This is a low-budget B-movie that is, frankly, quite unusual. I have no idea if the film has any truth to it. Yes, I know that rubber and many other materials were rationed during WWII and I assume some folks used the black market to cheat and get these products. But according to "The Last Ride", organized crime sold defective tires...tires that KILL!!! My assumption is that this was just alarmist propaganda designed to get everyone behind the war effort and to scare people from considering buying from disreputable sources.
The film begins with some rich slackers partying...when they should be out fighting fascism. One goes to his car and sees that some scum-bag has stolen his tires! Well, considering that the tires were rationed, he has no idea how he can get new ones...until his slick friend tells him that he just got brand new tires from some folks he knows. Sure, they are crooks, but after all, they reason...who is getting hurt?! Well, wouldn't you know it but the tires are defective and soon two of these fun loving young slackers are dead!!! This is only the beginning of this film--the rest of it is about the undercover effort to catch the gang and figure out who is 'Mr. Big'! Despite the plot being preachy and a bit dumb, the film actually was well made for a B-movie. Decent acting and a decent script manage to make this odd curio watchable. It's not a great film, but it's pretty interesting despite its shortcomings.
The film begins with some rich slackers partying...when they should be out fighting fascism. One goes to his car and sees that some scum-bag has stolen his tires! Well, considering that the tires were rationed, he has no idea how he can get new ones...until his slick friend tells him that he just got brand new tires from some folks he knows. Sure, they are crooks, but after all, they reason...who is getting hurt?! Well, wouldn't you know it but the tires are defective and soon two of these fun loving young slackers are dead!!! This is only the beginning of this film--the rest of it is about the undercover effort to catch the gang and figure out who is 'Mr. Big'! Despite the plot being preachy and a bit dumb, the film actually was well made for a B-movie. Decent acting and a decent script manage to make this odd curio watchable. It's not a great film, but it's pretty interesting despite its shortcomings.