Thunder in Carolina
Thunder in Carolina | |
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Directed by | Paul Helmick |
Written by | Alexander Richards |
Produced by | J. Francis White |
Starring |
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Cinematography | Howco International Pictures |
Release date |
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Running time | 92 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Thunder in Carolina is a 1960
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
A stock-car veteran (Rory Calhoun) teaches a grease monkey to race in the Southern 500 in Darlington, S.C.
Cast
- 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
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
Release
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
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
References
- ^ a b c Thunder in Carolina at the American Film Institute Catalog
- 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