PIT STOP: FURY OF THE FIGURE EIGHT

It’s nice to see that many of the long neglected directors from the past are finally being recognized for the work they did. While many never had the opportunity to work in the major studios with mega-budgets, what they were able to achieve with nothing at all is remarkable. Among those directors of note is Jack Hill, a name few may recognize but whose movie titles you will. THE BIG DOLL HOUSE, THE BIG BIRD CAGE, COFFY, FOXY BROWN, THE SWINGING CHEERLEADERS and SWITCHBLADE SISTERS are among the movies that played drive-ins all across the country, each directed by Hill. And not another of his films makes its way to blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video.

The story is fairly simple. A young up and coming street racers named Rick Bowman (Richard Davalos) catches the eye of racing investor Grant Willard (Brian Donlevy in his last performance). Grant posts bail for Rick when he’s arrested for racing on the streets and takes him to the track he owns where they have a weekly figure eight contest.

Unaware of what that is, Rick watches as cars circle around on a figure eight track, nearly missing each other where it crosses or crashing spectacularly in the center. He thinks of it as madness but at the same time if he wins he could possibly get the backing of Grant for future endeavors more along the lines of standard stock car racing. He agrees and heads to a junk yard Grant directs him to.

At the yard Rick works out a deal with the owner to put together a car of his own. If he wins, he pays him off, if he loses he works it off in the yard. Of course his first race isn’t near what he expected and he works to make another car. On the track he was taken out by the king of the sport, Hawk Sidney (Sid Haig), a cocky, crazy driver who thrills at the excitement on the track.

A competition develops between the two as well as bad feelings that result in an injury to Rick. They eventually settle their differences and finally their hard work pays off. Both are given the opportunity to race in an actual stock car race with Grant as their financial backer and professional Ed McLeod as their sponsor. But what will the result be with these hot headed, thrill seeking young men doing all that it takes to win?

The movie might sound like a typical drama but it’s more than that. The cinematography of the car competitions were shot at actual events that took place at an actual figure eight track. The acting by all involved is completely believable, something not usually found in a low budget film. Haig in particular does an outstanding job, showing talent that was wasted for years afterward by folks who pegged him as nothing more than a bad guy in film. And the heart of the story, about just what a person is willing to do to win makes this one much better than one would expect.

Arrow Video again tosses in some dynamite extras. Included are interviews with Hill and Haig, a short piece on the restoration of the film, an interview with producer Roger Corman and more. Online there are more than one version of this film to be had, another on its way from Kino Lorber soon, but I have to say that with all the extras included this one would be the way to go.

Better than you would expect, this is a movie that would make for a fun evening’s entertainment and might even be a hoot to couple with any number of racing or biker movies to make a double feature of it, just like the old days at the drive in.

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