Dragstrip Riot [The Reckless Age] ** (1958, Yvonne Lime, Fay Wray, Gary Clarke, John Garwood, Bob Turnbull, Connie Stevens) – Classic Movie Review 4503

Director David Bradley’s fun 1958 trash cult movie stars Gary Clarke, Yvonne Lime and Fay Wray, and is set in a beach community in Malibu, California.

Clarke plays teenager Rick Martin who promises his mother he won’t get into any more fights after he comes out of jail for assault coming to someone’s aid. Then a biker gang harasses his drag-racing pals, Rick gets the blame when one of the motorcyclists is sent over a cliff. Later Rick fights to defend Janet Pearson (Lime), and then gang leader Silva (John Garwood) tries to harm both Rick and Janet, but new friends intervene to help them in a beach riot.

Also in the cast are Bob Turnbull as Bart Thomson,  Connie Stevens as Marge, Ted Wedderspoon as Gramps, Tony Butala as Joe, Barry Truex as Gordie, Marilyn Carroll as Rae, Marlo Ryan as Helen, Carolyn Mitchell as Betty, Marc Thompson as Gary and Marcus [Stanley] Dyrector as Cliff, and Steve Ihnat in his debut as Dutch.

It was released by American International Pictures as a double feature with The Cool and the Crazy.

In the UK, where ‘Dragstrip’ was an unknown word, it was given the boring generic title of The Reckless Age.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 4503

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