Home / Heart Like a Wheel

Heart Like a Wheel

Year:

1983

Duration:

113 min

Genres:

Biography | Drama | Sport

IMDB rate:

6.7

Director:

Jonathan Kaplan

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 nominations

Details

Country: USA

Release Date: 1983-04-01

Filming Locations: Beeline Raceway, Phoenix, Arizona, USA

Earnings

Gross: $272,278 (USA) Filming Dates 3 May 1982 Related Links

Cast

Actor

Character

Nora Heflin

Bonnie Bedelia

Shirley Muldowney

Beau Bridges

Connie Kalitta

Bruce Barlow

Bass Player, Tex's Band

Leo Rossi

Jack Muldowney

Anthony Edwards

John Muldowney (age 15-23)

Hoyt Axton

Tex Roque

Paul Bartel

Chef Paul

Missy Basile

Angela

Creed Bratton

Photographer

Jesse Aragon

Carlos

Tiffany Brissette

Little Shirley

Paul Bryar

Matt, Card Player

James Burton

Guitar Player, Tex's Band

Martin Casella

Repoter #1

Michael Cavanaugh

NHRA Boss

Sandy Chanley

Fan

Mark Dawson

Guitar / Harmonica, Tex's Band

Diane Delano

Shirley's Sister

Tom Duffield

Rahn Tobler

Jill Carroll

John's girlfriend

Steve Evans

Himself

Dennis Fetchet

Fiddle Player, Tex's Band

Chris Fontana

Frank the Crank

Ellen Geer

Mrs. Marianne Kalitta

Ashley Graham

Girl at Track

Christi Graham

Girl at Track

Marvin Graham

Kalitta's Crew Chief

Mitzi Hoag

Shirley's Mother

Marvin 'Swede' Johnson

'Lariat' Sponsor

Tim Kimber

Buddy

Terence Knox

Jack's Friend

Sam Laws

Piano Player

Paul Linke

Reporter #2

Dean Paul Martin

Sonny Rigotti

Bill McKinney

Don 'Big Daddy' Garlits

Michael Milgrom

Tourist at Bar

Dick Miller

Mickey White

Bob Minor

Ralph, NHRA Official

Harry Northup

Trooper

Catherine Paolone

Mrs. 'Good Joe'

Sam Posey

Himself

Robert Ridgely

Bob Morton, 'Sportsline' (as Bob Ridgely)

Jennifer Roven

Chrysler PR Woman

Michael Talbott

Englishtown Announcer

Leonard Termo

Good Joe

Byron Thames

John (age 10-13)

Tiny Wells

Tiny

Brandon Brent Williams

John (age 5-8)

Constance Yelverton

Rigotti's Girl

Luther Fear

Poker game with Hoyt Axton (uncredited)

Tex Hill

Reporter (uncredited)

Ron Masak

Yankee Announcer Mel Allen (uncredited)

Elliott Mason

Young Boy / Autograph Seeker (uncredited)

Steve Moriarty

Race Fan / Autograph Seeker (uncredited)

Larry Turk

Winston Rep (uncredited)

Did you know?

Trivia

Candy Clark, Kathryn Harrold, Susan Lucci, and Jamie Lee Curtis were all considered for the role of Shirley Muldowney. Curtis was Shirley Muldowney's personal choice to play her, but the part eventually went to Bonnie Bedelia.

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Actor Charles Haid was originally cast as Connie Kalitta and filmed for several days before being fired for being difficult. He was replaced by Beau Bridges.

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One of a late 1970s early 1980s mini-cycle of films centering around women athletes. The movies include Blue Skies Again (1983) (baseball), Goldengirl (1979) (athletics), The Miracle of Kathy Miller (1981) (athletics), Hockey Night (1984) (ice hockey), Quarterback Princess (1983) (gridiron), Personal Best (1982) (pentathlon), Gregory's Girl (1981) (soccer) and Heart Like a Wheel (1983) (drag racing).

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Goofs

A sign for Pepsi's famous "Be Sociable/Have a Pepsi" campaign is visible in barroom scene set in 1956, two years earlier than that slogan was actually launched.

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Set in 1977, Shirley's crew drives a 1983 Dodge Ram.

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In the pits, standing by her dragster, Shirley's cigarette changes sizes during shots.

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Quotes

Tex Roque: I want you to come home, with a high school diploma with the name "Shirley Ann Muldowney".

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Connie Kalitta: UNBECOMING, MY ASS!

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Repoter #1: What's a beautiful girl like you doing at a racetrack like this?

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