The Fast and the Furious is a 1955 film starring John Ireland (actor) and Dorothy Malone. It was the first film produced by American International Pictures production company. The black-and-white B movie was co-directed by the film's leading man, John Ireland. The story was written by Roger Corman and the screenplay by Jean Howell and Jerome Odlum.

Plot

Frank Webster (John Ireland (actor)) has broken out of jail, charged with a murder he did not commit. While on the run, and the subject of radio news reports, he becomes cornered in a small coffee shop by a zealous citizen. He commits battery to escape, and kidnaps a young woman named Connie (Dorothy Malone) as he gets away. Frank drives off with Connie in her Jaguar. But she soon proves a difficult hostage, trying to escape a few times, which leads him to treat her more roughly than they both would per. This mutual struggle soon leads the two to fall in love with each other. Continuing to elude police, the couple slips into a cross-border sports car race, which Frank plans to take advantage of in order to escape into Mexico. Out of sympathy for Frank and a desire to be with him, Connie informs the police of the plan so he might face trial and be acquitted, and at the last moment he, too, decides it is better to turn himself in. The film ends with his capture by police imminent.

Cast

• John Ireland (actor) as Frank Webster
• Dorothy Malone as Connie Adair
• Bruce Carlisle as Faber
• Iris Adrian as Wilma Belding
• Snub Pollard as a park caretaker

Production

The movie was originally known as Crashout.

Legacy

The plot of the film was used again in The Chase (1994 film) starring Charlie Sheen and Kristy Swanson.
The rights to the film's title (but not the story rights) were purchased and became the title of the 2001 film The Fast and the Furious (2001 film).

See also

List of films in the public domain

Category:1955 films
Category:American films
Category:English-language films
Category:Detective films
Category:American International Pictures films
Category:Films directed by John Ireland
Category:Auto racing films