by Frank Calvillo
Arrow Video, a subsidiary of Arrow Films, humbly describe themselves as merely a “Distributor of classic, world, cult and horror cinema on DVD & Blu-ray”. But we film geeks know them as the Britain-based bastion of the brutal and bizarre, boasting gorgeous Blu-ray releases with high quality artwork and packaging and bursting with extras (often their own productions). Their collector-friendly releases had traditionally not been available in the U.S, but now Arrow has come across the pond and this column is devoted to discussing their weird and wonderful output.
Even though the series has had more than its fair share of ups and downs, the Fast and Furious franchise continues to churn out more and more sequels featuring racing-obsessed fanatics who continuously plunge themselves into a never-ending string of spectacles featuring fast cars and explosive deaths. While those films are far from dying out, any lover of the genre would have to experience the cult favorite Pit Stop for a true look at not only amazing car action, but also for a glimpse at a group of people whose whole reason for living lies behind the wheel.
In Pit Stop, an amateur drag racer named Rick Bowman (Dick Davalos) is recruited by wealthy businessman Grant Willard (Brian Donlevy) to become part of a stock car racing team. Joining the team will prove difficult, however, thanks to territorial star racer Hawk Sidney (Sid Haig) as well as Rick’s uncontrollable obsession. Fueled by the attraction to the lovely Jolene (Beverly Washburn) as well as help from experienced racer Ed (George Washburn) and Ed’s wife Ellen (Ellen Burstyn), Rick is determined to take his passion of racing to the limit.
The obvious appeal of Pit Stop is the film’s spectacular racing sequences. And spectacular they are. The races themselves are brilliantly choreographed within an inch of their lives and always keep the audience on the edge of their seats. Shot in glorious black and white and with almost no music to accompany them, the racing scenes are pure heart pounding entertainment. It’s that same stark realism which also makes the ensuing crashes as riveting as they come off. Thanks to director (and former Roger Corman protege) Jack Hill, there’s a powerful upfront quality throughout Pit Stop which is never more alive than in the upfront rawness of the film’s crash scenes.
In a way, Pit Stop is one of the last ’60s American films that helped encompass the decade. This is the kind of the film that is completely Americana in every sense of the word, from the world it depicts to the spectators who flocked to the stands to watch the fearless drivers. That sense of Americana is heightened even more when Pit Stop focuses on its characters and what it is that draws them to such a world. Seeing the hopes and dreams that these men and women attach to stock car racing was both genuine and poetic, if not unexpected given the ferocity of the sport.
For a supposed B-movie exploitation film, the performances are totally outstanding thanks to Hill’s direction and a cast of great actors. Each of the performers completely believe in their character’s hopes and dreams, and as a result, the material is deepened immensely. Davalos is fantastic as the movie’s hero, quietly conveying Rick’s obsession with the sport without venturing too much into hysterics. Meanwhile, Burstyn (in one of her earliest film roles) elevates the stock “wife” role, giving a performance which greatly hinted at the power she would later be known for. No one holds a candle to Haig though, who is so incredibly magnetic as the film’s heavy masking a hidden soulfulness.
Pit Stop was initially considered an exploitation film due perhaps to the pedigree of its filmmakers. And yet there is so much truth and poignancy throughout Pit Stop that takes it far above and beyond the exploitation label, especially in the way it ventures into the mentality of the drivers. A good amount of directorial flourishes that treat the material with respect and give it a solid feel and flow make this one of the best films about racing ever made.
The Package
Interviews with Producer Roger Corman, Haig, and Hill, who is also on hand for a commentary track, accompany the DVD, which features a number of interesting pieces of trivia, namely how the director was able to make the film on such a limited budget. There’s also a great featurette about the film’s restoration.
The Lowdown
If the Fast and Furious crew insist on keeping their franchise alive, we can only hope at least one of them takes a look at the stellar piece of American underground filmmaking that is Pit Stop.
Pit Stop is now available on Blu-Ray and DVD from Arrow Films.
