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Post by weewillie on Aug 3, 2009 13:48:02 GMT 1
Wasn't there another USA film featuring James Cagney (or maybe Mickey Rooney) as a track race driver. However, it's only a hazy memory and Im not sure if it was midget cars or another American track car formula.
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Post by haflinger121 on Aug 3, 2009 23:15:18 GMT 1
Willie, I think you must mean 'The Crowd Roars', and I'm fairly sure (I have it on tape somewhere but haven't watched it in ages) that it is US midgets which are featured. This film was also the subject of a later re-make which I cannot now remember the name of, but I know it had the exact same storyline.
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Post by weewillie on Aug 5, 2009 6:54:41 GMT 1
Thanks. Was it Micky Rooney or James Cagney who played the driver? I lean more towards it being Rooney.
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Post by haflinger121 on Aug 5, 2009 9:38:09 GMT 1
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Post by weewillie on Aug 6, 2009 17:00:24 GMT 1
Thanks for the great info halfinger and establishing that it was James Cagney who played the driver. However as this film was made in 1932 (a year before midget car racing actually started in the USA according to the history books) what formula were they? I agree though that it was certainly a class similar to midgets and also something like the sprint cars of more recent years.
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Post by administrator on Aug 6, 2009 21:48:45 GMT 1
FROM: Bruce Sadewater Rockford Illinois: Start Topic 1932 Film with James Cagney Message List Reply | Forward Message #57836 of 57838 < Prev | Next > Re: [RH] 1932 Film with James Cagney
This movie was "Big Car Racing" Indy type of cars I don't know if they were called sprint cars at that time but those and Indy type of cars is what it was filmed around it has some scenes from Indy but a lot of other footage of tracks of the era. There was a different move done within a few years of this one almost the exact same story different actors I think it was from 38 or 39 or so but I am not sure of that. Bruce Sadewater Rockford Illinois
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Post by haflinger121 on Aug 7, 2009 9:16:41 GMT 1
Yes Willie, what you and Bruce are saying makes sense - the cars in the movie are probably no more midgets than our cars that raced at Greenford were! I think the movies feature what might have been called 'Champ Cars' in later years. Back in '93 I saw a meeting at the Indianapolis State Fairgrounds featuring 'Silver Crown Cars', which were supposed to be direct descendents of the 'Big Cars' Bruce refers to.
I don't know this to be fact, but could these cars have acquired their popular name after the invention of midgets? If midgets are by definition, small...
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derek
Junior Member
Posts: 82
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Post by derek on Aug 28, 2009 10:11:08 GMT 1
Mickey Rooney appears in the film "The Big Wheel". I think it was made in 48 or 49, there are are few shots of Midget Car Racing at the begining of the film and lots of action shots leading up to the climax at Indianappolis.
A great film for those who like oval dirt track racing.
You can still buy the film I got mine from "The Edinburgh Wool Shop"!
Derek Bridgett Newcastle-under-Lyme.
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Post by rkfdman on Dec 4, 2011 4:01:31 GMT 1
Wasnt there The Big Wheel with Mickey Rooney?
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Post by rodpashley on Dec 6, 2011 1:11:25 GMT 1
Yup....
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Post by bpratt on Jan 7, 2012 19:26:55 GMT 1
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Post by thirdturn on Jan 7, 2012 21:33:23 GMT 1
I have watched the youtube version of the 'Big Wheel' with Mickey Rooney and loved everyone minute of it also I must concede the tempo of the years is rather dated. But that's how it was back then I guess. It is a great addition to this site My thanks to Brian Pratt in Canada for putting it up for us to enjoy.
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Post by rodpashley on Jan 7, 2012 21:52:05 GMT 1
The Big Wheel is available on DVD from Amazon, bought a copy about 6 months ago
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Post by administrator on Feb 9, 2021 14:57:17 GMT 1
Does any member know if the film is still available on Amazon? I cannot seem to call up the Amazon link. Thank you.The Big Wheel is available on DVD from Amazon, bought a copy about 6 months ago
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Post by ovaltrack on Feb 9, 2021 22:23:49 GMT 1
It's available to watch on YouTube - link here where the film follows after a short advertisement www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUgLZN_88I8Also if you prefer a DVD, search for 'The Big Wheel DVD' on eBay
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