The Fast and the Furious (1957), not to be confused with the 21st century franchise, has actual star quality with Dorothy Malone, who finds herself a far cry from the Douglas Sirk pictures that most remember her by. With music by Chet Baker, fast cars, and cheap process shots, this is the kind of dynamic sleaze that makes B-movies worth more than the price of popcorn. But the transfer is no better than what you can find in the dollar-store versions of this kicking around - and the watermark makes it even worse.
Naked Angels is another "DVD debut" - and another VHS transfer. It's a better than average biker film with better than average music and strong editing, mixing still photos and movie footage in some crucial scenes - for budgetary reasons, perhaps, but it's a nice touch. Scenes along the old Las Vegas Strip also set this one above the biker norm, but by the time they get to the desert the tedium of the ride - and of the rampant misogyny - gets to you. There's a young Penelope Spheeris here, perhaps doing spiritual research on her Decline of Western Civilization series.
The Winner (Pit Stop) is unwatchable, not because of the movie, which had a reputation based on a previous Anchor Bay release. The print offered here is sharp, but in the wrong aspect ratio, squeezed so that everyone from the leads to the tricked-up cars look tall and skinny. There's one more movie here besides, but if you've made it this far you already know not to spend your precious B-movie ducats on this Z-grade box set.
Article comments
1 - James A. Gardner
At least we got an entertaining review out of it. Disappointing to learn that this set shares some of the cur-rate characteristics--lousy transfer from questionable sources, the infernal watermark--that plague the Mill Creek collections. Those sets often use good source prints and offer 50 flicks for 20 bucks. You'd expect better for the price of the Corman set.
2 - Pat
It makes one to balk at the upcoming Naughty Nurses set.