Racing Fever (1964)

Sadly Over-hyped

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

I saw a cut-down version of this movie on my local TV station. At around 70 minutes (instead of 90), it came across not too badly. Admittedly, William Grefe's script with its frank and sexsational theme was a darn sight better than his inept direction with its emphasis on clumsy close-ups, although occasionally he did have a few odd moments of inspiration, such as the horizontal shots of the dancer and the shot through a rear door of a moving ambulance. The action scenes, despite clumsy inserts, are also not too ineptly handled. But the best things about the movie are the cool, Pathe-color photography of Julio Chavez and the equally cool presence of Barbara Biggart (who made only one other movie plus one TV appearance with Flipper).

What can I say. This is the worst racing film ever made. I'm talking a bore/snore fest of some of the screen's worst acting talent in the history of motion pictures.The cast of never-weres, never-to-bes,and unknowns, all rate with zero acting talent. The script and the direction are just as bad. Made on a shoe-string budget of about one dollar and fifty cents (I can't believe they even paid these actors for their "performances"), it's the same old racing flick with a romance, a few conflicts, a minor chuckle or two, some racing stock footage, and some local South Florida locations. It sounds like it should be at least a little fun, but it's not. It's just one long boring, snoring, dull, mess.Joe Morrison at his worst. And for the "King of South Florida Drive-Ins" that's not saying much. This film is a Wipe-Out!

Racing Fever is yet another low-budget 60s stinker which was filmed in Miami-Dade County. The 60s decade marked some of the worst produced and acted films in South Florida history.The star of this movie was south Florida "cult" acting legend Joe Morrison. Poor Joe couldn't find a winner to work in. And the fact of the matter, he was far from a Brando. However, he had rugged good looks and a boyish charm which made him a minor celebrity on the local jet-set scene.Filmed around Miami with the racing scenes taking place at the boat-race stadium in Key Biscayne, Race Fever was nothing more than a second-rate rip-off of some of the drag race films which achieved some minor popularity among the drive-in crowd. The cast consisted of a host of unknowns, never-weres, never-to-bes, and local "Z" Miami actors.There are only three reasons to see this film; you or a family member acted in it, you're a native of South Florida, or a fan of Joe Morrision. Aside from that, I'd forget about this one.

I asked to see the comments for this movie not expecting it to be listed, it is that bad. I saw the movie on a date in 1964 and there were about 20 people in the huge theater. It wasn't long before people were hooting and laughing. We had a great time! The movie had such bad lighting and there were so many editing mistakes it looked like a high school project. I always expected to find it on MST3K but if it was there, I missed it. Funny how the truly bad sticks with you just as long as the truly great.