''Dragstrip Girl'' is a 1957 film starring John Ashley in his first lead role.

American International Pictures American International Pictures (AIP) is an American motion picture production label of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. In its original operating period, AIP was an independent film production and distribution company known for producing and releasing fi ...

released the film as a

double feature The double feature is a motion picture industry phenomenon in which theatres would exhibit two films for the price of one, supplanting an earlier format in which one feature film and various short subject reels would be shown. Opera use Opera ho ...

with ''

Rock All Night ''Rock All Night'' is a 1957 crime drama film produced and directed by Roger Corman. Distributed by American International Pictures, it is based on a 25-minute television episode of '' The Jane Wyman Show'' from 1955 called "The Little Guy." It s ...

'' and it proved an early success for the studio.

Fay Spain Lona Fay Spain (October 6, 1932 – May 8, 1983) was an American actress in motion pictures and television. Early years Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Fay Spain was the younger of two daughters born to Robert C. Spain and Arminta Frances "Mick ...

co-starred in the film, which was remade later that year as ''

Motorcycle Gang An outlaw motorcycle club is a motorcycle subculture generally centered on the use of cruiser motorcycles, particularly Harley-Davidsons and choppers, and a set of ideals that purport to celebrate freedom, nonconformity to mainstream culture, a ...

''. Special effects technician

Paul Blaisdell Paul Blaisdell (July 21, 1927 – July 10, 1983) was an American painter, sculptor and visual effects creator, best remembered for his work in science fiction and horror B movies of the 1950s. Life and career Blaisdell was born in Newport, Rhod ...

had a cameo role in ''Dragstrip Girl''.Mark McGee, ''Faster and Furiouser: The Revised and Fattened Fable of American International Pictures'', McFarland, 1996, p134

Plot

Louise Blake, a teenager, is crazy about hot-rod cars. When a couple of guys hide from the cops after an illegal street race, Louise meets them and brings them home to meet her parents. Fred Armstrong comes from a well-to-do family, impressing Louise's mother, whereas Jim Donaldson is poor but a resourceful mechanic, impressing Louise's dad. Encouraged to speed by Louise, the car Jim's driving nearly hits a mother and child. Fred provokes a fight, then challenges Jim to a "chicken" drag race, with Fred's friend Rick Camden helping him and ending up with a broken leg. Fred and Rick then get into a hit-and-run accident, killing another motorist. Things come to a head at a 100-lap race on an oval. Louise ends up behind the wheel of a car, with Fred trying to run her off the road because he's aware she intends to turn over evidence from the hit-and-run. She manages to save herself as Fred is taken away by the police.

Cast

as Louise Blake * John Ashley as Fred Armstrong *

Steve Terrell Steven Terrell (born December 6, 1929) is an American actor who worked extensively on American films and television series in the 1950s and 1960s. He is best known for his association with American International Pictures for whom he made ''Invasi ...

as Jim Donaldson *

Frank Gorshin Frank John Gorshin Jr. (April 5, 1933 – May 17, 2005) was an American actor, comedian and impressionist. He made many guest appearances on ''The Ed Sullivan Show'' and ''Tonight Starring Steve Allen''. As an actor, he played the Riddler on the ...

as Tommy Burns *

Tommy Ivo Tommy may refer to: People * Tommy (given name) * Tommy Atkins, or just Tommy, a slang term for a common soldier in the British Army Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Tommy'' (1931 film), a Soviet drama film * ''Tommy'' (1975 fil ...

as Rick Camden *

(cameo)

Production

had been in '' Runaway Daughters'' for Golden State (AIP's production company), who signed him to a 15-film contract, at three films a year for five years with the option for a fourth year. The script was by

Lou Rusoff Lou Rusoff (August 3, 1911 – June 29, 1963) was a Canadian-born screenwriter and producer best known for his work with American International Pictures. He was brother-in-law to Sam Arkoff and was the screenwriter for many of Roger Corman's f ...

who was head of story for AIP. Ashley had not meant to audition for the film. He accompanied his girlfriend to her audition and they asked if he wanted to try out as well; he was successful, although she was not. Ashley subsequently signed to a long-term contract with AIP. The film was shot in six days. Filming started on 14 January 1957.

Release

Samuel Z Arkoff of AIP said when the film was released in the Los Angeles area, forty percent of the theatres who showed it were drive ins.

Reception

Critical

The ''Monthly Film Bulletin'' called it "a depressing and irresponsible film... glorifying the defiance of law and order, lax morals and the discardance of civilised behaviour." The ''Los Angeles Times'' reported the "youngsters" in the film "are very poor representatives of today's youth." ''Diabolique'' magazine said Ashley was "a terrific delinquent, full of scowls and swagger; he’d never had an acting lesson, but he has a natural presence and easily steals the movie from the "good guy", Steve Terrell (though in fairness, Ashley has the better part)."

References

External links

*
Review of film
at Variety {{Edward L. Cahn Films directed by Edward L. Cahn American International Pictures films 1957 crime drama films 1957 films 1950s independent films Teensploitation Films scored by Ronald Stein American black-and-white films American auto racing films American crime drama films Drag racing 1950s English-language films 1950s American films