The Devil's Hairpin

Nothing special to think or rememeber from ths Cornel Wilde's film, not his best, not the most inspired, nothing to do with THE NAKED PREY, NO BLADE OF GRASS, BEACH RED, or even LANCELOT AND GUENIEVRE. Those latests are over the top in terms of stories. This car race topic could remind George Sherman's JOHNNY DARK, starring Tony Curtis - who looked like Cornel Wilde, from my own point of view. You have good character depiction and tension. Cornel Wilde has a good lead character, not always at his best, and that's the most surprising. It's also an interesting analysis about winning, the importance for one to be the best, at any cost.... Good story but a bit run of the mill however.

The Devil's Hairpin was one of the more exciting racing movies from the 50's. It is also a compelling story of the conflict within the main character, played by Cornel Wilde.

Wilde (who also directed) plays retired race car champion Nick Jargin. Jargin owns a nightclub and lives on past glory, never missing an opportunity to boast that he could still beat anyone on the track. What his legion of fans doesn't know is that he is, in fact, afraid to race again. In his last race he caused an accident which severely injured his younger brother. He had a decision to make between backing off at "The Devil's Hairpin" which might have allowed his brother to win, or jeopardizing his brother's life by not letting him pass. He chose the latter, and although his brother doesn't blame him for the resulting accident, he has always blamed himself.

A local columnist finally goads him into racing again, and together with some cronies, he builds a race car. In the final race, he is faced with the same circumstance that caused his brother's accident.

Wilde knew a great deal about how to tell a story. There is personal conflict, romance (his wife Jean Wallace plays Jargin's girlfriend) and of course the inevitable showdown both on the track and with his own past. The story is told in flashback, beginning on the starting grid for this final, defining race.

It ain't "Grand Prix" as far as racing realism is concerned, but still solid entertainment. I have often wished this film were available on video or DVD. It is one of my favorites from the 50's.

I always liked Cornel Wilde (my favorite of his movies is "Naked Prey") and his wife was truly a talented, gorgeous woman. However, the real star of "Devil's Hairpin" is Paramount Racetrack. As deadly as it was beautiful, the historic track was closed after only seven races because of several deaths. Although much of the Paramount Ranch property has been cared for and made useful for movies and TV, the track was neglected and has been allowed to go to seed. This is the only movie to feature (in color!) nearly contiguous laps around Paramount Racetrack. I am waiting for the day when a restored version of this VERY hard to find film is available.

I was present when some of this film was shot on location at Paramount Ranch in 1956.

The sports cars used were rented from drivers currently racing in Southern California. Nick's car was Chuck Porter's 300SLS - a special built on a Mercedes 300SL chassis. The appearance of the car was modified a bit for the movie, however.

My dad's AC Bristol, the black and turquoise car, #59 was driven in the movie shots by his driver, Bob Oker who raced the car very successfully.

I saw the movie when it premiered in Los Angeles. I'm afraid we did not think it was a very accurate portrayal of the racing scene, nor a very good movie. It's interesting to see the other reviewers opinions. I'm glad they like it. I have seen the movie available on DVD (a poor color-faded copy, with scratches - probably taped from a TV presentation - a bootleg version).

I like the movie for the racing scenes, memories.

That includes an extra point or two because I've met several of the auto racers who helped stage the 'competition" scenes, heard their stories about the production, and enjoyed tramping around almost all of what's left of the old Paramount Ranch racetrack. The track is still accessible as part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, inland from Malibu, north and west from Los Angeles.

Both the movie and the experiences with the racers and the track were enjoyable; the racers are stellar, the movie, not so much.

Wilde and Wallace were kind of a prototypical pair of capable actors, and in this outing the material doesn't inhibit their natural inclinations. The story gets told, the action moves right along, for the most part, and the ending follows the beginning and middle.

As a theatrical film, I'd probably not have gone to see it if I weren't a racing fan and it hadn't been 25 cents at the base theater.