Death Race

This film is set in WWII and the Germans in North Africa are on retreat now that the Americans have gone on the offensive. When two P-40 pilots are sent to destroy a mine field (just HOW they would do that, I have no idea), they see a small column of German vehicles. One dives to engage them and is miraculously shot down by the tank*! The second plane lands nearby to rescue the downed pilot and in doing this, the tank damages the second plane so badly it cannot fly. So, it's forced to drive about the desert avoiding the German tank...sort of like a game of cat and mouse. What's next?

The one thing that startled me about the film was the casting of Lloyd Bridges as the German tank commander. His accent made him sound just like an American actor TRYING (and not succeeding in the least) in doing a German accent. Why they didn't have him play one of the pilots is beyond me. And, why they didn't have Eric Braeden (who was part of the crew) play the tank commander I do not know...especially since Braeden IS German and played a German commander in the TV series "Combat!" as well as "Rat Patrol".

So apart from the difficult to believe premise and odd casting of Bridges, is the film any good? Well, it is rather entertaining watching Lloyd Bridges play a bit of a maniac! Not the least bit realistic...but fun in a kitschy way. Otherwise, no...it's not a very good film.

*The German tank in the film is actually an American Sherman tank. This is because after the war, there were very few German tanks left....and there were thousands of Shermans. In fact, in most films the German tanks are American tanks and often Shermans or Walker Bulldogs sub for German tanks.

This is for all you "Death Race" fans who want to see this movie one more time. It was re-released on VHS in 1986 under the title: "State of Division". Please Note: that the cover and description don't really match the original movie, but it is indeed "Death Race". The quality of the video / audio is iffy at best but it most certainly watchable. My understanding is that the movie is out of print (OOP) but I have found several copies. I paid a whopping 9 bucks for a new copy. Best of luck...

Lloyd Bridges plays maniacal General Ernst Beimer, an over the top optimist who thinks the Germans can turn the disaster of El Alamein into a great victory for the Nazis.

Bridges is not a very convincing Nazi. His wild-eyes portrayal borders on the comical. He plays the role as a cartoonish character. He was much better in his older roles in Hollywood and even on TV for Sea Hunt. This one is embarrassing.

The rest of the cast does a pretty good job with what they have, and the script is rather innovative. A German tank crew chases an Allied plane across the desert because the plane is partially disabled. However, the German soldiers in the tank, other than Bridges, know that it is a lost cause. Interesting film.

I can still vividly remember the closing sequence to this film even after 10 years. It was just one of those movies that has stuck in my memory.I tried to recall the name of the movie on several occasions and it was only by chance that I found it on IMDB.

Excellent roles played by both the late Lloyd Bridges and Doug McClure. It was unfortunate that probably this being a "TV" movie it was not listed in the obituaries of these actors. I have tried unsuccessfully over many years of hunting to find a copy of this movie.

The portrayal of the increasing insane Pimler by Bridges was just brilliant. If anyone reading this review ever locates this movie, please get in touch.

The equipment is worth watching in this movie. The two P-40's are nice to watch, and what other movie shows a P-40 being "bombed up" with a really big 500 pounder. The tank is a chance to see armor work in real sand. It is a late model M-4 but so what, it looks good and is fun to watch in desert terain, which is not all flat as it really was in North Afrika. And wasn't that sargent in Rat Patrol? All the actors give a good show and I liked this movie for its location, equipment and action.