Thunder in Carolina
Thunder in Carolina is a 1960 stock car racing film directed by Paul Helmick and starring Rory Calhoun, Alan Hale, Jr., and Connie Hines. Written by Alexander Richards, it contains 1959-vintage stock car race footage.
| Thunder in Carolina | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Paul Helmick |
| Written by | Alexander Richards |
| Produced by | J. Francis White |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Joseph C. Brun |
| Edited by | Rex Lipton |
| Music by | Walter Greene |
Production company | Darlington |
| Distributed by | Howco International Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 92 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Filmed at a number of small dirt ovals in the South, the film is set in the 1959 edition of NASCAR's Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina.
Plot edit
A stock-car veteran (Rory Calhoun) teaches a grease monkey to race in the Southern 500 in Darlington, S.C.
Cast edit
- Rory Calhoun: Mitch Cooper
- Alan Hale, Jr.: Buddy Schaeffer
- Connie Hines: Rene York
- Race Gentry: Les York (billed as John Gentry)
- Ed McGrath: Reichert
- Troyanne Ross: Kay Hill
- Helen Downey: Eve Mason
- Van Casey: Stoogie
- Tripplie Wisecup: Myrtle Webb
- Carey Loftin: Tommy Webb
- Billie Langston: Peaches
- Ann Stevens: Singer
- George Rembert, Jr.: Junior Thorsen
- Olwen Roney: Motel manager
- Richard Taylor: Higgins
- George Fordham: Waiter
Production edit
All filming was done during 1959 with much of the footage taken during the actual event. A film car was entered to capture on-track sequences and Rory Calhoun actually ran some laps during the race. Calhoun drives a two-tone 1957 Chevrolet, with a blue body and white top, while his friend-turned-competitor "Les York" is in a 1959 Oldsmobile.
The film is a "B" grade production in terms of budget but Thunder in Carolina managed to capture much of the sound and fury of the era.
Release edit
The film had its opening engagements on June 7, 1960 in Darlington, Florence and Hartsville, South Carolina.[1]
The film was later marketed on home video as Hard Drivin' with a freeze-frame title spliced into the opening.
Reception edit
It grossed $271,847 in its first week in a 100 theater saturation release in the Carolinas.[2] The film was released nationally on July 15, 1960.[1] Quentin Tarantino is a fan of the film.[3]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c Thunder in Carolina at the American Film Institute Catalog
- ^ "From the Terrace (advertisement)". Variety. June 29, 1960. p. 23. Retrieved February 13, 2021 – via Archive.org.
- ^ "QUENTIN TARANTINO: MY FAVOURITE RACING MOVIES" F1 Social Diary 21 August, 2013 Archived 2014-07-07 at archive.today accessed 5 July 2014
External links edit
- Thunder in Carolina at IMDb
- Thunder in Carolina at the American Film Institute Catalog