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List Price: $9.98 | | Label: Starz / Anchor Bay
Salesrank: 19243
Released: August 15, 2006 |
| Our Price: $6.49 |
| Used Price: $9.48 |
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MPAA Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Bonnie Bedelia — in the triumphant performance that earned her a Golden Globe® nomination as Best Actress — stars as Shirley "Cha Cha" Muldowney, the young wife and mother who defied the sport of drag racing to become the only female top fuel champion in NHRA® history. But before she could reach the record books, Shirley had to survive an abusive first marriage, her volatile love affair with fellow racer Connie Kalitta (Beau Bridges of THE KILLING TIME and NORMA RAE), a horrific accident, and a sexist world that tried to stand in the way of one remarkable woman who dared to put her heart on the line. Anthony Edwards of ER co-stars in this Deluxe 25th Anniversary Edition of the film Newsweek called "one of the best American movies of the year," now packed with all-new Bonus Materials featuring racing legends Shirley Muldowney, Don Garlits, Connie Kalitta and much more!
Description of Heart Like a Wheel:
In the 1950s, Shirley Muldowney (Bonnie Bedelia, Presumed Innocent) was a young mother with a jones for motor sports. Waitressing, however, was how she earned her keep. By the 1960s, Muldowney had ditched the day job for full-time racing. Then in 1977, she won the National Hot Rod Association world championship--and not for the first time. Directed by Jonathan Kaplan (The Accused), Heart Like a Wheel traces the trailblazer's path from Schenectady housewife to "The First Lady of Racing." Along the way, her marriage to mechanic Jack Muldowney (Leo Rossi) hits the skids, but she finds new love with (married) driver Connie "The Bounty Hunter" Kalitta (Beau Bridges in a performance as boisterous as it is sweet). He helps her to become the first woman licensed by the NHRA to drive a Top Fuel dragster, but son John (Anthony Edwards) proves to be more trustworthy. Extras for this special edition include commentary from Kaplan and the featurette Shirley Muldowney: Behind the Wheel, which combines film clips, archival footage, and interviews with technical advisor Tommy Ivo, drivers Kalitta and "Big Daddy" Don Garlits, and "Cha Cha" herself. Feisty as ever, Muldowney admits that she wanted Jamie Lee Curtis for the role and that Bedelia, who garnered a Golden Globe nomination, could be "difficult." Kaplan, meanwhile, who would go on to direct Edwards on E.R., claims he's a real-life racing fan. As he puts it, the Top Gun actor really does have "the need for speed." --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Heart Like a Wheel Reviews:
Great movie! 
2009-11-20 - Great movie! Have seen it several times...love it every time. Definitely recommend buying it.
Great Movie
2009-11-05 - Great Movie. Also loved seeing Shirley and Connie currently discussing the industry and their history. Amazon made this so easy to order. Thanks Amazon.
Classic
2009-11-02 - I bought this for my dad for x-mas, I can't wait for him to open it!!!!!
Shirley's Startling Story 
2009-02-20 - This a pretty interesting based-on-a-true life-story of hot-rod racer Shirley Muldowney. Bonnie Bedalia plays the woman who was a pioneer of her sorts, becoming the first female star in thay sport. Whether her life was one big soap opera, I don't know, but the movie concentrates on that sort of thing....with a feminist bias, of course.
I didn't mid the latter because she had to fight a lot of obstacles to become the first female star of drag racing. However, the constant arguments with her husband (a very profane Leo Rossi) and then with crew chief-former lover Connie Kallitta (Beau Bridges) wore thin after awhile. This was just before the PG-13 rating was put into effect, so it's rated PG which is ludicrous with all the profanity.
One very, very memorable scene in here: Muldowney on fire, stumbling down the racetrack after her car caught on fire. That was horrifying and a scene I've never forgotten, and I first saw this over 20 years ago. Other that that, it's a so-so story and better than so-so if you don't let the language bother you.
Heart like a Wheel 
2008-07-29 - If you are interested in racing...this movie is a must. True story of the first woman race car driver. We loved it.
