Mask of Dust
Race for Life

UK 1954
produced by
Mickey Delamar, Michael Carreras (executive) for Hammer, Lippert Pictures
directed by Terence Fisher
starring Richard Conte, Mari Aldon, Peter Illing, Alex Mango, James Copeland, George Coulouris, Meredith Edwards, Edwin Richfield, Richard Marner, Tim Turner, Jeremy Hawk, Stirling Moss, Reg Parnell, John Cooper, Alan Brown, Geoffrey Taylor, Leslie Marr
screenplay by Richard H.Landau, Paul Tabori, based on the novel The Last Race by Jon Manchip White, music by Leonard Salzedo

review by
Mike Haberfelner

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Even though his wife Patricia (Mari Aldon) begs him to quit, racedriver Peter Wells (Richard Conte) just can't get out of the Formula 1 Grand Prix Circus, even though his past successes are long behind and to a degree, he seems to have lost it. When his best friend and teammate Pic (George Coulouris) dies in an accident in a race, Wells quits the race to be at Pic's deathbed, but not racing as such - but Guido (Alec Mango), his fiercest competitor in his own team, seizes the opportunity to persuade the team owner (Peter Illing) to make him teamleader and give him Wells' car. Wells on the other hand is given an ultimatum: either he wins the next race or he's out of the team altogether.

The next race: Guido is in the lead from the start, but he pushes his car too much so it eventually dies on him. Wells car on the other hand soon starts losing oil, but he pushes it through the race and eventually wins against all odds ... but afterwards, decides to quit racing for good.

A weak, clichéd sports drama full of appalling dialogue not brought to life by one of Terence Fisher's worse directorial efforts. Plus, the film's plot as such lacks any real conflict, and it could have done with a better cast. The only thing that's really good about this movie are the many authentic racing scenes in vintage Formula 1 cars - which is nice, but hardly enough to save the film.

review © by Mike Haberfelner

 

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