Speedway

• Directed by Norman Taurog
• June 12, 1968 (US)

A stock-car driver has a huge back tax bill which hurts his ability to race.

My exposure to Elvis films is quite limited. Speedway is the third I have sat through (willingly) and coincidentally the third I have seen involving him racing cars. It does not mean this lacks entertainment value. It is just nothing too special.

This is a harmless adventure with Elvis as NASCAR driver Steve Grayson who uses most of his winnings to help others. His friend Kenny (Bill Bixby) is a bit of a con artist yet well-meaning who prefers to have a fast and easy life. It’s that attitude which puts Steve in the crosshairs of the IRS as well as those of Susan Jacks (Nancy Sinatra) who works for the IRS. Seems Kenny has been buying on credit and doing whatever with the money. I am lost on where it all went. Dubious deductions by Kenny on taxes have put Steve over $100,000 in debt.

In the context of the time Bixby’s character, like Elvis’, is a horndog and comedically harmless. In a modern one they certainly wouldn’t pass muster.  Kenny doesn’t get handsy during a romantic moment or keep going during a make out session when the girl decides to stop. He gets handsy without her even saying anything. He starts kissing them the moment he’s alone with them. No permission for any length of time was given only to be later revoked.

He along with Steve (or at least Steve’s knowledge) have outfitted the trailer they share that they also run their racing team out of with all sorts of gadgets to help trick women that they want to do things with. It is affectionately called the ‘love trap trailer.’ I cannot imagine anybody read what was written a second time to let the implications sink in.

What impresses me most is when Kenny is not trying to assault women Bill Bixby handles the light comedy quite well. There is a twinkle and warm smile that washes away any ‘ick’ you might feel over the character. Bixby even makes you forgive the tax evasion of Kenny that lands Steve $100,000 in debt (nearly $1,000,000 in today’s money). My familiarity with Bixby is largely from The Incredible Hulk like so many others of my age with a smattering of The Courtship of Eddie’s Father and Goodnight, Beantown. He had some serious range.

Steve isn’t nearly the scumbag that Kenny is even if he look the other way on all the electronics and trickery that Kenny used though. He helps anyone and everyone that crosses his path that has a need. And maybe there is a moral there. Kenny’s easy way fails but Kenny’s path of good deeds pays off even in the darkest time.

What is an Elvis movie without some romance? I would like to say Susan Jacks was looking into Steve and then hit him with the bill but she kinda just hung around. She even finds the electronics in the trailer and looks a bit creeped out in a nod to reality. She gets the thinnest of introductions to the story and an illogical reason to hang around. From all appearances she is the personal IRS agent of Steve.

The chemistry is so-so between Elvis Presley and Nancy Sinatra. They make an attractive pair but they’re not one of the more convincing romantic couples that I have ever seen. The script needed a little bit of more of will-they-or-won’t-they which would’ve required dumping a character or two or more runtime for the movie. This may be a romcom but no need to be lazy.

Steve has a loyal race crew present largely for comedy relief. Carl Ballantine was the most famous name of THAT group but Poncie Ponce as Juan Medala got the better lines. Or just made them better by saying them with a touch of confused obliviousness.

William Schallert is cast as Abel Esterlake who is a mechanic and a homeless father living with his kids in their car. Abel helps out the racing team with his mechanical skills leading to some comedy on the part of Schallert who was never good with the silly. He is a straight man and just cannot make funny falling asleep in the back of a race car and waking in the middle of the race.

Rather than winning the race and making enough money to dent or eliminate all his bills, Steve in the climax makes just enough to cover the immediate issues like the repoed stuff of those he was trying to help. It was an interesting choice given that as I said was formulaic. It is almost a given on moment fixes everything and the hero gets the girl.

It’s entertaining comfort food. The music gets your toe tapping and maybe dance a little bit. It’s not too overly saccharine. It’s a feel good story and it does make you feel good. The most appealing part for me is the color palate of the time that dominates the film. The striking contrasts of the time are a welcome change from what we get today.

Speedway is no great of the cinema, but it is entertaining. It’s visually appealing and has some good songs and Elvis with his one-of-a-kind charm helps get you through. Just don’t leave your daughters alone with Bill Bixby.