***SOME SPOILERS*** More or less "Champion" retread with Kirk Douglas, without a trace of an Italian accent, playing former Rome bus driver and now Italian hot shot speed car racer Gino Borgese.
Gino was at the top of his game, in the race car business, when he lost control of his car and totaled it! This all happened in Gino attempting to avoid, which he did, hitting pretty French ballerina Nicole's, Bella Darvi, pet poodle Bogy. Grateful for Gino saving her pooch's life Nicole had her former lover Count Salem, George Dolenz, get Gino a new sports car to do his driving in.
Despite his kamikaze like driving tactics Gino in no time at all gets to the top of the heap in the Italian & European racing circuit. The brash and handsome Gino also gets Nicole to fall in love with him. It's later that things start to turn sour for Gino when he injurers his leg in a car accident that lays him up in bed for a few a months. Lucky not to have his leg amputated Gino recovers enough to be a substitute driver for his friend and fellow race car driver Dell Oro, Gilbert Roland, who works for the tough talking ,and also like Kirk Douglas, non Italian accented Italian legendary race car manager Maglio; played by tough guy American actor Lee. J Cobb.
The movie following a "Champion" like storyline has an arrogant Gino turn his back on everyone who loves and admires him turning into the full of himself creep, like Midge Kelly in "Champion", that he eventually becomes. It take's Nicole walking out on him that brings Gino back down to earth in him realizing, finally, that her love for him is far more important then any race he could win. Hurt confused and almost suicidal Gino begs Nicole to come back to him even if it means that he quit his great love, next to her,for sports car racing forever.
With an unfeeling Nicole not falling for his "I'm so sorry and won't do it again" act Gino goes back into action on the racetrack only to come to his senses when he's confronted in either saving his friend Oro's, who's car crashed, life or win the very important, that would put him on top again, race that he's competing in.
***SPOILERS***With a teary Nicole, who's in the crowd, watching Gino finally does the right thing by turning his back on victory at the expense of saving Oro's life. It was that act, like when he avoided killing Nicole's dog Bogy, of self sacrifice for someone else that had Nicole come back to Gino in him proving that he's a real champ not just on the racetrack but in him being a human being as well.
Gino was at the top of his game, in the race car business, when he lost control of his car and totaled it! This all happened in Gino attempting to avoid, which he did, hitting pretty French ballerina Nicole's, Bella Darvi, pet poodle Bogy. Grateful for Gino saving her pooch's life Nicole had her former lover Count Salem, George Dolenz, get Gino a new sports car to do his driving in.
Despite his kamikaze like driving tactics Gino in no time at all gets to the top of the heap in the Italian & European racing circuit. The brash and handsome Gino also gets Nicole to fall in love with him. It's later that things start to turn sour for Gino when he injurers his leg in a car accident that lays him up in bed for a few a months. Lucky not to have his leg amputated Gino recovers enough to be a substitute driver for his friend and fellow race car driver Dell Oro, Gilbert Roland, who works for the tough talking ,and also like Kirk Douglas, non Italian accented Italian legendary race car manager Maglio; played by tough guy American actor Lee. J Cobb.
The movie following a "Champion" like storyline has an arrogant Gino turn his back on everyone who loves and admires him turning into the full of himself creep, like Midge Kelly in "Champion", that he eventually becomes. It take's Nicole walking out on him that brings Gino back down to earth in him realizing, finally, that her love for him is far more important then any race he could win. Hurt confused and almost suicidal Gino begs Nicole to come back to him even if it means that he quit his great love, next to her,for sports car racing forever.
With an unfeeling Nicole not falling for his "I'm so sorry and won't do it again" act Gino goes back into action on the racetrack only to come to his senses when he's confronted in either saving his friend Oro's, who's car crashed, life or win the very important, that would put him on top again, race that he's competing in.
***SPOILERS***With a teary Nicole, who's in the crowd, watching Gino finally does the right thing by turning his back on victory at the expense of saving Oro's life. It was that act, like when he avoided killing Nicole's dog Bogy, of self sacrifice for someone else that had Nicole come back to Gino in him proving that he's a real champ not just on the racetrack but in him being a human being as well.