Gone in 60 Seconds *** (1974, H B Halicki, Marion Busia, Jerry Daugirda) – Classic Movie Review 940

A car thief is forced by an evil crime boss baddie to come out of retirement to steal 50 vehicles in a night to save his brother’s life. H B Halicki writes, produces, directs, does his own amazing stunt driving and stars in this 1974 low-budget original version of the car chase thriller remade in 2000 with Nicolas Cage.

Halicki plays insurance investigator Maindrian Pace, who before his retirement led a double life as an unstoppable car thief along with his team. But now a South American drug lord seizes his brother and blackmails Pace into stealing 50 cars for him. As he prepares to nab the last one, a 1973 Ford Mustang, in Long Beach, Pace finds his boss has tipped off the law after a business dispute. Cops are waiting and pursue him through five cities as he tries to flee.

Seen now, Gone in 60 Seconds is sometimes a bit disappointing, amateurish and pretty unconvincing. But still it has plenty of cult appeal and great racing on its side. There is too much idle talk between the chases, some terrible performances from amateur performers and a lot of dodgy plotting.

But, to compensate, there also are some swell cars, thrilling driving, great action, amusing humour, funky music and a fragrant 70s atmosphere, though. And the 40-minute car chase at the end of the movie still impresses.

Halicki used his whole collection of cars in the movie and bought more simply to destroy them for the cameras, with all the driving and stunts all done for real in the pre-digital era.

It was fully restored and digitally re-mastered for its 25th anniversary in 1999, interest in it renewed by the Cage remake.

Sequel: Gone in 60 Seconds 2, aka Deadline Auto Theft (1983).

Halicki died on August 20 1989 aged 48 in a stunt accident crash during a water tower stunt while filming a second sequel to Gone in 60 Seconds.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 940

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