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The Big Wheel

  • 1949
  • Approved
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
5.6/10
658
YOUR RATING
Jack Nicholson, Mickey Rooney, and John Ireland in The Big Wheel (1949)
ActionDramaRomanceSport

A brash young midget car race driver lives in the shadow of his famous father, a drunken womanizer, who was killed in an accident years earlier.A brash young midget car race driver lives in the shadow of his famous father, a drunken womanizer, who was killed in an accident years earlier.A brash young midget car race driver lives in the shadow of his famous father, a drunken womanizer, who was killed in an accident years earlier.

  • Director
    • Edward Ludwig
  • Writer
    • Robert Smith
  • Stars
    • Mickey Rooney
    • Thomas Mitchell
    • Michael O'Shea
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    5.6/10
    658
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Edward Ludwig
    • Writer
      • Robert Smith
    • Stars
      • Mickey Rooney
      • Thomas Mitchell
      • Michael O'Shea
    • 22User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro

    • Photos16

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    Top cast28

    Edit
    Mickey Rooney
    Mickey Rooney
    • Billy Coy
    Thomas Mitchell
    Thomas Mitchell
    • Red Stanley
    Michael O'Shea
    Michael O'Shea
    • Vic Sullivan
    Mary Hatcher
    Mary Hatcher
    • Lou Riley
    Spring Byington
    Spring Byington
    • Mary Coy
    Steve Brodie
    Steve Brodie
    • Happy Lee
    Lina Romay
    Lina Romay
    • Dolores Raymond
    Hattie McDaniel
    Hattie McDaniel
    • Minnie
    • (as Hattie McDaniels)
    Allen Jenkins
    Allen Jenkins
    • George
    Monte Blue
    Monte Blue
    • Deacon Jones
    Richard Lane
    Richard Lane
    • Reno Riley
    • (as Dick Lane)
    Eddie Kane
    Eddie Kane
    • Head Waiter
    Charles Irwin
    Charles Irwin
    • Drunk
    Kippee Valez
    • Carla
    Denver Pyle
    Denver Pyle
    • Doctor
    George Fisher
    • Announcer
    Jackson King
    • Announcer
    • (as Jack Colin)
    Mike Donovan
    • Indy 500 Spectator
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Edward Ludwig
    • Writer
      • Robert Smith
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In the 33rd running of the Indianapolis 500 in 1949, Wilbur Shaw, the President of the Speedway, actually did drive the pace car, as the movie announcer had noted.
    • Goofs
      Early in the film, Billy crashes his car. A radio announcer is giving a play-by-play description of his rescue. A man and a woman listening to the radio smile and show relief - before the announcer says that Billy has been pulled from the wreckage unhurt.
    • Quotes

      Red Stanley: The way I figure it, another thousand dollars and she'll be ready for Indianapolis.

      Reno Riley: I wouldn't give you another buck and a half.

      Red Stanley: But Reno, this is the fastest iron in the business!

      Reno Riley: How many years have you been takin' this pile of junk to the race, Red? Six? Seven?

      Red Stanley: Eight.

      Reno Riley: And you never even qualified.

    • Crazy credits
      The film opens with the following written acknowledgements: "Grateful acknowledgement for their invaluable assistance is made to the AAA, the URA, the Racing Drivers of America, the Indianapolis Speedway and Mr. Wilbur Shaw."
    • Connections
      Edited into Your Afternoon Movie: Big Wheel (2023)
    • Soundtracks
      Que Bueno
      Written by Kermit Goell and Fred Spielman
      Sung by Lina Romay (uncredited) at nightclub

    User reviews22

    Review
    Review
    Featured review

    My dad's crash is in this movie!

    Perhaps the fondest memories of my father's life were those involving his one and only entry in the Indy 500 from 1949, the event chronicled in this movie.

    My dad, George Lynch, crashed after the first lap, hitting the wall in the first turn near the camera bay. The event is captured in the film, with the racetrack announcer calling his name. Figures that my dad's one and only Indy mishap is captured forever on film.
    • Neeho
    • May 5, 1999
    • Permalink

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 4, 1949 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Thundering Wheels
    • Filming locations
      • Culver City Stadium, Culver City, California, USA(Culver City Stadium Speedway scenes)
    • Production company
      • Samuel H. Stiefel Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $900,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 32 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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    Jack Nicholson, Mickey Rooney, and John Ireland in The Big Wheel (1949)
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