Drive a Crooked Road

Mickey Rooney stars as Eddie Shannon, a pint-sized auto mechanic who dreams of being a Grand Prix racecar driver some day. Falling for the seductions of the beautiful Barbara Matthews (Dianne Foster), Eddie signs on as the getaway driver in a Palm Springs bank heist being planned by her boyfriend, the high-rolling Steve Norris (Kevin McCarthy), and his partner, Harold (Jack Kelly). Though he's ditched after the bank job, once Eddie manages to catch up with them, Barbara is touched by his affection for her and confesses to her role in the scam. Because Eddie is a liability, Steve orders him killed. But when Eddie manages to escape, he tracks down Steve, his sights set on revenge.