For whatever reason Universal decided to make a young-skewing film in Australia. They got Jon Cleary to do the script and he does an okay job - the script has a structure, conflict all that. Earl Bellamy does a competent job. There's plenty of racing action, quite well done - stunts and all. It's politely made, though - it could've done with more trash maybe, nudity and broad comedy. This sort of movie is more fun done by AIP than majors.
Ben Murphy was imported to play the lead... actually co lead really, it's more of a buddy film with John Clayton, who doesn't seem easily cast in leads. Sorry, John. Clayton's part is actually better - he's like Maverick in Top Gun, a risk taker, he's the one who has the romance with Wendy Hughes, his character has an arc. Murphy is this gold medal winning champ just hanging out in Australia surfing when he strikes up a friendship with Hughes.
The ending is a downer. There's an accident. Murphy quits. Hughes stayed with Clayton.
I think this might be why Murphy played up. His part wasn't good.
Decent action. Competent cast. John Meillion is in it. And Peter Graves (as Hughes' father!), John Derum,, Serge Lazareff, Patrick Ward... people like that.
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