HEART LIKE A WHEEL

US, 1983, 113 minutes, Colour.
Bonnie Bedelia, Beau Bridges, Anthony Edwards, Leo Rossi, Hout Aston, Paul Bartel.
Directed by Jonathan Kaplan.

Heart Like a Wheel, is the biography of hot-rod championship driver Shirley Muldowney. She is played expertly by Bonnie Bedelia who received an Oscar nomination for her performance.

The film was directed by Jonathan Kaplan whose credits include Over the Edge, Slams, Mr Billion, The 11th Victim. It also stars Beau Bridges as a rival racing driver, Connie Kalitta. There are fine racing sequences, good pacing for drama - especially considering that for most audiences all races tend to look alike.

What is significant, and the film highlights this, is that Shirley Muldowney found it very difficult to enter into the sport and to be taken seriously. Despite domestic troubles, a severe accident, she was able to make a comeback and win championships in the early 60s.

The film had a good critical reception and was shown at various film festivals. It is an intelligent as well as exciting look at the world of driving and competition. It is an aspect of the American dream.

1. A popular and critical success? Festival screenings? Oscar nomination?

2. The film as a piece of Americana: the '60S to the 1980s? Individuals and family, society, men and women, relationships, careers? Freedom? Achievement? Cost? A blend of entertainment and insight?

3. The picture of the Mid-West?, location photography, the Mid-West?, the cities, California? The racing car circuits? Special effects, the filming of the races? Editing and pace? The musical score and the wide range of popular songs illustrating the period?

4. The title and its reference to Shirley Muldowney? Her achievement, her winning, her winning a place for women in this competitive sport?

5. Shirley's background, seeing her as a child, the black and white flashbacks, her fears of her father's driving, her gradually adjusting to these, her own skills as a driver? Growing up? Her bond with her father? Her relationship with Jack? Racing in the town? Jack's loss? Her proposal, the wedding? Going to the service station - the prospects for a future? The early years, the marriage, John's birth, the work? Her work as a waitress? Her beginning to drive more, racing, meeting Riotti? The Indications of change, her future? Jack supportive but wary? John as a young boy in this atmosphere?

6. The question of sponsors and their wariness, their refusal to sponsor a car, prejudice against women? Shirley and Jack's reaction? Jack building his own car? Becoming her manager? The official's refusing to let her race? Using red tape and laws? Her overcoming these? Garlits and the challenge, his benign but patronising friendship with Shirley? Friendship, rivalry? The father image?

7. Connie and his help, his skill as a driver, marriage, the tense relationship with his wife, his being attracted towards Shirley, her rebuffing him, clash?

8. Her father's death and its impact? Jack and tension, the beginning of clashes, Jack and the wrecking of the car? Separation? The later contact, Jack going his own way, only a moderate success? His relationship with his son? John going to join his mother?

9. Her joining with Connie, his showy lifestyle, changing her name to Cha Cha Muldowney for publicity? The fast life, hotels, travel? Star? Her entourage and the management of her career? Personal relationships?

10. John joining his mother as assistant, the bond between mother and son, John's fight with Connie? His support of his mother?

11. Connie and his anger, fight, suspension, affair with the nurse, the break with Shirley, the fight with John, rivalry and Shirley beating him?

12. Shirley's career, success, accident, recuperating, move towards winning championships? The drama of the break with Connie? Beating Connie and becoming an international success?

13. The world of hot-rods, racing, as a sport, speed, cars, machines? The skill of the driver? The support team?

14. The celebrity in the public eye: interviews, rumours, radio discussions, the invasions of privacy, odd media situations - like that with the French chef?

15. The picture of the American dream? The successful dream of a woman?