James Darren gained fame at Columbia then like so many stars saw his career fall down when he signed a multi picture deal at Universal. This was made by some old Universal monster hands - director Jack Arnold and producer William Alland - and is competent but lacks... pep. Life. Oomph. It's very serious. Too serious. There's too much talk of engines, hero James Darren is too serious. There's not enough car action. Which is a shame because when it happens it's quite good.
Pamele Tiffen lives things up as Doug McClure's sister who is in to Darren. McClure doesn't liven things up. Darren is a little dull. Bobby Darin wrote the music including several of the songs - he would've been ideal instead of McClure.
Gosh this is an odd film. So confusing. So, so much talk about engines. So serious. Talk of going to college. Darren is a walking red flag, never interested in Tiffin except when he wants sex. So she holds out for marriage. He's a workaholic.
There's two action plots - a car race at the end and a land speed record. They shove in these comic set pieces - Tiffin trying to seduce Darren by sabotaging engine (funny) and some drunk woman winding up in McClure's bed (very very unfunny).
It's... inept, I think is the right word. It feels rewritten. Dumb. Maybe could've been okay. No cohesion. Doesn't work.
Watch an Elvis car film instead.
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