Dragstrip Girl is a 1957 film starring John Ashley in his first lead role.[3] American International Pictures released the film as a double feature with Rock All Night and it proved an early success for the studio.[4]
| Dragstrip Girl | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Edward L. Cahn |
| Written by | Lou Rusoff |
| Based on | story by Lou Rusoff |
| Produced by | Alex Gordon executive Samuel Z. Arkoff |
| Starring | John Ashley Fay Spain Frank Gorshin Tommy Ivo |
| Music by | Ronald Stein |
Production company | Golden State Productions |
| Distributed by | American International Pictures (US) Anglo-Amalgamated (UK) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 69 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $65,000[1] or $100,000[2] |
Fay Spain co-starred in the film, which was remade later that year as Motorcycle Gang. Special effects technician Paul Blaisdell had a cameo role in Dragstrip Girl.[5]
Plot
editLouise Blake, a teenager, is crazy about hot-rod cars. When a couple of guys hide from the cops after an illegal street race, Louise meets them and brings them home to meet her parents. Fred Armstrong comes from a well-to-do family, impressing Louise's mother, whereas Jim Donaldson is poor but a resourceful mechanic, impressing Louise's dad.
Encouraged to speed by Louise, the car Jim's driving nearly hits a mother and child. Fred provokes a fight, then challenges Jim to a "chicken" drag race, with Fred's friend Rick Camden helping him and ending up with a broken leg. Fred and Rick then get into a hit-and-run accident, killing another motorist.
Things come to a head at a 100-lap race on an oval. Louise ends up behind the wheel of a car, with Fred trying to run her off the road because he's aware she intends to turn over evidence from the hit-and-run. She manages to save herself as Fred is taken away by the police.
Cast
edit- Fay Spain as Louise Blake
- John Ashley as Fred Armstrong
- Steve Terrell as Jim Donaldson
- Frank Gorshin as Tommy Burns
- Tommy Ivo as Rick Camden
- Paul Blaisdell (cameo)
Production
editSteve Terrell had been in Runaway Daughters for Golden State (AIP's production company), who signed him to a 15-film contract, at three films a year for five years with the option for a fourth year. The script was by Lou Rusoff who was head of story for AIP.[6]
Ashley had not meant to audition for the film. He accompanied his girlfriend to her audition and they asked if he wanted to try out as well; he was successful, although she was not. Ashley subsequently signed to a long-term contract with AIP. The film was shot in six days.[1]
Filming started on 14 January 1957.[6]
Release
editSamuel Z Arkoff of AIP said when the film was released in the Los Angeles area, forty percent of the theatres who showed it were drive ins.[7]
Reception
editCritical
editThe Monthly Film Bulletin called it "a depressing and irresponsible film... glorifying the defiance of law and order, lax morals and the discardance of civilised behaviour."[8]
The Los Angeles Times reported the "youngsters" in the film "are very poor representatives of today's youth."[9]
Diabolique magazine said Ashley was "a terrific delinquent, full of scowls and swagger; he’d never had an acting lesson, but he has a natural presence and easily steals the movie from the "good guy", Steve Terrell (though in fairness, Ashley has the better part)."[10]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Kelley, B. (Mar 17, 1985). "ASHLEY FINALLY MAKES THE TEAM". Sun Sentinel. ProQuest 389734195.
- ^ Lamont, John (1990). "The John Ashley Filmography". Trash Compactor (Volume 2 No. 5 ed.). p. 26.
- ^ G M W. (Apr 25, 1957). "Two Films Aimed at Teen-agers". Los Angeles Times. p. C9.
- ^ Scheuer, P. K. (Sep 21, 1958). "Shocker pioneers tell how to make monsters". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 167287343.
- ^ Mark McGee, Faster and Furiouser: The Revised and Fattened Fable of American International Pictures, McFarland, 1996, p134
- ^ a b Schallert, Edwin (Dec 21, 1956). "Anita Ekberg Pursued for 'Screaming Mimi;' 'Galveston' Near Ready". Los Angeles Times. p. B7.
- ^ Strawn, Linda May (1975). "Samuel Z. Arkoff". In McCarthy, Todd; Flynn, Charles (eds.). Kings of the Bs : working within the Hollywood system : an anthology of film history and criticism. E. P. Dutton. p. 262.
- ^ "DRAGSTRIP GIRL". Monthly Film Bulletin. Vol. 24. 1957. p. 101. ProQuest 1305823133.
- ^ G, M. W. (Apr 25, 1957). "Two films aimed at teen-agers". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (December 2019). "A Hell of a Life: The Nine Lives of John Ashley". Diabolique Magazine.[permanent dead link]
External links
edit- Dragstrip Girl at IMDb
- Review of film at Variety