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Speedway (1968 film)

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Speedway
Theatrical release poster
Directed byNorman Taurog
Written byPhillip Shuke
Produced byDouglas Laurence
Starring
CinematographyJoseph Ruttenberg
Edited byRichard W. Farrell
Music byJeff Alexander
Production
company
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
  • June 12, 1968 (1968-06-12) (USA)
Running time
94 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$3,000,000[1]
Box office$2,000,000 (US/ Canada)[2]

Speedway is a 1968 American musical action film starring Elvis Presley as a racecar driver and Nancy Sinatra as his romantic interest.

Plot

Steve Grayson (Elvis) is a generous NASCAR race car driver who feels compelled to bail friends and acquaintances out of financial hardship. However, Steve's manager Kenny Donford (Bill Bixby), a compulsive gambler, had been mismanaging Steve's winnings to support his gambling habits, landing Steve in deep trouble with the IRS for nonpayment of back taxes. This proves to be a problem for Steve in his efforts to continue racing competitively and support those who depend on his generosity.

Susan Jacks (Sinatra) is the IRS agent assigned to keep tabs on Steve and apply his future prize money toward his $150,000 debt, but she ends up taking a romantic interest in him.

Production

Elvis was paid $850,000 plus 50% of the profits.[1]

Filming began on 26 June 1967.

Scenes were shot at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. The film features guest appearances by several of the top stock-car—better known now as NASCAR—drivers of the day including Richard Petty, Buddy Baker, Cale Yarborough, Tiny Lund and more.

This would be the final "formula" musical film of Presley's career. His remaining films would be less musical and more adult in tone.

Release

Although the film was completed in the early summer of 1967, it was not released in theaters until the spring of 1968. It was a box-office flop, placing at #40 on the Variety weekly national box office list.

The only guitar to be featured in the film is during one of the film's closing scenes, during the performance of "There Ain't Nothing Like A Song", where a sunburst Fender Coronado is used.

Cast

Soundtrack

DVD

Speedway was released to DVD by Warner Home Video on August 7, 2007 as a Region 1 widescreen DVD.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Michael A. Hoey, Elvis' Favorite Director: The Amazing 52-Film Career of Norman Taurog, Bear Manor Media 2013
  2. ^ "Big Rental Films of 1968". Variety: 15. 8 January 1969. Please note this figure is a rental accruing to distributors.