Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Pit Stop Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 20, 2015

1969’s “Pit Stop” is, at its core, a racing film. Entering the gladiatorial arena known as Figure-8 racing, writer/director Jack Hill has a specific idea of screen excitement, pulling off an impressive display of the demolition derby-style sport with a limited budget, using large sections of the movie to capture the smashing and crunching of metal, set to a rock and roll tempo.

Thankfully, there’s a little more to “Pit Stop” than speed, with sizable characterization that toys with extremes of behavior and moral corruption, offering performances that deliver on bigness and subtlety in interesting ways. There’s an enormous amount of filler to work through, but “Pit Stop” has a handle on sensitivities and bluster, while keeping period touches alert, including visits to a local dance club and the destructive arrogance of men, finding a few tight psychological spaces to explore.

Pit Stop Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation certainly isn't without flaws, but a few bumpy patches during the viewing experience does little to tarnish an otherwise impressively detailed BD event. Damage spots remain, with vertical scratches, speckling, and harsh reel changes detected (some mild flicker as well). "Pit Stop" looks a little ragged at times with pronounced dips in quality, but these are minor moments. Sharpness is satisfactory, delivering strong textures on close-ups and costuming, while racing sequences retain crowd depth, allowing viewers a few pauseabale moments. Grain is handled with passable care, providing a filmic push. Delineation reaches as far as the period cinematography will go, rarely losing frame information.

Pit Stop Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD sound mix does display some wear and tear, with hiss present throughout the listening experience, along with periodic pops, but there's nothing that distracts. Dialogue exchanges are full and dramatic, managing different acting styles with clarity. Music retains definition, with passable instrumentation and comfortable range. Atmospherics are in position, delivering a rich sense of racing life, while car crashes and roaring engines keep their heavier rumble.

Pit Stop Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Drive-In Theater" (4:10, HD) brings in "host" Katarina Leigh Waters to basically introduce the film, which consists of listing the genre highlights of notable cast and crew members.

• Interview (5:11, HD) with Roger Corman is a brief chat with the iconic producer, who shares his memories of "Pit Stop," though he's honest about his participation, basically handing Jack Hill a budget and creative space. Corman does bring up the picture's inclusion in the Academy Film Archive, where this little racing movie has joined a roster of preserved classics.

• Interview (16:26, SD) with actor Sid Haig is conducted in what appears to be a convention hall, tracing his career with Jack Hill and recalling his time on the "Pit Stop" set, where he mingled with talented co-stars and learned to drive.

• "Outro" (1:20, HD) returns to Waters, who offers a farewell.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included.

Pit Stop Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

For cheap thrills, "Pit Stop" has its moments, with Figure-8 racing inherently cinematic, giving the effort a boost in oddity and intensity. The rest of the picture settles into a comfortable dramatic rhythm, punctuated with a terrifically cold-blooded conclusion. It's pokey in places, but "Pit Stop" is an exceptional time capsule and moderately engaging feature.