2freensel I saw this movie before reading any reviews, and I thought it was very funny. I was very surprised to see the overwhelmingly negative reviews this film received from critics.

Kirandeep Yoder The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

Anoushka Slater While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Darin One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

ksf-2 Those darn teenagers are at it again, with their fast movin' horseless carriages! Dave and Swifty are trying to get an off- road race track set up so that their friends don't have to race in the streets, but of course Dave's father is the local judge, and is set dead against it. Jimmy Lydon and Gil Stratton co-star in this teen angst shortie from Monogram, ( which is now Allied Artists). After trials and tribulations, ups and downs, mistaken identities and hold-ups, the boys hope their father will approve the track area, which would be a safer solution, and get those darn kids off the streets. The plot line is pretty inane, but worth seeing for some great oldie, jazzed up jalopies, as well as some old scenery of 1950s Los Angeles. A great chase scene right at the end, and it would be fun to see what some of those locales look like today. This shows now and then on TCM, but only 60 votes so far. Pretty tame stuff. The rebellious kids are all dressed so neatly, and speak so well... i wonder if they really were like that, or was this just Hollywood's image at the time. and you can feel the anger when the teenager's father doesn't believe when he's telling the truth, a common feeling we all had at one point. Directed by Lew Collins.... had worked on a couple shows with John Wayne.

lchadbou-326-26592 Hot Rod is a fun little Monogram, shot by the great silent cinematographer Gilbert Warrenton (Lonesome) and starring Jimmy Lydon, who'd played Henry Aldrich in that film series, as a likable school kid who is frustrated when his rival for the girls can show him off by driving faster in a souped up hot rod. The boy's father, played by Art Baker, is a strict judge who doesn't approve of such hot rods and only reluctantly allows his son even to get a car for his new job delivering the paper. In a somewhat contrived Hollywood plot detail the boy's older brother is one of the small town's cops. All works out well when the boy uses his car, which he has fixed up into a hot rod without his father knowing, to help apprehend a robber. Then the judge gives his OK to the opening of a legal timing strip, where the youth can work out their energies without getting into as much trouble. The boy's sidekick, Swifty, is played by a squeaky voiced Gil Stratton, who delivers some amusing humor, which reminded me a bit of the more well known smart aleck kid actor William Tracy. Those who are more into car culture than I am will get a kick out of seeing the period postwar automobiles that are used.

dougdoepke Car culture was a big deal for post-war teens. As I recall, cool cars conferred about as much status on ambitious boys as competitive sports. The war had put a big crimp in the supply of new cars, so boys fashioned their own automotive skills by assembling 'hot rods' from spare parts wherever they could get them. As the movie shows, true hot rods were faster than normal, and when a kid won a competition, either on the street or on a track, he was not only showing off driving skills, but mechanical ability as well. In short, he built an enviable reputation among teens if not among adults.The movie dramatizes much of this. Of course, the story's done Hollywood style. Thus, many of the rough dramatic edges are smoothed out in the end, even if it's not too plausible. For example, kids would continue to do risky street racing, despite drag strips alternatives. Nonetheless, for viewers curious about teens and the time period, Jimmy Lydon is a good example of the teen image prior to James Dean's celebrated rebelliousness. Lydon's a little overage here for the school boy part, but his basic likability and respectfulness are never in doubt.Anyway, whatever else, the movie remains a showcase for hot-rodding, circa 1950.

donden3 This was required watching in the early 50's when we were building rods & customs. Poor acting, second rate plot, but Oh Those Cars!!! Anyone building a retro-rod today should be able to see this. Too bad we can't get it on tape or DVD