Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Pit Stop Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov August 27, 2014

Jack Hill's "Pit Stop" (1969) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film; audio commentary with the American director; video interview with Roger Corman; video interview with actor Sid Haig; restoration demonstration; and more. The release also arrives with a collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by critic Glenn Kenny and musicologist and writer Gray Newell on the film’s soundtrack, illustrated with original stills and artwork. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

"This machinery owns us..."

Wild wheelman Rick Bowman (Richard Davalos, East of Eden, Cool Hand Luke) ends up in jail after an illegal street race, but quickly gets out after ambitious businessman Grant Willard (Brian Donlevy, Hangmen Also Die, Kiss of Death) pays his bond. Willard then asks Bowman to drive one of his custom sports cars in a dangerous figure-eight race. Initially Bowman rejects the offer, but after he meets Willard’s best man, a cocky driver named Hawk Sidney (Sid Haig, The Big Bird Cage), he changes his mind.

Bowman fails miserably in the first two races. An old-timer then teaches him how to beat Sidney. Sensing that Bowman could become Willard’s top choice in the figure-eight races, Sidney confronts the newcomer and nearly breaks his left arm. After the confrontation, the two men warm up to each other. Bowman also steals Sidney’s on-again, off-again girlfriend (Beverly Washburn, Spider Baby).

Around the same time Bowman is introduced to veteran driver Ed McLeod (George Washburn), who spends far more time playing with engines than with his frustrated wife (a very beautiful Ellen Burstyn, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore). Bowman begins visiting McLeod’s garage and after a series of meaningless conversations and inviting looks eventually makes love to his wife.

Meanwhile, Willard decides to beat Sonny Simpson, the hottest driver in California. Bowman comes up with a brilliant plan that will make Willard a happy man. There is only one small problem -- for the plan to work Bowman, Sidney and McLeod will have to work as a team.

There are a couple of reasons why this early film directed by Jack Hill works really well. First, it oozes raw energy which can exist only in low-budget films that do not attempt to follow the conventional rules big-budget films do. What this means is that there are hardly any clichés in it -- or at least not the type that can easily turn off the viewer.

Second, Pit Stop has a superb retro-psychedelic atmosphere that actually makes it look like a much bigger film. The beautiful soundtrack -- created by a little known but apparently very good psychedelic rock band from Seattle named The Daily Flash and John Fridge -- effectively transforms large parts of the film that otherwise would have looked quite ordinary. (See the various sequences where Davalos and Burstyn exchange inviting looks).

The chemistry between the principal actors is also surprisingly good. (If any compromises were made during the editing process because of the small budget the filmmakers had to work with, it is absolutely impossible to tell). Davalos, Haig, Burstyn, Donlevy and Washburn all look very remarkably comfortable with each other in front of the camera.

The raw footage from the figure-eight races used in the film is extraordinary. There are massive crashes and many of them look incredibly dangerous. There is one in particular where a small car is flipped over but then the camera moves away from it too quickly. It is hard to believe that the driver was not hurt.

Pit Stop was lensed by Austin McKinney, who worked with John Carpenter on Escape from New York (visual effects/director of photography) and James Cameron on The Terminator (process photography). It was produced by Lee Strosnider.

Pit Stop has been exclusively restored for Arrow Video’s Blu-ray release. Because the film's original negative no longer exists, the restorers worked with Hill’s own 35mm answer print.

Pit Stop Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Jack Hill's Pit Stop arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video.

The following text appears inside the booklet provided with this Blu-ray release:

"The original lab elements for Pit Stop have been lost. The filmmaker's own 35mm answer print was transferred in High Definition and graded using the Nicoda Film Master color grading system. Restoration work was carried out using a combination of software tools and techniques. Thousands of instances of dirt, scratches and debris were carefully removed frame by frame, damaged frames were repaired, and density and stability issues were improved. Some minor picture issues remain, in keeping with the condition of the film materials. The soundtrack was also remastered, minimizing audio issues such as pops, bumps, clicks and audible buzz.

Film restoration supervisor: James White.
Film restoration by Deluxe Production: Mark Bonnici, Graham Jones, Paul Collard.
Datacine colorist: Stephen Bearman.
Restoration department supervisor: Clayton Baker.
Digital restoration artists: Clayton Baker, Tom Barrett.
Audio mastering: Gary Saunders."

Generally speaking, detail and clarity are pleasing throughout the entire film. Some minor sharpness fluctuations remain -- mostly during select daylight sequences -- but it is easy to see that they are inherited (see screencapture #1). There are no traces of problematic sharpening adjustments. Grain is visible, but there are areas of the film where it can be slightly over/underexposed. As far as I can tell, however, reasonable efforts were made to balance it as best as possible. There are no traces of color boosting. Overall image stability is very good. There are no large damage marks, cuts, and stains, but a few vertical lines as well as some flecks and scratches occasionally pop up here and there. All in all, this is a good organic presentation of Jack Hill's Pit Stop which will likely remain the definitive presentation of the film on the home video market. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location).

Pit Stop Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 1.0. For the record, Arrow Video have provided optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature.

The film is complimented by a lovely psychedelic rock score which benefits greatly from the lossless treatment. The bass solos, in particular, sound very lush (see the hospital sequence at the end). Various organic sounds and noises are also very easy to identify during the races. However, the range of nuanced dynamics is rather limited. The dialog is clean, stable, and easy to follow.

Pit Stop Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary - in this exclusive audio commentary, director Jack Hill recalls how Pit Stop came to exist, and discusses its production process, the script, the editing process, the make-ups and hairstyles, the rumored remake of Spider Baby, etc. There is also some interesting information about an old dispute between Roger Corman and famous Swiss producer Erwin C. Dietrich. The audio commentary is moderated by biographer Calum Waddell.

• Roger Corman on the Genesis of Pit Stop - in this video interview, Roger Corman explains what inspired him to start his own production company (New World Pictures) and how he became involved with Jack Hill's Pit Stop. Roger Corman also explains how the best exploitation films are typically made. The interview was produced by Calum Waddell and Naomi Holwill. In English, not subtitled. (12 min).

• Crash and Burn: Jack Hill on the Making of Pit Stop - in this video interview, director Jack Hill discusses the production history of Pit Stop, "an art film about stock car racing". The interview was produced by Calum Waddell and Naomi Holwill. In English, not subtitled. (16 min).

• Drive Hard: Sid Haig Remembers Pit Stop - in this video interview, actor Sid Haig (Hawk Sidney) explains how Pit Stop was made for approximately $35,000 and discusses his contribution to the film. The interview was produced by Calum Waddell and Naomi Holwill. In English, not subtitled. (17 min).

• Restoring Pit Stop - presented here is a restoration demonstration by James White, who supervised the new restoration of Pit Stop. Included with the presentation are different before and after comparisons. In English, not subtitled. (4 min).

• Trailer - original trailer for Pit Stop. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Cover art - reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Jay Shaw.

• Booklet - collector's booklet featuring new writing on the film by critic Glenn Kenny and musicologist and writer Gray Newell on the film's soundtrack, illustrated with original stills and artwork.

Pit Stop Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I truly believe that Pit Stop is Jack Hill's best film. It was made with an extremely small budget, but to me it looks like the American director's most complete film. It has been saved from oblivion by Arrow Video, who accessed the best surviving element, a 35mm answer print, to restore it and bring it to Blu-ray. The release also comes with some excellent exclusive supplemental features, including a very good interview with Roger Corman and a fantastic audio commentary with Jack Hill. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.