The Devil’s Hairpin *** (1957, Cornel Wilde, Jean Wallace, Arthur Franz, Mary Astor, Paul Fix) – Classic Movie Review 5345

This 1957 car racing drama, filmed in Technicolor and VistaVision is a credit to Cornel Wilde (aka Kornél Lajos Weisz), who wears four different hats here as star, producer, co-writer and director. He produces for his own film production company Theodora, named after Theodora Irvine.

Wilde plays ex-car racing champion Nick Jardin who is goaded by sportswriter Mike Houston (Gerald Milton) to come out of retirement and make a motor race comeback. So he has to face up to his rival, top racer of the day Tony Botari, his own ego problems and the ‘marry me  or else’ demands of his health club instructor girlfriend Kelly James (Wilde’s real-life second wife Jean Wallace).

All the usual suspects and their problems are assembled for this familiar drama. But it is all quite well done, especially on the track, with the racing climax pretty exciting, with the racing scenes shot at Paramount Ranch Raceway.

As star, actor Wilde does well making an unsympathetic character appealing. There is a solid support cast, including the very welcome Mary Astor, who pops in as Wilde’s difficult mother, who blames Nick for the racing accident that injured her other son, Johnny, and urges Kelly to leave Nick.

The title Devil’s Hairpin is the crucial dangerous turn on the 100-lap race that takes Nick and Botari along rural roads.

Also in the cast are Arthur Franz, Paul Fix, Larry Pennell, Ross Bagdasarian, Jack Kosslyn, Morgan Jones, Louis Wilde, Jack Latham, Mabel Rea, Dorene Porter, Sue England, John Indrissano, Mike Mahoney, Les Clark, Henry Blair, John Benson, George Gilbreth, Gordon Mills and Gilchrist Stuart.

James Edmiston and Wilde’s screenplay is based on Edmiston’s novel The Fastest Man on Earth.

Wilde previously produced the film noir classic The Big Combo (1955).

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5345

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