Copyright 1955 by 20th Century-Fox Film Corp. New York opening at the Roxy: 4 February 1955. U.S. release: February 1955. U.K. release: June 1955. Australian release: 12 May 1955. Sydney opening at the Plaza. U.S. running time: 112 minutes. In the U.K. the movie was released in a 91-minute version called SUCH MEN ARE DANGEROUS. Oddly, whilst the American title was retained for Australian release, the U.K. version was the one exhibited.
SYNOPSIS: Ambitious racing driver is determined to succeed at all costs.
NOTES: Fox CinemaScope release number 24.
COMMENT: Those who love the high whine of racing cars in full stereophonic sound and who thrill — despite such obvious studio fakery as process screen cut-ins - to the twists and spills of racing at full throttle, will find plenty to get excited about in "The Racers". Whilst on the domestic front, CinemaScope is very slackly employed with lots of waste space and loose framing, the process more or less comes into its own in the race sequences. I say more or less because CinemaScope's effectiveness depends upon your level of sophistication. I thought the process screen so way over- used, with so many studio inserts that the actuality footage was considerably undermined. True, there are some spectacular crashes, at least two especially staged for the film, but any residue of excitement is quickly dissipated by the oh-so-conventional back-of- the-pits yarn about the neurotically aggressive pro who just has to get-fame-quick no matter who he treads underfoot in the process.
Kirk Douglas turns in his usual account of Mr. Macho-Pushy. The support players likewise wear their roles like well-worn robes. Miss Peggy Lee's fans though will be disappointed that she doesn't actually appear on camera and that her song (later reprized by an off-camera chorus) is mostly drowned out by dialogue. Technical credits are reasonably proficient.
SYNOPSIS: Ambitious racing driver is determined to succeed at all costs.
NOTES: Fox CinemaScope release number 24.
COMMENT: Those who love the high whine of racing cars in full stereophonic sound and who thrill — despite such obvious studio fakery as process screen cut-ins - to the twists and spills of racing at full throttle, will find plenty to get excited about in "The Racers". Whilst on the domestic front, CinemaScope is very slackly employed with lots of waste space and loose framing, the process more or less comes into its own in the race sequences. I say more or less because CinemaScope's effectiveness depends upon your level of sophistication. I thought the process screen so way over- used, with so many studio inserts that the actuality footage was considerably undermined. True, there are some spectacular crashes, at least two especially staged for the film, but any residue of excitement is quickly dissipated by the oh-so-conventional back-of- the-pits yarn about the neurotically aggressive pro who just has to get-fame-quick no matter who he treads underfoot in the process.
Kirk Douglas turns in his usual account of Mr. Macho-Pushy. The support players likewise wear their roles like well-worn robes. Miss Peggy Lee's fans though will be disappointed that she doesn't actually appear on camera and that her song (later reprized by an off-camera chorus) is mostly drowned out by dialogue. Technical credits are reasonably proficient.