The Big Wheel (film)

The Big Wheel
Directed by Edward Ludwig
Produced by Mort Briskin
Samuel H. Stiefel
Written by Robert Smith
Starring Mickey Rooney
Thomas Mitchell
Mary Hatcher
Spring Byington
Hattie McDaniel
Kippee Valez
Music by Gerard Carbonara
Nat W. Finston
Kermit Goell
John Leipold
Fred Spielman
Cinematography Ernest Laszlo
Production
company
Samuel H. Stiefel Productions
Popkin-Stiefel-Dempsey Productions
Distributed by United Artists
Release dates
  • November 4, 1949 (1949-11-04) (United States)
Running time
 92 minutes
Country United States
Language English
The Big Wheel

The Big Wheel is a 1949 film starring Mickey Rooney and Thomas Mitchell.

Plot

Billy Coy (Mickey Rooney) arrives in Carrell in California & the same day offers himself as a mechanic for Arthur "Red" Stanley (Thomas Mitchell) at his garage. Red turns Billy down initially, but after seeing a photo of his Pop "Cannonball" Coy & mentioning that he is the son of the famous driver Red scares up a job for Billy. Billy's father died in an accident at the Indianapolis 500 several years previously. Red was Cannonball's mechanic, riding with him the day he died in the north turn of the Indianapolis motor speedway. Red enquires after "her"; he still carries a torch for Mary (Spring Byington), Cannonball's widow & Billy's father.

At the garage, Billy befriends a tomboy named Louise Riley (Mary Hatcher), whose father owns the nearest racetrack. Soon Billy gets a chance to prove his skills as a driver in a qualifying race, laughingly saying he'll win by driving over the other racers, but he is too arrogant to follow his employer's advice and is unsuccessful. He goes on to ask Louise to meet on Saturday night at the racetrack. Thinking it is a date, Louise does the unheard of for her- she buys a dress & heels (in which she is unskilled at walking) which sets up a charming comedic scene with her father & their maid played by Hattie McDaniel of Gone with the Wind fame in her final film appearance. As it turns out however, Billy needed her help with changing some carburetors, much to Louise's consternation & disappointment. She gamely agrees & wobbles with him to the garage, buoyed by her love of cars & affection for Billy... & despite her inappropriate attire.

Billy gets another chance to drive in a qualifying race, for another car owner. The car is green & referred to as a "Hoodoo Wagon" due to the racing superstition that green cars are unlucky. A helpful gadfly in the pits reminds Billy this is the same colour as the car his father drove when he crashed and burned. Despite the superstition, Billy drives in the race, but is pushed off the track by a driver named Vic Sullivan (Michael O'Shea). Billy survives the crash but fails to qualify & vents his frustration at the dirty trick by engaging in a punch up with Vic. Distracted by the spectacle, another driver for Deacon Jones injures his hand by absentmindedly placing it on the searing exhaust pipe of the car in which he's sitting; Billy is offered the opportunity to drive in the incapacitated man's stead.

Billy wins the next race and continues driving for Jones. Together with the other driver, Happy Lee (Steve Brodie) they make headlines with their success. Billy gets arrested for speeding after a night out at a club, when he has too much to drink. Red comes to the rescue and bails him out, and contrary to Red's advice goes on to race that same night.

When the left rear wheel in Happy's car breaks during the race, Billy tries desperately to catch up to Happy & alert him to the peril but instead crashes into Happy's car after the wheel comes off & the car skids to a stop in Billy's path. Happy's car is smashed through the wall, rupturing the gas tank & the car bursts into flames. Despite Billy's frantic efforts to save his friend Happy dies in the flames. After the race, the other drivers avoid Billy, convinced Billy made good his tyro promise to "...drive over them" and he is fired from Deacon Jones' garage. Stung by the unfair censure Billy decides to move "...back east, where the big cars & the big money are".

Billy stays in contact with Louise, and promises to meet her again on the next Decoration Day at the Indianapolis track. He starts over as a race car driver. In his absence his mother and Red become a couple and get married.

On the day of the next Indianapolis 500 race Mary, Red and Louise turn out to watch & support Billy. Arriving with the sole intent of keeping his date with Louise, through a series of coincidences he drives one of Red's cars. He drives well & attains the lead in the final laps, but on the final lap Billy drives through flaming gasoline from a wreck which causes Billy's engine to catch fire. Battling the smoke & ignoring the flames Billy finishes the race, taking third place, and saves himself by halting the car & leaping from it just before it explodes in a sea of flames. Billy is bitterly disappointed not to have won, convinced he let everybody down, especially since without a winning purse Red can't afford to race again. To Billy's delight he learns he placed third & in a magnificent show of great sportsmanship, the winner insists officials give the trophy to Billy for his bravery. [1]

Cast

References

  1. ↑ http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/68743/The-Big-Wheel/

External links

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