Saturday, March 03, 2012

Ken The Mad Canadian Carter

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Devil At Your Heels:Trees Pose a Definite Risk
National Film Board of Canada
Reviewed by Magnus on May 25th, 2004
The Devil at Your Heels:
Trees Pose a
Definite Risk

by Magnus


It’s astounding the things you come
across in a physics class. Powerful electromagnets,
giant garage-door springs,
a man absorbing uncanny amounts of electricity into his hand, even
Chuck Mangione.
However, none of these can compare to the rediscovery of the
1981 National Film Board feature Devil at Your Heels, a spectacular
documentary
about the life of Canadian daredevil Ken Carter and his quest to set a
world record by jumping across the St. Lawrence river in a
 rocket-powered car.

Yes, you heard me right. This man tried to jump a mile in a rocket car.
 The insight this film gives into the now-extinct world of stunt drivers
and daredevils is astonishing. But what makes this one of the greatest
documentaries of all time is a combination of the spectacle itself,
 Ken Carter himself and the way this film eerily resembles a
 Christopher Guest mockumentary (i.e. This Is Spinal Tap, Best in Show,
Waiting for Guffman, A Mighty Wind).

The main character in this feature is Montreal-born stunt driver and
 daredevil Ken Carter (née Kenneth Gordon Polsjek). Coming from
 a very poor family, Carter became a stunt driver at the age of 18 with
only a Grade 4 education. When the film begins (around 1975) he has
already established a steady career for himself jumping cars, taking his
 entourage all over North America. At this point in his career, however,
 his injuries (suffered from his numerous failed jumps) are taking longer
and longer to heal, and he knows his days as a stunt driver are numbered.
Hence, he wants to establish himself as the world’s greatest daredevil by
 setting a world record for the longest jump in a car. Carter, however, isn’t
simply satisfied with breaking this record: he wants to shatter it by
 jumping a distance of one mile, over the St. Lawrence river at Morrisburg.
This becomes his quest, his raison d’être, his career’s crowning glory.

From there, the film follows his project through its successes and setbacks
 (which occur much more often). In order to make this jump, Carter needs a)
 a 100-foot high launch ramp, b) a rocket-powered car that can leave the
 ramp at 270 mph, c) lots of training
(Carter has never driven a rocket-powered car), and d) lots of financial backing.
Each component has its problems; the fuel tank keeps rupturing, the ramp
construction is constantly slowed by rain, the sponsors get impatient and
leave, etc etc. It takes five years before Carter even makes an attempt to
complete the jump, before everything is in place.

From the opening helicopter shot of the massive launch ramp, you will
constantly be astounded by what this man is trying to do. It becomes
easy to forget that this man is trying to fly a car at to an altitude of 300
or so feet and survive. Even Evel Knievel, who is sent by ABC’s Wide
 World of Sports to cover Carter’s jump labels it as poorly planned. unsafe
 and just plain ludicrous. Despite all his detractors, however, Ken remains
 bound and determined to see this through.


Now, you may be wondering why on earth I would compare this documentary
to Spinal Tap. Well, allow me to give you a few examples of Ken’s antics
which are guaranteed to split your sides (or at least make you wonder
how messed up this guy’s head is).

 For Ken’s first ever trial run in a rocket-powered car,
he borrows Lew Arrington’s car and all his safety equipment (including
 helmet, fire suit, etc.) The problem is, the car and fire suit are all
custom fit for Arrington’s body, which is considerably slimmer
than middle-aged, pot-bellied Ken—who doesn’t quite fit the car.
The result: Ken takes a trial run in socks and
 a t-shirt, with no fire suit.

 Ken speaks about his multiple personalities:
Ken Carter the showman/daredevil/maniac and Kenneth Gordon Polsjek, the promoter/organizer/calmer half.
When he talks about how “the two are getting to know one another
 better” you can’t help but wonder.

 Ken’s new Hollywood backers stage his “training” for the jump so they
can make a half-decent movie out of it. The result: Ken paddling
around the Rideau Canal in a Kayak.

Anyone who sees this will be reminded of moments such as
 “The dials on this amplifier go to 11—that’s…um…one more.
” (Spinal Tap) “I think the floral arrangement here poses a definite safety
hazard. Look at those pointy sticks!” (A Mighty Wind). Carter and his
 entourage of stunt drivers, mechanics and promoters are sometimes just
 unbelievable—
such as the two mechanics who are at a loss for words as to why
their fuel tank keeps exploding.

It’s priceless moments like these (and so many others) which help
 capture the atmosphere of this bizarre faction of North American
20 century culture (daredevils, I mean).
 It’s because of the sheer foolishness of guys like Carter that rocket
cars were banned in the US in the early 1980s and daredevils have
all but disappeared from the face of the earth
(or at least from popular culture). It records the dangers and excitement
of a profession that was common to rural North America 30 years ago,
 but today has vanished amidst our society’s shift towards personal safety.
 The Devil at your Heels gives insight into a fascinating and terrifying culture,
 and does so in such a humourous way that it clearly deserves to be ranked
as one of the greatest documentaries of all time.

I may appear to be gushing a little too much over this film, but I sincerely
 encourage you to get your hands on a copy
 (the Ottawa Public Library has at least one) and see for yourself the sheer
incredulousness and humour of Ken Carter’s attempt to set a world record.
Rating: ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ (5/5 infinities)














Addendum:
Ken Carter died tragically a year after this film was made.
While trying to jump a body of water at a stunt show he cleared the water
 by so much that he sailed into an empty grandstand and was killed instantly.
 Truly a tragic ending.
Also, just for kicks I nominated Ken Carter as the Greatest Canadian in
 CBC’s shockingly pointless contest. I encourage you all to vote for him,
 should his name ever appear on TV.

Sources: Film Reviews
Copyright © 1921 - 2012

Ken The Mad Canadian Carter's History

The Devil at Your Heels
Directed by
Robert Fortier
Year
1981
Running Time
102 min 08 s
THE FILM
The late Ken Carter's long-time obsession to be the world's greatest
daredevil is the subject of this feature-length documentary. Seen are the
five years of preparation that went into raising one million dollars,
 building a rocket-powered car, and constructing a ten-storey take-off
 ramp for his attempt to jump a car across a mile-wide stretch of the
St. Lawrence River. A portrait of a stunt driver who made his living by
 risking his life.











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