| Hot Rod Gang | |
| Director: | Lew Landers |
| Producer: | Lou Rusoff executive Charles Buddy Rogers associate Lou Kimzey |
| Based On: | story by Rusoff |
| Starring: | John Ashley Jody Fair |
| Music: | Ronald Stein |
| Cinematography: | Floyd Crosby |
| Studio: | Indigo Productions |
| Distributor: | American International Pictures (US) Anglo-Amalgamated (UK) |
| Runtime: | 72 minutes |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
| Budget: | $100,000 est.[1] |
Hot Rod Gang is a 1958 drama film directed by Lew Landers and starring John Ashley. The working title was Hot Rod Rock[2] with the film also released under the title Fury Unleashed. American International Pictures released the film as a double feature with High School Hellcats.[3] The production includes performances by rock and roll musician Gene Vincent,[4] and was the final theatrical feature directed by the incredibly prolific Landers, whose career dated to the mid-1930s.
John Abernathy III needs to lead a blameless life to inherit his father's estate, but he also engages in hot rod car racing.
The film was known during production as Hot Rod Rock.[5]
The Los Angeles Times called it "a film of juvenile violence."[6]
The Monthly Film Bulletin said "the comedy misfires woefully, the performances are overstated to the point of caricature and the general level is decidedly moronic."[7]
Diabolique magazine wrote that "Ashley's limitations are exposed a little in this film – I don’t think he was a great comic actor – but it is entertaining and good-hearted."[8]