MovieChat Forums > Dirty Mary Crazy Larry (1974) Discussion > There are far, FAR better 'car chase' fl...

There are far, FAR better 'car chase' flicks from this era.

posted 16 years ago by wheezledick
16 replies | jump to latest

"Vanishing Point" and "Two Lane Blacktop" are edgier, better early 70's muscle car road chase flicks, even with "the ending", which is a direct rip-off of "Vanishing Point". This one's more like "Smoky and the Bimbette". It's been years since I've seen Susan George in anything, and I'd forgotten just how blind, outhouse stupid she really is. I've heard lines delivered better at a pre-school production. If you like to see and hear old pony cars go fast, this time-waster might make you smile, but you'll have to endure a little pain for your pleasure.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Avenger69 16 years ago

Let's not be too hard on "Vanishing Point." In many ways, it set the mold for the car chase / road films to follow. That being said, "Vanishing Point" is overrated in the extreme... it's good. But, not as good as its reputation.

"It's people..."

[–] Doc-McCoy 16 years ago

"It's been years since I've seen Susan George in anything, and I'd forgotten just how blind, outhouse stupid she really is. I've heard lines delivered better at a pre-school production."

The point is good, but check out Ali MacGraw's performance in "The Getaway" - she makes George look like Bette Davis.

"Those are my principles, and if you don't like them....well, I have others" - Groucho Marx

[–] fashion103 14 years ago

The U.S version of VP is stupid, I'll grant you that. But the U.K cut is a much, much better film. Comparible even to East Rider. His off road encounters are in a more logical order and the inclusion of the dream sequence really is the missing key to not so much the plot, but certainally the character. Whilst there is still an air of mystery around Kowalski, they do give you much more of an insight to his motivation and why he is so reluctant to stop (no, it wasn't just so he could win the bet and get his billy for free).

When you're racing, it's life. Anything that happens before or after is just waiting.

[–] tightspotkilo 16 years ago

Bullitt (1968) is generally credited with beginning the phenomenon of car chase scenes, and it still stands as the gold standard by which all others are measured. Then came The French Connection (1971) which had a pretty good car chase scene too. All others since are poor imitations.
__________________________________________

Get the facts first - you can distort them later!
__________________________________________

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] c-schwandt 15 years ago

Susan George was an ACTRESS. Just because her lines in DMCL were stupid, and her character was stupid doesn't make HER stupid. Writers were to blame for her stupid lines.

2 Lane Blacktop was BORING. I fell asleep watching it!

I'd watch VP or GI60S ten times each before I'd watch 2LB again.

[–] 15 years ago

[deleted]

[–] pullgees 14 years ago

WHITE LIGHTNING was pretty kickass.

[–] ck1-5 13 years ago

I'm surprised no one has mentioned "The Seven Ups".

[–] nlecro 12 years ago

If you are talking about quality of the movies as a whole, I would agree that there are quite a few better car chase movies. However if you are talking about the car chase scenes themselves then this movie should be in the talking when making a list of best car chases in movies.

A movie like Bullitt is not only a better movie but the ending chase scene is better than any individual chase scene in this movie. However basically this whole movie consists of chase scenes so when it comes to this movie it is not the individual chase scenes, but all them together resulting in an overwhelming amount of good car chase scenes. Even if the movie itself is mediocre.

[–] peckinpah1 8 years ago

The Bullitt car chase took place in the middle of the film, not at the end. The climax of Bullitt was a foot chase...

[–] MontanaJones 12 years ago

The seven Ups chase scene had great driving, the same driver drove both the car pursued by Scheider and the Charger in Bullitt, but they spoiled it using those dubbed in sounds from Bullitt, That Pontiac Ventura obviously wasn't producing those engine sounds.

MEDINA
SOD

[–] ck1-5 11 years ago

I won't argue with your comments about the sound effects. Of course, they made no sense in "Bullit", either.....who the hell double clutches when they're shifting a Ford top loader four speed? It sounded like he was trying to speed shift a '46 International pickup. Furthermore, by the time you're going 100+ mph, the shifting's pretty much done.

[–] WileyJack (147) 3 years ago

Not only did you not need to double-clutch a top-loader, once I was rolling, I used to shift mine without using the clutch at all.

[–] Kowalski (60079) 3 years ago

VANISHING POINT IS OBVIOUSLY MY JAM....THAT SAID...I ALSO LOVE DIRTY MARY CRAZY LARRY...ITS A GOODIE.🙂