When a young, talented drag racer is offered sponsorship from a local entrepreneur, he is given the opportunity to rise through the ranks of the race circuits, but may end up losing something far more important.
This is a prime example of drive-in, teen melodrama, full of the same Roger Corman energy that he brought out of dozens of talented, young directors. While being made to Corman’s usual genre guidelines, Jack Hill still puts his mark here. He directs with the same intensity and bravado as the racers he creates, while also managing to add a story and message that has real impact. This is more than just a car crash and mini-skirts film, about the importance of agency, the romance of the individual and the dangers of a winner-takes-all world.
The cast are electric with Dick Davalos leading as new kid with the talent Rick Bowman and Ellen Burstyn/McRae as the big racers put upon wife. The standard established name is Brian Donlevy as the greasy business man Grant Willard with no loyalty or heart, just money and a lust for the vicarious victory and prestige of his racers. A personal highlight is the performance of Sid Haig as cocky but able Hawk Sidney,
At times the film can feel a little slow, with it’s rocking-bopping montages of cars being built and junkyards being perused for parts, but as testing as these segments can be they also add so much to the sense of place and time. This is a film about the moment, made in the moment and will, hopefully with this release, inspire a good, few more.
This is a proper B-Movie masterpiece, with fabulous performances, strong, assertive direction and a moral that will always be relevant.
Bonus Features
Besides the obligatory trailer, we have interviews with the three people you’d want to hear from, Jack Hill, Roger Corman and Sid Haig, and all three give us their own view on the film’s production and it’s importance. There’s also a fantastic commentary from Hill as well as a look at the before-and-after of Pit Stop’s restoration. Booklet was unavailable for this review.
Available on Dual Formant Blu-Ray/DVD now
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