The Big Wheel
“Roaring at you with mile-a-minute thrills!”
Synopsis
The ambitious son of an accomplished race driver struggles to outrun his father's legacy and achieve his own successes.
Top Cast
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Mickey Rooney
Billy Coy
Thomas Mitchell
Arthur 'Red' Stanley
Michael O'Shea
Vic Sullivan
Mary Hatcher
Louise Riley
Spring Byington
Mary Coy
Steve Brodie
Happy Lee
Lina Romay
Dolores Raymond
Hattie McDaniel
Minnie
Allen Jenkins
George
Monte Blue
Deacon Jones
Richard Lane
Reno Riley
Eddie Kane
Head Waiter
Charles Irwin
Drunk
Kippee Valez
Carla
Denver Pyle
Track Intern
George Fisher
Announcer
Jackson King
Announcer
Joe Gray
Race Car Driver (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
November 4, 1949
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Edward Ludwig
- Screenplay & Story
- Robert Smith
- Original Title
- The Big Wheel
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 32m
- Production Studios
- Samuel H. Stiefel Productions, United Artists
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Edward Ludwig
Robert Smith
Ernest Laszlo
Mort Briskin, Samuel H. Stiefel
Department Leadership Roster
Edward Ludwig
Director
Robert Smith
Screenplay
Mort Briskin
Producer
Samuel H. Stiefel
Producer
Ernest Laszlo
Director of Photography
Rudi Feld
Production Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Big Wheel.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Big Wheel.
Racing
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Racing Movies
Racing Movies — Emby collection sync.
Missing Mine
Racing Movies
History Epic Adventure Movies
037. Hollywood: Peck - Welch
Peck, Peckinpah, Powers, Price, Reagan, Rooney, Scorsese, Stanwyck, Stewart, Stone, Tennessee, Thin Man, Welch
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Big Wheel
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Big Wheel about?
The ambitious son of an accomplished race driver struggles to outrun his father's legacy and achieve his own successes.
Who directed The Big Wheel?
The Big Wheel was directed by Edward Ludwig.
Who stars in The Big Wheel?
The principal cast of The Big Wheel includes Mickey Rooney, Thomas Mitchell, Michael O'Shea, Mary Hatcher, Spring Byington.
When was The Big Wheel released and how long is it?
The Big Wheel was released in 1949 with a total runtime of 1h 32m.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Big Wheel?
The Big Wheel holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).