Fast Film Friday: Corky (1972)

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Car chase flicks and racing movies became very popular in the late 60’s and early 70’s. The success of films like ‘Le Mans‘ and ‘Bullitt‘ showed Hollywood that movies with fast cars really tapped into the public’s appetite for action. Studios gave the green light to many questionable pictures, and ‘Corky‘ is definitely one of the worst.

Released by MGM in 1972, ‘Corky‘ stars Robert Blake as an anti-hero akin to Pacino in ‘Dog Day Afternoon‘. Except the title character is just a self-destructive loser. Corky is arrogant, boastful and completely delusional. Worst of all, he is not a good family man.

In the opening scene, Corky street-races against some random loser at a stoplight, risking the safety of his kids who are in the back seat of his Plymouth Barracuda. Not a good dad! Corky is a grease monkey during the week who races at the local short oval on Saturday nights. Some minor success at the track has Corky convinced he’s ready for NASCAR (like the supposed racer in ‘Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry‘) if he could only get his shot.

To pursue his dream of being a big-time racer, Corky commits a grave sin; he abandons his loving wife and two young children. Believing the responsibilities of family are holding him back, Corky’s plan is to drive across the country, earning prize money at races along the way (strikingly similar to ‘Two-Lane Blacktop‘). But any money made is quickly wasted on booze and gambling. Along the journey, Corky’s mental state deteriorates. This is mirrored by his Plymouth Barracuda, which is falling apart due to hard racing, and Corky carelessly slamming it into a median while driving drunk.

The crux of the movie happens when Corky shows up at a top-tier NASCAR track, Atlanta Motor Speedway. Corky is all cleaned up in a white shirt and bolo-tie, and carrying a framed photograph of himself and NASCAR legend Richard Petty. Corky claims to be the ‘next big thing’ and wants the track manager to let him drive the pink Plymouth Barracuda on the high-banked oval. The manager gives Corky a reality check, explaining that a picture with Richard Petty, taken at a demolition derby Corky won, is not a racing pedigree. Out of pity, the manager offers Corky a job as a grease monkey, and suggests Corky race at the local short oval on Saturday nights. Corky’s dream of the ‘big time’ are crushed

Crestfallen Corky slinks home, his side-pipe mufflers held up with coat hangers. Rather than a welcome, Corky discovers that his wife has moved on; enrolled in classes, got a job, and even a new man. His dreams dashed, his car crashed, and his marriage mangled, Corky returns to the local short oval, busts through the gate, and goes on a kill crazy shooting spree. Not sure what message the director was trying to communicate, but for sure abandoning the family is the road to ruin.

The best thing about the film is undoubtedly the car Corky drives. It’s a flashy, trashy 1967 Plymouth Barracuda modified by George Barris, the ‘King of the Kustomizers’ who also created the Batmobile. The pink Plymouth Barracuda featured a small-block V8, 4-speed manual gearbox, air-grabber hood, chrome side-pipes, and a roof height rear wing that looks like its stolen from a 1971 Plymouth Superbird.

Once it left the drive-in theaters, the movie ‘Corky’ was quickly forgotten, but amazingly, the car survives today. It is slated for auction next month (May 17 2025) at the at Mecum Car Auction in Indianapolis. The movie car auction will include memorabilia like original movie posters, lobby cards, and ironically, a signed picture of NASCAR legend Richard Petty.

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