Also known as: Smash-Up Alley
Tagline: "Racing is a man-size game, mister!"
Plot: In a nested flashback plot worthy of Proust, NASCAR legend Richard Petty (playing himself) recalls the time he crashed in a race and was rushed to the hospital, trailed by his dad Lee (played by Darren McGavin), who sat in the waiting room and recalled his own life and career. In his day, the elder Petty was so competitive that he once lodged a protest against his own son, and when he retired, he refused to go back to the track. (At the beginning of 43, McGavin's voice echoes in Richard's head: "I don't race, and I don't watch races.") Naturally, when the movie winds back to the start, McGavin is there, finally seeing Richard win, and again horning in on his son's story.
Key scenes: While McGavin is out on a bootlegging run, his father nags McGavin's worried wife, asking her to heat up some cornbread because he "cain't work the cook-stove." Finally, he gives in and heats the cornbread up himself, subsequently burning down the house.
Can easily be distinguished by: Where there are stock cars, there's bound to be stock footage of stock cars.
Sign that it was made in 1974: There's much discussion of the point totals for the since-renamed Winston Cup. Also, the soundtrack features several balladic country songs written by the movie's director—a true auteur!
Timeless message: If you're a racecar driver who craves the spotlight, try not to be fathered by Lee Petty.
Memorable quotes: A high-school chum tells Richard's future wife to steer clear of the car-obsessed Petty family: "You got nice lines, kid, but you ain't got a carburetor or a transmission or whatever." Sure enough, after they get married, Petty's wife sits up alone in bed while Richard completes a tune-up. She grumbles, "If somebody asks, I'll tell them that on my wedding night, Richard did finally get his RPM up!"
Available on DVD from PC Treasures.
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