Race for Life (1954) User Reviews

Race for life, don't rush to buy

[FilmFlaneur · 5/10 · 16 May 2009]

Taking advantage of arrangements favoured by the UK's Eady levy (a state film subsidy established after the war) in 1950, American producer Robert Lippert formed a business alliance with Hammer studios. Under the agreement, Lippert would provide American acting talent - frequently shop-worn stars or just supporting actors who fancied a profitable trip out of the country - while Hammer would supply the rest of the cast and the production facilities. Together they would split the profits. Famous for his concern with the bottom line, Lippert produced over 140 films between 1946 and 1955, characteristically genre pieces such as I Shot Jesse James or Rocketship XM. For the British deal, most of the films were noir-ish thrillers. None were entirely of the first rank, but they remain never less than entertaining - and include this title..

A Terence Fisher-directed effort: Race For Life (aka: Mask Of Dust, 1954), is a straightforward racing drama more than anything else. Richard Conte stars as Wells, the driver who - predictably enough - feels he might have lost his nerve whilst being saddled with blonde wife Patricia (Mari Aldon), who wants him to retire. When a fellow driver suffers a bad accident Wells feels he owes it to him, and to himself, to prove he still has it, one last time. Wells was formerly in the air force where, apparently, "he used to fly his plane the way he'd drive" so his courage is never in doubt - even if, as we see him nudge his smoking, oil-filled car round the track at the last, we feel his judgment may need inspection. The chief attraction in a film built around two big racing sequences is the location footage and the appearance of some real racing names, such as Stirling Moss, as supporting colour. Off the track the plot is less eventful, as even the potential rivalry between Wells as another driver is resolved without so much as a fist fight by the end. Tough guy Conte's story lacks enough conflict, leaving the actor little to do. For completists only.

No more than average.

[plan99 · 5/10 · 24 August 2023]

Interesting to see how lax safety was in motor racing back then, it was so lax that it was non existent. Hurtling along a racing track with straw bale barriers and trees on both sides of the track with no barriers between the trees and the track.

The poor quality back projections made it very difficult to believe that the main characters were in any danger "out on the track". This removed any feeling of danger which greatly spoiled the film.

Not a great plot but probably acceptable back in 1954, Patricia's wide shouldered dressing gown made her look like an extra from Star Trek.

Only for fans of vintage motor racing I'm afraid.

Same Old Same Old

[boblipton · 5/10 · 28 June 2020]

Richard Conte is the old man of the racing world -- why, he was racing before the War. He's been in a slump for a couple of years, but when his best friend, George Coulouris, is killed during a race, he ignores the pleading of his wife, Mari Aldon. to quit while he's still alive; a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do, after all.

This last fifteen minutes of this movie is set during the Big Race; between the oil and transmission fluid being thrown out of the engine, the well of the driver's area smoking constantly, and the frequent pit stops, can he acheieve his goal? It's rather dull in terms of excitement; there are four or five shotsof the car in action that cinematographer Walter Harvey shows, and, of course, the one head on of Conte in his car against the back projection. Some people may find this exciting. Me, I was never in any doubt: the car would not explode, COnte would win the race, and everything would be copacetic.

Completely unremarkable

[Leofwine_draca · 3/10 · 23 September 2020]

MASK OF DUST is a lesser work from the early Hammer, with studio stalwart Terence Fisher helming an indifferent plot about racing car drivers suffering from the usual troubles of rivalry, romance and corporate shenanigans. Richard Conte is the American import lead, but the stock characters play second fiddle to the endless use of stock footage. It's adequate as a dated curio - no health and safety features in those days - and for the glimpses of real-life superstars like Stirling Moss, but otherwise it's completely unremarkable.

Not no fast, not so furious.

[mark.waltz · 2/10 · 16 May 2013]

This less than thrilling saga of the racing world is slower than the bunny was in his race against the turtle. A few race sequences (seemingly stock footage) are interspersed with the drama of a driver (Richard Conte) whose wife (Mari Aldon) begs him to leave the profession after a rival is badly injured on the track. But he perseveres, determined to make it to the Grand Prix. That 1966 film is "Citizen Kane" in comparison to this "Z" grade programmer that wasn't even interesting enough to be considered for drive-in viewing. George Coulouris seems to be cast as a villain without a cause, barely giving the film what faded metaphorical color it has, yet his involvement in the proceedings is purely pointless.

