Dragstrip Girl

Directed by: Edward L. Cahn

Released: April 1957

Cast: Fay Spain, John Ashley, Steve Terrell, Tommy Ivo, Judy Bamber, Russ Dender, Grazia Narciso, Tito Vuolo, Don Shelton, Dorthy Bruce, and Frank Gorshin as Tommy.

Hot Rod Girl

Directed by: Leslie H. Martinson

Released: July 1956

Cast: Lori Nelson, Chuck Connors, John Smith, Mark Andrews, Roxanne Arlen, Fred Essler, Carolyn Kearney, Eddie Ryder, Del Erickson, Russell Thorson, and Frank Gorshin as Flat Top.

You don’t really see double features anymore. Only at the few remaining drive-ins or arthouse screenings. The last double feature I remember seeing at a theatre was a preview screening of Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Which was paired with Crocodile Dundee. Yes, we stayed for the Paul Hogan classic, even though I’d already watched it twice. It’s a funny movie. Anyway, the classic double bill is gone. Those of us who don’t have access to a drive-in or arthouse screenings have to make up our own. It’s actually pretty easy if you have your own collection of physical media, or that goldmine of b-movies, Tubi. I paired the AIP classics, Dragstrip Girl and Hot Rod Girl, and I feel I’m a better person for it.

Dragstrip Girl

Louise (Fay Spain) is bad. B-A-D. She comes between best pals Fred (John Ashley) and Jim (Steve Terrell). Jim is a lowly, but gifted grease monkey. Meanwhile Fred comes from an affluent family, impressing Louise’s parents. Unfortunately, Fred is insane.

The object of Jim and Fred’s affection is addicted to speed. And she is quite content pitting the two pals against each other. Louise encourages Jim to speed on a residential street, almost hitting a mother and baby. Jim is devastated and would rather confine his racing to the track. Louise is unmoved. Her reasoning, no one was hurt, go on push that pedal to the floor.

Of course, Fred now thinks his best pal is chicken, leading to more vehicular stupidity.

Fred is also jealous of Jim, who seems to have an uncanny knack for stealing everything away from him. Especially women. Fred goes into a deep psychosis and will stop at nothing to beat Jim at the big drag racing competition for a college scholarship for teenagers over 25 and win Louise.

Louise gleefully allows the two to be self-destructive, even if it means vehicular manslaughter.

Things end badly for Fred, who tries to frame Jim. He fails, and goes to prison for vehicular manslaughter, after Louise saves the day.

Frank Gorshin lightens up the proceedings.

Hot Rod Girl

Things are going nicely in Smalltown Southern California, where hot rod drivers were tearing up the streets with their antics. But Police Lt. Ben Merril (Chuck Connors) has fixed all that by opening a dragstrip for the kids to use. Thus, keeping the streets of Smalltown Southern California safe and the kids happy.

No sooner are the kids at their happiest when the tracks safety inspector, Jeff (John Smith) is riding home in his younger brother Steve’s (Del Erickson) hot rod when a punk goads Steve into a race. Jeff fails in preventing Steve’s poor judgement when Steve floors it. The street race ends inconclusively with Steve dead and Jeff in despair, avoiding his pals and especially his girl, Lisa (Lori Nelson).

Jeff has his driver’s license revoked as Bronc Talbot (Mark Andrews) blows into town. And Bronc is a punk in his two ton, hopped up hunk of iron. He has eyes for Lisa and a talent for pushing everyone’s buttons. In short, Bronc is a dick.

Everyone seems powerless to do anything about Bronc, even Lt. Merril. Eventually Jeff comes around, gets his license back and goes for a pleasant drive with Lisa to celebrate. No sooner are they navigating the windy, twisty roads up in the hills, when Bronc shows up trying to push Jeff into doing something stupid. Bronc forces Jeff to drive on the wrong side of the road. Speed up, slow down, until both are speeding. Horrifyingly, a kid on a bike gets hit by one of the cars. The kid dies and Jeff loses his license again, Lt. Merril is fired, and Bronc walks away a free man.

Fortunately, Lt. Merril has a plan to draw Bronc out that has nothing to do with hot rods or drag racing. The plan works. Bronc and Jeff’s stunt doubles duke it out, then Bronc is arrested for vehicular manslaughter.

The drag strip is saved, and everyone except Bronc lives happily ever after. Frank Gorshin is on hand to lighten up the proceedings.

Both films are entertaining as well as informative.

Dragstrip Girl is a tale of morality, redemption, and safe hot rodding. While Hot Rod Girl is a tale of safe hot rodding and trusting your friends.

Louise is the Dragstrip Girl who brazenly comes between two longtime friends. By the end she risks her own life to clear Jim’s good name. Along the way Fred’s hidden psychosis is brought to the surface and exposed. To the relief of everyone except the family of the guy he killed in a hit and run accident. Fortunately, while behind bars Fred will get the help he desperately needs.

Dragstrip Girl also exposes the weird dynamic of Louise’s family. It’s clear that Louise’s parents prefer Fred over Jeff because Fred comes from a family that’s loaded. But there is a deeper issue with the folks.

Fred shows up to pick up Louise for a date. In front of Louise’s parents Fred says something to the effect that Louise has curves in all the right places. If I said something like that about someone’s daughter in front of her parents, I would expect to be shown the door. Louise’s dad (Don Shelton) could not agree with Fred more. He agrees a little too enthusiastically. Creepy. Louise’s mom (Dorothy Bruce) finds the whole situation amusing. Very creepy.

It’s fortunate that Louise ends up with Jim. Hopefully he and Louise will put as many miles as possible between them and Louise’s screwy folks.

Through this whole ugly business Jim kept his head and stood by his principles. And I think that’s the core message of the film. Have some common sense, have some fun, and get the girl in the end.

Although Hot Rod Girl plays kind of like a hot rod driver’s safety film, I think I preferred it more of the two films. It’s more informative and has practical tips you can use in real life.

Thankfully we are spared statistics, however pictures of gruesome car wrecks are subtly hanging on the office walls of Lt. Merrit’s boss. This may explain why the Police Captain is so uptight. A gentle reminder that speed kills. But there are other lessons to be learned.

When someone is trying to goad you into a race at a stoplight. Disappoint them.

If you are going to call your film Hot Rod Girl, make sure there is a hot rod girl as the central character. And not just a girl who drives a hot car who says things to make her boyfriend feel better about himself.

Say nice things to your partner to make them feel better about themselves.

When you are out driving, don’t kill anyone. Actually, this applies to both films.

So, Hot Rod Girl can be a helpful learning tool to make you a better motorist, and an even better friend. And I think we can all get behind that.

My friends, that’s my drive-in double feature recommendation for today. Enjoy, and have a safe drive home.

Both Dragstrip Girl and Hot Rod Girl can be streamed on Tubi or the YouTube. No driving necessary.