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LouHomey From my favorite movies..

Joanna Mccarty Amazing worth wacthing. So good. Biased but well made with many good points.

Donald Seymour This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

John Seal Why does Thunder In Carolina score a paltry 1.9 rating on IMDb? I'm absolutely puzzled, because while the film is no Citizen Kane it is a million miles better (and better made) than your average Doris Wishman or Al Adamson pic. Heck, it's much better than your average Howco International production - though admittedly that's setting the bar pretty low! Well directed by Paul Helmick, the film features a strong cast (Rory Calhoun, Alan Hale Jr., Connie Hines) in its tale of injured stock car driver Mitch Cooper (Calhoun) living vicariously through grease monkey and aspiring pro racer Les York (John Gentry). Shot in vibrant color by Joseph C. Brun (Who Killed Teddy Bear), this is an entertaining 'B' picture and a solid example of old-time regional filmmaking. You don't need to see it, but you also won't regret watching it.

bkoganbing After completing the run of his television western series The Texan and before departing to Europe looking for work Rory Calhoun did this independent picture in North Carolina concerning stock car racing. I'm wondering if when he read the script he didn't notice that this was taken from the Robert Mitchum/Susan Hayward film The Lusty Men. Just substitute stock cars for the rodeo circuit and this is a remake with a change in the ending.If you like stock car racing than this is your movie. Otherwise I think you will be bored. The whole cast gives rather desultory performances. Calhoun plays a veteran stock car driver who is injured and while injured tutors young Race Gentry in the rudiments of the sport. Of course Gentry's wife Connie Hines is opposed to him leaving their gas station garage where he's making a good living and she hates the influence that Calhoun has developed over her husband. But Rory is certainly noticing her.Shots of the stock car racing are the best thing this film has to offer. And Connie Hines would soon be going into a television series that was longer running than Calhoun's The Texan. That would be Mister Ed.

FThomp3460 Not mentioned in the credits was the presence of the 2nd Marine Division Band from Camp Lejuene, NC. We (I was in the band, clanging the cymbals) appeared in two scenes. It was a great gig. Got to meet Rory and Connie.

lora64 Easygoing drama about a stock-car veteran, Mitch Cooper (Rory Calhoun) who is down on his luck. He befriends a mechanic Les (John Gentry) who wants to be a pro race driver so Mitch teaches him. Les is keen to race but his wife, Rene (Connie Hines) is not. Meanwhile Mitch, always ready to romance the ladies, is drawn to Rene who is cool and unresponsive. (Really, what woman in her right mind would resist a handsome dreamboat like Rory?) Later an argument breaks out between Les and Mitch which results in Mitch having to drive a race car himself in the upcoming big event even though he has a bothersome leg injury.Alan Hale Jr. takes on a supporting role as Buddy, a race car mechanic who stands by his friend Mitch when the going gets rough.Events build up to the main attraction, the annual Southern 500 Labor Day race in Darlington, D.C. One gets to see several real-life race car drivers in action and some hair raising film footage too. The constant roar of the race -- this is where the movie title of "Thunder" comes in.Good middle of the road entertainment. It reminds me of "The Big Wheel (1949)" with Mickey Rooney as a race car driver.