The Big Wheel ** (1949, Mickey Rooney, Thomas Mitchell, Spring Byington, Michael O’Shea, Mary Hatcher) – Classic Movie Review 12,996

The warm and earnest 1949 American racing driver sport drama film The Big Wheel stars Mickey Rooney, Thomas Mitchell, Spring Byington, Michael O’Shea, and Mary Hatcher.

‘Roaring at you with mile-a-minute thrills!’ ‘It’s restless, reckless ROONEY in the most exciting thrill-a-minute role of his career!’

Director Edward Ludwig’s 1949 American racing driver sport drama film The Big Wheel stars Mickey Rooney, Thomas Mitchell, Spring Byington, Michael O’Shea, and Mary Hatcher.

Mickey Rooney stars in an appealing performance as brash Billy Coy, who decides to become a racing driver after his famed drunken womaniser father is killed in a race, and his girlfriend, Louise Riley (Mary Hatcher), proves his staunchest ally. Billy’s father’s old mechanic Red Stanley (Thomas Mitchell) hires him as a new mechanic, but the restless, reckless Billy soon is taken on as a driver.

This tolerable Indianapolis 500 race adventure drama is enjoyable up to a point, but it seems to be trying for something more special that evades it.

With Spring Byington as Thomas Rooney’s mom and Mitchell as her fella, there is able playing all round that overcomes the well-worn yarn, and there is warmth in the earnest script by Robert Smith, plus there is attractive black and white cinematography by Ernest Laszlo, as well as some atmospheric and exciting Indianapolis race track scenes.

Also in the cast are Hattie McDaniel, Lina Romay, Steve Brodie, Allen Jenkins, Richard Lane, Eddie Kane, Charles Irwin, Kippee Valez, Denver Pyle, George Fisher and Jackson King.

It is the final screen appearance of Hattie McDaniel. Even after all those years and all those films, she is miscredited as Hattie McDaniels.

Rooney had returned from World War Two still a very popular star, and resumed work for his studio MGM, but he wanted to start production as an independent and MGM agreed provided he also made five films for them. It was an era when big stars were starting to use their clout to make their own films outside the studios that had given them the power in the first place. The rigid old studio system was starting to be in decline.

However, Rooney’s independent production agreement with producer Sam Stiefel ended because of a financial disagreement, and eventually Rooney agreed to make three films for Stiefel as a salaried employee at $100,000 a film. But Stiefel said that Rooney owed him $180,000 and was to pay it off at $60,000 a film, and would get only $40,000 for The Big Wheel. Well, if it didn’t make Rooney rich, somebody must have made some money. On a budget of $900,000, it took $1.5 million at the box office.

It was followed by the 1950 American film noir Quicksand.

American racing driver Bill Holland sued the producers for $250,000 in damages in January 1950, claiming that the film was based on the 1949 Indianapolis 500 and wrongly implied that he won the race only by a fluke.

But Rooney’s character is based on American racing driver Mauri Rose, the third three-time winner of the Indianapolis 500, after winning in 1941, 1947 and 1948.

American racing driver Wilbur Shaw acted as the film’s technical adviser, and the film offers him special thanks. He is the second three-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 after winning in 1937, 1939 and 1940.

This film is now in the public domain.

The Big Wheel is directed by Edward Ludwig, runs 92 minutes, is made by Samuel H. Stiefel Productions and Popkin-Stiefel-Dempsey Productions, is released by United Artists, is written by Robert Smith, is shot in black and white by Ernest Laszlo, is produced by Harry M Popkin (executive producer), Samuel H Stiefel (producer), Mort Briskin (producer) and Joseph H Nadel (associate producer), is scored by Nat W Finston (also musical director), Gerard Carbonara and John Leipold, and is designed by Rudi Feld.

Release date: November 4, 1949.

Filming started on 21 June 1949.

The cast are Mickey Rooney as Billy Coy, Thomas Mitchell as Arthur ‘Red’ Stanley, Mary Hatcher as Louise Riley, Michael O’Shea as Vic Sullivan, Spring Byington as Mary Coy, Hattie McDaniel as Minnie, Steve Brodie as Happy Lee, Lina Romay as Dolores Raymond Allen Jenkins as George, Richard Lane [Dick Lane] as Reno Riley, Eddie Kane as Head Waiter, Charles Irwin as Drunk, Kippee Valez as Carla, Denver Pyle as Doctor, George Fisher as Announcer, and Jackson King [Jack Colin] as Announcer.

Actress Marjorie Main and Spring Byington were widely reported as having been in a long-term relationship. Main observed: ‘It’s true, she didn’t have much use for men.’

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 12,996

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