Scene of the Week: Hamlin vs. Hopper

Every time my mates and I are out at the pub to throw some darts and enjoy a few pints the same debate always comes up. Who is better Harry Hamlin or Dennis Hopper? Dennis Hopper has been in iconic movies like Easy Rider, Hoosiers, and Speed. Harry Hamlin was in a TV movie I think I might have seen. Point Hopper. Harry Hamlin was once voted People’s Sexiest Man Alive. Dennis Hopper once voted. Point Hamlin. Dennis Hopper has been nominated for Academy Awards, Golden Globes and Emmys. Harry Hamlin has been nominated for Golden Globes and Emmys. That round is a draw. There is only one way to break this deadlock and that is with an illegal road race down the hill on Mulholland Drive. This week’s Scene of the Week just so happens to feature Harry Hamlin racing Dennis Hopper (or at least their characters) to determine a winner from the 1981 movie King of the Mountain.

King of the Mountain has too much sappy drama for it to be one of my all-time favorites, but I do go back to it when I went to check out some heart pounding realistic street racing action. The two lead characters and their unique cars fit each of their personalities so perfect that it is the only way to determine the winner in the Hamiln vs. Hopper battle. Steve (Harry Hamlin,) the clean cut Porsche mechanic torn between being the king of the mountain and trying to leave the racing world, drives his pristine silver 1962 Porsche 356 Speedster. Cal (Dennis Hopper,) is the slightly unhinged co-worker of Steve who hasn’t fully recovered from a wreck while racing, drives his nasty (both in appearance and performance) 1967 Chevrolet Corvette with almost every possible delete option except for its Big-Block 427. Who wins the battle of Hamlin vs. Hopper? There is only one way to find out…