26 Films: Roadracers

A throw back to 50s JD pictures should open with a car chase intercut with a rockabilly band. Robert Rodriguez knows this and that exactly how he opens his entry in the Rebel Highway series, Roadracers.  The series, a revival of the American International Pictures of the 50s and 60s, ran for ten-feature length made for Cable TV films. Roadracers is about Dude Delany, a small town outsider who dreams of leaving to become a rockabilly star. He’s on the outs with the town sheriff.

     The film includes an early performance by John Hawkes from Winters Bone and Deadwood, along with a solid turn with by William Saddler.  The perfect music selection included Link Wray and Hasil Adkins, and Gene Vincent. It’s not some long lost treasure, it’s simply a solid entertaining film that catches a young cast and crew making a B film and having some fun.

     Re-watching it has gotten me geeked to revisit the rest of the series. and thanks to the magic of the Internet I have 5 of them on the way on DVD. I do have to wonder why we don’t have a box set of these from the Shout Factory or someone like that.

The complete series includes:

▪        Girls in Prison - Directed by John McNaughton and starring Anne Heche and Ione Skye.

▪        Dragstrip Girl - Directed by Mary Lambert and starring Mark Dacascos and Natasha Gregson Wagner.

▪        Shake, Rattle and Rock! - Directed by Allan Arkush and starring Renée Zellweger and Howie Mandel.

▪        Runaway Daughters - Directed by Joe Dante and starring Julie Bowen and Paul Rudd.

▪        Roadracers - Directed by Robert Rodriguez and starring David Arquette and Salma Hayek.

▪        Reform School Girl - Directed by Jonathan Kaplan and starring Aimee Graham and Matt LeBlanc.

▪        Motorcycle Gang - Directed by John Milius and starring Gerald McRaney and Jake Busey.

▪        Jailbreakers - Directed by William Friedkin and starring Antonio Sabato Jr. and Shannen Doherty.

▪        Cool and the Crazy - Directed by Ralph Bakshi and starring Jared Leto and Alicia Silverstone.

Confessions of a Sorority Girl - Directed by Uli Edel and starring Jamie Luner and Alyssa Milano.

 Check out my thoughts on the soundtrack later this week.