Tag: car chase

Dirty Mary Crazy Larry

Dirty Mary Crazy Larry is a 1974 movie directed by John Hough.

Dirty Mary Crazy Larry tells the story of Larry and Deke, two racers who pull a heist in order to buy a faster car. They are joined by Mary, a local girl, as they escape a fleet of police cars led by Vic Morrow’s Captain Franklin. The movie follows the path created by 1971’s Two Lane Blacktop – Peter Fonda is the obsessed racer, Adam Roarke the mechanic and Susan George plays “the girl.” Yet, these characters are given more dialogue – much of it cliched and pointless. Fonda in particular creates a universally unlikeable character. However, the movie excels on the open road – featuring a number of terrific chases and stunts. The wreckage throughout the movie is spectacular and the police as comic foils predates and possibly inspires Smokey and the Bandit.

THE BEST – Vic Morrow

Morrow’s rule breaking, Johnny Cash-esque cowboy police captain carries the narrative part of the movie. His Franklin commands scenes with an easygoing authority – even when operating with a boring secondary plot.

THE WORST – Anything Peter Fonda Touches

Fonda is either especially skilled at portraying characters with no redeemable traits or he’s simply reflecting his natural personality. Either way, his non-existent charisma seems only an extension of the vehicle he’s driving.

FOX FORCE FIVE RATING – 3.5/5

Dirty Mary Crazy Larry is a fun car chase movie filled with brilliant stunts. It’s worth a watch.

Gone in 60 Seconds

Gone in 60 Seconds is a 1974 movie directed by H.B. Halicki.

WHAT HAPPENS?

A conman and his crew of car thieves have to steal 48 cars in one weekend.

ONE LINE REVIEW

Gone in 60 Seconds is a beautiful, low-budget mess that features spectacular stunts.

THE ACTORS

H.B. Halicki plays Pace, an insurance adjuster who doubles as a car thief. It would be easy to suggest the novice Halicki adds a natural, gritty touch to the movie – but it’s obvious he’s either not acting or completely struggling when he has to. There’s a an odd passive-aggressive streak to his character – he’s either brilliantly smooth and understated or raging. Either way, Halicki’s performance is understandably overshadowed by the amazing collection of cars and dynamic chase scenes that dominate the movie.

THE DIRECTOR

This is clearly Halicki’s show and he presents some of the best car chases ever filmed. The movie’s final 40 minutes features a manic, crunching pursuit that explodes on the freeway and dives into parks and car dealerships. Along the way, Halicki’s Ford Mustang is shredded into mangled scrap. As the chase progresses, we see the human and mechanical carnage manifest – yet the tone never truly darkens.

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The Tarantino Influences: Vanishing Point

Vanishing Point is a 1971 movie directed by Richard Sarafian. The movie’s high speed chase scenes, driving stunts and constant soundtrack are likely influences on Tarantino’s Death Proof.

Vanishing Point tells the story of Kowalski, a car delivery driver, who is attempting to drive a car from Colorado to San Francisco in less than 24 hours. Kowalski is pursued by police during a three-state chase. Along the way, we receive glimpses of Kowalski’s former life as both a policeman and car racer and also learn of his past relationships. Vanishing Point also features a radio DJ, Super Soul, who serves as both the narrator and a sort of spiritual advisor.

The driving, chase scenes and stunt work – along with the 1971 Dodge Challenger – were big Tarantino influences on Death Proof . Tarantino pays direct homage to Vanishing Point as Zoe Bell plays Ship’s Mast across an identical car’s hood and Stuntman Mike wears the same watch as Kowalski. Tarantino also replicates Vanishing Point’s high/low chase scenes and he captured the car’s powerful sounds.

After viewing Vanishing Point, I’m convinced Tarantino took all the cool parts he could find.

What’s left behind is a weird blend of ideas that don’t really fit.

Vanishing Point as a 1970’s car chase movie is pretty bad ass – until you pay attention to everything else that’s not the car. There’s a simple and cool plot that ultimately gets convoluted. Kowalski has to deliver a car from Colorado to San Francisco over a weekend. However, Kowalski likes speed – both in the mechanical sense and the drug – and bets his drug dealer that he can make the trip in what is essentially a half day. If we stop there and don’t ask questions, the movie is much more enjoyable.

However, Kowalski doesn’t say much. And he’s not big on emotion. He’s really not that interesting other than being a great driver. But watching him drive for 90 minutes would probably get boring – so we learn of his backstory in bursts of flashback. Kowalski was at various times a dirt bike racer, demolition derby driver and cop. We later learn that he was a Vietnam veteran and was involved with a hippie girl who died from drowning.

Yet, even after learning of his backstory, Kowalski is still painfully boring.
Normally, it wouldn’t matter if the main character of a car chase movie is uninteresting. However, the main subplot and ending to Vanishing Point insist that we both know and care about Kowalski. Otherwise, Kowalski barreling into a roadblock at 100 mph doesn’t make a lot of sense.

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