Red Line 7000 (1965) Reviews

Legendary director Howard Hawks revs up and hits the track in this drama about race car drivers and the women who love them. Pat Kazarian (Norman Alden) is a racing driver who also oversees a team of racers, among them Jim Loomis (Anthony Rogers) and Mike Marsh (James Caan). Jim is engaged to marry Holly McGregor (Gail Hire), but after she arrives in Daytona to be with her man, Holly learns Jim died in a crash. With no where else to do, a shattered Holly takes a job at a restaurant owned by her friend Lindy (Charlene Holt). Ned Arp (John Robert Crawford) is tapped to replace Jim, who quickly makes a reputation for moving fast on the track. He also becomes known for moving fast with the ladies, which doesn't please Pat when he learns Ned has his eyes on Julie Kazarian (Laura Devon), his younger sister. After a few early successes, Ned breaks off from Pat's team, and Dan McCall (James Ward) steps in in his place. Dan arrives with his girlfriend, French beauty Gabrielle (Marianna Hill), but soon finds himself infatuated with Holly. Mike begins to fall for Gabrielle, and becomes angry with the shabby way Dan has treated her, going so far as to take his anger out on his teammate on the track. Red Line 7000 includes plenty of superb racing footage and some unusual rock and roll interpretations of classic folk songs; keep an eye peeled for George Takei (Mr. Sulu on Star Trek) in a minor role. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi