HEART LIKE A WHEEL

Director Jonathan Kaplan's first mentor was Elia Kazan who “sort of adopted” the adolescent Kaplan when he was acting on Broadway in “The Dark at the Top of the Stairs.” Kaplan's directorial talents were evident in critically acclaimed films such as “White Line Fever” (1975) and “Over the Edge” (1979); HEART LIKE A WHEEL made the top-10 film lists of five major newspapers in 1983. HEART LIKE A WHEEL is the story of Shirley Muldowney (Bonnie Bedelia), the first professional female race car driver and three-time winner of the National Hot Rod Association world championship. While the film features some thrilling racing experiences, the primary theme deals with Muldowney's determination, passion and emotional sacrifices necessary to achieve her goal. Muldowney had to overcome the antagonism and condescension of fellow drivers, racing officials and the media to prove her talent in this male-dominated sport. Bedelia's superb performance covers 25 years of the racer's life, going from the private setbacks of a failed marriage and a rocky affair with Connie Kalitta (Beau Bridges) that leads to betrayal, to the public glory of winning more events than any other driver in history in 1982.