Screen cars that rev people up
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Seth Rogen, left, and Jay Chou fight crime while cruising in Black Beauty in "The Green Hornet."
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Whether it's the Ferrari trashed in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" or the campy car of a Caped Crusader, the silver screen's four-wheeled vehicles are the ultimate dream machines.
Often, they eclipse the actors.
Most of us have a favorite. Now, with the release of "The Green Hornet," Hollywood is putting a car in a starring role again. The Black Beauty, a custom Chrysler Imperial -- the car chauffeured by Bruce Lee in the 1960s TV series -- rides again in the new movie starring Seth Rogen.
As with all movie cars, you don't have to be a gearhead to appreciate The Black Beauty's weaponry or retro cool. But why do we love the cars that cruise the celluloid blacktop?
"We all have cars in common. Everybody has a car story -- good or bad," says Leslie Kendall, curator of the Petersen Automobile Museum in Los Angeles.
Ms. Kendall says cars are "art that people can interact with," which is why the museum's permanent exhibition of TV and movie cars is popular with visitors.
"Cars are not like art that hangs on the walls ... they can only be understood when people see them operating," Ms. Kendall says. "I don't know what's more fun -- riding, driving or watching them go by."
Motorists driving by the Petersen can see The Black Beauty at one of L.A.'s busiest intersections, where a 30-foot-tall outdoor platform features one of the movie cars and advertises a Green Hornet exhibit.
So what makes a screen machine great?
"There are things that are intrinsic to the car and how it is used, and then there's who is driving it," says Ms. Kendall, sounding a bit scholarly before quickly stating the bottom line for any movie: "A bitchin' car doesn't hurt."
Best-of lists are as numerous as cars themselves. Best movie cars. Best car chases. Best hero cars. So what's one more? Here are my favorites: Cars that I'd want to drive (sorry, "Back to Future" DeLorean) from movies or TV shows that I like (Too bad, Gen. Lee). Let's get behind the wheels:
Seen in: "Batman" TV series (1966-68)
What could have more screen-car cred than the original Batmobile? It's the creation of George Barris, Hollywood's "King of the Kustomizers" and the man responsible for hallucinogenic '60s hot rods and TV cars like the Munster Koach. So why would I pick this Batmobile over the post-modern movie versions? Beside the Barris pedigree, it's not only the first screen Batmobile, but also it has those twin Plexiglass bubble windshields for its open cockpit. What good is an outrageous custom if people can't see you driving it?
First Published January 22, 2011 12:00 am
