Fast Company

Item arrived as described and on time!

A rare package in which the extras are of more interest than the main feature. Fast Company is David Cronenberg's 'lost' and most atypical film, made around the same time as the The Brood, but never getting a proper release. It's easy to see why. Although the drag racing setting is meticulously realized and there are one or two decent action set-pieces, the plot amounts to no more than an escalating petty rivalry between manager and drivers which soon loses credibility. Matters are not helped by some of the acting, with only Saxon and the likeable Smith the exceptions to a cast who'd have been better off keeping their helmets on throughout, a superfluous soft-porn digression, and a dreadful metal/country soundtrack that sucks like wet tar on any narrative drive there may be. Of more interest is the second disc containing Cronenberg's first two college features Stereo and Crimes of the Future. To all intents and purposes, these are silent movies, with narration and sound effects dubbed onto the end product. Both centre on imaginary researches into unnatural physical and mental states, undertaken in aesthetically sterile environments, and often leading to bizarre and disturbing outcomes. Cronenberg's clinical detachment is evident in its raw state, and as an index of his ideas, many of which are explored with more sophistication in his later work, the films have a certain interest value. Canadian academic institutions are used to stunning effect, particularly in the black and white Stereo, and Ronald Mlodzik brings a vaguely camp and sinister dimension to the characters of the student and Adrian Tripod. (Whatever happened to Mlodzik?) The problem is, there is a very real danger of falling asleep while you try to figure out what, if anything, is being satirized, and no matter how hardy a completist you are, you'll have looked at your watch more than you'd care to admit before the closing credits.

Very enjoyable drag racing movie with an emphasis on Funny Cars and the ins and outs of professional team racing under a sponsorship. Filmed in Canada, the scenery is often spectacular as the racing teams travel cross-country to the next race. Great camera work with a nice soundtrack. Quirky characters,gorgeous women and thundering funny cars make this a film worth watching again and again. As a former street/drag racer myself back in the 1970's, something that is permanently etched in my memory was the sound of my brother Johns, lightning fast shifts on his M22 Rock Crusher 4 speed equipped, 327 powered, black '62 Chevy. Although the movies emphasis is on funny cars, there is one scene where a street-able muscle car GTO racer is banging the gears on a four-speed down the quarter-mile that reminds me of my brothers lightning fast shifts and which anyone who loves the sound of expert clutch work will be sure to appreciate. And, the scenes where the racing team pick up two super-hottie hitchhikers and where the lead character pulls up in his funny car on the street alongside two kids in a muscle car at a stoplight, are alone worth the price of the DVD!

Want to have a look at the seedier side of the drag race world of the 70's? Then this movie is for you. A bit slow at times with periods of slow or non-existent dialog interspersed with full on scenes of the world of Funny Car racing in the northwest during the 1970's. Some of the shots are very cool, especially the in-car ones, and offer a nostalgic look at how primitive those cars look by today's standards. Also allows a glimpse of the "hours and hours of tedious boredom followed by seconds of shear terror" that was the life of an NHRA Professional racing crew and driver during that era.The quality of the acting is amateurish and the special effects are awful, even by 1979 standards. There are seemingly endless scenes of semi trucks and pickups with trailers on the road. This is obviously meant to convey the long miles these guys had to cover between weekend meets, but it can make for some very boring minutes of screen time. There are a few obligatory shots of hot babes, sometimes topless, but certainly not enough to carry the entire movie.So, If you are a hardcore dragracer or a serious race fan, especially if you're into racing history, this movie is worth seeing. If not, you will hate it.

As an American with a fascination with both high and low Canadian film culture, this movie, at first blush, seems to be more the type of film the Trailer Park Boys would direct rather than the maven of psycho-Horror D. Cronenberg, but, it starts to make sense about a third of the way through. Often called a "drive-in" film, and not really seen in the US, this is a true genre experiment by the relatively green director but it's too self-assured, and, self-aware to be just the middle part of a triple feature. The beats too familiar, the sleeze too obvious. That having been said, this is a truly entertaining movie about the small-time dragster circuit in the late 70's and, while the structure is a little repetitive(dialog, race, dialog, race), the conflict wraps up nicely and all the cars are filmed with a loving lens that makes them the true stars of the film.

This is a very unusual film for David Cronenberg. Admittally, a tax shelter for it's producers, it's still a very appealing movie. B-movie legend William Smith as racer Lonnie Johnson, whose sponsor (represented by John Saxon) is trying to push him aside. What I really like is the scene where Smith cold-cocks Saxon and he goes flying out of the trailer. Perhaps payback? Saxon ended up with the role in ENTER THE DRAGON that Bruce Lee originally wanted William Smith for. Unfortunately for Smith, the movie he was working on ran over schedule and he had to bow out. Big Bill and Bruce Lee ... now that would be something.

An ok film, not ecstatic though

I grew up on drag racing and I like this video a lot A+++

This movie was Made in Alberta Canada. I was mainly Shot at Speedway Park in Edmonton Alberta. I was 17 then, and was an extra in the movie. Brings back great memories for any one that was at Speedway Park then.

Nuevo DVD (según la definición) y un muy buen servicio! Todo está bien! Excelente vendedor!

Great Drag Racing Movie from the seventies . Some nudity not a moviefor young teens . Some Great actorslike William Smith & John Saxon &the Beautiful Playboy Bunny ClaudiaJennings .

a classic movie for the classic gear head racing type. So cool it filmed in Edmonton, AB.

Good movie (a bit dorky)This was filmed in my home town at Edmonton international speedway. It is cool to look back and see some locals and Edmonton locations that we used in filming.