Hot Cars (1956)

So much average

Just perfect...

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Are you somewhere around 50 years old or older? If so, then you might enjoy this short, simple, black-and-white production as a nostalgic blast from the past as much as I did. As a bonus, if you are into cars like I am, there are some nice classic cars in supporting roles. A definite disappointment though is that the cover art has absolutely, totally, nothing to do with the film itself. Nobody like those women on the movie's thumbnail illustration is actually in the movie--the picture was obviously just selected to pique prurient interest, which was exactly why I put it in my queue. Really deceptive marketing, but it worked like a charm on me.

This is a decent short (100 minute) film. It is about an honest man who agrees to work for a used car company that hocks stolen cars (after they have been repainted etc...).Have seen versions of the plot before (e.g. Kloptka) an honest man gets involved with crooks to get the money to save his sick child. The crooks turn out to be nobody's friend and they frame him for a murder.Fast moving and entertaining decent acting well filmed. The last scene on the roller coaster made me dizzy.Recommend for some entertainment. I originally watched it to look at the vintage 1950s cars it turned out to be entertaining as well.A well done 50s B movie.

"Hot Cars" will never be seen as a classic, but it is well worth seeing--especially by young film makers who need a lesson on how to make a good film with practically no budget. So, despite its shortcomings, the film is actually better than you'd expect--much better."Hot Cars" stars John Bromfield--a guy you probably never heard of and had few chances to star in films. Yet, surprisingly, he did a nice job playing an honest man who is, through circumstances, pulled into a world of crime. You see, his son is very sick (the exact illness is never mentioned) and he's just lost one job as a used car salesman because he was just too honest. When he's offered what seems like a wonderful job with a wonderful boss, he's excited. But the excitement is short-lived. It seems the company makes money by buying and selling stolen cars and then altering them to avoid detection. At first Bromfield is angry and appalled, so he quits. But, when he learns from his wife that they need money to get the kid treatment needed to survive, he reluctantly agrees to go back to this job. The money is excellent and he's able to live with his conscience, but things are closing in on him...and fast! Can he somehow make it through this sleazy business and come out unscathed? Watch this well-crafted and interesting film to find out for yourself.If you like film noir, you'll probably like this, but I would consider it 'noir-lite'--not as dark and without the style you'd really expect from film noir but still having some of the elements of this gritty genre. If you don't, you still can't help but respect what these folks did with so little at their disposal. Nice.

I seem to have a soft spot in my heart or head for B movies of the 30's thru the 50's. I like their fast pacing, attention to the story line, the actors who for the most part are virtually unknown. Hot Cars, if it is known at all today lives on because of the lobby cards featuring the beautiful, and, talented Joi Lansing. This is a really good movie though with great performances by John Bromfield and Joi Lansing. Of course wherever Joi is there is delightful eye candy but make no mistake about it, Joi was a very good actress. This movie gives her a bigger role than just walking across the back drop. It's a real shame she didn't get better roles. John Bromfield is an ideal actor for the role of Nick Dunn who is caught in the middle of the hot car scam. The supporting cast works along with these two stars to form a cohesive ensemble. Something you don't always get in the "Bigger" movies. OK, it's not a lavish movie with a big budget and razzle dazzle special effects. Just a gripping story told in a late film-noirish manner. The actors make you care about what is happening on screen in a most convincing manner. This is a real gem! See it if you can. It needs to be released on DVD.