This movie, to me, is one of Blake's finest performances, and I don't care if it did poorly at the boxoffice back in 1972. The story opens with Blake's character Corky Curtiss, out for a drive in the country with wife, kids and his best friend, Billy (Christoper Connelly) in his cherry '69 Cuda. Then there is a street race with a '69 Camaro and Corky wins.
The story of Corky is basically an auto mechanic/sometimes dirt track racer from a small Texas town who yearns for the big time as a stock car racer. After a run-in with his boss during a dirt track race, Corky, who is dissatisfied with the meager existence of family and job life, walks out on his family with hopes and dreams of being a famous stock car racer. After picking up Billy (Christopher Connelly) the adventure starts when a drunken Corky gets punched in a honky-tonk bar for harrassing a young woman named Rhonda (Pamela Payton-Wright).
The two men travel across the South as drifters, heading for Atlanta. When Corky's attitude costs him his friendship with Billy, he moves on with his quest alone. Corky enters into a stock car race, and when he is near the finish line, he waves to the crowds and confident he's first place champ. Then his race car spins out, and loses the race. After demanding a trophy anyways, he is forced to hock it for needed money. Eventually he heads home when his luck runs out. When Corky finds out his wife got a job and was hired by his ex-boss, he accuses her of having an affair with the boss. He gets a gun, shoots and kills the boss, and is chased by the police. He drives into a demolition derby, and smashes all the cars up before his car flips, explodes and that is the end of Corky, and the movie.
Cameo appearances by NASCAR legends help, such as Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, and others.
Robert Blake gives a superb performance, in his own way, in his own Blake style. His character is that of a born loser, but at the same time likeable. Corky's wife, Peggy Jo (Charlotte Rampling) gives an alright performance, even if Ms. Rampling is British. Roddy McDowell has a small part in the movie too.
I would like to have this movie on video. If anyone out there has a copy or knows anyone who does, please e-mail me. Many thank's!
The story of Corky is basically an auto mechanic/sometimes dirt track racer from a small Texas town who yearns for the big time as a stock car racer. After a run-in with his boss during a dirt track race, Corky, who is dissatisfied with the meager existence of family and job life, walks out on his family with hopes and dreams of being a famous stock car racer. After picking up Billy (Christopher Connelly) the adventure starts when a drunken Corky gets punched in a honky-tonk bar for harrassing a young woman named Rhonda (Pamela Payton-Wright).
The two men travel across the South as drifters, heading for Atlanta. When Corky's attitude costs him his friendship with Billy, he moves on with his quest alone. Corky enters into a stock car race, and when he is near the finish line, he waves to the crowds and confident he's first place champ. Then his race car spins out, and loses the race. After demanding a trophy anyways, he is forced to hock it for needed money. Eventually he heads home when his luck runs out. When Corky finds out his wife got a job and was hired by his ex-boss, he accuses her of having an affair with the boss. He gets a gun, shoots and kills the boss, and is chased by the police. He drives into a demolition derby, and smashes all the cars up before his car flips, explodes and that is the end of Corky, and the movie.
Cameo appearances by NASCAR legends help, such as Richard Petty, Bobby Allison, and others.
Robert Blake gives a superb performance, in his own way, in his own Blake style. His character is that of a born loser, but at the same time likeable. Corky's wife, Peggy Jo (Charlotte Rampling) gives an alright performance, even if Ms. Rampling is British. Roddy McDowell has a small part in the movie too.
I would like to have this movie on video. If anyone out there has a copy or knows anyone who does, please e-mail me. Many thank's!