Product: Hell on Wheels (1967)
Rating: 2.0
Men and Machines in grinding competition...sort of.
My absolute favorite scene in this movie is during the aftermath of one of the unspectacular wrecks on the track, where emergency personnel jump into the cabin of one of wrecked cars and immediately yank the helmet off the head of the unconscious, bleeding-from-the-mouth driver. This film could also function as a great drinking game, if everyone had to take a drink every time John Ashley, as Marty Robbins' younger, jealous brother looked disgustedly toward Marty and scoffed, shaking his head. Whether that would improve the film for those watching while drinking, I don't know, but it might not hurt.Marty Robbins, looking more like a Pentecostal preacher on a Sunday morning before church than a race-car driver, plays himself as singer and racer, and John Ashley, as the younger brother Dell aching to get out of his shadow, gets mixed up with moonshiners in an attempt to level the playing field. Overall, the film is a slightly altered variation on the Roy Rogers/Gene Autry style of filmmaking, with action scenes interspersed with singing, and although it skips the comedy relief, there is a section that gravitates toward a public service film as the IRS agents describe the dangers of moonshine...and moonshiners. (How quaint stills seem in comparison to meth labs).Even if the racing isn't as dramatic nowadays as it may have been in 1967, some viewers who appreciate watching these old classic cars may get a kick out these scenes, and anyone who enjoys clips from the Grand Ol' Opry or from Hee-Haw of the same time period will probably like the singing sets from Robbins, Connie Smith, and the Stoneman Family. Additionally, this film seems as adequate to me as any of the singing cowboy films from the 40's and 50's, so if that's your style, you probably won't be disappointed with 'Hell on Wheels'. One thing though - I'll eat my hat if this thing is rated 'R'. The most offensive thing I could find in it was the word 'Hell' in the title.While I can't verify the quality of this disc as it is sold from this product page, interested viewers could receive this and 11 more Crown International Picture releases all in one package by purchasingSavage Cinema: 12 Movie Collection. In that venue, the picture and sound are certainly serviceable enough - at least enough to match the rest of the film's quality.Favorite quote: From the racetrack announcer, after a bad wreck. He shakes his head sadly, mournfully - "The race gets rolling again, but unfortunately a heavy toll was taken by that last smash-up." Then, shrugging his shoulders, "But that's to be expected when men and machines meet in such grinding competition." Priceless.