MovieChat Forums > Hell Drivers (1957) Discussion > An all time favorite of mine

An all time favorite of mine

posted 18 years ago by kevjk10-1
22 replies | jump to latest

I loved this film from the first time I saw it,I was about 9 at the time, (only about 11 yrs after the film was released) at that age I believed it was all true to life, although my dad did comment at the time, "with all those maniac drivers in sighn written trucks, with the telephone numbers on their doors, a punch up at the dance and even a death in suspicious circumstances, surely we should have at least seen the police arrive at some point in the film". Somebody else has already mentioned Patrick Mcgooahn's cigarete remaining in his mouth throughout the fight scene. I'd just like to mention Stanly Baker's shirt,throughout the film he never changes his shirt, he wears it for driving and servicing his truck, he has a punch up in it, and when he goes to the dance, he still has on the same shirt,but with a tie,I guess the wardrobe department was pretty sparse in those days, but they did find a lovely dress for Peggy Cummins to wear to the dance. I find it hard now to understand how a lovely girl like Lucy (Peggy Cummins) would keep throwing herself at Stanly Baker, after he had rebuffed her not just once but several times, surely a lovely girl like her would have had more self respect? Still lets not worry ourselves with minor details, a great classic film, one that I have on d.v.d and would recomend if only for the nostalgia.

[–] herbertanchovy 18 years ago

I think Lucy liked "a bit of rough" hence working in a place surrounded by hairy arsed lorry drivers.

[–] garp-26 18 years ago

Like Baker's character in "The Criminal", our hero is a former jailbird who finds that the world, or a world, appears even more immoral than before his sentence. In both films the police are on the periphery because of the self enclosed underworlds Baker's characters inhabit. Although physically no longer in prison neither Bannion or Tom are wholly free, limited by fate or their own ritualistic behaviour. Their own internalised prisons if you like.
I don't believe Lucy just "fancies a bit of rough". Baker's Tom is a tough nut to be sure, but she responds to him because he cuts a romantic figure. Intelligent, sensitive, a loner somewhat haunted by a troubled past, he has aspects that are attractive. Often dangerously so. Where as Herbert Lom's character was all out front. Kind and handsome, but lacking the tragic quality that arouses curiosity.
Incidentally I recall reading somewhere that when the fight sequence between McGoohan and Baker was being filmed both actors kept on throwing punches after the director shouted 'cut'. Apparently these guys hated each other and this scrap was just a little bit too realistic. Can anyone else confirm this?

Supernatural perhaps, baloney perhaps not

[–] Bart_Decaux 18 years ago

From what I've gathered from the DVD, I don't think it was necessarily the case that McGoohan and Baker didn't get on that well, but they had both done a bit of boxing in their youth and just kind of decided between themselves to go for it a bit to enhance the fight scene. Probably had a bit of the whole macho thing in there, too.

[–] garp-26 18 years ago

I'm basing my recollections on an article by Donald Zec which was part of a Sunday Mirror serialisation in the 70s. He also claimed that there was physical tension between Richard Harris and Kirk Douglas during the making of The Heroes of Telemark, surely not. And as for Tom and Jerry...
Thanks for your reply.

Supernatural perhaps, baloney perhaps not

[–] fatpaulied 18 years ago

Watching this again for this the first time in about 10 years - i'd forgotten what a great a great supporting cast there was. david mcallum ??? Sid James ??? Alfie Bass ??? - From what I've been told, off the record, by old studio/TV hands was that tension between Mr Mcgoohan and Mr Baxter was a combination of one-up manship and alcohol. When I used to teach social history of the 20th century this was one of the of the films I always used for pretty obvious reasons.

