Fay Spain co-starred in the film, which was remade later that year as Motorcycle Gang. Special effects technician Paul Blaisdell had a cameo role in Dragstrip Girl.[5]
Plot
Louise Blake, a teenager, is crazy about hot-rod cars. When a couple of guys hide from the cops after an illegal street race, Louise meets them and brings them home to meet her parents. Fred Armstrong comes from a well-to-do family, impressing Louise's mother, whereas Jim Donaldson is poor but a resourceful mechanic, impressing Louise's dad.
Encouraged to speed by Louise, the car Jim's driving nearly hits a mother and child. Fred provokes a fight, then challenges Jim to a "chicken" drag race, with Fred's friend Rick Camden helping him and ending up with a broken leg. Fred and Rick then get into a hit-and-run accident, killing another motorist.
Things come to a head at a 100-lap race on an oval. Louise ends up behind the wheel of a car, with Fred trying to run her off the road because he's aware she intends to turn over evidence from the hit-and-run. She manages to save herself as Fred is taken away by the police.
Steve Terrell had been in Runaway Daughters for Golden State (AIP's production company), who signed him to a 15-film contract, at three films a year for five years with the option for a fourth year. The script was by Lou Rusoff who was head of story for AIP.[6]
Ashley had not meant to audition for the film. He accompanied his girlfriend to her audition and they asked if he wanted to try out as well; he was successful, although she was not. Ashley subsequently signed to a long-term contract with AIP. The film was shot in six days.[1]
Samuel Z Arkoff of AIP said when the film was released in the Los Angeles area, forty percent of the theatres who showed it were drive ins.[7]
Reception
Critical
The Monthly Film Bulletin called it "a depressing and irresponsible film... glorifying the defiance of law and order, lax morals and the discardance of civilised behaviour."[8]
The Los Angeles Times reported the "youngsters" in the film "are very poor representatives of today's youth."[9]
Diabolique magazine said Ashley was "a terrific delinquent, full of scowls and swagger; he’d never had an acting lesson, but he has a natural presence and easily steals the movie from the "good guy", Steve Terrell (though in fairness, Ashley has the better part)."[10]
^G M W. (Apr 25, 1957). "Two Films Aimed at Teen-agers". Los Angeles Times. p. C9.
^Scheuer, P. K. (Sep 21, 1958). "Shocker pioneers tell how to make monsters". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest167287343.
^Mark McGee, Faster and Furiouser: The Revised and Fattened Fable of American International Pictures, McFarland, 1996, p134
^ abSchallert, Edwin (Dec 21, 1956). "Anita Ekberg Pursued for 'Screaming Mimi;' 'Galveston' Near Ready". Los Angeles Times. p. B7.
^Strawn, Linda May (1975). "Samuel Z. Arkoff". In McCarthy, Todd; Flynn, Charles (eds.). Kings of the Bs : working within the Hollywood system : an anthology of film history and criticism. E. P. Dutton. p. 262.
^"DRAGSTRIP GIRL". Monthly Film Bulletin. Vol. 24. 1957. p. 101. ProQuest1305823133.
^G, M. W. (Apr 25, 1957). "Two films aimed at teen-agers". Los Angeles Times.
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