King of the Mountain might not be the first film that comes to mind when most enthusiasts ponder visions of street racing movies, as it's not exactly the greatest film ever made, but still packs enough alluring car action to entice enthusiasts. Essentially, it's a forgotten, cult classic from the early 1980s that focuses upon a group of Mulholland racers, as they violently shove a variety of interesting rides through the tight curves and switchbacks of southern California's infamous, winding road.
Starring Harry Hamlin and Dennis Hopper as the main characters, Steve and Cal, the tail end of this film is host to one of the most realistic and stunning racing sequences ever filmed, all conducted entirely on public roads. Throughout the film, Hamlin's character, who works as a Porsche mechanic, drives a highly modified 356 Speedster. In full disclosure, the car itself is a kit, but this detail doesn't hinder the riveting action scenes, nor the bizarre and utterly insane stories surrounding this film's production.
What Exactly Is King Of The Mountain?
King of the Mountain centers primarily upon a group of Los Angeles-based street racers as they conquer the treacherous stretches of Mulholland Drive. Furthermore, a substantial bit of the film's basis is taken straight from reality. Steve, played by Harry Hamlin, acts as the main character; a mechanic for an independent Porsche shop, who moonlights in street racing. Steve's weapon of choice for these misdeeds is made to resemble a 1958 Porsche 356 Speedster, however, the production team had eventually settled on a kit car for filming. Due to the rarity and cost of using an authentic Speedster, even back when the movie was created during 1980, the kit car ended up becoming one of the main stars of King of the Mountain. The fake Speedster is reportedly based upon an air-cooled Volkswagen of undetermined vintage, as was (and still is) the practice for several Porsche replicas. The Speedster that was modified for the film, however, was fitted with a distinct widebody kit, 1980s-styled aftermarket wheels, and a pair of fog lamps up front that look inherentkly out of place, molded directly into the bodywork. That same bodywork, to the trained eye, is obviously fiberglass, which is the dead giveaway that this Porsche wannabe isn't the real deal. Other key touches are the usage of gauges from a Porsche 914, as well as various aftermarket bits that were emblazoned throughout the car, such as the steering wheel. Sadly, the whereabouts of this widebody, VW-based replica are unknown at this point.
Although this kit car is essentially a fraud, it doesn't necessarily take away from the action of the film, which climaxes to a wild race involving the fake Speedster and a wickedly cool, 1967 Corvette Stingray, piloted by Dennis Hopper. In truth, a strong portion of King of the Mountain will bore many, but the last race sequence is well worth the watch. Here, we see the battered shell of the Corvette, covered in grey primer and faded, red paint. Its overall appearance is undeniably badass, as the car lacks headlight covers, a hood, bumpers, and even the rear window, as it snakes its way through the deadly curves of Mulholland at high speed against the Speedster. The latter of which certainly appears to be a handful, but this only makes it more interesting to watch. One important detail that the filmmakers ignored, however, is the cars' tendency to pass one another whilst racing along the twisy stretches of Mulholland Drive. In real life, such a move is generally forbidden due to concerns over oncoming traffic. As a result, Mulholland racers simply race with one car ahead of the other, with the forerunner trying to leave as much of a gap as humanly possible between them and the following car. Two runs are necessary to create a proper verdict, and although there's no concrete way to declare a winner to these illegal contests, the drivers always know the truth.
Insane Stories From The Filming Of King Of The Mountain
While Hamlin and the replica Porsche 356 Speedster are made to be the highlights of King of the Mountain, the true stars of this movie are Dennis Hopper and his mangy, decrepit Corvette. During a behind-the-scenes documentary, Hopper admits to racing Muholland himself with none other than James Dean, which is certainly in tune to the nature of both legendary actors, who had worked previously together on films such as Rebel Without a Cause and Giant. As Hopper tells it, sports car racing had been in its infancy during the 1950s, with few outlets that would cater to the growing sport. "Mulholland was the only thing that resembled a racetrack back then", Hopper had mused during the same interview, when discussing his previous exploits. Hopper goes on to illustrate how he and Dean were simply learning how to drive along the twists and hairpins of the notorious, Californian road before later taking part in action at Sears Point and Riverside.
Adding further intrigue are the stories that surround Hopper during filming. His character, Cal, is a visible alcoholic and can be seen drinking frequently throughout the entirety of his scenes. In real life, Hopper himself was reportedly buzzed himself, despite handling a notable portion of his own stunt driving. While filming one scene in particular, Hopper had climbed into the Corvette with a six-pack of beer, with the director's permission, then blasted off for a full hour with a series of cameras mounted inside the car to capture several of the motion shots required. A control switch for the cameras had been mounted within the Corvette's interior, allowing the Easy Rider director to activate them at will. There had only been enough film for a few minutes' worth of shooting, but Hopper allegedly took off for nearly an hour in the Stingray before returning with the entire six-pack allegedly empty, much to the dismay of the crew.
The Real-Life Events That Inspired King Of The Mountain
Although it may seem like this B-Movie from the 1980s is fictitious, a strong bit of truth circulates behind the events of King of the Mountain. The film's main characters, Steve and Cal, are actually based upon a pair of real-life street racers from Los Angeles; Chris Banning and Charles Wolt. The latter of which had been declared "king of the hill for fifteen years", by fellow racers, who'd witnessed Wolt challenge the likes of some of California's fastest road racers with his Corvette.
Although King of the Mountain is far from a good film, this 1980s B-movie can provide a lot of eye candy for seasoned enthusiasts. Although some of the scenes are obviously corny and overly contrived, a strong portion of realism was used to recreate the world of Mulholland racing for the silver screen, which is something that has yet to be seen since.