DVD/150: HELL DRIVERS (Cy Endfield, 1957)

As rough as the gravel driven at breakneck speed down country lanes, HELL DRIVERS was the first film to bear Cy Endfield's name after working in the UK for four years under pseudonyms due to being blacklisted as a Communist in the USA.

Ex-con Tom heads for a job at a haulage firm that isn't too fussy about the men it employs.  He discovers extra money is paid to the fastest driver each week but they must drive at dangerous speeds.

Grudgingly accepted by the others, Tom realizes that the topdog Red will never let anyone beat him.  One night at a dance, the drivers start a brawl but Tom runs before the police arrive.  Accused of cowardice by the drivers - and falling for his pal Gino's girlfriend Lucy - he decides to leave. 

But when Gino is killed by Red while driving Tom's usual lorry, Tom seeks revenge...

Shelf or charity shop?  One of my favourite British thrillers, it's worth keeping for the astonishing cast - the magnificent Stanley Baker, Herbert Lom, Peggy Cummins, Sean Connery, Alfie Bass, Sid James, Gordon Jackson, William Hartnell, Wilfred Lawson, Marjorie Rhodes, Jill Ireland, Robin Bailey and David McCallum - who all make up for the hammy awfulness of Patrick McGoohan as the psychotic Red.