Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Hell Drivers (1957)


☆ ☆ ☆ ½


Hell Drivers (1957) – C. Endfield

Sullen Stanley Baker arrives at the gate of a trucking company looking for work.  He’s willing to take the job, despite the clear pressure to break road rules to deliver as many loads as possible each day.  Rough tough and possibly insane Patrick McGoohan is the pacesetter (18 loads per day) and foreman who won’t stand any competition – and will sabotage another driver to keep his status.  Herbert Lom is gentle “Gino” the Italian immigrant who befriends Baker and Peggy Cummins is their love interest.  Cy Endfield directs with panache and this is a truly taut tense tough and gripping affair.  Who knew delivering rocks could be this exciting?  (Maybe Clouzot did – but he had nitroglycerine as the load in The Wages of Fear).  Great cast of British character actors and stars-to-be (including young S. Connery).


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