''Hot Rod Gang'' is a 1958 American teen

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed by

Lew Landers Lew Landers (born Louis Friedlander, January 2, 1901 – December 16, 1962) was an American independent film and television director. Biography Born as Louis Friedlander in New York City, Lew Landers began his movie career as an actor. In 1914, ...

and starring John Ashley. The working title was ''Hot Rod Rock'' with the film also released under the title ''Fury Unleashed''. American International Pictures released the film as a double feature with '' High School Hellcats''. The production includes performances by

rock and roll Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock-n-roll, and rock 'n' roll) is a Genre (music), genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It Origins of rock and roll, originated from African ...

musician Gene Vincent, and was the final theatrical feature directed by the incredibly prolific Landers, whose career dated to the mid-1930s.

Plot

John Abernathy III needs to lead a blameless life to inherit his father's estate, but he also engages in hot rod car racing.

Cast

* John Ashley as John Abernathy III * Jody Fair as Lois Cavendish * Steve Drexel as Mark * Scott Peters as Jack * Helen Spring as Abigail Abernathy * Lester Dorr as Dryden Philpott * Doodles Weaver as Wesley Cavendish * Dub Taylor as Al Berrywhiff * Gloria Grant as Tammy * Maureen Arthur as Marley * Dorothy Neumann as Anastasia Abernathy (as Dorothy Newman) * Russ Bender as Motorcycle cop * Claire Du Brey as Agatha

Production

The film was known during production as ''Hot Rod Rock''.

Soundtrack

* "Hit and Run Lover", performed by John Ashley * "Annie Laurie", performed by John Ashley * "Dance in the Street", performed by Gene Vincent and The Blue Caps * "Baby Blue", performed by Gene Vincent and The Blue Caps * "Lovely Loretta", performed by Gene Vincent * "Dance to the Bop", performed by Gene Vincent * "Choo Choo Cha Poochie", performed by Maureen Arthur

Reception

The ''Los Angeles Times'' called it "a film of juvenile violence." The ''Monthly Film Bulletin'' said "the comedy misfires woefully, the performances are overstated to the point of caricature and the general level is decidedly moronic." ''Diabolique'' magazine wrote that "Ashley's limitations are exposed a little in this film – I don’t think he was a great comic actor – but it is entertaining and good-hearted."

References

External links

*
Review of film
at ''Variety'' *
Review of film
at Harrison Reports 1958 films Films directed by Lew Landers 1958 drama films American International Pictures films American drama films American auto racing films Films scored by Ronald Stein 1950s English-language films 1950s American films {{1950s-US-drama-film-stub