Viper stunt car – and indeed some people believe that the C4 was digitally inserted over the Viper. Worse, when the Jolie character is shown shifting, it’s a clearly a Viper shifter being moved. And that’s the end of even the slightest interest for car enthusiasts.
And speaking of being moved, several Viper Club members had reserved seating in the theater we originally saw this in. There they were, all but one with t-shirts featuring the big grinning worm, and the other with a shirt featuring racetracks the wearer had clearly never seen. After some glee from the appearance of the Viper very early on, they sat in glum silence for the rest of the overly-long nearly 2-hour movie.
Angelina Jolie gives an oddly wooden characterization, and even tosses in one naked butt shot. Does the UN Goodwill Ambassador need to do that?
James McAvoy as the reluctant hero does better, but his writers spend a huge chunk of the film explaining what a sad loser his character is: his best friend is bonking his live-in girlfriend and his boss looks like a refugee from the movie Hairspray (could that be John Travolta underneath?). And then there is Morgan Freeman, for some reason given an acting credit when he can’t act at all. He delivers his lines with the same lack of enthusiasm as he has done since before the gadawful Million Dollar Baby. I’m sure he could have tried a bit harder for his multi-million dollar fee. Freeman can do better than this… although he hasn’t for a very long time.
If there was a saving grace for this film, it was the theater we choose to see it at. Those of you readers in Austin or Houston TX are very familiar with the terrific Alamo Drafthouse chain – a locally-owned set of theaters that also serve food and drinks. The Alamo makes any stinker of a film (except for the lousy No Country For Old Men) a good time – as does a nice date.
Werewolves on Wheels. 1971. Another ridiculous biker film.
White Lightning. 1973. Burt Reynolds in one of his classic roles, as a prisoner released by the Government to track down a moonshine gang and crooked Sheriff (in the classic "South", is there any other kind?). That of course means lots of car chases - and crashes. And this film has one of the better ones, engineering by Hal Needham. And be sure to take a close look at the Ford Galaxy, equipped (of course) with a stock car engine.
Also notable for the film debut of Laura Dern. Sadly, this film is currently only available on VHS.
Be sure to also get a copy of the definitive Hal Needham book, detailing his stunts and life. Fun reading!
Wild One, The: 1954. This is the first big motorcycle film, with Marlon Brando as the leader of a gang terrorizing a small town. If you can take the early Brando acting style, this is an interesting film.
Wild Ones on Wheels: 1962.
2nd Tier!
Wild Ride, The: 1960. An early Jack Nicholson film. He starts as an amateur racer, making trouble for everybody (but then it wouldn't be Jack otherwise). This quickly escalates into kidnapping, murder of police officers, and a tragic ending. Let that be a lesson to you!
This was released in 1960, but it's a classic 50s film through-and-through.
Wild Racers. 1968. If you can somehow believe Fabian as a Grand Prix race car driver (with Mimsy Farmer as his "conquest"), you can make it thru this film. I tried, and just as I was admiring the photography of Italy (really well done), Fabian started singing. That's it, turn the channel...
Winning: 1969. Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward. Robert Wagner. Paul is a man who will not let anything get in the way of winning. A melodrama made when (and solely because) car racing was "hip" in the sixties. Not very worthwhile, although the scenes of the early Indianapolis are interesting, as is the appearance of several actual drivers.
Wraith, The: 1986. A copy of an actual concept car by Dodge, the "Turbo Interceptor" is used in the film. Charlie Sheen appears form the dead in it and challenges auto thieves. Seems to have been a vehicle for getting kids of famous actors some cameo time. Stars Charlie Sheen, Randy Quaid. The bad guy drives an old 'vette.
Young Racers, The. 1963. A dated "B" film about an ex racer writing a book about the Grand Prix racing circuit. The storyline and dialogue are dated, but the film can be worthwhile for persons interested in early 60's European racing. The race scenes were filmed on the actual race circuits - and the amount of sliding the race cars do thru the turns will make you cringe. As will the bales of hay for safety barriers. But the photography and editting is first rate. Only the storyline lets it down for racing enthusiasts.
William Campbell, also seen as Trelane in the TOS Star Trek episode "The Squire of Gothos" and as Koloth in "The Trouble with Tribbles", plays his role as a womanizer with gusto. At issue is his treatment of women, and it's over-the-top-60s-sexist and tiring.
Unfortunately, the film is not currently available. But it is occasionally shown on TCM.
You Only Live Twice. 1967. James Bond with Sean Connery - the only "real" Bond. Very notable for the great story, as well as for the appearance of an ultra-rare and custom-built Toyota 2000GT convertible. Also a, S40 Crown that meets an unfortunate and unique end. It was a major hit in it's day, and is worth adding to your collection. Note that Nancy Sinatra sang the opening sequence.
After an impossibly silly stunt early in the film the Viper isn’t seen again. Indeed – and very oddly – in the very next scene an old C4 Corvette is substituted – totally out of style with the Jolie character. Perhaps the budget ran out and only allowed for one Viper stunt car – and indeed some people believe that the C4 was digitally inserted over the Viper. Worse, when the Jolie character is shown shifting, it’s a clearly a Viper shifter being moved. And that’s the end of even the slightest interest for car enthusiasts.