The Big Wheel
July 15, 2009 by New Car · Leave a Comment
Studio: Gaiam Americas Release Date: 01/25/2005 Run time: 92 minutes
User Ratings and Reviews
4 Stars Great for Mickey Rooney and Race Car Fans
I saw The Big Wheel as a kid and remembered that not only was it a good, albeit “simple” Mickey Rooney movie, it was also an interesting movie about vintage car racing. I bought this movie to watch with my 83 year old mother who loves old movies. My fear was that the movie though good in it’s time, would not relate to today’s standards of high drama. I’ll have to admit that the plot was simple, yet enjoyable as a typical Mickey Rooney flic. But what was most fascinating to me was the excellent historical footage of Indy car races during the 1940’s. If you think that race car drivers are courageous heroes today, watch this movie. I am a race car fan of all types and can not believe the lack of saftey features during that time. Forget about fire retardant driving suits with gloves etc. These guys wore short sleeve everyday shirts and no gloves. I’m surprised they wore helmets but nothing like todays head gear. What struck me the most was the fact that seatbelts were not even worn. Historical footage of early Indy 500 races showed drivers regularly being thrown out of burning cars. Any car that was headed for the wall either went over it or through it. I wonder how many men died at an average Indy type car race in that era. Footage of spectacular firey crashes were abundant in this film. Even if you are not a Mickey Rooney fan or don’t even like old movies, you owe it to yourself to see this film for it’s historical content if you are a car racing fan.
4 Stars Surprisingly good, a must for Indy 500 fans
As a big fan of the Indy 500 I just had to sit down and watch this one. Of course, as a 500 fan I’d seen parts of it before, but it was lots of fun to watch this one from start to finish.
This one features plenty of real race footage from the Indy 500 and the racing storyline is not nearly so contrived as other Hollywood offerings from more recent years that feature better special effects.
5 Stars NICE MICKEY ROONEY FILM
THIS MOVIE IS GREAT IF JUST TO SEE MICKEY ROONEY! ALTHOUGH MICKEY ALWAYS DESERVED MORE THAN WHAT HE WAS HANDED. IN MY OPINION THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A MORE TALENTED ACTOR IN THE MOVIES. HE MAKES ME LAUGH, HE MAKES ME CRY, HE MAKES ME HAPPY! GOD BLESS AMERICA! ANYHOW< THE MOVIE PLOT IS PRETTY GOOD! MICKEY DOES A OUTSTANDING JOB AS ALWAYS!
3 Stars Unused or underused Mickey Rooney
Mickey Rooney has been underused a lot of times in his career. And this film is one of these times. He was short and that was a shortcoming (the right word in this case). So his roles were often innocuous ones in rather insignificant films. He has a face, if not a mug, and it is expressive to the utmost. He even has eyes that are as mobile as two wild birds in a stormy sky. His body, and I mean all his body, every single spot of it, is able to take any stand, stance and position that is meaningful and gives some flesh to his character and to the action. And it never looks overdone. His voice is also interesting though it is hardly worked upon enough. And here he is reduced to a pun. He is small so the wheel is big, the game is big, but he is the game (both meanings) of the director. And he is in the car racing business so the wheel is generally one of a set of four and it is also the big race track of Indianapolis and its 500. The film is essentially the story of a young car driver who climbs to the top, i.e. Indianapolis 500. The rest is wrapping up to give some sense to the film and some feeling to the situation and the action. A father who killed himself in Indianapolis. A mother who is scared out of her mind by the race. A mechanic who was the friend of the dead father, is in love with the mother and finally marries her. The daughter of the sugardaddy of the team looks like a boy and plays mechanic, and of course she falls in love with the poor Bill, Mickey Rooney. And that’s about all. Unlucky us who do not get what we deserve : a film with a plot and some thickness. It sickens more than it thickens most of the time.
Dr Jacques COULARDEAU
5 Stars The Big Wheel gets the Green Light!
“The Big Wheel” is a must see for all racing fans. This classic story of a son living up to his fathers name and reputation is as relevant today as it was in the Forties.Mickey Rooney gives a fine performance in his own imitable style aided by a strong support cast including Thomas Mitchell, Michael O’shea and Mary Hatcher and starring the legendary Indianapolis Raceway as the backdrop. Even if you aren’t a race fan you’ll enjoy the classic racing footage that’ll have you on the edge of your seat.5 cheers for “The Big Wheel”.
