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

An all time favorite of mine


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.

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It seems a long time since anyone posted news on this film. It was an old favourite of mine thats for sure and I do have some info I can share.

The trucks were leased for the film from a transport company called "Drinkwater" in London.

Mr Drinkwater was given one of the models that I was told was the one that went over the cliff, they made several. The colour was indeed green. I am not sure if they were Dodges or Leyland comets,I suspect both.

I have located a Leyland comet painted in the same colour as the Drink water trucks and that has been semi renovated and is now white on the exterior but the interior is the same a Drinnkwater green.

Not sure what happened to the firm, I think they may have been taken over by the Irish company Murphy but not sure.

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I just recently obtained a copy of Hell Drivers and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I am a big fan of Patrick McGoohan...and I am trying to catch as many of the older movies that he was in. Does anyone know if Gypsy and the Gentleman is available on DVD? I am trying to find Nor the Moon by Night ( Elephant Walk ) and No Life for Ruth also.
Hell Drivers is another film role for McGoohan where he played an angry young man... his demands for privacy and the studio's wanting to protect their stars from any bad publicity in those days makes it difficult to find out the true stories behind the making of these movies and television shows.
I find him fascinating..and he sure was good looking!
I noticed that he didn't mingle in the party scene either..he just jumped in when the drivers were starting to get insulted.
Sure miss the style of the old movies!
BCNU

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