Hot Cars (1956)
Hot Cars (1956)
„Hot Cars“ is a 1956 film noir crime film directed by Don McDougall. The screenplay by Don Martin and Richard H. Landau is based on a novel of the same title by H. Haile Chace.
After used car salesman Nick Dunn fails to make a sale to prospective buyers Karen Winter and Arthur Markel, his boss, George Hayman, fires him.
Later, Markel offers Nick a more lucrative job at his car lot, which Nick eagerly accepts. Soon after, however, Nick becomes suspicious and quits after learning that Markel undercuts all his competition, offers loans without down payments and receives secret deliveries of cars during evening hours. Nick is then forced to ask for his job back when his young son is hospitalized with a serious medical condition.
Promoted to manager, Nick learns Markel is running a racket in which the stolen cars’ serial numbers are removed, the cars are reupholstered, repainted and sold. Soon after Det. Davenport of the State Police Auto Theft Detail expresses interest in purchasing a car from Markel’s lot, Nick learns that Davenport has been killed.
Meanwhile, Nick’s wife, Jane Dunn, accuses him of being part of a racket when she discovers large deposits to their checking account. Nick seeks solace with the single Karen, but the affair is short-lived. When Lieutenants Holmes and Jefferson investigate Davenport’s death, Nick tries to establish an alibi with Karen, but she refuses to corroborate his story. Fearing that he will be implicated in the murder, Nick flees in search of Markel’s associate, Smiley Ward, whom he knows killed Davenport.
Upon finding Smiley, Nick orders him into his car at gunpoint. As Nick drives him toward some police cars, Smiley grabs the wheel and the car crashes into an amusement park parking lot. Nick chases Smiley into the park and onto a roller coaster, from which Smiley falls to his death. After the police discover the true facts of the case, Nick tells them the details of the „hot car“ racket.
Cast:
- John Bromfield – Nick Dunn
- Joi Lansing – Karen Winter
- Mark Dana – Smiley Ward
- Carol Shannon – Jane Dunn
- Ralph Clanton – Arthur Markel
- Robert Osterloh – George Hayman
- Dabbs Greer – Det. Davenport
- Charles Keane – Lt. Jefferson
- Vic Cutrier – Bret Carson
- Marilee Earle – Betty Carson
- John Frederick – Hutton
- Paula Hill – Mrs. Davenport
- Kurt Katch – Otto Krantz
- Maurice Marks – Paul, the Bartender
- George Sawaya – Lt. Holmes
- Joan Sinclair – Miss Rogers
„Hot Cars“ ist ein Film Noir-Kriminalfilm von 1956 unter der Regie von Don McDougall. Das Drehbuch von Don Martin und Richard H. Landau basiert auf dem gleichnamigen Roman von H. Haile Chace.
Nachdem es dem Gebrauchtwagenverkäufer Nick Dunn nicht gelungen ist, den Kaufinteressenten Karen Winter und Arthur Markel etwas zu verkaufen, entlässt ihn sein Chef George Hayman.
Später bietet Markel Nick einen lukrativeren Job in seinem Autohaus an, den Nick gerne annimmt. Bald darauf wird Nick jedoch misstrauisch und kündigt, nachdem er erfahren hat, dass Markel alle seine Konkurrenten unterbietet, Kredite ohne Anzahlung anbietet und heimlich in den Abendstunden Autos geliefert bekommt. Als sein kleiner Sohn mit einer schweren Erkrankung ins Krankenhaus eingeliefert wird, ist Nick gezwungen, seinen Job zurückzufordern.