[–] garp-26 18 years ago

The same article I refer to in my previous post also mentioned that then supporting actor Sean Connery was unhappy in his role because it was too wimpish. He wanted to be more macho like Baker and McGoohan, but was becoming discenhanted with the lack of opportunities open to him at the time. I guess this film was made after he played "2nd welder" in the film Time Lock.
My favourite performance from this terrific little film is by William Hartnell. Understated, mundane callousness of the type we all meet everyday but tend to dimiss for the sake of our sanity. A satanic emissary in a grey mack and demob haircut. Interesting title, Hell Drivers (or an eternity of samsara), as both villains then became reborn as heroes, Danger Man and Dr. Who.

Supernatural perhaps, baloney perhaps

[–] wildeco 18 years ago

I first saw this film just after release as a 9 or 10 year old at the cinema. Watched it twice which was allowed back then.

Made a point of watching it the other night expecting a nostalgia fest but was disappoimted because I'm sure there was a good deal cut out near the end where Tom and Red had their 'shoot out' in their vehicles.

My recollection is of a good deal of tense vehicle jousting on the edge of the quarry before Red went over the edge. It was very dramatic for the time and the heart of the movie. All gone in the broadcast version.

Does anyone know why that was done ?

[–] Bart_Decaux 17 years ago

I've seen the broadcast version a few times and I have the DVD release. As far as I can ascertain, there aren't any differences between these two and as the DVD release is extremely comprehensive I doubt that it's a cut version. I also can't find any reference in any literature about the film that it has been tampered with in any form since cinema release.
It may be that it seems different from memory than it does now; I certainly find that with certain movies I haven't seen for many years.
Of course, I can't be 100% sure that there isn't actually a longer cut in existence so I wouldn't want to stick my neck out and say that your'e definitely mistaken, but in all the somewhat extensive studies I've read of the film I've never found references to any cuts in any version.

[–] gracemakutsi 17 years ago

This is one of my favorite films also - the cast is first-rate, especially Patrick McGoohan, who imo is such an underrated actor

[–] herbertanchovy 17 years ago

I remember reading somewhere that Stanley Baker in his youth was a bit of a hard nut, not someone to mess with- maybe a reason for being overly keen in the fight scene?

[–] gracemakutsi 17 years ago

I can imagine it! I think that would be a pretty even fight between Stanley Baker and PMcG! I wouldnt want to take either of them on!

[–] fredcromer 15 years ago

This was released, I believe, August 1957, Timelock was released in September of the same year.

A classic !

[–] marktayloruk 17 years ago

Excellent film which I always enjoy and don't want remade!Thought did strike m3ee-the cast would've come a lot more expensive ten years later.

[–] JaneDough42 16 years ago

I love the movie too, it's got humour, drama, suspense, and a great cast and I loved the scenes with Red, always ready for a fight and watching his cigarette remain in his mouth the whole time during a fight scene was hilarious. I never tire of this movie and have watched it several times.

I like the cut of your jib - Blackadder

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] bigbluecheese 15 years ago

and me! its in my top ten favourite films ever. in fact im watching it right now!

[–] rockmail 14 years ago

It is a fun film in all its stupidity and lack of realism. It's really a "knights of the round table" type fantasy with dump trucks instead of horses.

I'm trying to resist your connection between beauty, assertiveness and self-respect, but I cannot. "Attractive" people are not all GOOD, and pushing for a relationship with someone you're attracted to is not lacking "self-respect", unless you have the 50's attitude of thinking women shouldn't pursue what they desire, and just be quiet, demure little does. That's rubbish.

Entertaining movie though.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] Prismark10 13 years ago

A classic British film with what went on to be an all star cast.

You had James Bond, Danger Man/Prisoner, Doctor Who and The man from UNCLE!

Its that man again!!

[–] Swift-12 10 years ago

Lets not leave her out when listing the great cast. Very young here, I'd guess about 21. She and McCallum were married at some point -- I wonder if they met during this shoot or before?

"Yately" was nuts to overlook the affections of the young girl played by Jill. Drop that Cummins chick -- she's trouble -- and run off with the young lass.

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