Motor Racing Drama Drags

[malcolmgsw · 3/10 · 29 July 2013]

You really have to be a fan of motor racing to enjoy this film.Quite apart from a clichéd plot and basic acting you have to sit through 2 utterly boring and similar motor races.This fact is acknowledged by the producers in so far as they have to have a commentator/narrator for both races.Raymond Baxter for the first and Paul carpenter for the second.Without the aid of the narrator you would not be able to make head nor tail of the stock footage that passes for a motor race.Richard Conte is the standard falling American star having to play this type of role as his stardom fades.Terence Fisher would move on to far better things in the near future.

"Win tomorrow and then give up!!"

[richardchatten · 5/10 · 1 August 2022]

A rather romantic and subdued drama transposing 'The Set-Up' from New York and boxing to Britain and the then-glamourous world of motor racing. Marie Aldon plays the loyal wife with imploring eyes and wringing her hands as she frets over a soulful Richard Conte. And there's historically interesting appearances by a young Raymond Baxter and Sterling Moss.

The American Dream - Dusty Roads.

[southdavid · 4/10 · 3 December 2023]

Another film watched for the "House of Hammer" podcast, "Mask of Dust" or "A Race for Life" if you're American, is a 1954 melodrama, set in the exciting and glamourous world of motor racing.

Though once feted as the best, Peter Wells (Richard Conte) has struggled since his return from his time in the RAF and his wife Patricia (Mari Aldon) wants him to retire. Hastening the issue, his teammate Guido Rosetti (Alec Mango) is winning, and putting increasing demands on the team to promote him to lead driver. His feelings are focused when his friend and fellow driver, Tony Bellario (Peter Illing) is involved in an accident.

Melodrama really is the word for this one. I thought the footage from the races was integrated well and there was a sense of danger to them. They're, obviously, not putting the real actors at risk and their scenes are rear projection. It's the scenes around the racing that were the real problem for me. It's basically the same plot as "Days of Thunder" but the performances are pretty over the top. Alec Mango might as well twiddle a Waluigi style mustache as he schemes behind Well's back (only to - minor spoilers - reverse his position based on very little later in the film). It was Mari Aldon that was the most strikingly bad though, she pretty much stares directly down the lens a couple of times, pulling a face like she's spoofing what an actress might do.

This might be reflective of racing at the time, I don't know, but how old are some of the drivers supposed to be. Today the average Formula One driver is in their late twenties, here the three drivers seem nearer their fifties.

I didn't hate every minute of it and there's something to be said for something (anything) that's not another bad film noir - but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it as anything other than a reason to see some footage from the time of Sterling Moss.

If You Like Old Racing Cars

[TondaCoolwal · 9/10 · 4 August 2022]

You know it's an old motor-racing movie when Stirling Moss has hair!

Rather slowly paced but quite exciting story about fading driver Pete Wells (Richard Conte) whose wife Pat wants him to chuck the business before he kills himself. He refuses, even when advised by older team mate Dallapiccola (George Colouris) and being outpaced by the up and coming Rosetti.

Things get even worse after Wells withdraws from a race when Dallapiccola is killed. He is given one more chance but Pat leaves him in disgust. Rosetti is made team leader and is given Wells' car. However, since this is a fifties movie, you know everything will turn out fine.

Richard Conte has just the right world-weary look for a burnt-out driver and he and his wife to some extent reflect the Montand/Eve Marie Saint thread in the other movie mentioned below. With his mad professor hair George Colouris may appear incongruous as a racer but, it should be remembered that, at that time a lot of pre-war drivers were still at the wheel. Fangio won 5 championships in his forties and Luis Fagiola won the 1951 French Grand Prix at the age of 53. In fact it is Alec Mango who seems too mature to play boy-racer Rosetti.

With its limited budget this movie is a pale forerunner of the excellent "Grand Prix" but, there is some superb staged racing mixed with genuine footage of the guys in overalls wrestling with the snarling monsters of cars of the time. No poncy roll bars or traction control. Just put your foot down with your head and shoulders sticking out of the cockpit, power-sliding around bends and corners. A couple of awful, real crashes are featured, and you wonder if the drivers walked away. A museum piece but, if you like huge, fifties racing cars, you'll want to give it a look.