Welcome to Fast Film Fridays, our weekly look at racing flicks with a focus on the cars. Last week it was Jimmy Stewart in ‘Speed’ (1936) this week it’s Elvis in ‘Speedway’ (1968).
Good golly, we really wanted to like this movie. It’s got race footage from the good old days of NASCAR shot at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The opening credits show racing greats of the era like Richard Petty, Buddy Baker and Cale Yarborough. But once the movie begins, you never see their faces again. They don’t exist in Elvis’ universe; they just happen to be the guys driving the cars in the stock footage, which is really too bad.
Gosh this film has aged badly in so many ways. All the racing scenes are just so fake. Shots of Elvis in a race car, pulling into pit lane, or speeding down the back straight, they’re just used over and over. No audience has ever been so dumb as to be fooled by this kind of low-budget movie making. And the shots of Elvis in the car are just rear-projection background with a couple guys (out of shot) rocking the car up and down. Elvis is a world-famous car guy. They couldn’t have had him drive around the parking lot?! Movies from the 1940’s had better practical effects.
There are some positives, of course. The cinematography is incredibly colourful, and even the old oil barrels in the background are painted pastel hues. Elvis’ first big musical number takes place in a restaurant called The Hangout that looks like Jack Rabbit Slim’s from Pulp Fiction, but if Austin Powers was playing Vincent Vega. The dance numbers are kinda groovy, in that 60\s beach blanket bikini movie sort of way.
Another positive is Nancy Sinatra, Elvis’ love interest in this movie. She’s an IRS agent sent to take all of Elvis’ race winnings to pay off his tax debt. But she just cannot resist Elvis’ charms and falls madly in love with him. And she’s the strong female character! The rest of the women are beauty pageant winners who’s purpose is to kiss Elvis after winning a race. This is what’s aged worse than anything else; Elvis comes off as a sexual predator.
There’s a scene just before Elvis and Frank Sinatra’s daughter kiss when the ‘hero’ grabs his girl by the shoulders and shakes her violently. Nancy doesn’t ley anyone walk all over her, and smacks Elvis in the face. He gets so mad he punches a hole right through the door. Dear lord! Times have changed in the 55+ years since this movie came out. But this is just bad!
The only saving grace of the movie is the final race. Elvis qualifies well, then smacks the outside wall and wrecks his car. The team pulls together to rebuild the ’67 Dodge Charger and you think he’s going to take the win…but NO! He rolls the car just before the finish line and only comes home third. At least the ending wasn’t completely predictable.
Just watch the first and last 15 minutes for the vintage stock cars, and you’ll love the movie.
You are so right. Some of these old movies are really hit or miss!
I like Elvis. I thought 50s Elvis was super-cool. And I felt bad for 70s overweight, drug-addicted Elvis.
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But 60’s lecherous Elvis is just too much for ne. I’ve got a daughter. I would never want her around a guy like that.